It threw in a third dimension to the formula as well, creating an evolutionary track for the 3D platform action genre that ran parallel to Super Mario 64, and arguably has outlasted Mario's format.
That said, however, Tomb Raider wasn't simply a mix of those two existing properties. The entire series got its start when some folks at Core Design essentially decided to smash together Prince of Persia and Indiana Jones to see what would happen.
Just as there's a thin line between archaeology and theft, the Tomb Raider series-starring archaeologist/adventurer/thief Lara Croft-has always balanced a precarious blend of innovation and pilfering.
