Which game introduced the dual-wielding pistols associated with Lara Croft?

Tomb Raider introduced the dual-wielding pistols associated with Lara Croft.

The original Tomb Raider game, released in 1996, established many of Lara's defining visual and gameplay traits, including her use of two pistols at once. The paired weapons became one of the clearest symbols of the character and appeared in much of the series' promotional artwork.

The pistols were useful in the first game's combat system because Lara could fire while moving and aim at enemies from a distance. Their presence also helped distinguish her from ordinary treasure hunters and reinforced the action-adventure tone of the series.

Later games changed weapon systems and added other firearms, but the dual pistols remained strongly associated with classic Lara. The 2013 reboot took a more grounded approach and began Lara's story with a bow, making the original pistols an especially recognizable feature of the earlier era.