Tomb Raider II: China - Walkthrough by Stella
Levels 15 thru 17 and Home Sweet Home

THE DAGGER...ALMOST: Go through the antechamber toward the pedestal at the center of the large room. There it is: the Dagger! But of course it's not that easy. As you approach, the floor gives way and you slide down a series of chutes until you're spit out into a pool at the end. Here's the sequence: When the floor drops away, land below, slide and grab the edge. Drop and slide, jump over the blade and continue sliding. The boulder will pass overhead. When you get to the wet, gray slide, press Jump and Roll so you're facing up the slide and can grab the edge at the end. Traverse left and pull up into an alcove where you'll find SECRET #1, the Gold Dragon.

Dive into the water, go over the falls and climb out on the platform on the other side of the lower pool. Shoot the 2 fish. Note the nearby keyhole, the gate on the left and the ladder on the right leading up to a closed trapdoor. There are two underwater openings across the pool. Find the one on the right. Within this opening, branching off to the right, is a narrow, underwater tunnel, down which you'll find a small med pack (and a glimpse of a key you can't reach yet). Return to the wider passageway then swim up into the temple area.

TEMPLE ENTRANCE (TWO BUILDINGS): Exit the water on the rocks at the left side and pick up some shotgun shells. Ready that gun; as you approach the temple doors, 2 tigers emerge—one from the left behind the stairs, the other from the right side at the top of the stairs. After killing them, go around the left side of the building. Run onto the springboard and bounce up to land on the roof. Cross the roof and throw the switch, which opens the trapdoor you saw earlier. Kill the bird that flies in from the far side of the cavern. Then drop down, swim back through the underwater opening and return to the ladder that leads up to the trapdoor.

LAVA AND SPIKES ROOMS: Climb up, kill a spider, and continue to a ledge above a room with a large wooden pillar in the center and lava below. Turn around, drop off the ledge and grab the edge. Climb down the ladder all the way to the bottom, then drop and grab the ledge below. Pull up and drop back again if Lara wants to climb the ladder instead of hanging to traverse. Traverse to the left, hanging onto the crevice, until you can pull up. Walk to the left, descend the next ladder to the bottom and again drop and grab the ledge below. Pull up then walk to the right, drop and hang, traverse to the right and pull up into an opening where you'll find SECRET #2, the Stone Dragon. Return to the previous landing (just above the lava) the way you came. Head to the left and kill a spider. Jump and grab the ladder on the pillar. Climb up and follow the passage to a room with ladders and spikes below.

Climb the ladder to the crevice, traverse to the right (to avoid the spikes above), back flip to the ledge behind, then jump forward to the flat spot above where you just were. In the next area, run across the broken tiles and stop on the last one. You'll fall to the pedestal below, where you can pick up some shotgun shells.

Do a running jump over the lava to the opening, slide down and jump over the spikes to land on the angled block ahead. Immediately jump again over a second set of spikes to grab a ledge. Pull up, then slide down the angled block to safely pick up the grenades on the ground. Climb up until you reach a switch. Pull it to open the main doors to the FIRST TEMPLE.

INSIDE THE FIRST TEMPLE: Jump down into the water and swim back to the TEMPLE ENTRANCE. Enter through the doors you just opened and go to the rear, avoiding the robot guards. You'll see some M-16 clips lying on the floor. Approach them from the back to avoid being sliced by the robot guard's sword. Go through the right doorway in the rear wall and climb up until you reach a room with many angled rocks and lava below.

ROOM WITH ANGLED BLOCKS ABOVE LAVA: You'll need to make a complicated series of jumps to get through here. To make it easier, I've included a diagram, temple.gif (also online at http://tombraiders.net/stella/images/temple.gif). I refer to areas marked with letters the descriptions that follow. You may be able to manage without the map, but a visual aid can help.

SPIKED WALL TRAP ROOM: The switch opposite is a decoy. No matter how you approach it, the floor collapses and you slide into the room below. Upon landing, run/jump to the far side of the room, flip the real switch to open the exit, which is just below the opening where you slid in. Roll and rush through it to avoid the encroaching spiked walls.

Grabbing the small med-pack on the ground and getting out alive is a challenge, but it's possible. Slide down the ramp. When you land, you should should be positioned in the middle of the walkway with the med-pack and the skeletons. Jump forward and press action, Lara should pick up the med-pack. Jump forward again, run to the switch and throw it. Now jump backward with a mid-air twist (Jump + Back + Roll in rapid succession). Now Lara should be facing the exit. Take a running jump, then keep running through the door and the spikes don't get you.

ROOM WITH RAMPS AND METAL BALLS: Continue to the next room. Head up the ramp, then quickly back and side flip to get out of the way of the rolling metal ball. At the top another ramp slopes down to the right. A second ball comes from the top left. You can trip it by running up the ramp and into the depression at the left side. Climb up the step and run over the ramp to trigger yet another metal boulder. If you just keep running, you'll land safely below on the first ramp. Climb back to the top and follow the ladders up.

DARK ROOM, LADDERS WITH BLADES: Drop into the dark room. Cross to the far right and trip the switch, which opens a gate above and to the left, and also frees a tiger which charges from behind you. Once you've killed it, go through the opening to a ladder rigged with slicing blades.

Light a flare before jumping and grabbing the ladder. Climb down until Lara's feet are just above the blade. As the blade begins to open, release Action to drop past it. Quickly press Action again to grab the ladder below. Repeat the process with the second blade, then drop/slide into the room below. Here you'll find two perpendicular rolling blades. It's probably easiest to take them one at a time. Once you've passed both, you'll emerge in the anteroom above the robot guards. Kill the 2 birds before proceeding.

(**) TIMED RUN OVER THE RAFTERS: On the wall at the right side is a button that opens the door on the far wall. It's timed but not horribly difficult once you know what's required. Press the button, press Look to get Lara's perspective back, roll, then do a series of running jumps across the beams: the first two can be taken at a smooth run, the third needs an extra step beforehand. (That is, hold Forward and Jump for the first two running jumps, then release the Jump key to let Lara take another step before pressing Jump again. She'll then take 3 steps, instead of the usual 2, before taking off.) Keep running through the door before it closes.

Beyond this doorway is a room with a narrow walkway over lava. Four spiked balls swing from the ceiling. Stand to one side of the walkway and run past each ball in turn. The shadows on the floor can help to gauge each ball's position. Also, each ball only has spikes on one side, so you can stand a little closer to the un-spiked side.

TWO BUTTONS AND BROKEN TILE RUN: Next comes a doorway with buttons on each side and a lava-filled hallway with break-away floor tiles beyond. The button on the right raises a grate between the solid floor and the tiles; the one on the left opens the gate beyond. Press the right button, side flip, press the left button, and run through the doorway. When you reach the end of the tiles, a boulder rolls down from above and behind. You can try and outrun it, jumping at the end of the bridge to grab the ledge opposite. However, I found it easier to cross the broken tiles, stop immediately on the first solid block and safety drop backwards, grabbing the edge of the floor. This way the boulder sails past and you can pull up and continue at a leisurely pace.

LAVA POOL ROOM WITH DRAGON SEAL: At the end of the walkway, take a running jump over the lava to grab the platform on the other side. Pull up and take the DRAGON SEAL. Then take a running jump to the flat ledge on the right of the dragon. Climb up to the room at the rear. Grab the automatic pistol clips on the step near the door. Then enter, kill the 2 spiders and get 2 more sets of automatic pistol clips. Use the switch to raise blocks in the lava out in the main room. Go down toward the lava on the right side (the opposite from where you came up). Run and jump to the low, brown block near the wall, and again to the next block. Run and jump to the short angled block near the stone pillar holding up the bridge, jump to grab the edge of the taller angled block. Pull up, then slide down the front, jumping to land on the flat, high block. Take a running jump and grab the higher block on the right, then another running jump to the lower block below.

You should now be facing the sloped wall where you first entered this area. The ornate block in the lava below, which was a burner when you entered, is actually a springboard. Stand at the edge of the block facing the springboard. Hop back, then do a standing jump to the board. Hold down Action + Forward to jump from the springboard onto the ledge above. Immediately safety drop backwards, grabbing the ledge to avoid a rolling boulder from above. Run and jump to the flat area ahead and to the right. Jump to the bricks on the right to avoid another boulder. Now hopscotch across the flat brick areas to the top right. You'll need to kill a bird on the way. When you've made it to the highest brick block on the right side, slide down the ramp to the springboard at the bottom. As you slide, press Forward and Lara will spring up to land on her feet on the platform high above.

Take a running jump to grab the edge of the platform on the opposite side of the room. Pull up and take possession of SECRET #3, the Jade Dragon (with a bonus of 8 sets of Uzi clips for finding all secrets). Below on the left is a sloped wall with a number of flat brick platforms set in it. Take a running jump down down to the first brick platform on the left side of the slope. Use the flat brick platforms to climb up to the room at the top left, taking care to avoid the spikes hidden in the sloped floor.

Pull or push the movable block and go through the opening into the small room behind. Use the switch to open the trapdoor. There's a ramp below with a metal boulder set to roll. Run down ahead of the boulder and head to the left at the bottom of the slope. Slide down the next ramp to emerge again in the rafters above the robot guards. Now there are 2 tigers lurking below. Kill them before climbing down.

ABOVE THE SPIKED BALL ROOM: Now, if you must have all the kills, you'll need to make a detour back through the timed door. Do that the same way you did before (see above at the **). Beyond the door, head to the left and you'll see this area has changed. Climb up into the rafters above the swinging spiked balls. Here you'll meet another tiger. When you've killed it, continue forward to emerge in the DRAGON SEAL ROOM. Use the flat brick platforms to climb back up to the room at the top left of the slope. Go through the trapdoor and down the slopes to the rafters of the room with the robot guards. (If you haven't already killed the tigers below, do that now. Then drop down to the floor.)

ROOM WITH SPIKED CEILING AND MANY SWITCHES: Use the Dragon Seal to open the gate at the back of the room. Enter and follow the passage to a rolling blade. Run down the hallway, ducking into the alcoves to avoid the blade. The last alcove is actually a doorway with a slide leading down to a room knee-deep in water. The spiked ceiling descends and you need to flip all three switches to open the exit door. (There are also a number of decoy switches but if you look carefully, these aren't realistic enough to really trip you up.) There is also a small med-pack on the floor near the skeleton. You may have time to pick it up if you move quickly.

POOL WITH SIDE TUNNELS AND LEVERS: Exit to a room with a waterfall. Jump from the lower block to grab the higher one. Climb up and take a dip in the pool to draw out the 2 biting fish. Kill them before proceeding. This next section has a complex series of underwater levers and gates. Here's the drill: On one side of the pool is an underwater opening with a strong current that prevents you from swimming through. Opposite is a closed gate and a lever which raises the water level and turns off the current. After pulling this lever, head to the right and up to get air and pick up a large med-pack and some grenades.

Take a deep breath and swim down and to the left, through the tunnel, which slopes up then down. Bypass the lever on the left. (Use this lever only if Lara is running out of air and you don't want to restart the game. It lowers the water level, sweeping Lara back to the big pool.) Instead, take the passage to the right. Swim forward, pick up the small med-pack, then go back for air. (There's another opening in the ceiling of the big pool where Lara can breathe.) Return to where you got the med-pack and pull the lever on the left to open the door opposite. Roll, swim forward and pull another lever at the end of this short passage. This opens a gate out in the big pool. Swim out for air then go back under through the gate you just opened. (It's in the big pool next to the first lever you pulled). There's yet another lever on the right side of this passage. Pull it to open the gate above the center of the big pool. Swim up to it and climb out. (If you pulled the lever to lower the water level earlier, you'll need to pull the first lever again to raise it in order to reach this opening.)

ANOTHER SPIKED WALL AND THE GOLD KEY: You're now in the room below the one with the encroaching spiked walls. Kill a fish in the water before retrieving 2 boxes of shotgun shells under the water and some M-16 clips on the pedestal. In the next room, a spiked wall comes from the right, and the switch on the far left wall opens a trapdoor nearby. Get down through it as quickly as possible. You'll slide into the water and the current will carry you to the GOLD KEY, which you saw at the beginning of the level behind a gate. This gate opens as you approach, and you can swim through to end up are back near the TEMPLE ENTRANCE.

UNDERWATER AREA BEHIND GATE: Return to the platform below the falls where you began the level and use the gold key in that keyhole. This opens the gate to the left. Go through, then swim underwater to the right, right again and into an underwater room with closely spaced pillars. There's a small med-pack on the floor and pesky fish following Lara around. The door closes behind you. A lever on the back of the first pillar opens the other door next to the first. Kill the fish with the harpoon if you want. Or, pull the lever, exit, swim out and up for air, then return to the platform with the keyhole to kill the fish.

Pulling that last lever also opened a trapdoor farther down the underwater passage. If you're in the pillar room, swim straight ahead to reach it. If you're on the platform, swim through the gates, forward, then to the left. Swim up through the trapdoor you just opened, upward some more, and climb out of the water on a wooden platform to kill another fish.

SPIDER CAVE: Enter the spider-web spangled cave with guns drawn. (Lara can probably spot those spiders better than you can.) There'll be 2 small spiders to start. Turn left and approach the flares on the ground. Two more spiders drop from the ceiling. Kill them and take the flares. You can go through the webs on the left to get some Uzi clips. A giant spider and a small spider attack, so take care of those, then cross to the other side of the room. There's another alcove and 2 more small spiders within. Kill those and continue on to the doorway of a large room with a glowing egg sac suspended in the middle. Near the doorway another giant spider emerges, and as you enter 2 more giant spiders drop from the web.

Once the coast is clear, cross to the far side of the room (opposite the entrance) and climb on the one stone block you can reach. Turn around. Run, jump and grab the higher block opposite. Turn around again (you're now facing the first block you climbed on) and take a standing jump to grab the ledge above. (You should now be level with the egg sac.) Proceed from ledge to ledge clockwise around the perimeter of the chamber (i.e., keep the egg sac on your right and the wall on your left): First take a running jump to the small square ledge ahead. From the corner of this ledge, take a standing jump to the next ledge, which is L-shaped. A giant spider will drop in front of you here. (If you like, put some distance between Lara and the spider by jumping to the ledge to draw it out then immediately back flipping to the previous ledge.) Walk to the middle of the L-shaped ledge, then take a running jump to the angled, square pillar at the center of the cavern (directly under the egg sac). From there, take another running jump to grab the pillar below the doorway. Take a final standing jump from the edge of this pillar to grab the door sill. Pull up.

Go through this room to the opening over the water. Run, jump over the water and grab the rocks. Climb up and take the SILVER KEY. Return via the water to the cave with the two temples. Use the silver key to open the door to the SECOND TEMPLE, on the right.

INSIDE THE SECOND TEMPLE: Enter and climb on the lowest block. Jump and grab the next higher block, pull up, jumping to the side to avoid a rolling metal boulder, and back again to avoid another boulder. Continue to the top and pick up some automatic pistol clips on the floor where the boulders originated. Cross the bridge, killing a tiger and a bird, then a second tiger in the room beyond. Continue to a room with a blade rolling back and forth and an open doorway to the left just before it.

(NOTE: If you're not in great need of Uzi clips, you can skip this next bit.) Jump through this doorway diagonally, so as to land on the slope. Slide back and grab the edge. Climb down, let go and catch the ledge below. Pick up the Uzi clips then continue down the hallway. Drop down into the water outside the temple.

ROPE BRIDGE AND ROLLING BLADE: Retrace your steps into the temple and up to the rolling blade. Stand on the slightly sloped floor facing the blade but angled a bit to the right. Take two standing jumps, timing them to avoid the blade, and landing on the top tier. Enter the room with the motionless blade and pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips and a large med-pack. Cross the bridge. The blade doesn't start rolling until you do. Push the button to open doors back in the temple. Kill another bird, then time a run back across the bridge, veering left into the room at the end. If you run after the blade as it rolls away, you'll have just enough time. (Or, if you're not feeling brave, you can dive into the water and go back the long way.)

From the room where you killed the tigers, climb to the gray stones. Here you'll find a series of tiered springboards. Stand with Lara's back to the lowest springboard. Walk 3 steps forward, then back flip onto the springboard behind her. This should cause Lara to bounce up the slope using all four springboards. (You can use the arrow keys to adjust her trajectory, but you don't need to press any other keys.) Press Action before landing on the last springboard and hold it to make Lara grab the ledge above it after takeoff. Kill the bird that dive bombs you at the top. Then jump to grab the door sill of the room above. (These are the doors you just opened by pressing the button on the far side of the BRIDGE WITH THE ROLLING BLADE.)

MAIN CHAMBER: Enter this large, lava-filled room. Go to the end of the walkway you're on, and jump diagonally to the right to land on small platform near a keyhole. (You'll be getting the key shortly.) From here, jump to a large, flat area to the right. Run to the ladder on the far side and jump/climb up before the spiked wall arrives. Dismount on the ledge above. Climb up to the next room and run to the right, jumping the gap over the spikes and grabbing the ladder opposite. More spikes close in, so you'll need to be quick about it.

Climb up and follow the passageway past two gates looking out over two huge dragon statues, one on each side. Continue forward then to the right, where you'll find a switch. Pull this to open one of the two gates you just passed. Return to this gate, enter and take a running jump to grab the platform on the left. Jump to the next platform, then jump and grab the next platform, pull up and pick up the MAIN CHAMBER KEY. Drop down to the dragon's neck. Slide down its back to land on a flat block below. Hop down to the lowest step and from there take a running jump to the walkway where you came in. (This seems like a difficult jump, but if you angle Lara precisely before jumping, she'll land just to the right of the open door.)

Again, go to the end of the walkway, jump across to the keyhole and use your newly acquired key in it. This raises a grate on the stone pillar behind you. Jump back to the walkway by the door, then take a running jump to grab the grate. Pull up and jump from the grate to the block below the ladder. Climb up to the platform on the right. Turn around and jump over the spikes to grab another ladder. Climb again until you reach the small hallway with the two gates where you were earlier. Now the second gate is open. (NOTE: In case you're disoriented, the dragon you're going for this time is the one that has the central pillar extending all the way to the ceiling.)

Jump from platform to platform clockwise around the room until you're facing a block that slopes down toward the dragon. Jump to it and immediately jump again to land on the flat area on the dragon's neck. Climb the ladder until you reach a blade. Position Lara's hands two rungs below the blade, then back flip onto the angled block behind. Jump and grab as you slide to catch hold of the next ladder. Climb to the next blade, position Lara's hands two rungs below it and press the Jump and Roll keys, then Action, to make Lara leap from the ladder, twist in the air, then grab the ladder behind. Continue up until you can get off the ladder on the right. Enter this corridor to finish the level.

BEGINNING OF LEVEL/GOLD LATTICE BUILDING: Move forward to the end of the walkway and take a look around: ahead and below is a Mystic Plaque on one of the small, green "floating islands." Off to the right on the roof of a building, is the Jade Dragon. You'll get to these soon. As you stand there, a flying warrior approaches very slowly from the right. You'll meet a number of these guards during this and the next level. They are deadly at close range, but you can often take them out from a distance. This one can be killed as it moves through the air toward you. You can even do it with pistols if you start firing as soon as Lara gets a lock on it. When it explodes, turn around and head back toward the level's entrance and to the right. On the ground is a small med-pack.

Now, return to the end of the flat walkway so you're facing a green island shaped like a double ramp or an upside-down "V." Jump to the left side of the ramp, slide forward and jump to the angled green block ahead, then from there jump to grab the edge of the gold latticework building.If you miss this grab, Lara will slide down to the stone ledge below. A petrified guard will come to life on the next island over. (Listen to the sounds it makes when this happens so you'll be alerted next time.) Kill it while it's in the air and cross over to the island. Use the rocks on the right of the guard's alcove to climb back to the top to try that jump again.

Once inside the latticework building, throw the switch, which opens a trapdoor on the underside of the building where you saw the Jade Dragon, as well as a gate at the end of the building you're in now. (NOTE: You can now go through this gate and slide down to the island with the Jade Dragon, but I don't recommend it, since it will take longer to complete your objectives.)

SMALL ISLAND AND FIRST MYSTIC PLAQUE: Return to the ledge where you entered this building and drop down to the slope below. (If you made the jump to the gold building perfecly and the petrified guard below didn't awaken, he will do so now and you'll need to kill him.) Climb up the rocks to the right of the guard's alcove to the top near the double ramp where you started. This time, jump to the left side, facing backwards, to slide down the ramp and grab the edge. Drop to the ledge below, then jump across to the small island and take the MYSTIC PLAQUE.

LARGER ISLAND WITH ELEVATED BUILDING AND THREE GUARDS: Jump across the green rocks to the island with the building on it. This will awaken one of the 3 stone guards. You can jump back to the green rocks, and he won't be able to get Lara as you shoot him. When he's dead, jump back across to the building.

Pull up through the trapdoor into the room above. Here you'll find some 2 sets of Uzi clips, flares, a large med-pack and a second MYSTIC PLAQUE. Taking the plaque awakens another of the guards below. Use the pistols to shoot him through the opening or drop down and finish him off.

Climb up on the rocks to the left of the guard platform, near the small tree. From here you can jump and grab the edge of the roof. Pull up and cross to the other side to pick up SECRET #1, the Jade Dragon. Drop back down to the ground.

If you want all the kills, you'll need to revive the remaining stone guard. This guard is set to awaken when you come down the stone slide from the GOLD LATTICE BUILDING. So if you've gone the other way (as I suggested) you'll need to jump onto the slide to activate the guard. Head to the right side of the island (the right when Lara's back is to the guard platform) and locate this stone ramp. Draw weapons and backflip onto the ramp, so Lara will slide down facing forward. The guard will awaken and you can quickly dispatch it. If the grenade trick (described above at the **) isn't working for you, awaken the guard, then run to the right and jump over to the green island to kill it from safety.

LARGER ISLAND, LOWER LEVEL: Now face the guard platform and head toward the right side of the island. Drop and hang from the edge, then let go and grab the green ledge below. Pull up, go to the left and pull the switch to lower the gate in the opening opposite so you can walk on it.

To get all the kills, climb to the top of the 4-tiered island then walk across to the roof of the GOLD LATTICE BUILDING. One of the 2 petrified guards on the island opposite (with the big doors and ornate carved base) will awaken when you reach the top green step. The other will awaken when you step on the gold roof. Activate them one at a time and they'll be easier to shoot as they approach. Once the guards have exploded, go back down to the bottom of the green steps and jump across to the island where they were.

MYSTIC PLAQUE GATE AND GARDEN BEYOND: Pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips and use the plaques in the receptacles to open the gate. Shortly after you enter, a flying guard rises up from below the bridge on the left. You'll have time to kill him in the air if you're waiting for him. After he's dead, pick up 2 sets of automatic pistol clips on the ground to the right.

Climb up the rocks behind the small tree next to where you found the clips. Here you'll see an opening at the top of a slope. Turn around, back up to the base of the slope and back flip to land inside the opening. Follow the passage to SECRET #2, the Stone Dragon. To get back, turn around and take a diagonal standing jump into the tunnel opening. Then follow the tunnel back to the little tree.

Cross to the opposite side of the courtyard and climb/jump up to the green boulder. Position Lara's back to the boulder and back flip over it. Slide down the slope ahead of the rolling boulder, then hop back and grab the ledge as the boulder sails overhead. Keep hanging as a second boulder falls down behind you. Only then pull up. Turn and jump across the gap. Then go to the flat area near the top of the ramp. Take a running jump to the island with the zip line handle. When you land, slide back and grab the edge, traverse right and pull up. (NOTE: There's no need to grenade the guard on the left. You'll have time to kill him before he reaches you later on.) Now ride the zip line, dropping off on the lower bridge.

LOWER BRIDGE/ROOM BELOW GARDEN: Enter the room and kill the first of 3 stone guards, who animates as you arrive. If you like, give the others the 3-grenade treatment (described above at the **). Then pull the switch between them. This awakens them. It also resets the zip line and raises the gate at the bottom of it. When the guards are dead, go through the other door to the left of the entrance. There you'll find a second zip line. Ride it down, keeping the Action key pressed, to grab the lattice on the opposite side. Climb to the top of the lattice, then up a second lattice and over to the right side, where you can dismount.

At the green doorway, hang and drop, traverse left, then drop to the ground. Drop down through the opening to the floor below. Kill the guard who awakens above near the top of the zip line. Take the small med-pack lying on the ground, then return up through the opening. Climb the green block and pull up onto the roof, then jump over the slanted roof to land on the green slide where the boulder trap was.

LAVA ROOM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ZIP LINE: Return to the top of the first zip line. This time, ride it all the way to the end. When you land, turn around. Jump to the flat area on the right side of the gap with lava below. Mind the shooting blade traps as you explore this room. A flying guard sails in from the left (through the opening in the flames). A second guard follows if you cross the gap to the other side, but you don't have to do this. After you've killed the guard(s), arrange the movable block so you can climb to the platform above. Or, pull up on the angled wall to the right of the opening where the cable comes in and backflip onto the platform.

Pull the switch on the column to drop a block into the gap below, making a bridge. (BUG WARNING: Some people have experienced a bug in which pulling the switch more than once causes Lara to get stuck inside the block/bridge when she lands on it. Be sure to pull the switch only once.)

Climb down and safety drop into the gap onto the block/bridge. Flip the switch to open a trapdoor in the lava above. Climb up out of the pit by jumping from the block/bridge, over the lava, to grab the block to the left. Pull up and climb out of the pit, taking care to avoid the shooting blades. Climb back up to the switch platform and from there onto the wall, where you'll find 2 sets of M-16 clips. From here, take a running jump, pressing Action while in the air, to sail through the opening in the lava and land in the water below. (NOTE: You can also use a running swan dive here: Set up the running jump as usual, then run forward and tap Walk just before jumping. This is a bit more difficult than the running jump-grab, but it's fun to watch.)

Pick up some shotgun shells from under the water. Cross the room and pull a switch, which raises a gate above the lower end of the zip line. Return to the deeper water, then swim down and to the left, through a narrow passage. Surface, then climb into the dark alcove above to pull another switch, which turns off the slashing blades. Climb to the top of the tiered wall, again taking care to avoid the shooting blades.

Head to the right, then jump back to the flat area on the right. Move the green carved block into the corner near the opening you just came from. Jump from the top of the block into the opening above the zip line handle, using Action to lower Lara's trajectory if necessary. Follow the passage, past a black gate, to a room with a spiked floor. Take a running jump and grab the crevice in the opposite wall. Traverse to the right, pull up and flip the switch to open the black gate. Take a running jump from this alcove back to the upper opening in the opposite wall (again hold Action to get the arc right).

Walk forward to the gate you just opened. (There are 2 petrified guards in this room. They don't animate until you return to this area later. But, this is your chance to give them the 3-grenade treatment, as described above at the **.)

THE CAGE: Slide backwards down the slope through the opening in the floor. Grab the end of the slide and drop into the cage below. There are 4 knife-throwing cult members and 4 stone guards in the area beyond the cage. Here's one way of taking care of them all fairly easily:

Flip the switch to raise the cage, roll, then run to the wall and pull up. The cultists are pretty relentless, but they will not climb up after you. You can use the column for cover and snipe at them until all are dead. Once the human foes are out of the way, take out the stone guards one at a time. First, if it works for you, blast each from a distance using 3 grenades (as described above at the **). Then approach each one in turn to awaken it, and finish it off. If the grenade trick doesn't work or you're short on grenades, awaken them one at a time and climb back on the wall to kill them from safety.

When the coast is clear, recover some goodies from the bodies: 3 sets of Uzi clips, 3 boxes of shotgun shells, and one of each size med-pack. Then flip the 2 switches in the alcoves where the guards were. One opens the exit gate, the other a door in the room above. Go up the stairs, killing the cult thug who tries to stop you, and taking his large med-pack and automatic pistol clips. There are also 2 pairs of grenades on the stairs.

At the top of the stairs is the switch that opens the doors and awakens the 2 stone guards beyond. If you've grenaded them earlier, they'll be fairly easy to pop off. If you have no grenades and you're desperate, you can run past them and jump through the opening in the floor that leads back down to the cage. Slide down the ramp and climb up onto the wall again. The guards will come down the stairs after you. You may have to jump down to the floor once or twice to get their attention, but this is much safer than fighting both of them at once. When they're dead return to the room at the top of the stairs.

LADDERS ABOVE SPIKES AND LAVA: Enter the room with the lattice walls and the lava/spike floor. Climb up the lattice. Position Lara's feet on the rung with no filigree above (6th from the top). Jump off and twist in the air, then grab the lattice behind (Jump + Roll...Action). Climb to the left, then up to the red-and-green area of the lattice. Position Lara's feet on the bottom of the red area. Again, jump off, twist and catch the lattice behind. Climb to the top, and get as far to the left as possible. Pull up and back flip, then immediately side flip to the left to land on the flat area. Avoid the shooting blade trap and immediately draw weapons to kill the cult goon who's waiting here. Take his shotgun shells.

Position the movable block below the zip line and in the way of the shooting blades and jump to the rocks on the left. Walk to the far end, then jump across the gap to the lower flat area. Take a running jump back across the gap to the opening below the spot from which you just jumped. Follow this passage to SECRET #3, the Gold Dragon. (This is the last secret of the game and carries a bonus of 8 pairs of grenades if you've found all three secrets in this level.) Return to the opening above the lava. Run and jump straight across the gap to grab the angled block next to the flat area. Pull up and back flip onto the ledge behind. From here, jump into the doorway to finish the level. (Or if you prefer the Indiana Jones approach, climb back to the top and ride the zip line in.)

Pick up a large med-pack and 2 sets of Uzi clips from the ground. The petrified guard will not awaken if you follow these instructions, so he can be ignored. Just slip by into the next room. (If you want all the kills, you can use the grenade trick to soften him up. See the Level 16 walk-through at the **. However, I recommend saving about 15 grenades for the dragon itself.)

The stone guard on the opposite side of the room awakens as you enter, so take care of him. If you have grenades to spare, use the grenade trick on the remaining two as well. Ignore the switch on the far side of the room unless you want all kills. This awakens the first guard without opening any doors. Do pull the switch on the side of the door through which you entered. This animates the 2 guards on the sides and opens the exit door.

After you've killed the guards, advance carefully into the next room. It's dark and there are many pillars in here. Six cult members are lurking in the shadows. You can draw them out one or two at a time by advancing slowly into the room, weapons drawn, then backing out as they emerge from hiding. When all 6 are dead, recover their stuff: large and small med-packs, 6 sets of Uzi clips and a MYSTIC PLAQUE. Use the Plaque to open the door and enter the Dragon's Lair.

Bartoli's body lies on a low platform at the center of this huge room. When you step within the area marked off by the pillars, he magically transforms into a huge dragon. You need to bring it down, then pull the DAGGER from its belly. If you don't get the dagger in time, the dragon revives and the whole ordeal starts again.

There are a number of holes in the floor leading to a water-filled room below. Down here are 10 sets of Uzi clips and 2 large med-packs in case you need backup. If you're really short on ammo, I'd recommend going into the water through one of the holes at the edge before the dragon appears, then picking up only the stuff at the perimeter of the underwater room. If you get too close to the center, you'll see a flash of light as Bartoli transforms.

This short level begins with Lara at home again admiring her new prize. The alarms go off as two vans full of Fiama Nera goons bust into the estate. Hurry to the other side of the bed and unlock the gun closet. (The key is already in Lara's possession, but there are no weapons or ammo yet.) Inside is the shotgun (in the far left corner along with some shells). There are more shells on the same shelf in the closet--27 boxes of shells in all--along with 2 bunches of flares and 1 small and 2 large med-packs. You may not have time to pick them all up at first, so go for the gun and initial shells.

Two thugs and a dog will enter the bedroom first from the door on the left. To keep the fight simple, stay in the closet and wait, shooting them as they approach. Then gather any stuff you weren't able to get at first. When you go out into the bedroom, another goon enters via the balcony on the right. He has a box of shells.

Head down the stairs. Depending on how long you took in the bedroom, 2 more bad guys may have come up the stairs. If not you'll meet them at the door. Two more dogs and 4 more men are waiting outside. You can draw them out by stepping through the door then retreating into the house. One of these guys has a small med-pack. Two more men and a dog come out of hiding when you approach the low hedges to the left of the door. Follow the path toward the assault course. About halfway down roll and start backing up. The final enemy, a thug with 2 big guns, will follow. He's hard to kill but when he falls, that's the end of the game. Off to the showers to clean up and unwind.