LEVEL 15: TEMPLE OF XIAN

Kills: 35  Items: 21 (29)*  plus the Dragon Seal, 3 keys and 3 secrets

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, jump and twist (ALT + END) so you're able to grab the edge of the slide at the end.  Shimmy left and pull up into an alcove where you'll find SECRET #1, the Gold Dragon.

Jump in the water, go over the falls and climb out on the platform.  Shoot the two fish.  Note the nearby keyhole and the ladder leading up to a closed trapdoor.  There are two underwater openings across the pool. Find the one on the right.  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 tunnel opening then swim up into the temple area.

Exit the water on the rocks at the right side and pick up some shotgun shells.  Ready that gun, since 2 tigers emerge as you approach the temple doors.  After killing them, go around the left side of the building.  Use the springboard to jump to the roof.  Cross the roof and throw the switch, which opens the trapdoor you saw earlier.  Kill the eagle and return to the ladder that leads up to the trapdoor.

Climb up, kill a spider, and continue to a ledge above a room with a large wooden pillar in the center and lava below.  Climb down the ladder, then drop and grab the ledge below.  Traverse to the left until you can pull up.  Descend the next ladder and again drop and grab the ledge below.  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 Silver Dragon.  Return to the previous landing (just above the lava) the way you came and kill a spider there.  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, which opens the main doors to the temple.

Head back to the temple, enter 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 opening on the rear wall and climb up until you reach a room with many angled rocks and lava below.  You'll need to make a series of complicated jump and grab maneuvers to get through here.  To make it easier, I've included a diagram (see temple.gif).  I refer to areas marked with letters the descriptions that follow.  You may be able to manage without the map, but it's kind of hard to describe, so a visual aid may help.  (If the GIF image didn't transfer properly when you downloaded this walk-thru, you can download it separately.  The URL is http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Labyrinth/9596/temple.gif.)

Landing on each angled surface should cause Lara to turn and face downhill.  When she does, jumping will propel her forward to the next slope.  If she lands facing up a slope, try again.  Here's the sequence:  From the doorway (A), take a running jump straight across to the long block that slopes down to the right (B).  As you start to slide, jump forward to the next angled block ahead (C).  (C slopes down and toward the entrance.)  Slide and jump forward to land on a small angled block (D), and immediately jump again to land on a fourth sloped block (E).  Again, immediately jump to the final block (F).  Now climb up to the top of the rocks (G) and take a running jump to grab the ledge above and opposite the entrance (H).  From here, you can climb to the next area.

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 switch to open the exit just below where you slid in, and rush through it to avoid the encroaching spiked walls.  (If you want the small med-pack on the ground, you're welcome to try.  I couldn't do it.)

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, then jumping down 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.

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.  Drop to pass the first blade and 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 eagles before proceeding.

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.  Press the button, 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.

Beyond this doorway is a room with a narrow walkway over lava.  Four spiked balls swing from the ceiling.  This can probably be done in a number of ways.  The easiest for me was to 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 non-spiked side.

Next comes a doorway with a button on each side, a lava-filled hallway with break-away floor tiles beyond.  The button on the right raises a floor grate so you can get across to 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 manage to get to 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 grabbing the ledge opposite. It's doable, but 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 your own pace.

Once you get across the lava at the end of the bridge, 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.  Kill 2 spiders and get 2 sets of auto pistol clips.  Pull 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, 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 (CTRL + UP ARROW) 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 brick areas to the top right.  You'll need to kill an eagle 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 (UP ARROW) to land on your 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).  Run and jump down to the first brick platform on the left side of sloped wall below.  Climb to the room at the top left, taking care to avoid the spikes hidden in the sloped floor.

Pull out the block to enter a small room.  The switch there opens a trapdoor.  There's a ramp below with a boulder set to roll.  Run down ahead of the boulder and head to the left.  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.

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 these aren't realistic enough to really trip you up.)

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 lever which raises the water level and turns off the current.  After pulling this lever, head to the right and surface to get air and pick up a large med-pack and some grenades.  

Take a deep breath and swim through the tunnel, passing by the lever on the right.  Turn left and continue to another lever.  Pull this to open the door opposite.  Swim through and pull another lever at the end of this short passage.  This opens a grate near the first lever (out in the big pool).  Swim back out to where you jumped in and surface to get air.  Go back under through the door you just opened (next to the first lever you pulled).  Pull the lever here to open a gate above the center of the big pool.  Swim up to it and climb out.

You're now in the room below the one with the encroaching spiked walls where you were earlier.  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 wall to the left 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, and you can swim through to end up are back near the temple entrance.

Return to the platform below the falls 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 a lever on the back of the first pillar.  Pull the lever to open the exit, along with a trapdoor farther down the underwater passage.  If you need to, get some air and swim back to the platform to climb out and kill that pesky fish.  When you're ready, follow the underwater passage in the direction opposite the room where you just pulled the lever.   Swim up through the trapdoor you just opened and climb out of the water to kill a couple more fish.

Enter the room with all the spider webs 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.  2 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 continue on to the doorway of a large room with a glowing egg sac suspended in the middle.  Near the doorway another giant spider attacks, 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.  Run, jump and grab the higher block to the left.  Turn around and jump to grab the ledge above.  Proceed from ledge to ledge clockwise around the perimeter of the chamber.  Kill the giant spider that drops to the L-shaped ledge when you reach it.  From there, take a running jump to the pillar at the center, then another running jump to grab the pillar below the high doorway with faces decorating each side.  From here you can do a standing jump to grab the door sill.

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 temple.  Use the silver key to open the door on the right.

Enter and climb on the lowest block.  Jump and grab the next higher block, pull up, jumping to the side to avoid a rolling boulder, and back again to avoid another.  Continue to the top and pick up some auto pistol clips on the floor where the boulders originated.  Cross the bridge, killing a tiger and an eagle, 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.  (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.

Retrace your steps to the rolling blade.  Stand on the slightly sloped floor facing the blade but angled slightly 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 eagle, then time a run back across the bridge.  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.  Take three steps forward, then back flip onto the springboard behind.  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 jump.)  Press ACTION before landing on the last springboard to make Lara grab the ledge above it after takeoff.

Kill the eagle that flies at you at the top.  Then jump and grab the door sill of the room above.  (These are the doors you opened by pressing the button on the far side of the rolling blade bridge.)  Enter this large, lava-filled room and jump to the small platform near a keyhole, then to a larger area to the right.  Run to the ladder on the far side and jump/climb up before the spiked wall gets to you.

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 are closing 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 to the switch.  Pull this to open the gate to get to one of the dragons.  From this gate, take a running jump and grab the platform to the left, jump to the next platform, then jump and grab the next platform 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.  From the lowest step, take a running jump to the flat area where you came in.

Again, jump across to the keyhole and use your newly acquired key in it.  This lowers a grate on the stone pillar behind you.  Jump back to the large platform by the door, then run, jump and grab the grate.  From there, jump to the ladder and 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 gates where you were earlier.  Now the second gate is open.  (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 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 jump and roll (ALT + END) to twist in the air, then Action (CTRL) to grab the ladder behind.  Continue up until you can get off the ladder on the right.  Enter this corridor to finish the level.

Here you get another cut scene:  Lara emerges above the chamber where the Dagger of Xian rests, only to find that Marco Bartoli has beaten her to it.  She watches from the shadows as Bartoli plunges the dagger into his heart.  He collapses and his henchmen carry him out on their shoulders.


LEVEL 16:  FLOATING ISLANDS

Kills: 24  Items: 25 (33)*  plus 2 Mystic Plaques and 3 secrets

First, 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 both of these soon.  Down to the left on the ground is a small med-pack to tide you over.  Go to the end of the flat walkway so you're facing a green island with a slope on each side.  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 stone ledge of the gold latticework building.

If you miss grabbing this ledge, you'll slide down to the stone ledge below.  A petrified guard (one of many you'll meet during this level) 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.  These guards are deadly at close range, but you can usually take them out from a distance. This one can be killed as it flies 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's dead, cross over to the island and 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 this building so you can get there. Go down the path to the left, slide down the ramp, jump to the ramp ahead.  There are 4 stone guards on a tiered platform.  One guard awakens as soon as you set foot on this island.  Four grenades will take him out.  Otherwise, shoot like mad and try and stay out of his way.  Also avoid going to the far side of the island (from the guards' pedestal), as this will awaken another guard.

NOW, HERE'S THE TRICK (suggested by Guillaume Cormier on the alt.games.tombraider newsgroup):  Fire 3 grenades at each of the stone guards on the platform.  (You can skip the one second from the left, since he doesn't wake up anyway.)  This will weaken them considerably, so that when they do awaken, it will only take a single grenade (or far fewer bullets than normal) to kill each one.  This works for all of the guards you'll encounter during this and the next level.  I'd advise saving your grenades for this (and the dragon in the next level) if you haven't squandered them already.  Also, be careful to use only 3 grenades, not 4, as the extra one seems to cause the game to crash--at least in the PC version.

Pull up through the trapdoor into the room above.  Here you'll find some Uzi clips, flares, a large med-pack and a MYSTIC PLAQUE.  When you take the plaque, one of the guards below will awaken.  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 down and cross to the opposite side of the island from the guard platform.  Another guard will awaken.  Kill him.  (You can wait to do this until you return here later in the game, or take care of it now.)

Cross over to 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 so you can walk on it.  From there, take a running jump to the green island.  Jump to the flat area at the top and from there to the next island on the left.  Follow its L shape to the end, then take a running jump to grab the small, square island.  From here, leap across to grab the lowest step of the 4-tiered island beyond.  (Notice the 2 guards on the island of gray, carved stone.  They'll be coming for you shortly.)  Go to the top of the steps, then jump to the next island and climb to the top.  Don't step on the gold lattice yet.  Instead, turn and kill one of the guards as he flies toward you.  When you step on the gold lattice, the second guard awakens and flies over.  Kill him as well.

Cross the gold roof to the right.  From the left corner of the large, flat, gold roof, jump to the green island with the two slopes (the same one you jumped on at the beginning of the level).  This time, slide down the right slope backwards and grab the end when you fall.  Drop onto the flat ledge below.  Jump over to the small, green island and take the second MYSTIC PLAQUE.

From there, jump to the small island ahead, then to the island with the building where the first plaque was.  (If you didn't take care of that guard earlier, he'll wake up now.)  Drop down on the right side again and retrace your steps to the bottom of the highest green staircase (the one that abuts the gold roof at the top).  From here, jump over to the gray island where the 2 flying guards were.   Pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips and use the 2 Mystic Plaques to open the door.

Shortly after you enter, a guard flies 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 auto pistol clips on the ground to the right.

Climb up the rocks behind the small tree nearby.  Here you'll see an opening at the top of a slope.  Back flip up the slope to land inside the opening.  Follow the passage to SECRET #2, the Silver Dragon.  To get back, turn around and jump diagonally into the tunnel opening, then follow the tunnel back to the tree.

Cross to the opposite side of the "garden" and climb/jump up to find a 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 and go to the flat area near the top of the ramp.  Take a running jump to the island with the rope slide handle.  When you land, slide back and grab the edge, traverse right and pull up.  (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 rope slide, dropping off to land on the lower bridge.

Enter the room and kill the first of 3 stone guards, who awakens as you arrive.  Give the others the 3-grenade treatment if you like, then pull the switch which awakens them.  (It also resets the rope slide and raises the gate at the bottom of it).  When the guards are dead, go through the other door near the entrance.  Ride this second rope slide down.  Keep holding Action to grab the lattice on the opposite side.  Climb up to a second lattice, then to the top left side of that one.  Back flip off the lattice to land on the flat area behind.

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.  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 up the gray stone to slide down to the area where you entered.

Return to the top of the first rope slide.  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.  A guard flies 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), move the block so you can climb to the platform above.  Pull the switch on the column to raise a bridge down below in the gap.  You can also find 2 sets of M-16 clips on top of the wall nearby.

Climb down and drop into the gap at the right side, so you land near where the blades are shooting out.  (Careful!)  Jump over to the bridge at the center.  Flip the switch to open a trapdoor in the lava above.  Climb back to the top where you found the M-16 clips earlier.  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.

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 rope slide.  Return to the deeper water, then swim down and to the left, through a narrow passage.  Surface, then climb into the alcove above to pull another switch, which turns off the blades.  Climb to the top of the tiered wall, taking care to avoid the shooting blade trap.

Jump back to the flat area on the right and move the block towards the opening you just came from.  Jump from the top of the block into the opening above the rope slide handle, using Action to alter your 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 right, pull up and flip the switch to open the black gate.  Take a running jump from this alcove to the lower opening in the opposite wall (again hold Action to get the arc right).

Return, via the moveable block, to the gate you just opened.  (There are two petrified guards in this room.  Be sure and give them the grenade treatment if you have enough ammo.)  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 Fiama Nera 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 cult goons throw knives and 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 the stone guards out one at a time.  First blast each from a distance using 3 grenades, then approach each one in turn to awaken them, and finish them off.  Or, if 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 two 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 auto pistol clips.  There are also 2 pairs of grenades on the stairs.  At the top 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.  Slide down 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.  Return to the room at the top of the stairs.

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 (ALT + END...CTRL).  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 side flip 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.

Move the stone block 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 across 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 doorway 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 you.  From here, jump into the doorway to finish the level.  (Or if you prefer the Indiana Jones approach, climb back to the top and take the rope slide in.)


LEVEL 17:  THE DRAGON'S LAIR

Kills: 11  Items: 23 plus 1 Mystic Plaque (no secrets)
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.  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, blast the two remaining guards with 3 grenades apiece before they wake up.  (In case you didn't read the notes for the previous level, this will make them quite a bit easier to kill when they do awaken.)  Ignore the switch on the far side of the room.  All it does is awaken the guard you passed by before, without opening any doors.  Instead, pull the switch on the side of the door through which you entered.  This wakes up the two 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.  6 cult members are lurking in the shadows.  You can draw them out one or two at a time by advancing slowly into the room 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.

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.  However, when fighting the dragon, it's nearly impossible to get down here then climb back out of the water without getting toasted.  If you're really short on ammo, I'd recommend going into the water through one of the holes at the edge, then picking up only the stuff at the perimeter of the underwater room.  If you get too close to the center, the dragon wakes up.

There are many ways of killing the dragon.  My favorite (i.e., the easiest and least dangerous) is to approach the center of the room from the left, keeping behind the pillar.  When the dragon rouses, edge toward the right until you're able to hit it using grenades.  It will take about 15 grenades to bring it down, and it won't try and come around the pillar if you're positioned correctly. (As far as I know, this was first suggested by "dafiske" on the alt.games.tombraider newsgroup, though I've seen it elsewhere as well.)
Once the dragon goes down, rush over to its belly and pull out the Dagger.  If you don't get it in time, the dragon will revive and the whole thing starts over again.

When you've got the Dagger, the exit door opens and the place starts to collapse.  Run through the exit door and down the passageway to end the level.


EPILOGUE:  HOME SWEET HOME

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 your possession.)  Inside is the shotgun (in the far left corner along with some shells).  There are also more shells, flares and med-packs.  You may not have time to pick them all up at first, so go for the gun.  4 thugs and a dog will enter the bedroom first--2 from the balcony, the rest from the doorway.  Take them out and gather any stuff you weren't able to get at first.  Some of the men you kill will provide extra shells and med-packs.

Head down the stairs.  2 more dogs and 4 more men are waiting outside.  You can draw them out by stepping through the door then retreating into the house.  Two more men and dog appear when you approach the low hedges to the left of the door.  The final enemy is a thug with 2 big guns.  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.

Congratulations!  You did it!


(*Under found items, the number in parentheses shows total including extra items granted for finding all three secrets.)

(c) 1998 LKRokjer.  Special thanks are given to the participants in the alt.games.tombraider newsgroup, without whom some parts of this walk-through couldn't have been written.  Feel free to copy, distribute and quote this walk-through, but please include this credit line so people can send me their corrections, comments and suggestions.  Also, if you'd like to offer this on your own web site, kindly ask permission first.  To give me your feedback, send e-mail to stellalune@earthlink.net.

