Quest of Gold (QoG) 8  - The Mystic Experiment.

Level by Thibault Chatelus [TC 14]

Authorized Walkthrough Dutchy

Story:

"Lara heard about a powerful artifact made of gold by ancient Indians in Canada and would like to retrieve it... After an investigation, she finds that it might be hidden in a Temple underneath a Gold Mine in the Canadian Forest. So she takes the plane and no sooner is she in Canada than she jumps into a jeep... After exploring the mining camp, she finally gets into the Mine. She finds a way to the Sanctuary hidden deep into the Mine. After going through it she will find the golden passage leading to the underground temple..."

Then, she opens the Portal of the Great Spirit and gets to the mystic world.

Note:

This level is part of a series, use your own save game from the Great Spirit Levels or use the one provided in the Level download. I’m sure there is an alternate route through this level, but I thought this one to be OK.

Walkthrough:

Level QoG 8 – The Mystic Experiment.

Step out of the Portal beams and find the Revolver Ammo NW and then grab a crack in the SW pillar to shimmy around to the back of the fence, hop to the blue ledge and look for a Harpy coming your way, start shooting as soon as possible and runjump/roll SW to the corner of the slanted block S and grab the edge of it upon sliding off. Shimmy R around a corner and backflip/roll/grab the block behind you. Now runjump/grab into the building S and go L around the statue to find a Jumpswitch on the NE pillar (cutscene of Mutants near the Portal). Runjump/grab back to the last block E and face NE standing on the NE corner, standjump onto the blue slanted block and slide off the L side, then jump with a L curve and grab under the ladder on the big block, pull up over the top and slide/jump/grab back to the blue block, runjump/grab to the Portal house.

To the Top, *the W route*.

Go climb back around that L pillar and have it out with the Mutants. Look W and see a block with a Burner on top. There used to be a Burner pointing in your direction too and that one is now gone. Runjump/grab to that block and shimmy around the R hand corner, pull up in the next corner, turn around and stand motionless, then standjump/grab to the slanted block SW. Hang R and time the Spikes on the next ledge, I went over the top as they were about to pop up, do a running jump/grab to the ladder ahead (If you don’t have enough room to do a running jump, try to jump from the slanted block earlier). Go climb up and L around the corner, up again and R till you hang over a Burner ledge, go down to the lowest point and backflip/roll/grab a block behind. Runjump onto the next blue slanted block a bit to the L and slide jump to the next, shoot the Demigod from here (or go up close to him quickly, duck and shoot him with Pistols) and runjump/grab to get onto the roof get over there and hop onto the highest part, look back W and spot the Secret Rose hanging in the air, jump onto the invisible platform it is on and get your Secret#1. Now go to the E side of the roof and standjump to the walkway E, go L and see the building NE, there’s a crack in the side and it leads to a crawlspace.

The Receptacle Room, 1st Lizard Sphere.

Runjump over the railing and grab the crack, go R till you are hanging over a Jumpswitch (later) and pull up into the crawlspace, go out onto the ladder in the Receptacle room and from hanging on the top of the ladder a backflip/roll to the Receptacle floor. Hop onto the blue block E to get the ½ MP and go down from the block (the opening E is for later).

There are two ways to proceed from here and that’s the *Expert route* and the *Easier route*.

Expert route: Go to the W side of the Receptacle floor and jump/grab the ladder, go down to the end, climb L as far as possible and take one step back to the R, listen to the sound of the Spikes and backflip (no roll) when you expect the Spikes to be up when you land, immediately sidejump R onto a sloped block to slide onto a ledge with a switch and when you throw the switch you’ll see a passage open up. Look NE and spot the Secret Rose on the deadly floor, that square is the only safe spot, so runjump straight to it and (leave it there for now), from that square you can jump to the ledge with the hide rack, grab the 1st Lizard Sphere. Jump back to the Secret square and get your Secret#2, a Secret Rose and runjump back W to the ledge with the switch at the support pillar, time the Spikes again and hop through the SW corner to do a runjump/grab back to the ladder, backflip onto the receptacle floor.

Easier route: (well at least I think so): Safety drop down from the SE corner (facing N) onto a slanted block, from the block a jump to the ledge with the hide rack, grab the 1st Lizard Sphere. Jump NE to the Secret Rose (leave it there for now) on the deadly floor and from there W to the switch ledge to use the switch, back to the Secret square and now pick up the Secret, run diagonally over the square and jump back to the slanted block S, jump/grab the entrance ladder and go up to backflip to the Receptacle floor.

Now go out the opening in the E wall and get out onto the block R of the opening so you can climb to the roof there, two Mutant Apes attack, shoot them and hop over the railing. There’s a Zip-line here, but you can’t use it yet, that one will be for much later. Head to the far SW corner of the roof. Drop down to the walkway you came from and jump to the roof of the Portal. From the roof you can runjump to the walkway SW and go to the W end and just before the statue is a ½ MP to be found, go back and head to the S end, just when you go under the arch is another ½ MP. Go to the S and shoot another Demigod there and runjump/grab over the railing to the blue block E, then runjump to the roof and Lara will look up at a Jumpswitch under a crawlspace up in the S rock face. Look down from the W side and see a ledge with a MP, safety drop down there losing a bit of health.

Grab the MP and spot the opening NW in the W wall, covered by Ivy, runjump in there with a L curve and follow in to shoot a Mutant Ape, you’ll come to a fence with Fire behind it, grab up to the ceiling monkeyswing and go just over the second fence, drop down and line up for a run L through the Spike-trap. Run as the Spikes just popped up and jump/roll to a slanted ledge over the gap and jump/grab a climbwall. Go up to backflip/roll/grab the ledge behind and go up, shoot a Mutant Ape and shoot a box to get some Revolver Ammo from it. Go out E and follow crawling backwards out of the crawlspace to the Jumpswitch, drop/grab and a door opens in the building below. Now you have to get down and the quickest way I found (probably there’s a better way) was to jump back to the blue block N and stand on the SE corner, face NE and run off to land on the grey block below, runjump/grab S to the building.

The 2nd Lizard Sphere.

Go in and find the open gate, look into the opening and spot a crawlspace in the S wall over the gap. Go down on the ledge and stand in the middle of the E side, face SE and run off with a R curve to grab the edge of the crawlspace, follow into a pit and hang on the edge of it, shimmy L along the crack to a crawlspace with a plant, go through and hang on the other side, climb L onto a climbwall.

Room with the Statue (Below).

Go up to one step from the top and backflip to the ledge behind, go S and hop to the block E, turn around and run off the lower side with a grab to land on a thin ledge. grab up to the monkeyswing and head to the N wall, drop/grab the crack and go shimmy R to where you can pull up. Walk up to where you look out over the main area and do a runjump/grab with a L curve to the closest side of that blue block to the R (screenshot). Runjump/grab to a block in the SE corner and standjump/grab up to the higher balcony block N, now you can standjump/grab to the S and runjump/grab to the wooden ledge W, then a runjump to a balcony block with the pedestal N. Get the 2nd Lizard Sphere. The whole place rocks as the Spikes in the crawlspace S retract, drop from this block to the blue block below and runjump/grab back into the opening with the plant, shimmy L along the edge and go through to a very nice room.

Spike-traps, a Blade and a Burner.

Standjump a bit L to the Spike block as you expect the Spikes to be up on landing and immediately another standjump onto the corner of the Burner block, drop/grab from the edge and shimmy around to the NE corner, pull up facing W and turn slightly R, so when you sidejump R to the Spike block in the corner you’ll land on it. Time the Spikes and sidejump when you expect them to go up, then immediately standjump/grab forward to the ledge and pull up, turn SE and runjump over the Burner block (of course when the Burner is off) and land on the balcony with the Skellie. Grab up to the S wall and shimmy R to a slanted block with a Spike-trap and a Blade behind it, hang L on that block and time the Blade (when it is R) to pull up over the top and slide/jump to the ledge over the Spike-trap.

Room with the Statue (the Top).

Runjump/grab to the ledge L and runjump/grab to the wooden balcony on S wall, then runjump onto the next and runjump/grab to the one on W wall (door opens N), runjump/grab over to the Statue block and one more to a ledge E with a Face Button. Pushing the button will open that door over the bridge E of the Portal, jump back to the Statue and then to the opening N. Go out onto the walkway and at the Hides-rack a runjump (mind the overhead block) to the roof of the building W, make your way back to the Portal (jump back to the blue block N and stand on the SE corner, face NE and run off to land on the grey block below, face NE standing on the NE corner, standjump onto the blue slanted block and slide off the L side, then jump with a L curve and grab under the ladder on the big block, pull up over the top and slide/jump/grab back to the blue block, runjump/grab to the Portal house.

Go out E and runjump/grab to the block, go runjump over the broken part of the bridge and enter the E area. Runjump with a L curve around the hanging block to land on the blue ledge L in front and from there a runjump onto the dark brick structure, grab the edge and shimmy to the L side, from the middle of the last square a backflip/roll/grab to a climbwall on a pillar, go up and R around the corner to backflip to a rock ledge where a block has to be raised later. Go up to a ledge S and get the ½ MP there, then standjump to the block NW and run off NW to land on the dark brick structure, sliding off backwards you can grab the edge and shimmy to the ladder, climb down into the structure, push the Face Button and see a door opening up on a balcony in the E rock face.

Climb back up the ladder and pull up on the roof, slide off grabbing the edge and immediately start shimmying R before Lara gets her feet back up. Go R to the square where you can see the button below R, then pull up, backflip/roll/grab to the Fiery block, hang on the edge and shimmy R around the corner and pull up in the next corner, quickly turn around and standjump to the block SW. A Hammer-trap activated on a balcony S (screenshot) and that’s where you have to go, through the Hammers, Spikes and a Burner to get to that small balcony L of the ledge. (If you look SE you can see the third Secret)

Booby Trapped Ledge.

Runjump to the ledge when the Burner is off and the Hammers just clanked together (and time the Spikes, you have to be lucky) and jump with a L curve to get onto that small balcony L of the ledge, push the Face Button there (extinguishes the Fiery block). Now for getting back you have to be real careful, stand here (screenshot) and standjump onto the ledge when the Burner is down and try to time the Hammers, so you’ll land when they are just opening up again, as for the Spikes, you have to be really lucky again and it will take a few tries for sure (I was lucky, through on first try!), from the N end of the ledge a runjump R back to that blue block. Standjump to the now extinguished Fiery block. look SE and spot the crack in the rock face, jump/grab to it and go shimmy R to a ledge with 2x Revolver Ammo. Now don’t be scared but just drop from the S side and walk under the ladder to get Secret#3, another Secret Rose.

The 3rd Lizard Sphere.

Go grab up to that ladder and go up and L around into an alcove, look out SW and spot a blue ledge, runjump out with a L curve to land on the ledge and runjump to the balcony over the Booby Trapped Ledge, get the ½ MP on the N end and take one step back from the N railing, then a hop back, now runjump over the railing and grab the blue block N, then standjump/grab to the slanted block E and pull up over, slide and jump/grab the ledge with the small statue. Climb up L and go get the 3rd Lizard Sphere, go back down to the statue ledge and look for that extinguished Fiery block NW, check the health and runjump out of the alcove with a R curve to land on that block.

Back to the Portal.

The 4th Lizard Sphere.

Runjump/grab to that crack in the E wall again, go shimmy R to the ledge at the ladder and go up to that alcove, standjump out SW to the blue ledge on S wall and jump to the balcony over the Booby Trapped Ledge, now look for a block W of it and hop over the railing onto that block, then a runjump down to the dark block a bit NW and a runjump to the slanted block in front of the structure, slide and jump/grab to catch the edge of the opening, climb up N behind the statue and see the Receptacle room in front of you. Standjump/grab up to the ledge L and runjump/grab across to the one N, go down on the Golden platform and get the 4th Lizard Sphere there. Look for that Jumpswitch on the wall of the Receptacle room (under the crawlspace) and runjump/grab to activate it (the Burner on the block S of the bridge extinguishes). Grab the edge of the slanted ledge below and hang L, backflip/roll then jump from the slanted block and jump again with a R curve to land on a broken bridge.

Ladder Route for the 5th Lizard Sphere.

Go up W close to the block with the Hide-rack and runjump/grab to the block S, then to the block SW and head S with runjump/grabs, on the last dark blue block you can turn around and grab up to the monkeyswing above, head back N to that hanging block with the ladders and turn L against that block, drop/grab the ladder and go L around the corner, go up as high as possible before you go L around the second corner, climb up when you are just around the corner and go up to one step from the top (otherwise the Spikes become deadly), backflip/roll/grab to another ladder block with Spikes and go R around 2 corners, then another backflip/roll/grab from the same height and grab the ladder under a Fiery slope, now go L around 2 corners and down to the lowest point possible (Lara’s feet still on the ladder) and backflip/roll/grab to a blue climbwall. Go L around to just around the second corner (because there’s a low ceiling L of you), stay there and go down as low as possible, backflip/roll/grab to a block.

Now runjump/grab W and grab up to the higher block N, turn around to runjump S and then runjump into an opening SE of the ledge and in the S rock face. Shoot the Mutant Ape and get the 5th Lizard Sphere. There’s some Shotgun Ammo hidden in the plant S. Go out to the opening and standjump out L, back to the block and jump to the one N, drop down and jump back E, go around the blue climbwall and to the second wooden ladder. Around the first L corner you can drop/grab the slanted ledge below and backflip/roll/grab to the blue ledge near the Portal, jump over and go around the crack on the L pillar and you’re back in the Portal.

 

E Area for the 6th Lizard Sphere.

Runjump/grab to the block with the hide-rack E and runjump over the broken part of the bridge to enter the E area. Runjump with a L curve around the hanging block to land on the blue ledge L in front and from there a runjump onto the dark brick structure, grab the edge and shimmy to the L side, from the middle of the last square a backflip/roll/grab to a climbwall on a pillar, go up and R around the corner to backflip to a rock ledge. Now go N and runjump/grab to the block NNW, turn L and runjump to the central *Plant block*, head S with two runjumps to the block with the Hide-rack, now go W to the balcony with the Statue (standjump, runjump). Try to shoot that Demigod in the structure SW from here and runjump/grab to the block S then go over into that structure and get the ½ MP on the floor, throw the switch to see Spikes retract on a ledge.

I wont mention all the jumps, but you have to go back the way you came to the Plant block and then to the block E, from there you can runjump down to the block where the Spikes went down, in the NE corner, close to the Swinging Blade. Grab upon landing to soften the impact and standjump with a L curve to the ledge with the Burner-button on N wall. Time the Burner and jump to the Face Button when you expect the Burner to go down and hold the "back" key while Lara pushes the button so she will hop back before the Burner starts again. Now runjump/grab to a dark blue block W and then a runjump/grab to that ladder on the Spike-pillar S. Go up to one step from the top and backflip onto a balcony ledge, from there a runjump (no grab) to the block E and two standjumps to get into the opening in the E rock face.

Blade Room.

Runjump (when the Blade is moving R) from the L side of the opening and with a R curve to a yellow block in the death pool, from there a runjump to the E balcony to get the 6th Lizard Sphere. Runjump back to the yellow block and face S, stand L on the block and runjump/grab with a R curve around the Blade to an alcove S to use the switch there (block rises on the rock ledge). Now runjump back to the yellow block and back to the entrance (Note: It is possible to runjump/grab directly from the entrance to the switch alcove and back, but that is a hard jump).

Over the Top, the last Lizard Spheres.

Once outside you can standjump to the first block W, then jump to the second and from that one a standjump down to the dark blue block SW, near the ladder and go back up the ladder, now all the way to the top of the pillar as the Spikes have retracted. Jump to the Plant block and over to the E block. then to the rock ledge and from the raised block you can climb up W, follow the high blocks to the W and try to shoot the Demigod from one of the ledges close to the Central Tower. From the last block with the railing near the walkway go L and then over to the roof where the Demigod was, get the 2x Shotgun Ammo and follow the route to the S and then W again till you face the Spike-block NW. Here you have to time the Spikes to a runjump to them and immediately a running jump to the next block NW. Time the next standjump onto the second Spike-block and a running jump to the blue pillar near the building, go NW over the roof, shoot the Demigod from here or standjump to the block NW and runjump over to him, duck and shoot him from close up with pistols. When you push the face Button, a door will open up in the building you just crossed over (go there later, because if you go down there now you have to all the way around again to get up here and the job isn’t quite finished here).

Go to the NE corner of the balcony and spot the pillar NE, runjump with a L curve to grab the crack in the base of it (S face of the pillar) and shimmy R around the corner and drop to a ledge with a plant below, hop back and drop down one more level, get the Revolver Ammo there and jump/grab to the dark pillar W, then standjump/grab to a ledge W and runjump back to the ledge with the plant E, turn around and grab back up W to the crack in the pillar. Shimmy R to pull up on a ledge with a plant, hidden in the plant is a ½ MP, then shoot the Harpy hanging way up N and spot the structure N with the Burner in a crack on the L hand corner, runjump onto the roof, slide and grab the edge, go L around the corner when the Burner is down and watch out. there’s another Burner a bit further on that side (different texture on the floor of the crack).

All the way in the end is a small balcony below, drop/grab and go push the Face Button to stop Burners inside the structure, another Harpy is flying around, you can hear her, shoot it if you get a chance, otherwise just shimmy along the crack with the Burners back to the front of the building. The last burner at the corner is a nasty one as I got torched even approaching the corner, so I used one interval to get to the corner. one interval to go around the corner and hang still there to wait for the 3rd interval and shimmy past it, go to where you can pull up into the building and drop inside, shoot a Mutant Ape (mine was trying to jump into the Skellie) and go move the 2 pushblocks onto the Face Tiles. The first has to be moved all the way to the W side before you can move it S. Once on the Face Tile the Spike-trap will deactivate and you van move the second block to the Face Tile (Spikes retract on a ledge you have to go to later) and push the Face Button in the NE corner to open a door on the N walkway.

Go back into the crawlspace after moving the block aside, Save and drop down onto a slanted wall, shimmy R and backflip/roll/grab to the block where you got the Ammo before, shoot the Harpy (could be she pushes you off, then just reload and try again) and go back up to the blue ledge with the plant so you can runjump to a ledge SW and close to the walkway heading N, runjump onto the walkway and head N through the first open arch, to the R and below the second you can spot a short wooden walkway, stand here and standjump with a L curve and grab over the railing to land on it and go jump to the E, the next jump involves Spikes, time the runjump and curve R in the air, so when you land after the Spikes went up, you can immediately sidejump L and land on the blue ledge. Look down N and spot the ledge with the railing, runjump down to it and head W with runjump/grabs to a higher pillar with a Hide-rack. Get the ½ MP and runjump to the pillar S, grab up to the ladder on the structure and hang L on the ladder, pull up to the roof, slide off and shimmy L before Lara gets her feet up. Go to the last part before the edge goes up and backflip to the second arch (of which the door opened just before).

Try to get rid of the Harpy coming from the SW and runjump SW onto the corner of the building and then runjump to the first (S) arch. Go over to the E end and runjump/grab to the blue block to grab the monkeyswing under the blue ledge, go over to the block with the plant N and runjump to the block with the Totem. Now standjump down to the balcony with the Face Button E and push the button to see the Fire on the N walkway go out. Stand back against the N side railing, facing S and just standjump straight over the railing to land back on that same ledge below where a MP now appeared and you can use it right away I think. Go back to the ladder on the blue building W and now backflip from the top onto the N walkway and shoot a Mutant Ape. Then go to the N end of the walkway and stare in the unknown. You can see a stake with a Skull and far away in the distance is another one. This gives you a direction, because there’s an invisible (or white) walkway you have to follow.

Walking the White Walkway. (screenshot)

I’ve made a little map in case you get lost, but the trick is to walk slowly go from stake to stake and finally you will come to a terrace with the 7th Lizard Sphere, make your way back to the wooden walkway and follow S till you can runjump onto the roof of the Portal,, runjump from the SW corner of the roof to the SW building where the door opened a while back and go inside to get the 8th Lizard Sphere. Now you have all of them you can return to the Receptacle room.

Get back on the roof of the portal and jump onto the walkway E, runjump/grab over the railing to grab the crack in the building NE and get into the crawlspace, hang on the ladder inside and backflip to the Receptacle floor, place the 8 Spheres and Climb onto the block E where you can walk out into the opening, run around the R hand corner and a flyby kicks in, showing you the top of the building with lamps lighting up at the Zip-line you’ve seen all level long. Climb up to the roof and hop over the railing, get onto the block so you can use the Zip-line and enjoy the long ride. Grab the climbwall in the end and go up to a receptacle with the Essence of Nature. A block lowers on a pillar W, runjump over the railing to grab the edge and pull up, Save there and walk into the Portal Beam, watch the cutscene of Lara walking quite relaxed out of the Mines and a Chopper will come and get her out…

Note by TC: I can assure the players who got frustrated with this one that the degree of difficulty is due to the fact it's the last one of this chapter of the series and it increased all along the first levels! And the next levels will be much easier, more as the first ones ;-))

29-01-2006.