Valek Ruins - Search for the Golden Elephant (Full Version)

Level builder: KurtisLara

Walkthrough by: Nina Croft


STARTING INVENTORY: Dual Desert Eagles with 120 bullets, Dual Uzis with 24 bullets, Compass, Binocular, 3 flares, 3 SMP, 1 LMP. Despite the fact the ammo is limited here, there is however plenty of it to be found around the level. Even if you don't find all the clips scattered around, there should still be enough. There's no need to conserve AK47 or Colt ammo, so use it whenever you have the chance.


Start the game and watch an introductory flyby showing the ruined building and Lara coming with her snowmobile to the site. At the end of the flyby you'll read Lara's words: “I must find a way to enter inside the ruins”. Very well, then.

OUTSIDE THE BUILDING: For some reason, Lara cannot jump over the low wooden fence going around the building (an invisible wall prevents Lara from jumping over). Go inside the building and toward the other side, where you can see two dog statues. Between the dogs there is an SMP, but if you approach it, a boulder will fall directly on Lara. In order to get it, climb onto the low step in front of the medipack to trigger the boulder, then sideflip to the right to avoid it. Once it passes down, you can pick up the SMP. Use the lever behind the pillar to the right of the medipack (if facing the block with medipack), to open a trapdoor outside. Turn to face the building and entrance. On one broken pillar to the left there is some Desert Eagle ammo. Take it, then exit the building.

TRAPPED HALLWAY: Turn right outside the building and follow the path around it until you reach the opening in the ground where you've just opened the trapdoor. Carefully drop inside and approach the swords (spikes). Time your jump across them and follow the hallway to an intersection with spikes and a switch. It opens one passage behind the spikes on the right. Jump across the spikes when they retract and follow this hallway between spikes to another switch. Pull it to open the passage behind the spikes on the left (the first intersection). Return there, jump over two set of spikes and enter the newly opened passage.

Follow it to the left across spikes, to the third switch. It opens the door back at the first passage, so return there. At the intersection inside the passage turn left, jump across spikes and enter the new secret passage. Find the fourth switch there which opens a door back at the second passage. So go out, then across the opposite spikes and into the second passage. Turn left as you enter and go through the door you've just opened. To the right you'll find more ammo for Dual Desert Eagles, and to the left you'll find another switch. Pull it to open the door back at the first passage. Return to the hallway, go left across the spikes, then across the next one ahead, enter the first passage and go left across the spikes to the last switch behind them. Pull it to open the trapdoor outside the building and return to the path upstairs (spikes are now deactivated).

HALLWAY WITH BURNERS: Kill one flying lion outside, and head NW. Go around the building, pick up some Desert Eagle clips in the corner, and proceed further until you reach the opened tunnel bathed in red light. Drop inside. Look down below to the floor of the hallway. See those pits with water? The water is hot, so do not fall into those pits. Also, from time to time, a burner will raise from these pits, so watch out when you try to jump across. From the middle of the block where Lara is standing, take a standing jump across the first pit to land on the ledge between two pits. Look around the corner to the right. When the burner in the second pit subside, jump diagonally around the corner to land on the next ledge which is marked. The gate across the third pit will raise. Time your jump (with Action) across the third pit to land inside the gate.

To the left there is another closed gate. Jump across the pit on the right. At the intersection don't turn left, but jump diagonally across the next pit to land in the corner, onto another marked tile. This will open the gate nearby. Return to the previous ledge across the pit and head to the right (W). At the intersection, jump diagonally to the left across the pit and go through the raised gate to the marked tile. Standing on it will open the gate back at the entrance. Jump diagonally to the right across the pit (do not explore the area to the left, where the wooden cross is, since it is lethal). At the intersection jump across the pit on the right and return to the first gate. Straight ahead, another gate is open, so go there.

Jump diagonally to the left across the pit and go towards the other pit in the corner. Jump across it diagonally to land in the corner with another marked tile. This will open one crawlspace nearby and turn off all the burners in the pits (but the pits still remain lethal). Now jump back across the pit, and go towards the pit near the gate. Jump across it to the W, and from the ledge pick up the Gem. Then time your jump across the next pit to land in the alcove diagonally to the left. Here you'll find some more ammo for Desert Eagles. Jump back across the pit and then into the other alcove, and climb into the crawlspace above. Inside you'll find Secret #1: Cartridge for Colt .45, and an LMP. Crawl back out, and return to the pit near the gate. The only way (at least for me) to jump over the pit and through the gate was diagonal backflip. Finally, go through the gate to the right and head back to the opening. Climb out to the path outside the building.

SLOPES ON THE WALL: Go right and around the building until you reach the entrance. Go through the left doorway and run along the left wall and up the stairs, until you climb onto the block at the outer wall. Then climb another block to the right, stand jump across the slope to land on the pillar with a receptacle. Use the Gem here to open the gate to the left of Lara. Run jump to grab the pole, swing around and jump to grab the climbable wall. Climb up through the open gate.

The block in the doorway is steep, so slide down to the edge, jump off to land on the next slope, jump off from the edge and grab another pole. Swing and jump onto the flat block. Jump to grab the block around the corner. Run jump to land on the next block, then stand jump onto the last one. Turn SW to face a portruding block on the wall inside the building. Run jump to land on it, then grab the roots on the ceiling and monkey swing to the left and all around the perimeter. When you reach the end of the roots, a climbable wall will be on Lara's left. Let go the roots and grab this wall. Climb all the way down, drop to grab the block below and climb onto it.

CLIMBING UP: Drop to hang on the opposite edge of the block and shimmy to the right and pull up onto the next block with some grass on it. From there run jump to grab the pole, swing and jump onto the ledge on the other side of the building. Grab the edge of it and shimmy to the left along the green ledge and pull up once you clear the wall. From here you can see one soldier shooting grenades at Lara, but you cannot kill him from here, and he cannot harm Lara... yet. Run jump to grab the rope, swing and jump on the ledge with the huge fish statue. The statue is movable, so pull it once from the edge (on this ledge there is also a keyhole, but you don't have the key yet). Climb on the fish statue and drop on the other side. Run jump to grab the corner ledge near the barred window. From here, kill the soldier below. He'll drop Desert Eagle clips, so don't forget to pick them up when you drop down to the ground level later.

Turn W and run jump to grab the pole. Swing and jump onto the stone ledge next to the iron trapdoor. Run jump to grab the last stone ledge ahead, and use the switch there to drop the trapdoor at the previous ledge. Run jump with grab on that ledge. Jump diagonally to grab the climbable wall and climb down to the ground level. To the right (E) there is an open trapdoor now, but before you drop through that opening, kill one dog who woke up meanwhile.

THE CELLAR: Inside the cellar you'll see some cages and two switches on the wall. Use the one on the right first, to open the middle cage. Go inside the cage and search the shelf on the right for another Colt .45 Cartrige. If you turn left, you'll emerge at the pit with two switches. However, you cannot use them since they are too high for Lara. Return back at the entrance and use the left switch to raise a timed block below one of the two switches. So sprint through the middle cage, turn left at the shelf and hurry up to use the switch above the raised block before the block sinks again. This will close the door behind Lara, making it impossible to return to the cages. But the door to the left of the switch is open, so head there, killing one spider along the way.

In a small chamber with deep pit in the middle, and some icicles hanging from the ceiling, there is a movable block. You have to push/pull it into the NE corner, under the marked ceiling tile. However, if you do it in the easy way (using the shortest way), the icicles will fall from above, harming Lara and blocking the path, making it impossible to puss the block further. So, use the longer way, pulling the block along the Southern wall, then along the Western wall, and finally, along the Northern wall. This will open a door near where the block originally was. Before you crawl through, look down into the pit and locate one climbable wall. Climb down, go into the SW corner (watch out from the icicles falling from the ceiling), crawl and shoot to break the planks blocking the passage. Crawl in, and when Lara stands up, jump across the spike pit to grab the edge of the alcove. Take the Secret #2: Colt Single Action Army and an SMP from the alcove, jump across the spike pit and climb out from the pit.

Go right and duck through the opening in the SE corner. In a flyby you'll see two soldiers rushing toward Lara. When you regain control of her, kill them and take AK47 normal ammo from one of them (beware of the icicles above) and Desert Eagle clips from the other. Near the entrance into this room, to the right, there is a wall Lara can blast away with pistols. Inside the passage, blast away the planks and proceed carefully, as more icicles are falling from the ceiling. On the shelf you'll find Desert Eagle clips. Take them and return to the room with dead soldiers. Head to the room from which they came.

ROOM WITH TWO FISH STATUES: Opposite the entrance there are two movable fish statues. You should push/pull them so they stand below two marked tiles in the ceiling along the left wall. However, some icicles falling from the ceiling will block the way, so you have to push/pull two statues around the fallen icicles. When you move them into their correct position, the spikes below the climbable wall will deactivate, and the trapdoor above the climbable wall will open. Don't use the switch yet, but climb the ladder to the floor above. Before you head for the next ladder, kill two small spiders coming from behind. Climb the second ladder almost to the top, then back flip to land in the top floor.

GOLDEN KEY: Find another pushblock to the left of the ladder (when facing them), and pull it out from the alcove. You need to push/pull it toward the other end of the hallway, pass the high switch, so it stands under the marked ceiling tile. When you do, a block will raise beneath the switch, so you can reach it and use it. It will open a gate at the level below (which is now guarded with soldiers), but also, it will open the barred window near the switch. Climb onto the small balcony through the open window and take the Golden Key. Lara will say: "I've seen a golden lock near the fish statue at the main ruins."

Return to the ladder and climb down to the lower level. Kill one soldier and two spiders, and take AK47 normal ammo. Before you drop through the hole, go around the corner toward the open gate and kill one more spider and two more soldiers. Do not approach the gate (stay on the first half of the hallway), because the gate will close. Wait for one more soldier to go through the gate, kill it, and now you can let the gate close. Search the dead soldiers and take AK47 from one of them. Return to the hole in the ground and drop into the cellar. Pull the switch to raise a timed block back in the cellar, rush back to the crawlspace, return to the room with pit and the pushblock, run otside and turn right. Quickly use the second switch there to open the door leading back to the cages, return there and climb up back to the main building. Now you need to climb to that fish statue with the keyhole you saw earlier. Kill one dog lurking inside the building, and repeat the climbing sequence to the swinging rope. Jump from that rope onto the ledge with the fish statue and use the key in the keyhole to open the barred window nearby.

From the ledge with fish statue run jump to grab the edge of the corner ledge. For some reason, Lara won't shimmy around the corner here, so climb onto the ledge. Save your game before you try to jump inside the open window. You have to perform a diagonal back flip in order to land inside the window. Use the lever here to open the big gate near the fish statue. Stand jump diagonally back to the small corner ledge, run jump to grab the ledge with the fish statue, climb up then over the fish statue and drop on the other side. Jump to the ledge near the open gate, diagonally backflip into the doorway and pick up AK47 normal ammo from the entrance.

OLD KEY: Inside this room with hanging icicles and arches, there are two marked tiles in the ceiling near the entrance. Move the pushblock from the corner under the left tile (when facing the gate), to move one arch aside. Since the fallen icicle has blocked the way of the pushblock, push/pull it around the icicle to stand beneath the second marked tile, to open the secret compartment in the room. Inside you'll find the Old Key and Colt .45 Cartridge. Lara will hear some strange noise and say: "One key of two... There are two locks in the main ruins... What the hell was that noise? I need to find the second key and I need to be fast, that sound worries me..." Before you leave, be sure to use the lever in the window opposite the entrance. It will open one big gate outside the building.

THE ICE GUARDIAN: You have to escape this room and reach the ground level fast, because the Ice Guardian near the entrance have started to fire green bolts which kill Lara instantly. So, once you regain control of Lara, jump diagonally through the gate onto the block on the left. Quickly jump onto the ledge with the fish statue, where you are safe and can save. You have to run jump to grab the corner ledge, but the green bolt can find Lara there. Wait for the bolt to fire and subside, run jump to grab the left side of the ledge, quickly pull up and run, steering to the right, so that you can jump from the edge to grab the pole. Swing and jump onto the ledge near the ladder. Jump diagonally to grab the ladder and climb down to the ground level.

Run towards the entrance, jump over the opening leading to the Cellar, and make a U-turn to the left. Be very fast, because the Ice Guardian from the bone formation keep shooting green bolts at Lara. Go around the rocks on the left and use the key in the left keyhole. After you've used it, go outside pass the Guardian. BUG NOTE: Be sure to use the Old Key in the first keyhole as soon as you get it, because a bug can appear here preventing you from using the first key later.

CELLAR WITH LAVA: When you exit the building, go left and follow the path to an opened gate to the right. Enter and follow the passage to the field with spikes. Kill one flying lion and pick up more Desert Eagles clips from the corner. Turn to face the field with spikes and sidestep to the left. Jump over the fence to land on the field with no spikes. Time your run through the spikes ahead, then drop through the hole into the cellar with lava pool. Run jump to land on the block S. Run jump with Action to grab the block, then pull up. Big trapdoor above Lara will open.

From here, run jump with Action onto the block on the left, then on the next one, and pick up Desert Eagles clips. Jump onto the last block, and save your game. Run jump onto the slanted block ahead, slide, jump onto the next one, then on the third, slide forward, jump off and steer Lara to the right in mid-air so that she can land on the last slanted block. Jump off it to grab the ladder ahead. Traverse to the right around the corner, time your traverse across the burner when the flame subside, then continue shimmying around the next corner.

Drop onto the slanted block below, slide and jump to grab the backside of the next slanted block. Pull up, slide, land on the third block, slide and jump to grab the pole. Swing around, jump to land on the next slope and keep Jump button pressed to go across the next three slopes. On the last slope, slide to the bottom and jump to land on the flat block ahead. Time your run jump across the burner ahead to land on the higher block. Turn right and time your run jump with Action onto the next block. Here, turn left and run jump to grab the rope. Swing and jump off onto the block in the corner.

Don't jump to the poles yet, but jump up to grab the roots on the ceiling. Monkey swing into the passage to the left, and follow the roots around the corner. Here one burner will activate, so wait for it to subside, and quickly monkey swing towards the opening in the wall. Fall from the ceiling to grab the edge of it and quickly climb into the opening before the burner activates again. Drop on the ledge where you'll find the Russian's key, and one trapdoor above the lava will raise. You'll also see a text scrolling: "Be careful. Lara must be fast enough to use the 2 keys in the main ruins, where the ice guardian defends the locks."

Time your run jump over the burner and land onto the raised grate. From the other end of the grate run jump to land on the grate in front of the stone block. Climb onto the block, and drop on the grate on the other side. From the back edge of the grate, stand jump to grab the pole. Swing around it until the flame ahead subside, then jump to grab the second pole. Swing and jump onto the grate next to the block where you started, and climb onto it. If you don't want the last secret, you can now return back to the main building (just climb through the opening above).

LAST SECRET: If you want the secret, run jump once again onto the block S. Run jump with Action to grab the next block, turn left and run jump onto the block there. Now some gratings at the surface of the pool are raised, so run jump onto the grating straight ahead (E) and turn left. Run jump onto the next grating, walk to the other end and stand jump to grab the block. Climb up and take Secret #3: AK47 Normal Ammo x2. Stand jump to grab the pole on the left, swing and jump onto the next pole. Swing and drop on the block near the entrance. Take some Desert Eagles ammo and jump onto the block below the opening. Climb into the opening and return across the spike field and over the fence to the passage. Jump over the open trapdoor and return to the path outside the building. Kill four soldiers here and take AK47 from one of them. Go to the right and around the building, and enter the building once again.

SECOND KEYHOLE: If you try to approach the locks in order to use the second key, the Ice Guardian will kill Lara. In order to prevent that, you must lure him away from the key, and when he charges his bolts to zap Lara, you should sprint to the second keyhole and use the key before the Guardian can charge up again. It may take a few tries to do it properly, so save and reload until you make it. When you do, the door near the entrance (E wall, inside the building) will open. Run there (hiding behind the wall), and drop into the hole. Use the switch on the wall to anihilate the Ice Guardian and open the gate above the switch. Climb up and go through the gate. Slide down the chute to end the level.