Primeval Catacombs.

By Colin Benson.

Authorized Walkthrough by G&D Productions.

To get the savegames/videos and screens, you?ll have to download the Primcatsaves folder (7.3 Mb- saves may not always have all the objects mentioned in the walkthrough as some were found later on).

There's no need shooting the bones you'll find throughout the levels, the Crystals you find are just to show off how many you got, there's no reward.

Primeval Catacombs-Part I.

I have added some Flares to this level, so in the provided savegames are more Flares than you might have.

Lara slides into a supply room; each pedestal has a Goodie, one of them the Shotgun. When you go pickup the Flares SE, the door E will open up, slide down the ramp, pick up the Flares and slide down again. In the next room is a pushable pillar, there's absolutely no clue I think, but push it twice W and then once to the left and go through the next door.

The First Crystals, the Phantom Key.

Down the steps and in the corner of the next room are bones (shooting them will trigger a skeleton at the first Crystal pickups, so don't). Go down the steps S and in the next room down the ladder in the S passage, crawl through and shoot the white vase in middle of the next room to get the Earth Crystal. The coffin holds Uzi ammo the vases seem to be empty. Go to the passage NW and grab the ceiling, follow the monkey climb to the end and drop at the next room. Pick up the Water Crystal in the middle of the room and shoot the orange vase NE which will wake a skeleton, shoot it down into the passage. Go back where you shot the orange vase and get the Phantom Key. There are Flares NW.

The First Secret Sapphires.

Go back to the monkey climb, around the corner and in the middle of the next passage you can drop down on break ledges and run into the passage till you're safe (The room below is a trap, you can get down alive, but not back up again). Follow through through the dark and up the blocks till you get to the Secret Sapphire #1. Go out S and follow down to a room, to the E is the room we came from (nothing there) so head W and keep to the left (dark) through that double corridor (I'll explain later), run into the next room and shoot the dog. Go W and left to pick up an Earth Crystal. If you would have passed through the right hand side of the double corridor, the door N would be closed. But now you can enter and get another Secret Sapphire #2 from the coffin. Go out and leave E, down the steps S and open the door with the Phantom Key.

Temple Cave, a Phantom Key and a Vecna Key.

To the left is a single white vase with Revolver ammo, take care because a scorpion is on its way over. Run to the pond W, seems the scorpion can't follow you into the water :) After shooting it, look W of the small pond to find a Water Crystal. To the S of it is a white vase with a Phantom Key. In the pond is a small medipack and SE of the pond are Flares, go back and all the way to the E, along the E side of the cave is another Earth Crystal, go to the dark SW corner there and drop into the hole, follow the crawlspace and drop into a room, go down around the spikes and get the Vecna Key. Back through the crawlspace, up to the cave and follow around to the front of the Temple. Near the SE corner is a keyhole for the Phantom Key, open the door.

Deadly Floor, the Occult Scroll.

Be careful, only the paved parts are safe. Jump left, pick up an Earth Crystal and jump back, go along the E wall hopping over the deadly parts. Jump over to the S side for the Arrows and jump E from there, watch out for the bug (stand with your back against the wall) and finally get the Occult Scroll. Make your way back to the entrance along the left hand wall, look in the fourth windowsill to find a Water Crystal.

Jump back out left to the next save tile, hop to the entrance and go out, to the far end of the Temple where you'll find another keyhole where the Vecna Key can be used.

Deadly Floor II, the Occult Scroll II.

To the left are Flares, follow that wall and around the corner in the first windowsill is a Water Crystal, jump out left to the next save tile. The next window has an Air Crystal, get to the end of the room (you can use the next window to do the jump) and get Occult Scroll II after shooting the bug. Make your way back, go to the front of the Temple and place the two Scrolls on the receptacles.

The Temple.

At the end of the big hall is a lever to open the door, watch out for the Teeth doors and get through.

First Floor S, 2 Occult Scrolls.

Go up one of the climbable pillars S, run into the opening in the S wall and turn around, wait for the 3 skeletons to get close and shoot them down from the walkway (you have wideshot ammo too). Go inside that S opening and stand jump left onto the slope, immediately back flip as boulders come down. Jump diagonally across the dark gap to the next slope, roll and run jump back. Go on like this till you see a floor with a skeleton and a dog. As I was out of ammo, I just ran around avoiding the enemies and picked up an Air Crystal behind the pillar and then I went down the ladder on the other side of the pillar to get the Occult Scroll below. Back up the ladder and back flip onto the floor above, up the blocks NE and follow the attic to the end to get Occult Scroll #2.

Go back to the second slope left (the dark one W) and slide down backwards in the middle, you'll end up on a flat ledge with a Secret Sapphire #3. Now drop down to the boulder slope below and jump to the N, exit to the N.

Go left along the walkway to the opening you can see NE, up the blocks inside and down to the lower floor, behind the N side burner block is the Fire Crystal. The monkey climb along the fire path is to get to a terrace we will approach from another room. Go back, up the ladder and out to the walkway.

The Maze.

Go along the walkway to the opening NW, go in and climb up to the right, turn around and jump to the higher floor E. Walk to the edge of the floor and jump forward to grab the crack, shimmy to the right and pull up to get the small medipack, drop to the floor and crawl under the darts to the alcove to pick up a Water Crystal. Go to the N end of the passage and climb up right, then jump up SW. Hang down from the other side and shimmy right to the next flat part, drop down N into the lower passage. Go to the crossing and left, more darts activate, so watch out! Right around the corner and climb up N (in the dark) along the left or right hand side as there are darts again. Walk to the edge and look down to spot a jump lever, hang from the edge, drop on the lever and grab it (a door opened somewhere in the maze). Crawl to get the Air Crystal W and climb the block SE. Face W, that's where that door opened, jump over that vase into the opening, slide a bit and jump to the open door, save here.

Go down into the room, grab the Secret Sapphire #4 and quickly get back up to the entrance, run onto the long slope and jump over the pit, go straight S and climb up in the end, drop down from the other side and go E, down left and out of the room to the walkway. Now we should be rid of the beetles in the Maze. So enter again, climb up to the right, turn around and jump to the higher floor E. Walk to the edge of the floor and drop into the passage below. Go to the N end of the passage and climb up right and then jump up SW. Hang down from the other side and shimmy right to the next flat part, drop down N into the lower passage. Go to the crossing and left, under the darts. Go right around the corner and climb up N (in the dark) along the right hand side. Walk to the edge and hop back to run jump straight N to the block and slide into the next room.

Go W under the darts and first go S, left and get the Fire Crystal there, turn back and go NW into a dark passage. Follow through, up at the other end of the pit and climb up S to take the Grenades from the opening. Drop back into the passage, turn around and head out (N) to a terrace on the Temple.

The Terrace, Occult Scroll Puzzle.

On the N side are two lower ledges with vases, shoot the one NW to get a Water Crystal. Go to the E end of the terrace and left into the last opening there.

6 doors in the next room, don't come too close to them as most have a bunch of enemies inside, just go NE into the dark and climb up into a crawlspace E, drop down the other side and look up left for a crawlspace. Get through into a room with an Occult Scroll #3, go to the door and it will open up, go straight to the opposite door (middle) and shoot those midgets, one of them drops an Air Crystal. Go to the SE door, approach and it will open, inside is Shotgun ammo. Back out and wide around the doors to the N.

Leave NW to the terrace, take a right and go to the second opening S. (the first opening is a connection to the Fire room, we've been there).

Secret Sapphire and the Secret Rooms.

All the way in the end of the passage is the Occult Scroll #4, go back and up one of the ladders left and right. Upstairs first go out N and left around the corner is a vase, shoot it to get the small medipack, another small medipack can be found E on the edge of the floor. Turn to the S wall and walk up the right hand slope to what looks like a portal, you can walk through this one and find the Secret Sapphire #5. Back inside and down the ladder, out to the terrace N and take a right to the W end of the terrace. To the right is the opening to the Secret Rooms, go choose a nice room and open it with a Sapphire.

I had 5 Sapphires, I chose these items (you'll get additional goodies in each room): The third room downstairs, for the Revolver, the next room has the Lasersight then up the ladder W and the first room there has the Grenade gun, the Crossbow is in the next room, Binoculars in the third. Uzis in the E room upstairs, but I was out of Sapphires. Back out to the terrace.

Use the Scrolls.

Take a left, then left into the second passage and climb up to the Scroll room again. Place the 4 Scrolls to open the door S. Go through the door S, up the stairs and to a tile in the middle of the floor. A figure running, timed run for sure...

Timed run over the slanted blocks.

When you step onto that tile you can see a door open up at the end of the S passage. Stand back on the tile, sprint into the passage, release sprint so you can jump when Lara's foot almost touches the slope, she has to land on the flat floor behind the block, just run and jump clearing the next two blocks and you should have time to simply run through the door (savegame.0 -Video.primcat1.wmv- You have to download the saves folder).

In this area you shouldn?t shoot more vases than we mention, because one of them will create a current blocking off the next Sapphire.

Jump straight over that canal and a bit to the left is a Water Crystal, go left to a pile of rubble and find another Water Crystal, be careful with shooting vases here as one releases a wraith (SE and if you happened to trigger it, do the following fast). Now go to the white vases opposite the entrance (S side of the canal) and shoot them to get a Medipack, to the NE are some Flares on the floor. Dive into the canal and swim with the current, down the sloped tunnel and right, when you keep swimming against the right hand wall right (Lara faces W) you can end up in an alcove on the side to get the last Secret Sapphire #6, then proceed down the tunnels to a large room, go get some air and swim down again, to the E is an underwater door you can open, inside is the statue where you can get rid of the wraith if needed. There are also some pickups here; you'll have to go for air in between (Flares N and a Fire Crystal SW).

The Falcon Stars.

In the SE corner of the pool outside is an underwater lever on the S side of the pillar, it opens some gates upstairs, W side. So use it and swim up to the ramp on the W side, go up and into the gate, when I ran outside again, the skeleton jumped into the water, but if you're quick you can just get up the stairs, he won't follow.

Inside up the stairs W and find a pillar with receptacles. On the back of the pillar is a ladder. On the wall is a story:

"The eternal eyes of Infinata statically gaze within the accursed room above. His eerie crimson eyes can only see a scant three blocks directly ahead of them. His glimmering azure eyes see unlimited distances directly in front of them. Sight from either eye is obstructed by walls or columns. The Falcon Stars you seek are invisible and hidden from the view of Infinata's eyes."

Go up the ladder on the pillar and the room with the eyes has the three objects we need. I couldn't really figure this one out, but I'll give you the locations by counting floor squares.

From where you come up, go forward to the second square and then three to the right, on that square is the first "Midnight" Falcon Star, step 2 squares N, then 2 to the right (W), to the N 3 squares an then left one square for the "Evening" Falcon Star. Go back to the hole in the floor, stand S and go straight to that red eye, left around and straight to the red eye on the S wall, then one square to the right (E) to find the "Dawn" Falcon Star. That's it up here, get down the ladder and place the Stars on the pillar, gates open up in the E part of the pool area. Go there and shoot this skeleton with explosives as he carries a Fire Crystal.

Fire Proof?, a Vecna Key.

Inside, head down the stairs S and dive into the pool, in the deep part is a Water Crystal, in the SW corner an Earth Crystal. Climb out onto the ledge in the pool and jump to grab the climbable wall E, time the burners, going up and left, climb on top of that pillar. Slide down N a bit and jump to grab the monkey climb, follow straight timing the burner below and drop as you hit the N wall. Jump W to the next ledge. Slide down S and jump to grab the next ledge, shimmy around and go up to climb the wall passing another burner, climb off to the right, up E and jump to the ledge NE. Face N, turn a little right and stand back on the corner, hop onto the slanted block and jump again with a left curve (banana jump with a little help). Shoot the vase and get the Flares, then jump W to grab the block in the corner, shimmy right around the corner and pull up on the corner of the sloped part (you are safe here). Grab the Fire Crystal and hop back grabbing the edge.

Now time a pull up and run jump back to the ledge E (mind the burner below). Climb the wall and climb off right, jump to the S, grab the small medipack and hop back grabbing the edge. Pull up in the right hand corner (after timing the burner) and hop up right onto the next block. When the burner is down, get to the SW corner, line up for a jump to the ledge SW and hop back, wait for the burner to die out again and jump straight to that ledge SW (Intended route: Jump down S onto the corner ledge and jump to the ledge W). Now jump NW and get onto the block next to the burner, jump to the ladder N from there and go up a bit and wait there because there's another burner on top, climb on top before the burner starts back up and run forward. A couple of dogs will come for you, so run around picking them off one by one. Along the W side is a Fire Crystal, in a vase SE is a Vecna Key, DO NOT Shoot the vase N, a wraith will be released. But go onto that ledge with the vase N and hang from the side, drop to a block below and from that one you can safety drop into the pool below. Climb out, leave N and go back to the gates, up the stairs N and open the door with the Vecna Key.

The Deep Pit.

Wait in the entrance and some skeletons will come, shoot them off the ledge and go to the W side ledge where you can find an Air Crystal between the broken vase parts.

Now we are in for some fancy trick moves to get down the pit. Stand on the N side, run and jump onto the slanted block S, just slide and just as Lara passes the edge, hit Ctrl, this way she should end up on the slope below. Slide a bit and then jump to the break tiles at the wall, run right (S) and curve to the corner so you can do a running jump SE to the block on the S wall (savegame.1 - Video-primcat2.wmv). Jump NE to the block with the Arrows (and then jump N to that break tile, grab it and go left around. Pull up, wait till it almost falls and jump onto the sloped block, slide backwards past the edge and hit Ctrl, this way you should end up on the block below). Well, that how it was intended, but this is easier: just aim for the left hand side of that slanted block and run jump to it, hit Ctrl at the last moment and Lara will slide under, landing on the block below (Video-primcat3.wmv). Drop from the W side onto the break tile and run to the block to get the Air Crystal.

Hop down onto the block at the central pillar and run off SE onto the block with the vase. Jump up SW onto the break tile and run jump to the corner block SW. Safety drop from the side onto the slope and drop grab to a ledge from where you can check out the next jump series. (Safety drop down and slide onto a flat ledge. Turn around and jump to the break tiles, run left around the corner and jump the next series of ledges to the last one at the E wall). That was again as it was intended, but easier is to just run jump down to the break tile E, losing some health, one more jump with a left curve so you will be facing S a bit on the last tile, the tile breaks, grab the edge of the lower block as you slide down and safety drop down. Get to the ground floor, shoot the incoming dog and go look for a Water Crystal in the dark SW side. There's also a jump lever in that corner opening the gate N.

The Double Timed Run, but first some Demon Stones.

Enter the room and to the left and right are two trigger tiles for timed runs. First go shoot the midgets coming for you and one of them will drop a Fire Crystal. Go explore the N end of the room and shoot the vase SW for a small medipack. Look up under the low ceiling part in the middle of the room, there's a ladder and that's where you'll have to go up in the timed runs, but before we do those wee need two Demon Stones.

Climb the ladder and in the room above are two openings in the floor, behind the columns E and W. Its quite dark down there, so take one side and drop into the opening, doesn't matter which one you do first. There are some Flares near the big door N.

W, a Blue Demon Stone: Go straight to the opposite wall, turn right (S) and go forward a bit to find a small medipack. Then go straight S again till you hit the wall, go right a bit till you get to an opening to the left. Go in and turn a bit to the left, then go straight and you should stumble upon a Water Crystal. Turn S again and go straight around a pillar till you hit a wall, turn right and go around that wall keeping it to your left till you can go into a room with the Blue Demon Stone. Go out of the room, turn right and go around the next corner, then go straight N ending up at the opening in the wall, go through and left and just keep following the left wall till you come to the opening leading up to the room with the ladder (it's possible to do it all with one flare, if you know the route of course).

E, a Red Demon Stone: Once down, turn right and walk to the wall, turn left and go straight E till you see some Uzi ammo. Turn right (N), go to the near by wall and turn left. Follow the wall and you'll end up at an Air Crystal, should be to your left a bit. Go back N to the wall and just follow this wall all the way to where you can get a Red Demon Stone. Go out and just straight to where you hit the wall, turn right and keep following this wall till you are back at the opening to the room with the ladder. To the S is a hall with the openings for the timed runs, one blue and one red, do I have to say more?

Go back down the ladder, return to the S side where the trigger tiles are.

Finally the Double Timed Run. (Doesn't matter which side first and the most important thing is managing to stop and jump up to the ladder in one go, if you have to step back or forward you're already too late).

Red Side: Stand behind the W tile against the S wall, jump forward over the trigger tile (this way the door still has to open while you are already at full speed, gaining some time) and sprint to the ladder and try to stop at the correct spot so you can jump up and grab the ladder, don't go up to the very top, but back flip and roll from the second bar from the top.

Sprint and take a right through the "red" opening there, then follow the corridors to where the Timed door is, maybe do a roll at the last moment to get through. Place the Red Stone and get a screen of the big door. Follow the corridors back and get down the ladder to the room with the trigger tiles.

Blue Side: Stand behind the E tile against the S wall, jump forward over the trigger tile and sprint to the ladder and try to stop at the correct spot so you can jump up and grab the ladder, don't go up to the very top, but back flip and roll from the second bar from the top. Sprint and take a left into the "blue" opening, follow the corridor and get into the Timed door (savegame.2).

When you place the Blue Stone, the big door opens up. Go back through the corridor and pick up the Shotgun ammo you might have spotted while sprinting.

Go to the big door N of the ladder and when you go to the door in front the level will change.

Primeval Catacombs-Part II.

The Saturn Key.

Go through the door and down the stairs, shoot the dog and go N into the passage. In the room with the faces is some Revolver ammo to the right of the broken column. Head W and shoot a bug in the next room, W and right around the corner is a vase holding the Saturn Key. Return to the E, left to the room with the faces and left to the room with the fire. Go to the W, near the N wall get a Medipack and in the back of the room to the right. Use the Saturn Key SW, enter the open door and inside to the left a coffin with Shotgun ammo, the other side has a Fire Crystal.

Basements.

Drop down through the opening in the floor and shoot a large scorpion. There are 4 corridors leading from here.

Seems there are several combinations you can use: This is how I lowered the block

E: Push face button (3) for the raising block and in my game the block lowered.

Could be you still have to go N: Lever (4) for the raising block.

Go to the crossing and down the hole, slide down backwards, grab the edge and drop on a high pillar, drop backwards from one of the sides and grab the end of the slope to safety drop to the floor.

Receptacle Hall.

In this room are 4 receptacles, 4 passages, the surrounding rooms have some doors and levers, closing and opening sets of doors. Following the walk will get you through with the shortest route.

N: Follow through to a lava room, jump to the W and wait for the skeleton to wake up, shoot it down when it jumps towards you. Go into the open door W and get Radiant Diamond #1. In the S windowsill is a Fire Crystal. Go out S and jump to the right for Uzi ammo, you can't go further, so go back inside and to the Receptacle Hall.

Go to the S opening.

S: Follow through to another lava room, forget about the lever there for now, but get into the room SE. Pick up Radiant Diamond #2, go to the N and out to use the lever around the corner, the skeleton remained dormant. Go back in and out W where you can now see the open door W. Jump to the lever at the S wall and use it to open and close more doors. Back to the entrance side and over to the W, pick up the Fire Crystal and enter the room. Get Radiant Diamond #3 and leave N, jump to the exit and go out to the Receptacle Hall. Take the E side now.

E: Follow through to yet another lava room, jump straight to get the Arrows, then go S, jump back to the entrance and go jump N, then to the open door. Inside is Radiant Diamond #4, leave W and jump to the exit S.

Use the Diamonds, to the Big Stairs.

Back in the receptacle Hall place the 4 Diamonds and a passage opens up somewhere. Go to the S side lava room, jump to the lever and throw it again to open the door E back up. The skeleton was awake now; I just avoided him, not wasting any ammo.

In the room is an opening in the S wall, get in and follow to a dark place, to the E is another Water Crystal, S is a opening up in the wall. Follow the passage, shoot a midget and take a right into a cavern, shoot the vase and get the Flares.

Go back out N, but keep that passage E in mind. Back in the passage go to the right (W) and straight to the wall in front, climb up and follow to a monkey-climb over a lava pit. Do not shoot that vase (will trigger a nasty wraith, more on this later), but go left into the opening to some big stairs, go up and climb up to the right into the opening in the wall. Pick up an Earth Crystal turn around and look up to find a jump lever (will open a gate to a Secret Sapphire, but it takes a bit of a backtrack).

Optional: Go back to the monkey climb, grab up and follow over the lava pit, back down to the red passage where you shot the midget, go E a bit and left into the opening where the Flares were, to the right (E) into the passage there and follow to a climb wall, go up and shoot the dogs (you could climb up E or W to shoot them from above).

Up E and W are Uzi ammo and Shotgun ammo in a coffin. Now to the gate (S) you opened with the jump lever on the stairs, inside are two pillars, the outer side is climbable, go up for the Secret Sapphire #1. Head back as you came and over the monkey climb to the big stairs.

Back out and further up the stairs, in the next SE corner is another opening, get in and slide down to where you can pick up a Fire Crystal, Revolver ammo, Uzi ammo and a Water Crystal. Go to the right (NE) opening and face straight E, a leap of faith with a grab in the end into the dark ahead will get to hanging on a thin ledge, shimmy to the right and pull up just around a corner. Turn right and look up N, break tiles leading to a climbable wall, grab that wall and go all the way to the right. Back flip to a ledge with a Secret Sapphire #2, if you want to go for more goodies, stand NW, face N and look down to spot a block in the corner, jump there losing some health. Go down E and straight along the wall to find Revolver ammo, go straight to the corner and left to find some more Revolver ammo. Then go S to the pit and climb up into the alcove to the right to get Uzi ammo. From there jump S over the pit and go S for a small medipack (spot the climb wall), go around to the W side of the block and find Shotgun ammo and an Earth Crystal. Back around and up that climb wall to the ledge. From there you can jump curved right to the NW floor (on top of that climb wall is an empty vase).

You're back on the floor where the Crystals were, leave jumping up the sloped passage SW. Go up the big stairs again and to the right will be another opening, it will lead you to a Bird statue where you can get rid of a wraith, so if you want some extra Arrows; backtrack down the stairs to the vase at the monkey swing, shoot the vase and get the Arrows. Sprint up the stairs to the passage I showed you and go all the way down to the Bird statue to get rid of the wraith.

Now all is done on these stairs we can go all the way up and find a Glass Labyrinth.

The Glass Labyrinth.

This is a Labyrinth with multiple levels and pickups along the way. The second part of the maze is almost impossible to describe with directions so the second part where you have to go up and down holes to get to the other end of the place will be on yourself, just keep going as high as you can get and in the far S side is the exit to the next rooms. In part two are the following pickups, 1 Earth - and 4 Water Crystals, a small medipack and Grenades.

Part 1:

Go in, to the right and keep following the right hand wall till you get to some Shotgun ammo. Turn around and go right around corners to come to an opening in the glass ceiling, turn around and hop N onto the glass floor and take a left, then a right and grab the Grenades. Turn around, go left around corners to where you can drop down, head W to the end, left around the corner then right around a corner and you're back in the start passage.

Keep going S and take the second right, then left and go to the S end where you can climb up left; go left around corners to some Shotgun ammo.

Turn around, go right around two corners and in the next corner is an opening up, climb up.

Part 2:

Run around till you have found what you want and then go find the exit (savegame.3 - I skipped some pickups).

The Huge Push Pillar Hall.

On the stairs are several vases, there's nothing in them. In the next room and to the left is a jump lever on the wall, just to the right of the coffin, use that first to open gates to the Hall S. Then open the coffin for Shotgun ammo, don't open the other one just yet and go to the S side of the room for a Medipack and Arrows, both in a coffin. Return to the N and left for the last coffin and get a Fire Crystal, a wraith shows up, no water here, so I just shot it till it went somewhere else to play or you can run S into the next Hall.

If you need to get rid of the wraith, run down from the side into the water below, we have to go there anyway. On the W side, second alcove from the N is a Water Crystal, now swim S and into the opening in the middle, up and out.

Go left (W) and right around the corner is a Fire Crystal, proceed straight to the W and in the end left, on the blocks are a Medipack and an Air Crystal. Go back E and take a right, the human remains are a clear indication of the imminent danger... Shoot that scorpion and go into the back, right around the corner to the Evolution Key. In the NE corner from here is a door, remember that one if you want the Secret Sapphire.

Back Up, with a detour.

Go back S and take a right to the water and swim back to the Hall, straight around the block to the other side and into the opening there (N), climb out. Turn left (E), go forward a bit and spot the climb wall to the right, go up there and come to a room with 4 climbable pillars, only go up the one SW for an Earth Crystal, the others have only nasty stuff. Back down and into the opening W and down to the room below, now go to the pillar W and climb that one. About 5 steps from the top a back flip and shoot the vase there for a Fire Crystal. Back to the ladder and three steps from the top a back flip with roll to grab the opening behind you. Follow through and drop down to where you can exit to the Hall. Run to the S side and into the passage for an Earth Crystal.

Pillar Puzzle.

On each side of the Hall is a pushable pillar. They have to go into an alcove. The only two alcoves of importance are the second ones from the N side, they open doors where we have to go later, the others only bring out a whole army of skeletons so it seems. So move the first pillar in front of you to the second alcove on the right and push it into the alcove. Gates open up S. Go to the other side of the room, into the passage N and get another Earth Crystal. Go to the pillar and push it S to the first alcove right and inside, a gate opens somewhere. But the door for the Secret Sapphire also opened, so you can now dive into the water, swim S into the opening, up and out, head W and left around corners to reach the open door. The Secret Sapphire #3 is S on the higher floor, go back to the water. Swim through the Hall into the opening N and climb the ladder W, backflip and grab the upper passage again. Into the Hall and jump over to the middle part and leave S.

Follow the stairs up to that gate you opened with on of the pillars.

Room with the Pole.

There are 4 levels with 2 doors each; you are at level 2.

Level 2 - Entrance: Dogs and a Diamond.

First jump across to the other side, inside approach each of the three gates, shoot the dogs and one of them drops a Radiant Diamond #2 . Go in the cages to use the three face buttons that will reopen the entrance. In the SE corner is a Fire Crystal, return to the room with the pole.

Go to the top of the pole and back flip off.

Level 4 - Room E: Letter Puzzle, a Secret Sapphire.

Jump straight over to the W side. A puzzle on the E wall, a three letter word completing all words is the word CAT. Jump on the three tiles without touching the others and the door opens E. Go in, to the top of the room and onto the block to climb up to the Secret Sapphire #4, return to the room with the pole. Jump over to the W side.

Level 4 - Room W: Pickups.

In that room you should stay close to the sides while go around gathering Grenades, a Fire Crystal, Shotgun ammo, a Radiant Diamond #3 and an Earth Crystal. Some Bugs will attack in this room, stay close to the walls! Return to the room with the pole.

Level 3 - N side: Secret Rooms.

Climb down one level and the room N is to the Secret Gates. Go around and take your pick out of the supplies here. I went for the Uzi and Revolver rooms and then some rooms with general supplies. The room with the Lasersight has the most Flares. Return to the pole room and jump over

Level 3 - S side: 3 Pillar Mazes.

Maze I (middle maze).

Jump to the other side and enter a small maze, follow the left hand wall and climb the block you will come to for a Water Crystal, climb down the other side and go along the left hand wall to come to an opening left.

That's a passage, there are two gates, one is open; the other one we can open after using the Evolution Key.

First go E and shoot a dog, take a right and to the right is the pillar.

Pull/push it towards that opening W you just saw (you'll have to climb over the wall a couple of times). I jumped through the corner between the pillar and the wall as the legal way was taking me too long, you have to go around so many times. Push it to the W and then left to where you'll find a grated floor texture, a first screen of a door in the pole room.

Maze II (lower maze).

Go S to the opening and left down the passage to a second maze. From the entrance keep along the right hand wall, pick up the Earth Crystal in the crawlspace, down the other side and keep going along the right hand wall. In the SE corner is the pillar, move it to the N, then to the W through the passage and to the right is the grated tile (second screen of the door). Go W and left to the exit (a dog might come after you).

Go up the passage to that gate we'll have to open now. Go right, into the maze, right/left and to the N side a bit to the left is the exit to the pole room. Jump to the pole and slide down to the lowest level and back flip. Jump over to the S.

Level 1 - S side, Open Maze III.

Open the door S with the Evolution Key you got before and inside is a lever that will change the position of the gates in the passage behind Maze I. Back out, the door you see N is the one we are trying to open. Go back up the pole to level 3.

Level 3 - S side: Last Pillar Maze.

Go S through Maze I and out to the passage, take a right up the passage to the upper maze

Maze III (upper maze).

Go left, then twice right around the corner and climb over the block, push the pillar once and turn around, climb back over the block. Go W and right around every corner, you'll see the grated tile and end up at the pillar. Pull it once, turn left and go right around corners to the first crawlspace up right, get through and push the pillar once. Go back through the same crawlspace, turn S and go left around to the pillar. Pull once to the S, move it to the W wall and then N till it stands next to the tile. Turn around, go S and up left in the crawlspace, down and up the next for an Air Crystal. Drop out on the other side and shoot a dog. Go first left and spot the pillar NE, push it once onto the tile and the door on level 1-N should now open.

Turn right; go to the N wall and left around to the exit E. Back up to the gate and left into the maze, right/left and to the N side a bit to the left is the exit to the pole room.

Level 1- N, use the Diamonds.

Slide down the pole and the bottom door in front of you should be the one we go into. Left and right as you enter are the receptacles for the Radiant Diamonds. The skeletons wake up; you should now have sufficient firepower to deal with those. Go to the N end of the room, through the door you opened and shoot some bugs on your way to the Lava Chamber.

Lava Chamber Timed Runs.

In the middle of the room are four burners active, scattered around the Chamber are two familiar trigger tiles, shutting down the burners.

Go for the NW Tile: Best go for the Crystal first if you want that too; trigger the NW tile. Sprint back over the path to the central structure and get a Fire Crystal, more than enough time left and that has a reason. To get to the Secret Sapphire you'll have to run from the NW tile to the S side and the tile there at the end of that path, roll on that tile and get back to the central structure where you can now run to the Secret Sapphire #5 (savegame.4). Tip: Sprint where you can and cut corners with jumps. When you sprint left curved to the Sapphire you can immediately side jump right after taking it. May happen you get trapped between the burners, there?s a raised block left (S) of the central structure. That?s how you can get back to the walkway.

The Magmatter Key and the Levers.

The next part has several skeletons, deal with them as you feel fit. Straight E is a keyhole on the pillar and to the SE, on a ledge is the Magmatter Key, back to the keyhole (for a different key) and look NE to spot a ledge with a lever in the lava. Go there and use the lever to kill the burners (forever, not timed) in the stone portal N. Jump back and head N, follow the path to a ledge with 6 levers.

Each lever operates one or more raising blocks, the correct combination to raise all the blocks S is: NE, SW. Jump over the blocks to the opening S, use the key on the back of the block and go into the open gate for the Saturn Key.

Use the Saturn Key, a Secret Sapphire.

Return to the lever ledge, then to the central structure with the timed burners and E of it is that keyhole for the Saturn Key. The door in the far E wall opens up (near the 6 lever ledge). So back you go and jump to that door, inside the camera will change, carefully go around the hole in the middle of the ledge and look behind that ledge (binoculars) for Secret Sapphire #6 of this level. Now save the game and drop into the hole, slide (without a view) and the level will change.

Primeval Catacombs-Part III.

Slide and jump to the left onto another slope, because straight ahead are spikes. Light a flare and spot the ladder up, jump and grab that. Go up and shoot the vase there for a Secret Sapphire #1. Back down the ladder and just slide down to find a Fire Crystal in the room below (the right hand side from the spike slope leads to the same room eventually).

The Lava Room with the 6 Face Buttons.

In the far SE corner is an Earth Crystal. Around the pit in the middle of the room are 6 big face buttons use them all, shoot the enemies and go to the W side left: skeletons and Stone Disk #1.

W side middle: scorpions and entrance to another room, for later.

W side right: dogs and one drops Stone Disk #2.

E side left: scorpions and Stone Disk #3.

E side middle: scorpion and entrance to another room, for later.

E side right: dogs and one drops Stone Disk #4.

Go place the Disks near the gate S, inside to the right is Revolver ammo in the pool, proceed to the S and come to the Hall with the 7 Big Platforms.

The Hall with the 7 Big Platforms. (there's probably a faster route through all this, but this is how I did it)

As soon as you land on the first platform, turn left and jump to the next, then one more jump W to where you see pink light left, jump into that room and go to the Bird Statue to get rid of that nasty wraith. Back to the Hall and you could already shoot all the sleeping skeletons, so they won't bother you again. Go to the most W platform and jump into the N side opening.

Go all the way down the slopes until you can go underwater and find an underwater lever and a door. The timed lever opens a door on top of all the slopes and in that room is another trigger tile to open the Timed gate under the underwater lever all the way down the slopes (savegame.5). A Tip: Be sure the underwater door is closed before you start, stand back against the wall and sprint over the tile (so the door is still opening up when you are at full speed, try cutting corners, go wide and while sprinting hit the outer walls so Lara will bend inwards again. At the water; run in two steps and jump (example-primcat3.jpg).

Pick up the Stone Disk and return to the Hall with the Platforms. Jump to the platform E and jump SE into the opening, take care of the skeletons while a block will prevent you from getting out, run over the 4 circle tiles in the corner and when the block is down again, collect the Shotgun ammo, Earth Crystal and Fire Crystal. Nothing in that pit, so jump out NE to the platform. This platform is the entrance platform and to the S is the opening leading to the Secret Rooms. Maybe later...

Go to the next platform E and jump over again E, then into the opening S, down the ladder and get a Fire Crystal, Uzi- and Revolver ammo in the coffins and look for a jump lever in the NE corner (Will raise a block to get a Sapphire later). Climb back up to the Hall. Jump to the last platform E and into the opening S.

W and E are passages to the first floor, take the E side as there you will come across an Air Crystal, upstairs you'll find 6 levers in the S room and through the glass floor you can see raising blocks in a crossing of passages. You'll have to use the levers so you will create a passage through to each of the side passages (E/W/S and the entrance N).

Throw the SE lever and go back through the opening N to the room below and to the crossing S and go left and right to use the two face buttons (to open a door in the S passage).

Now go back upstairs and use the levers to create an opening to the S side passage (sorry, can't really recall which ones I used, but here's a savegame.6.

Go into the passage to a cave and drop down to the lower level, near the pillar NW is an Earth Crystal. Behind the pillar is a lever; this will raise a block on the upper level of the cave. (From standing on the block you can operate a jump lever killing the flames under a Secret Sapphire). If you want the next Sapphire, throw the lever, go climb up S twice to the upper level, in the NE corner is an Air Crystal. To the W is an opening with the block, use the jump lever and go down two floors and lower the block with the lever. Up again and into the passage W for a Medipack, Uzi ammo, the Cloud Pillar and last but not least the Secret Sapphire #2. Get back down one level, out to the exit N and out to the Hall.

E side N: Storage Rooms, opening some Gates.

Jump to the W platform and into the opening N and run into the room a bit, beetles come down from the ceiling, run back, jump to the platform and go check if they all fell into the lava. When the coast is clear, explore the room and find an Earth Crystal N. Climb down the hole in the floor and shoot a bug, then some vases and get the Air Crystal, proceed into the passage N.

Take the first storage room on the right and look up for a jump lever (S and up) (opening up a gate in a place we'll visit soon) and there's some Uzi ammo in the back. Out and up the stairs, the first left and on the N side is a face button, (opening up a gate in a place we'll visit soon). Back out and up the stairs, shoot the bug and take a right, in the dark entrance is a Fire Crystal.

Now go up the stairs to a room with a text on the wall:

?A key with the touch of Midas. I reside within the deepest depths of the fluid life. A ray of light above, it is my only companion. Your probing eyes cannot find me, but your patient hands surely will...?

Go N and through a room with empty vases through the gate you opened in the first storage room. Light a flare and after the first corner, look up in that dark passage to spot the ladder, go up and right around the corner to drop in the passage above. Shoot a skeleton and follow to a passage left. Go in, get the Shotgun ammo and climb down the ladder in the end. Climb up the ladder at the end of that passage and go W to get a Water Crystal. Left is a lava pit you bypassed with the ladders. Turn around and go E to the open gate you opened with the face button in the second storage room.

The Big Pool, the Golden Key.

Get into the water to get rid of the wraith, while you're down there, look in the exact centre of the pool for the Golden Key (It's there, you just can't see it, remember that message on the wall? Your probing eyes cannot find me, but your patient hands surely will...).

Climb back out SW and go into the passage S, follow to a room where you can get Grenades from the coffin. Back out, jump in the water and swim to the SE corner of the room, take the passage S. Step in, wait a bit and shoot the dog.

Go in again and just follow the right hand wall to come to an Earth Crystal, turn around and go right where possible, shoot another dog but keep going right and find an opening in the floor. Careful, you cannot drop/grab down the ladder so climb down. Once down, face the room, you'll have to anti trigger two burners in front of a face button in the other end. There will be beetles following you, so keep moving as much as possible. The higher ledges are deadly.

Beetles and Deadly Ledges; lower a Block.

From the ladder go left (S) to the wall, turn right and keep following the wall, passing a waterfall you'll come to a block with a column on top, climb (jump) over that block and behind it is the first trigger tile for a burner. Run E again and to the wall, right there and keep following the walls, you'll come to a Water Crystal, climb over the block with the column and find the second trigger tile. Now make your way over to the face button E and use it (lowers a block). Maybe run away first and sprint back to gain some time on the beetles. Behind the block with the button is some Shotgun ammo if you like. Get back to the ladder W and up, go S into the passage where the block lowered, there's a deep empty pit and on the S wall is a face button opening up a door at the Big Pool.

Go back N, take a right and then keep going left where possible to get back to the Big Pool.

Enter the passage E and jump over the break tiles to the other side, up the pole and backflip into the corridors above.

When you don't want all the pickups, go left around corners to where you will fall through the floor, scroll down.

In case you want it all, go right everywhere and shoot 3 dogs. In the back you will find Arrows and a Fire Crystal. Go right again and find Arrows, Revolver ammo, a small medipack and a Water Crystal.

Careful, the next corner is where you fall through the floor. Slide and jump over the pit, keep jumping till you are on a safe floor with a bug you can shoot. Jump the next slopes and shoot another bug, the last series of jumps lead back to the Big Pool.

N is a caved in passage, go to the NW corner of the Big Pool and left into the passage to get a Fire Crystal. The wraith can be dealt with in the pool.

Inside and left is a Fire Crystal, then time the flames to get to the rope and swing to the next, time the other burner too aim a bit left or right of it to swing and land on the W side floor. Grab Cloud Pillar #2 and do the same to get back (savegame.7). Back out to the Big Pool, you're all done here.

So go to the SW ledge and through the open gate (W), down the ladder on the right and up the next ladder, follow through to the right and get down the ladder there, leave W and follow through into that dark cave, up the climb wall on the hanging pillar and out S to the Hall with the Platforms.

Go W and jump to the second platform and left (N) into the entrance passage, back to the Lava Room with the 6 Face Buttons and to the opening W, a lava room with a walkway.

Dodging Boulders, Stone Disk #2.

To the right is a ledge (raised block) with a Secret Sapphire #3 (you made this pickup possible by using the jump lever in a supply room S of the Hall with the platforms).

Jump back to the walkway and in the middle of the walkway are Flares. Turn around, save and get those, two blocks go up so you're stuck. First stay where you are as boulders will drop from the slopes. Then run forward and roll, look up left and right where the next boulders will come from and find the right spot to avoid being crushed. Go on till all boulders fell down and the blocks went down as well (savegame.8).

Well that was what you should have done when you didn't raise the block for the Sapphire, I did however and just jumped there to watch the show.

The gate W also opened, go use the Golden Key there (found in the Big Pool). Go in and get Stone Disk #2.

Now we go back to the Hall with the Platforms, through the door S.

Use the Stone Disks, Cloud Pillar #3 and the Magic Room Key.

Jump to the last platform E and go in N, up the stairs and use the Stone Disks.

Inside to the SW for an Earth Crystal, NE for Grenades, go out N to a hall with pillars and a bunch of skeletons jumping around, go have you fun, pick up an Air Crystal W and then climb up the ladder on the pillar in front of the entrance. Look around, because there should be a Secret Sapphire #4 on one of the pillars (dropped by a skeleton, so it could be on any of the pillars).

Jump to the higher (dark) floor W, look near the W wall for Air Crystal and go left, into the opening N, drop down left and shoot the scorpion. Then go use the face button to open a gate and roll, just run to the S wall and you'll end up in a hidden passage below to get Air Crystal and Earth Crystal, climb back out. Go back W and up, to the S and find the opened gate.

Push the button W and the boulder drops, it will follow the tunnel and finally knock over a column. You could follow the boulder and drop down, but you can also jump from the E side of the floor down onto another block to get the Shotgun ammo.

Spike Challenge.

Climb the fallen block and jump to grab into the crawlspace S, follow through and around the corner, save. Slide down and jump over the spike traps, I didn't go for the Flares as Spikes are about to go up, so I just rolled and ran into both side passages to use the face buttons and the door S opened up (I did pause for the Medipack in the second passage though).

Slope Jumping; the Cloud Pillar.

Run through the door into the water and get the Water Crystal where you land. Up the steps S and use the face button W to open another gate in the dark rooms. Climb up S and follow through and climb up again after shooting a bug.

In the room with the sloped ledges, stand at the S wall facing W and back flip onto the higher slope, keep jumping and you should end up at Cloud Pillar #3. Turn around, jump onto the E slope to grab the edge, shimmy to the middle of the room and pull up, back flip, jump back and you should be at the exit. Jump over the ladder hole for Air Crystal, now go up behind that big green vase and walk through the wall to get a Secret Sapphire (#5). Walk back out and (that ladder down there is in case you forgot the Pillar) stand jump back up, down on the ledge on the slope and jump over to the W side, up into the opening where a block should have lowered when you picked up the Pillar.

Drop down the other end and follow back W to the room with the broken column. Go through the N opening, climb up the pillars and jump to the E side dark floor. Left up the blocks and into the room, get the Magic Room Key from the coffin and shoot the vase E for the Uzi ammo. Don't get tempted to shoot the white vases SW! Just make your way down to the ground floor and leave S, down the stairs to the Hall with the Platforms.

When I jumped out to the platform I finally noticed the Air Crystal there. Now is a good time to visit the Secret Rooms for supplies, jump to the 4th platform and into the opening S, swim through and make a choice out of the 8 gates.

The Magic Room; Cloud Pillar #4.

Back to the Hall and jump straight over to the opening N, back to the Lava Room with the Face Buttons. Take the E room now; the door will open for you. Jump over the hole in the floor and use the Key on the lock, it's a magic room. You have to go left around (clockwise) and you'll meet two dogs, one of them drops a Fire Crystal. Go on and find Cloud Pillar #4 in the end, return and just keep running left around till you drop into a flooded basement, under the skeleton is a Fire Crystal, SE is a Medipack, then go to the higher mount in the middle of the room to climb the ladder up to the door.

Use the Pillars, Room with the Suspended Ledges.

I believe we have it all now, so leave W, go S to the Hall with the Platforms. All the way to the W and into the opening S, use the Pillars to proceed through the gates and come to a room with suspended ledges. Jump straight, then S and next to the right hand opening S, then SE and from the middle of the ledge to the SE unlit burner tile. SE is a Water Crystal, from there jump to the ledge W where you can see a jump lever (#1). It will raise a block under a monkey climb.

Jump back to the burner tile and from there NW, go right and face W, jump with a right curve into the next opening, jump N into the right hand side. To the ledge W and two times more to the W. SW you'll see Shotgun ammo and a jump lever (#2), wait with using this one if you want the next Sapphire, it will raise a block we need later, but will also block a button we have to push to reveal the Sapphire. So just jump NW, NE and then over to the ledge with the lever (#3) N (will stop a burner in this room and start the one at the jump lever you did). Jump W and in the left corner is Air Crystal.

Go jump back over the ledges to where jump lever #2 is and hop to the third ledge SE, then right and jump N to the ledge at the entrance, turn left and jump E to where you killed the flames with the lever (#3). First jump E with a left curve into the arch and then jump N to the jump lever (#4), you will raise another block at the monkey climb with it. Jump back S, hop left around the corner and get a Fire Crystal. Hop NW, back onto the burner tile and from there W onto the ledge near the entrance.

Use the Last Pillars.

Go straight to the last ledge S and hop NW to grab that raised block, climb up to the monkey climb and get to the door you can open with another Pillar. Inside is a hole in the floor with a button, use the button and go back out, use the monkey climb to get to the ledges and make your way over to the Shotgun ammo and jump lever #2 at the W wall, this time use that lever and a block goes up. Make your way back to the monkey climb and into the door again, climb the block and go up the ladder to the room above and grab a Secret Sapphire (#6) and some Arrows before you use the last Pillar on that door. Go down and run to where the level will change.