SUNSET RUINS
Level by Trinh
Walkthrough by Phil Lambeth (with assistance from Moonpooka for the
fifth secret)
Begin at the crest of a dark slope. Step forward and slide down to the floor
below. Run forward to trigger an elaborate flyby that gives you an overview of
this area. However, don't be deceived; you can explore the floor area of the
ruins to your heart's content, but there's nothing to do or gain right now
unless you want to kill a couple of ninjas who are patrolling the
grounds. Instead, step forward onto the rocky cleft between the sloped pillar
to your left and the ramped surface to your right. Turn left, face the sloped
pillar and side step as far to the right as possible. Then back flip, jump
off the ramp behind you and slide ever so slightly down the sloped face of the
pillar ahead before jumping off. Curve to the left in mid-air and grab the edge
of the balcony. Pull up, step forward and draw your pistols to kill the ninja
who's awaiting you.
Run across the uneven
floor and pick up the flares near the SW corner. Then light one of them
and locate the jumpswitch on the adjacent pillar against the south wall.
Activate it, and you'll hear the sound of a door opening. Turn right and return
to the balcony where you pulled up earlier. Run across the corner to the right
onto the ledge, then make an abrupt turn to the right into the opening in the
corner. Run down the dark corridor and draw your pistols to kill the jackal
you'll encounter when you make the turn.
Continue down into a
basement area where you'll find a number of crates and a wall switch. Explore
this room a bit before throwing the switch. Go to the east wall, turn right,
push in the crate and pick up the ammo that was underneath it. Reverse
roll, pull out the opposite crate and work your way around the vacated space
for some more ammo. Now push the second crate back where it was, and
pull out the first crate. Work your way into the vacated alcove for Secret
#1 and the Uzis. Go out and pick up a small medi-pack beside
a crate next to the south wall. Now you can throw the wall switch, but
all it seems to do is open the nearby gate leading to the ruins area, where you
began this level.
Turn around and go
back to where you shot the jackal at the bend in the dark corridor, and look up
to find the well-hidden crawl space in the corner. Jump up and go inside, and
crawl a short distance until you reach an open area where you can stand up.
There's a boulder dead ahead, and another one off to your left (which appears
to be harmless). Hop down and make your way to the low central portion of this
rubble-filled enclosure, and jump to safety as soon as you hear the rumbling of
the boulder. After the boulder comes to rest in a depression, pick up
the nearby shotgun and climb up onto the adjacent block. Line up for a
running jump to the east, which rewards you with a really neat sunset glare
effect, then jump forward to a flat spot. Step forward into the depression and
pick up the flares.
Step forward and pull
back up to a flat surface, and note the hole in the SE corner to your right.
Safety drop down into the hole and turn around. You'll hear foreboding music as
you step forward onto a ledge overlooking a dark and deep canyon. Locate the
pillar on the wall down to your left, and take a standing jump to it. Turn to
your right and take a running jump to the landing at the bottom of a flight of
stairs. Draw weapons as you go up the stairs, as you'll be met by a welcoming
committee of two ninjas (one on either side) and a jackal. After
disposing of them, you can take a left and go down a ramp into a torch-lit room
to investigate, but all you're going to find at the moment is the exit door and
a nearby device to receive a portal guardian. As you don't yet have either of
the necessary artifacts, go back up the ramp and follow the corridor until you
reach a large indoor pool area.
Run along the ledge
and scout out the territory. In the NW corner are piled up blocks that give you
access to the monkey bars along the ceiling. In the west wall is an alcove with
a closed door that you'll be opening shortly. Looking across the pool, you can
see a large opening in the SE corner. Jump over to the ledge along the south
wall and pick up the shotgun ammo, then jump into the water and swim
around the corner to your right (under the opening to the SE) until you alert a
pair of crocodiles. When they start to give chase, return to the ledge,
pull up and shoot them from a position of safety. Now that the water is safe,
jump back in and locate an opening in the north wall under the ledge, with a
closed gate at the end. Take note of it for later.
Now swim to the east
end and pick up the crossbow arrows on the floor near the north wall.
Continue to the east wall and turn right. Enter a little corridor against the
east wall and pick up the crowbar. Look straight up and locate the ceiling
lever in the shaft overhead. Pull it, then continue swimming in a southerly
direction along the east wall. Locate the opening, where you've just opened the
gate by pulling the ceiling lever. There are plenty of air holes in this area,
so go up and fill your lungs with air before tackling this underwater maze just
past the south opening.
Come to think of it,
there are more things that should logically be done here before we navigate the
maze, so let's explore the large underwater area a little more fully. You'll
find in the columned area in the SE a hole in the cobblestoned floor, but your
progress through the connecting corridor is now blocked by a closed gate. Swim
back to the open area where you killed the crocodiles earlier, and pull up onto
the ledge. Run over to the NW corner and climb up onto the blocks. Jump up to
grab the ceiling, then monkey swing over toward the SE corner. You need to drop
down onto the block against the south wall. Don't go all the way to the end of
the monkey bars, or you'll overshoot the block and drop down into the water. Release
just a short distance from the end, then turn and take a running jump into the
large SE opening. Kill the jackal, then take the 2d Cartouche Piece
from the pedestal. (Yes, I know we don't have the first piece yet, but it's
coming.)
Shoot the box near the
north wall for some shotgun ammo. You can also shoot the nearby vase for
target practice if you wish. Go into the opening to the south, and you'll
awaken two skeletons. Eliminate them by driving them into the water with
your shotgun. Continue forward to go up the west stairs. You'll alert another skeleton
in an alcove to your left, so deal with it. Then locate the nearby floor
switch and use the crowbar to open the door in the west wall below.
You can take a short
cut by jumping into one of the nearby water holes. Swim over to the open area
surrounded by the ledge, and pull up on the west side. Enter the open doorway
and kill three scorpions that come out to greet you. There's a switch in
the north wall, but first go over to the SW corner and use your crowbar to open
the crate. Go inside and pick up the 1st Cartouche Piece. Now throw the wall
switch to open the underwater gate at the end of the corridor where you
swam down the hole in the floor in the SE area. Go there, swim down the long
tunnel and emerge at the base of a huge flight of stairs.
Eliminate the two skeletons
at the top of the stairs. When you step up to claim the ornate handle, the
pedestal it's on bursts into flames, so you need to do a little more work here.
Go down the north flight of stairs on the right side, just past the torches,
and turn right to face the concrete abutment. Jump up and grab the edge, and
pull up. Step forward, between the pillars, and turn left. Take a blind running
jump into the darkness and grab the crack in the wall. Shimmy to the right and
around the corner until you come to a stop near the other end of the the east
wall. Pull up into the crawl space and crawl forward a short distance until you
can stand up. Turn to the right and take note of the spike gauntlet barring
your way to the receptacle for the cartouche.
The easiest way for me
to get across was to use the left side and sprint to the other side once the
nearest bay of spikes had retracted. Combine the two pieces to form the Ba
Cartouche and use it in the receptacle to turn off the flames guarding the
ornate handle. Go back across the spike gauntlet, using the same side (this
time, the right side), use the crawl space and drop down into the water. Pull
up onto the nearest stairs and deal with the crocodile that was patiently
awaiting your return. Run up the stairs and pick up the ornate handle,
then go back down and jump into the water. Swim into the corridor in the east
wall and return to the large indoor pool area.
Now it's time to
navigate that maze in the south wall. Enter the maze to find that it inclines
upward. That makes it easier to get your bearings. There's an air hole toward
the back (on the left side) in case you lose track of time while meandering
through the maze for the various goodies you'll find. Near the SW area
of the maze you'll encounter a vertical shaft that leads to Secret #2.
Claim the crossbow, two stashes of crossbow arrows and some uzi
ammo, then make your way back through the maze (hugging the right wall as
you progress from the main entrance) and locate another vertical shaft in the
NW portion. Pull up into a small room and use the ladder to access the ledge
above. Kill the two scorpions, then run down the corridor and throw the wall
switch to open the gate at the end.
Enter a dark storage
area with crates strewn all around and two grated balcony levels above you. Run
forward and draw weapons to eliminate two ninjas who give challenge from
an area near the west wall. Then locate the nearby moveable crate in the west
wall and pull it out. Pick up the flares in the vacated alcove and shoot
the wall behind them. Go inside and throw the wall switch, and you'll
hear the unmistakable sounds of another alerted ninja. He's up on the
second story balcony along the south wall, so climb up onto some crates in the
middle of the room until he appears, then take him out.
Hop down to the floor
and run over to the north side of the room. There's an opening there into
another area, so go inside and shoot two jackals. Go into the small room
to your left and pick up the shotgun ammo from the top of one of the
crates. Then go into the opposite corridor and throw the wall switch. A
gate opens nearby, so go inside and pick up the revolver. Climb up onto
the crate to your left, turn to your left, and activate the jumpswitch
on the wall to lower some ropes outside.
Return to the main
storage area outside and climb up onto the crate that was directly in front of
you when you first entered. Step forward and climb up onto the silver crate
ahead, then turn to your right and take a standing jump to the single crate
below. Step forward and take a standing jump with grab to a gap on the second
story balcony. Pull up onto the balcony and turn to your right. Pull up onto
the crate and note the crawl space to your left. Go inside and drop down the
other side for Secret #3. Be careful not to slide down onto the central
burner, and pick up the grenade gun, some grenade gun ammo and
some uzi ammo on the corners.
Go back to the main
storage area and retrace your steps to the same silver crate described in the
previous paragraph. Then turn around and angle Lara slightly to the right, or
SW. Take a running jump onto the second story balcony, then hop over to the
balcony along the south wall and go inside the open doorway. Shoot the ninja
who jumps out to challenge you, then run up the stairs until you reach the
third story balcony. The author's apparent intent is for you to use the ropes
to swing over to the north balcony, but you can also get there by using the
crates on that side to reach the second story balcony, then by taking a running
jump from a nearby crate to grab the third story balcony and pull up.
However you get there,
go inside the opening on the north wall of the third story. Kill the jackal
just inside, then look around at the boulders poised here and there. It's a
pretty nifty trap, because there's another pair of boulders lying in wait down
the ramp to your right. Here's how to beat it. Sprint down the ramp and trigger
the three boulders behind you. Dash into the opening on your right,
reverse roll, and as soon as the first boulders roll by, jump quickly back onto
the ramp to your left to avoid the next pair of boulders. When all is
quiet, go into the corridor where the second pair of boulders came from, turn
right into the opening and follow to a ramp. Slide down the ramp backwards,
grab the edge at the bottom, and keep the jump key and an arrow key depressed
when you release, causing Lara to back flip over the deadly burner until she
reaches one of the corner flat spots. Pick up the revolver ammo, then
jump over to the opening in the south wall and pull up inside. Use your crowbar
to open the door, then slide down the ramp into the ruins area. Pull up onto
the ledge and shoot the barricade if you didn't do so during your earlier
explorations.
Go into the opening on
your right, shoot the jackal, and pick up the uzi ammo in the NW
corner. Go back outside into the ruins area. There are two more ninjas
in the area, so make short work of them. Then run all the way back to the point
where you began this level, and repeat the jump sequence that brings you up to
the balcony. Get onto the outside ledge and run around the perimeter in a
counterclockwise direction until you're at the NW corner facing a tall sloped
column. Take a running jump and grab the edge, shimmy to the far right and pull
up. Slide down the other side and jump off to the next sloped column ahead.
Slide down, jump off and swerve to the left in mid-air to land on the flat
column near the west wall. Take a running jump and grab to the gray block
against the west wall, and pull up.
Step forward, aim for
the middle of the tiled patio ahead, and slide down the slope. Jump off at the
last instant and land on a flat surface in front of the patio. Vault up onto
the patio and shoot the jackal to your left and the ninja to your
right. Use your crowbar to open the door in the east wall, and go inside. Turn
right and run up the corridor. Turn left onto a ledge overlooking the room
below and run to the other side. Jump over to the opening in the east wall and
drop down the other side into the alley. Shoot the ninja and the jackal,
then go around the corner of the alley. Climb up onto the blocks on the right
side, then turn to the left and face the sloped surface on the other side. Turn
around and back flip to the sloped surface, jump off and grab the ladder ahead.
Climb up the ladder and from the top rung take a rolling back flip and grab the
edge of the roof. Shimmy to the left until you're able to drop down to the
balcony for Secret #4. Pick up the small medi-pack and the laser
sight, then drop down to the alley floor and enter the room from which the
ninja emerged.
Throw the floor
switch in the SE corner to open the nearby gate. Reverse roll and pick up
the Gate Key in the SW alcove, then find the revolver ammo around
the wall to your right. Shoot another jackal that comes to investigate,
then climb up the pole and back flip to the south ledge. On the way down the
ramp, light a flare and note the crawl space overhead. Pull up into the crawl
space, go forward a short distance to alert a pair of scorpions, then
immediately back up and lower Lara to safety. Shoot the scorpions while jumping
up from the ramp, then resume your crawl until you reach Secret #5. Pick
up the small medi-pack, the shotgun ammo and the uzi ammo
for your trouble, then return via the crawl space and lower Lara down to the
ramp.
Go across the patio
and use the Gate Key to open the door in the west wall. Go inside and go down
the hallway to your left. When you reach the opening, drop down and make your
way to the crowbar door that appears to be out of working order. Turn around
and note the boulder at the top of the ramp. Go about halfway up the ramp and
shoot the barrier that's holding the boulder in place. The instant it shatters,
take a side flip to the right while the boulder rolls down and shatters
the door. Go back down, enter the doorway and run up the ramp. Make a hairpin
turn to the right when you reach the top and climb up into the crawl space.
Crawl forward until Lara is able to stand up, then turn to the left and pull up
into a new area.
The ominous music hints of some frenetic activity in store for you. Ahead
on a ledge overlooking a huge room below is a demigod, so draw powerful
weapons to eliminate him. When you step up to the edge of the balcony you're
standing on, you can see another demigod prancing about on a central
platform below, guarding what appears to be another artifact on a pedestal. There are sloped
pillars of various sizes surrounding the central platform, and the
greenish-colored water will kill Lara upon contact.
Step out onto the
network of ledges so you can draw a bead on the demigod below. When you do so,
a third demigod comes out of hiding from behind you and to your left, so
turn around quickly and run forward to get out of range of the demigod now
shooting at you from below. When you've dealt with the third demigod, turn your
attention back to the second one. (If he cleverly stays out of range, simply
combine your revolver with your laser sight and zoom in on him.)
Make your way across
the ledges to the other, much darker side, and you'll hear the gutteral sounds
of a fourth demigod coming from an alcove down below in the west wall.
After you've dispatched him, take a running jump with grab from where you are
to the balcony below. Turn around and face the central platform. Take a running
jump to one of the two sloped pillars ahead, slide down its face and jump off
at the right moment so you'll land safely on the edge of the central platform.
Step forward and take the Hathor Effigy from the pedestal. Go to the
edge of the central platform and look down, and you'll see that the water below
is now safe. So jump in and locate the opening in the east wall.
Swim along the
corridor until you reach a gate, which opens as you approach. Continue forward
until you emerge in the indoor pool area you explored earlier. Pull up onto the
ledge and run to the entrance at the NE corner. Run all the way to the end of the
corridor and down the ramp to the torch-lit room. Combine the Hathor Effigy and
the Ornate Handle to form the Portal Guardian. Use it on the pole
device, and the door to your right opens silently. Go inside and slide down the
ramp to end the level.