The objectives in this section are to practice the moves you’ll need to successfully complete the game. Unfortunately you cannot save your place in this section so if you run out of play time (you know how board meetings get in the way!), or you manage to kill yourself, you have to start from the beginning each time.

There are three main areas:

The Gym (practice your moves under instruction from Lara)

The Racetrack (with Quad Bike)

The Assault Course (you pick up your pistols)

To get to the Racetrack you need a key (of course you don’t if you know the cheat!)

The assault course is also new and improved. Both of these are timed so you now have competitive edge to the practice.

This section starts in the bedroom of Lara’s home. On the left side of the bed is a door with a button. Using the action key push the button to open the door. Inside you will find some flares that can be useful later. You can look around if you want but there is nothing else useful in this area. Head out of the bedroom to the landing. Follow it around to the left don’t go down the stairs just yet. On the far side is a door leading to the attic with a switch to open it. Go up the stairs to the attic area. You could use a flare here if you need to. But all you need to be able to do is see the box that you can push - on the right hand side. Push the box in two spaces

Go down the stairs. Facing the clock, go into the corridor on your left, which leads to an area with a stereo. There is a switch nearby which I expected to play some full-bodied heavy rock or maybe some emotive classical music. Unfortunately you get the rather dreary Tomb Raider "mood" music – oh well. Fortunately this doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the game.

Go back out of this room and there is another corridor leading to the kitchen You will probably have bumped into the bumbling, brew-bearing, bottom-burping butler - one of the highlights of Tomb Raider 2. I feel that Eidos could have done more with this character.

He will of course get in your way later when you are trying to get the key to the buggy racetrack. If you want to tuck him neatly out of harm’s way lead him into the meat freezer in the kitchen – he will follow you in. All you have to do is jump over him and shut the door using the switch that opened it. He will of course manage to escape in time for an appearance on the assault course.

If you now head into the gym, Lara will give you a running commentary on how to get around it. There are of course moves that Lara doesn’t show you. See Lara’s Cool Moves Page.

Beyond the gym is the pool area (a great place to practice swallow dives!). At the back of the diving board is a switch this opens a door at the foot of the stairs where there is a lever switch. This lever switch opens the door, in the opposite wall, into Lara’s trophy room. This is where the practice in the gym pays off, as you have to move pretty sharpish. After pulling the switch you need to perform a roll with a twist (up arrow + down arrow or end) then sprint and finish with a diving roll. Lara will just manage to clear under the lowering door.

This is Lara’s Trophy Room with trophies from past adventures. Nothing to do here but look. There is a switch to push by the door to get out again.

Now go back upstairs and follow round to the left. You will pass through the TV lounge into the Library. Hidden in the bookcase is a protruding book. Pull on this and the fire will go out.

Now you can climb inside the fireplace to a passageway. Follow this along and you will drop into a room with the box you pushed earlier and a switch to pull. There are also some flares hidden behind the box on the floor.

Jump up on the ledge and push the box away one space to reveal a doorway into the attic.

You need to do this next part very smoothly, as you only have about 20 seconds when you pull the switch.

Immediately roll, and run into the attic and down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs you need to turn onto the landing and jump as you go through the doorway. You should clear the banister onto the steps. Try a side jump to clear the banister and land in the hallway. Roll and turn, then run into the doorway.

You will find a box of flares and another switch to open the door from the inside. Follow the corridor until you come to a huge aquarium.

There is a box here that needs to be placed under a hole in the ceiling.

If you look into the aquarium by the chaise long (long chair) you can see the key in the water.

Climb on the box into a passageway that leads you to the way into the water. Don’t worry these fish are harmless. Don’t forget that you only have a limited time in the water.

Pick up the key - if you don’t pick it up first time go back to the hatch and get some more air.

With the key, climb out and head back to the hallway. Press the switch to open the front door and go outside. Beyond the horse statue is a locked get – the entrance to the racetrack.

Climb aboard the Quad Bike and have fun. Look out for the short cut that lets you half the normal times. My best so far is 49.36 seconds.

Don’t get stuck on the bike (end + right or left arrow).

When you have finished playing with the Quad Bike it’s time for the assault course. Go out of the gate you came in and turn right. Follow the path around to the course.

Near the end is a tunnel with the pistols in and target practice at the very end. The Butler is wearing a tin hat and uses the tea tray to defend himself - so make sure you pop a few shots at him. HeHe

You are now ready for the real thing!