INDIA

Temple Ruins

In this area you come across snakes for the first time. If you are bitten your health bar turns yellow and starts to drain. Each time you are bitten your energy will drain until you apply a medi pack. It is a good strategy to delay using the medi packs in an area where you may be bitten more than once - to conserve your medi packs.

Start by going down the right side of the tree. You will be able to see a snake curled up on the ground. Turn to face the tree and side step once. Do a right side jump and you will end up standing with your back against the wall, looking at the snake. He is too far away from you to be a threat - shoot at your leisure.

Now go into the tree and recover the small medi pack. Turn back and head towards the trunk of the large tree. Cimb halfway up the roots and look down to your left and you will see the next snake.

Walk towards the snake until he rears up. You should be too far away to get bitten as before. Walk into the area this snake was protecting to find a switch.

The switch opens a gate in the floor which you find if you go up two steps on your left. Drop into the hole and crawl under the obstruction in front of you. On the floor to your left is a small medi pack.

Get up on the other side and take the passageway right until it opens out on your left. Light a flare to clearly see the snake in the corner.
As before walk slowly towards it. The moment it rises stop and you should be able to kill it in safety.

Go past the dead snake and the passageway opens out into a lager area where you may be attacked by a couple of monkeys. Kill these and climb out into the open. Go left and you will find MP5 clips and shotgun ammo ontop of some steps.

To jump across to the island in the middle of the water you need to run towards the highest point you can on the slope of roots on the left hand side of the tree. This is the only way to get high enough to reach the island. Pick up the medi pack.

Look between the two ledges you can jump for on the other side and you will see a small gate. This is the underwater gate the next lever opens. Now do a running jump to the right hand of the two shallow ledges. On the right hand side you will see a switch

Run up the steps and throw the switch. The underwater gateway between the two ledges will now open. Jump in the water between the two ledges and swim through the gateway. Once you get beyond this gateway the piranhas will leave you alone.

Follow the tunnel around to the left and you will surface in an open area. As soon as you climb out you will be attacked by a lone monkey - so draw your guns and kill it. It's partner is not far away but will hang back until later.

Use the pillars to get up on the ledge to the right for some Uzi clips. Then head across the other side  of the slope.

There is a small green ledge just before the wall where you can stand to pick of the first monkey that comes towards you. Before you look for anything else find and kill the second monkey.

Follow the ledge around to the left and you will find an entrance. Before you go into the entrance there is some ammo on a ledge to the left.Run and jump over to the ledge. Pick up the ammo and return to the entranceway. You can just jump/climb up the slope rather than using the pillars.

Have your guns drawn as you go into the tunnel as a monkey will appear from around the corner to your right. Kill it and press on through the save gem. Do a standing jump across to the branch on your right.

Walk forward to the highest point of the branch where it meets the trunk. Do a standing jump to the next branch on the right, with the upturned end. Walk along this branch until it meets the trunk and turn with your back to this trunk.

Do a running jump forward to the next branch. You may need to grab. From here go to the highest point again and jump across to the branch with the Desert Eagle clips on the right.

Jump back from the highest point of this branch. Jump back again from the highest point retracing your route. From the upturned end of this branch you can do a running jump across to the branch by the wall DO NOT GRAB or you will fall short.

In an alcove to your left is a box of flares. Although you an jump over to the other branches there is nothing to collect. To jump back again get to the highest point of the branch next to the trunk (I actually had to take a side step away from the trunk to avoid a change of direction at the last minute). If you accidently step on the slope you will slide off. Do a running jump - again DO NOT GRAB!

Turn left to the highest point of the branch away from the trunk. You are now going to do a standing jump to the branch you started off on.

Look across to your left and you can see two waterfalls. There is a medi pack on the branch in between. Start by doing a running jump across to the stone ledge. Do a running jump to the medi pack in between the two waterfalls.

Now jump to the small ledge on the right of the trunk. Next jump into the space behind the waterfall. You will slide backwards so grab and hang.

Shimmy to the right and you can pull yourself up in a crouch to pick up the shells. Hang back on the ledge and drop down to a green ledge below.

You can jump from here to the back of the waterfalls. There is a snake in the passageway at the back. After you have killed the snake pick up the flares.

Jump back to the spot you jumped from (I found a back flip the easiest method to get the right trajectory). Climb up the step to the cliff face. Jump and grab the ledge.

Pull yourself up and look right. There is another ledge you can jump to. There is a monkey that you can pick off from where you are, but if you are impatient jump across with your pistols drawn.

After killing the monkey you can see that there is a space on the left that you can crawl into. Crawl in on the left hand side as there is a snake in the bushes on the right hand side. When there is room to stand walk towards the bush until the snake rises up and then kill it.

You are now at the entrance to a large tunnel. Slide down the slope and there is a snake visible around a corner. Stand with your back to the tunnel wall and side flip to stand in the corner facing the snake. You are out of harms way here and can kill him safely.

You follow on round to another long slope. Look up to your left and you will see a boulder that will release as soon as you start your descent. Slide down on the right side and you will be safe.

If you go forward you will drop into a room with a stone Shiva. Collect the shells to the left of the Shiva. The Stone block on it's right will move and you can pull it back to expose more shells and a hole in the wall.

You crawl through the hole and come into a larger room with another stone Shiva on the far side. On the right is a slope leading to a stone alcove.There is a save gem visible. There is a gate on the far wall to the left. And there is another gate with two key locks either side on the left wall between two pillars. There is also a hole in the ceiling as well as a gate in the floor in front of the farthest gate.

As you step forward into the room the stone Shiva flashes to life. When you shoot at it the Shiva puts it's swords together as a shield. You can only harm it when it has it's swords open.

Keep running in circles and running past it at an angle. As you get close it will open it's swords. You can kill it without sustaining much damage. If you find your energy draining there is the save crystal at the top of the slope - and you can take a breather up here if it all starts to get too hairy!

When you have killed the Shiva it will change back to stone and a gate in the floor will open. There is a switch in here that will open the door directly above.

There is also a movable block which reveals a secret area You need to crawl into this area as poison darts are being shot across the room. Once you are in go to the right and you can stand up safely. There is a hole in the floor with a medi pack in it.

Beware of the boulder waiting to roll on you when you try and collect it. You have to jump in from the side with the action button pressed. This will cause Lara to start picking up the medi pack as soon as she lands. Then press the back button + the jump button. On the second jump she should land on the edge - just as the boulder drops into the hole. This is the secret

If you let the boulder into the hole before picking up the medi pack you will not be able to retrieve it. Now duck again and crawl into the passageway the boulder came from. You will have to crawl through the next room which has more poison darts. Remember to pick up the flares under the point the poison darts are being fired from.

In the last room are two alcoves with a box of shells and a small medi pack. Retrieve this and head out of the hole avoiding the poison darts.

Go through the nearest door which will close behind you. The stone floor ends in a swamp as you follow the corridor.

Step into the swamp and follow the corridor around to the left. Lara will disappear under the service. Keep walking around to the left and just as your air is running out Lara should reappear.

Climb out and jump up onto the next level of the slope. Look back and you will see a tunnel. Take a running jump over to this upper tunnel. Draw your guns and head down the tunnel. Kill the monkey that attacks you. Now is a good time to save.

At the end is a switch. As soon as you pull the switch side jump to the left and sprint through the corridor (jumping to avoid the swinging blade may be worthwhile). You may get caught by the swinging blade but you will avoid the spiked walls closing in on you (jumping to avoid the swinging blade may be worthwhile).

Run up the steps into a pillared room. Two monkeys are playing and if you don't shoot them they will just roll about at your feet. If you go around the left of the central pillars you will see a hole in the ceiling. This is the second secret area.

If you go to the back of the cental pillars you will find a switch to pull.

If you look to the right of the switch there is a movable block on the bottom of one of the wall pillars. Pull and push the block against the central columns.

Push it to the left side first. Climb up onto the ledge and run around to the other side. You will be able to jump to the hole in the ceiling and grab onto a ladder there.

Pull yourself up and you can collect a box of shells and MP5 clips. The lever switch allows you to get to the third secret area.

Climb back down the ladder and then drop to the floor. Now pull the switch at the back and a door will open at the top. Drag the block to the right side of the column and you can climb up to the now open gate.

You can see that there is a pool of water at the bottom. There is an underwater lever. Pull this and the underwater gate will open. Go to the surface and get air. (You can do this in one breath.)

Swim into the tunnel where you will find two levers opposite each other. Pull these and then swim back out just before you get to the pool there is an open gateway in the roof of the tunnel you can swim into. You will surface in a large room with a pool.

There is a gate in the far side of the pool which has the third secret area behind it. You will only be able to do this part if you have already pulled the lever in the second secret area. There is a lever on each sidewall of the pool and a third lever (the gate lever on the near wall)

Dive into the water and turn to find the lever you want. Pull this lever and use the roll key to quickly turn underwater. Swim for the gate which will close behind you. To open it swim to the right into the alcove with the large medi kit.

Now swim back out to get your breath back. When you have recovered go back in and pick up the large medi pack, the flares and the grenades.

Climb out above the doorway and collect the save gem. Dive back into the water and pull the remaining two levers. Climb back out on the lever side. If you stand back you should see invisible columns illuminated by the smoke from the statues.

Do a standing jump and grab the invisible block. Pull yourself up and jump across to the next block. Do a standing jump to the next invisible block. Finally do a standing block to the central pillar with the switch.

The switch opens a door on the left hand side. It is timed so as soon as you pull the switch you have to perform a flip to the left, a standing jump down and run for the door.

You come into a long room with a switch on the right hand side and a wall of spikes beyond. Down the opposite end are a closed set of gates.

This is a good time to save as this can be tricky to get the timing right. You have to pull the switch, roll and run down the other end. I suggest you sprint then skid to a stop over the key, which is in the left corner. Pick up the key, roll again. You now have to run out of the small door, which is now open again - on the right hand side.

When the wall of spikes has past go back to the end with the switch to find a small medi pack and some MP5 clips. Return to the doorway and you will see that there has been a mud slide. As you approach blocks fall into the centre.

Walk across sticking to the sides. Climb up the mud slope. You can climb under the wall over a ledge and along a corridor to the right. The corridor ends in another corridor.

To your left is a box of flares. To your right is a set of steps with a boulder waiting to drop when you stand on the second step. Walk backwards up the steps until you reach the second step then run left around the corner. When the boulder has gone by continue up the steps.

At the top turn left and head through the gates which will open in opposite directions as you come near. Take the right hand gate. The gate will shut behind you.

Head down the corridor and kill the monkey. As you head down the corridor you will be aware of a rumbling (don't worry that's what you would have had if you had taken the other corridor).

There is a switch to the left of the door at the end. Pull the switch and the door will open. As you continue you see a tunnel exit at floor level. This is where you would have had to escape the boulder. Continue down the corridor.

You come into a room with corridor off to the left and a save gem in the corner. Kill the two monkeys that come towards you, one has a small medi pack. If you don't kill them they will attack you and won't give you the medi pack.

Collect the gem and then go down the corridor. At the end of the corridor is a hole to drop down into the area in which you fought with the Shiva. Climb down the wall and drop to the ground.

If you haven't pulled the switches either side of the alcove at the top of the muddy slope........ do so now. Also collect the save gem. Now head down to open gateway on the left side.

Follow the corridor until you have to climb up onto a block. Draw your pistols and drop down. Two monkeys will attack you at the same time. You may need to keep releasing the action key so that you are shooting at both monkeys (otherwise you will lock onto just one and the other will be free to attack you).

You come into an area with a sunken section in the middle. On one wall of this section is a lever switch. The lever will not work at the moment so head on into the water filled room with the fire breathing statues.

Avoid the flames and dive into the water. Swim across to the other side and climb out in front of the switch. This should avoid the flames on this side. (If you start to catch fire simply jump into the water.)

Pull the switch turn and jump into the water to the left or right. The switch has opened an underwater gate. Poison darts are being shot throught this tunnel so swim through low and fast. if you are hit get clear of the line of fire and use a medi pack.

As you clear the tunnel masonry falls from above so try and stick to the sides. Come up on the left side where youwill find a small medi pack on a low ledge.

Go to the other side and climb onto the step. There is a ladder here so climb up. When you get near the top do a back flip (action key + jump key) to land on the next ledge.

Now jump for the ledge infront and to the right. DO NOT GRAB - if you grab you will fall short. Jump up to the next ledge. Turn to face the ledge you have just jumped up from.

There is a ladder on the wall of the ledge above. Do a standing jump and grab the ladder. Climb up to the next ledge. You now have to make your way around the walls left to right.

Do a standing jump to the ledge on your left. Now do a running jump over to the ledge with the snake on it. The snake will be a bit stunned by your cheek and you have a moment to move away from it.

If you can get against the wall you can kill it without being bitten. Now jump over to the next ledge. You can see a sloping corridor is next.

When you jump in here you need to jump back and grab the edge immediately to avoid being crushed by yet another boulder. When the boulder has rolled over climb back up.

The path ahead is crossed by two poison darts and swinging blades. The good news is that you can crawl past all of these. There is a small medi pack on your left.

You can do a standing jump and grab the far edge. Collect the save gem and then jump into the far left corner of the spiked pit to find secret area number four.

Walk through the spikes and you will see a small tunnel. Crouch and crawl in. Follow the corridor until you have to crouch and crawl again. With your back against the left wall do a side flip and you come face to face with a giant snake.

Shoot the snake and collect the save gem, the desert eagle clips and the uzi clips. The exit is above the pool you just climbed out of. Dive in, but to the side, to avoid the poison darts on the centre line.

Climb out of the water and jump around the walls as before until you get back to the room with the swinging blades and the poison darts. Crawl under these as before and jump across the pit to the save crystal.

There is a movable block to the right of this room. Push it one space in. This will reveal a second movable block on your left. Keep pushing this until you reveal a passageway to your right (5 spaces).

You have revealed three more moveable blocks on the left. Push the right most block in one space. Step back and then side step to the left past the next block. Push the next one in one space. Block two can now be pushed sideways to show a lever.

Pull the lever and the empty pool is now flooded.Follow the new tunnel round. You can see there are two boulders waiting to roll onto you. Run down the centre of the pebbled track and when you reach the first slope wait and do a back flip - hopefully over the oncoming boulders.

Run and jump over the pit with the spikes and boulders in. There is a big drop at the end of this path. You want to hang and drop from the right side as there are spikes on the left side.

You drop into the middle of the tunnel which had poisonous darts going through it. If you get hit (your energy bar will go from red to flashing yellow) swim out to the smoking statue side and use a small medi kit to stop the energy drain.

Climb out in the middle avoiding the flames/smoke. Go into the next room with the now flooded pool. Dive in, pull the switch and swim through the gate.

Climb out of the pool and head back towards the place where you killed the Shiva. Unlock the gate with your keys. Jump over to the ladder on the opposite will and climb into the hole quickly - to avoid the descending spiked ceiling.

Kill the two monkeys and collect the save gem. There is a movable block in the alcove on the right as you are looking at the hole you came in. Pull the block out and then climb on it.

Turn and do a running leap across the room. Pull yourself up and pull the lever. Run and jump across to the switch on the other side of this wall and pull the switch there.

The main gates are now open. Two boulders are clearly visible above the doorway. Step into the doorway and then jump back. Step through the doors into a pit.

The doors will close behind you and each end of the passage has a fire breathing statue. Run past the statue in between breaths

The corridor opens into a large room with a stone Shiva against each side wall.

Go up to the one on the left, and the one on the right will burst to life. Turn and climb onto the central ledge with another stone Shiva on it. This will cause the second Shiva to burst into life. Take shots at each Shiva until they protect themselves by hiding behind their swords.

Jump down from this ledge and run across to the corner of the room. Run up the steps and climb onto the pillar. There are some shells on one of these pillars. You are safe here. The Shiva's cannot go anywhere you have to climb to reach.

The swords are now open so shoot at each Shiva again. When they have closed their swords to protect themselves jump across to the other pillar. A standing jump and grab works here. The Shiva's will now drop their guard.

This works each time they raise their guard jump across to the other pillar and they will lower their guard again. As they die they turn back to stone. One of the swords remains golden. Pick up the sword from each and climb up to the ledge with the third stone Shiva.

Using the action button put a sword in each of the empty hands. I found I had to put the first sword in the right side. When you have put the second sword in it's hand the door in between the two pillars will open. Don't forget the small medi pack in the water pit, under the last Shiva's platform.

Through the doorway is a pit with some uzi clips. Jump in and collect the clips. When you turn to climb out you find that the gate has closed behind you.

You now have a choice of left or right but each is the same. A short tunnel with a tunnel to crawl into. You will need to turn and back out on the other side to a hang. Drop to the floor and head around to the left.

You will come into a large room with two dead guys suspended horribly. There is a hole in the floor and a doorway in the wall. Light a flare and throw it inside. There is a switch up on the left side of the back wall, and a switch on the right hand wall. There is also a trapdoor in the floor just to the right of the doorway.

You need to run to the switch at the back, roll and run to the switch on the side wall. You then just have time to drop into the now open trapdoor and collect the first key (you need two more).

You now hav no choice but to climb out of the hole into the room with the suspended dead guys. The second key is under the dead guy in the middle. As you walk towards the key the stone shiva bursts into life.

Run over to where the dead guy is hung by the wall. Climb up on the step beneath him and fire at the Shiva until it puts it's swords up in defence. If you step back off either side you can climb straight back on. This will cause the Shiva to drop his swords again.

You can pick him off steadily by repeating these actions. Once he is dead you can go into the centre to collect the second key. Now head into the next room. There is a save crystal at the end of this room.

Half way down on the left is a water-filled hole. If you jump in you are immediately sucked towards spike covered grills. Stick to the right hand side and stay close to the wall.

After pulling the first switch, swim back away from the spikes keeping close to the wall. When you have just about reached the cornerswim towards the other side. You will be pulled by the current. If you have done it right you will have enough power to swim to the side of the spikes and stop the current.

You can now swim back to the step under the hole you dropped into. The last key is on the step. Pick it up and climb out of the water. Use the three keys in the three locks.

Go up the steps in the corner and climb into the now open gate and that's another level completed!