LONDON

Aldwych

When you start this level have the action (Ctrl) key pressed.

Lara starts the level falling and needs to grab a ledge on the way down. If she lets go she will fall onto the next ledge down and be able to grab forward onto another ledge. Pull up and collect the shells inside.

Next drop into the water and pull up into the passageway on the water's edge. Run up three sets of yellow steps. At the top of the third set there is a broken grill on your right, which you can shoot out.

Behind here you can drop down to an energy/save gem. Climb up the fence-work on your right. At the top climb the next section. You will come into a green walled room full of red girders.

In front of you is a block with a climbable section. Run forward to it and pull it back towards you. Turn and face the hole you just climbed into the room from. Come out onto the first girder and turn left. Follow the girder down to the far wall.

On your left in the space between the girders you will see a box of shells. Pick up the shells and then climb back onto the girder. Keep heading back along the wall and in the space after the next girder you will find some flares.

Turn back towards where you picked up the flares and follow the wall into the opposite corner - keeping the metal box-work on your right. You need to stay right into the corner to avoid being noticed by the "Damned" gang member waiting in the opposite end of the room. You can safely pick up the Uzi clips.

If you want a giggle draw your grenade launcher and step forward so that you are noticed. Wait until he is close to you before you fire as a direct hit will blow him to bits. Cross over to the second girder in. Follow it towards the iron blocks and you will find a hole above the ticket machines on the platform below.

Drop onto the ticket machine. One of the "Damned" may be hiding behind one of the other ticket machines. If you use the Look (Ins) key and direction arrows you can see where he is from the glow of his flaming torch.

If you can bounce a grenade off of one of the walls you may get lucky. Otherwise draw the shotgun and drop into an open space so that you can shoot him with two shots. Alternatively he may be out in the open so you can pick him off from the top of the booth.

Drop down to the platform and retrieve the small medi pack that he will drop. Climb up the ticket machine nearest the ticket office with the 2^D signs in the window. You will find that you can climb up from here. Safety hang and drop down to the next level and then you will find a hole you can climb down to get into the ticket office.

Pick up the key on the floor and the large medi pack on the counter. Use the switch on the back wall to open the door and get out. Go through the ticket machines and along the wall are the four entrances to two sets of escalators. You need to go down to the escalator on the right. At the bottom of the escalator is a pit you need to jump across.

Come down on the right hand side of the escalator and stay close to the middle rail. If you keep this line you should be able to do a running jump from the platform edge to the other side. Draw your pistols.

Go straight forward, onto the other platform, and kill the gang member and his dog. The simplest way is to run through guns blazing and jump onto the track before they reach you. For some reason they lose interest while you are on the track and you can jump up and down shooting away in safety.

Run down to the locked door on the right of the platform and use your key to gain access. Straight in front is a small medi pack. There is switch on the wall, which just turns on the lights here and on the platform - you won't find the penny if the lights aren't switched on. There are also some Uzi clips on your left before you go back out onto the platform. Go down to the other end of the platform to find the old penny in front of an illuminated sign.

Go back to the pit at the bottom of the escalator. Drop down onto the track below. Facing the wall with the escalator you need to take the left-hand tunnel. There is a small entrance in the right wall of the tunnel - a train is triggered by you stepping beyond about one third of the distance to this entranceway. There is also a warning bit of dramatic music. You will only make it if you sprint.

You need to draw your pistols before you go through, as there are a couple of the "Damned" waiting for you. If you turn to the left at the end of the slope up into the room you will see a light on the opposite wall. Behind the crates to the left of this light is a small medi pack.

Climb up on the crates to the left of the pair of wall mounted lights opposite. Climb up to the boxes in the next corner where you should be able to make out the glow from an energy/save gem. Drop into the corner to collect the energy/save gem. Climb back out and draw your pistols. Pick off the dog that has appeared on the crates opposite.

Run and jump across the slope onto the crates beyond. There is a switch in the hole between the crates. Using it sets of a flashing light and alarms. Instead climb onto the highest crate in front and to the left of the slope.

Position yourself on the right and about one third from the back edge. With your back angled slightly onto the slope do a backflip onto it. As you hit the slope keep your finger on the jump key and add the action key. This will allow Lara to jump forward and grab the mesh on the surface opposite.

Climb up the mesh until you are in between the two iron rods that run across the mesh at the top. Perform a back flip by using the jump key and you will land on a small grating platform. On the ledge above you will be able to see the next gang member.

If you want to use the grenade launcher you can back flip at 45 degrees onto the ledge with the grenade launcher drawn. As you land all you have to do is fire as the gang member will automatically be targetted. Don't forget to pick up the small medi pack that will be left when he is killed.

Above the grating platform there is a mesh ceiling which can be reached from the now vacated platform. Jump up and grab then monkey swing forward and to the right. Go as far as you can then drop down onto the top of a crate behind purple fencing.

Slide down the slope and climb up into the hole on your right. Turn around and jump across the bottom of the slope to another ledge in the wall opposite. You will find a rocket to add to your inventory.

Climb back up to the hole opposite and now would be a good time to save. This next bit seems more dramatic because of the music that cuts in and the fact that the drill starts descending from above. Nevertheless you can't afford to take your time.

Slide down the slope backwards keeping to your left. (This will start the drill descending.) Drop off the edge onto breakaway tiles and immediately jump to the left side. You will slide down the slope on your left and need to jump and grab the opposite ledge as you reach the bottom of the slope.

Shimmy along to the right and drop down to the right-hand set of breakaway tiles. Drop through and grab the bottom of the slope you fall onto. You are now safe from the drill. Pull yourself up and do a twisting backflip to land on a slope on the opposite side. Grab the bottom edge as you slide down.

Drop and grab the next three ledges and pull yourself up onto the ledge with the crystal. This is Secret 1. Collect the energy/save gem and the MP5 clips. Slide down the slope and climb up on the left. Go down this slope and pick up the large medi pack at the bottom.

Go back up the slope, turn right and this time climb up to the ledge on the left. Do a standing jump up to the ledge opposite and pull yourself up into a grey-tiled area. You can climb up to another level, with red brick walls, in the corner of this room.

Pull yourself up into another grey tiled area. In the corner is a small pool of water. There is an energy/save gem hidden behind the mesh wall. You need to jump across to the right to get behind it. When you have collected this climb up the wall but stop at the top without climbing onto the fiery ledge.

You can stand on the edge of the ledge in safety so carefully climb onto the ledge. Let the flame drop and move quickly to the other side of the ledge. Step normally and use the walk button (Shift) at the last second. Again you will be safe here as the flames only reach the middle of this ledge.

Now walk up the slope toward the grill staying to the left - the flames will not affect you. Now turn to the left and climb onto the block - the flames will stop. Climb up to the ledge ahead and collect the small medi pack you find. Climb onto the slope to your left and follow it along the wall.

You need to jump across to the mesh wall at the end. Climb up to the top and collect the Uzi clips. Turn and jump down to the hole in the opposite wall. You need to use the action key (Ctrl) when you jump to lower you trajectory.

Press the button on the wall. This opens a trapdoor in another area and starts a flame across the top of the mesh ladder. Jump across to the mesh ladder and climb up. You can pull yourself up on the edge in safety and then run across in between the flames and drop down on the other side.

Follow around to the left and climb up to the next ledge. Go through the passageway and turn left with your pistols drawn. Go down to your left and kill the large rat that appears. At the end you will find an alcove with a large medi pack and some flares. Drop through the mesh onto the platform below.

Drop back into the pit and go back down to the doorway on the right. You don't have to worry about a train coming up the track this time - unless you go exploring. If you go down any section of track and see a brown section across two thirds of the track don't go any further. If you do a train will come out of nowhere and send you flying!

Drop in through the doorway and go up the slope. At the top turn right and jump up onto the crates. Go left level with the slope and do a running jump to the other side of the slope. Line up as you did before so that you can do a back flip onto the slope and jump forward to grab the mesh.

At the top back flip onto the grating and then pull yourself up onto the ledge. Monkey swing back to the drill, which you can now walk across. In the far left corner of the drill room you can pull yourself up to another hole. Here you will find the first Solomen's key. Follow around to the left and climb up into a rising tunnel. At the end drop down into the room where you just killed the rat.

Go back down to the platform, back into the pit, along the platform and into the door on the right. Follow the path back up the point where you back flip off the mesh onto the grating. Climbs back up onto the boxes, but this time go to your right and the open trapdoor.

Safety walk to the edge of the crate opposite the trapdoor and you will be able to jump and pull yourself up into the hole. You need to start by killing the gang member and his dog. Go back to the edge of the hole and do a standing jump over to the shells (don't use the action key).

You can't jump straight back so you can either drop through the hole and climb back up, or you can walk diagonally into the hole on the left. In the main open space face the two sets of stairs. In the middle is a small room. Go in here and collect the desert Eagle clips in the far-left corner.

Fall through the breakaway tiles in the opposite corner. Pull the movable block towards you one space to release the trapdoor in the room above. Climb out of the pit and drop down into the hole in the next corner. At the end, crawl through to another area where you can jump up to a redbrick corridor.

As you climb up you will hear a door swing open. If you go down the short part of the corridor the door you just heard open will lead you back into the room where you just fought with the gang member and his dog.

Take the long corridor at the end you have to right. On the left is a corridor on the right are a couple of switches. You will need to use the switches in a minute - so now would be a good time to save.

First check out the path you are on. Go up the slope and around to the right. At the end you come into an open space with a pool and three doors in the far wall.

The doors are operated by the two switches you saw just now. The switches are timed so you need to run around and sprint in small doses just at the beginning of the straight bits. The wall that separates this room from the corridor is very thin so you need to turn sharply to avoid getting caught in the water.

You need to get into the far door first. This is opened by the right-hand switch. Hit the switch and immediately hit the roll (End) key. Run up the slope with just a touch of sprint. Follow around to the right and again just touch the sprint key. Then perform a sharp 180 degree turn and sprint around the left edge of the pool and into the far door.

Push the wall switch in here to open a trapdoor in the ceiling of the middle room. Now slide down the slope at the back of this room and go to the right at the bottom. Slide down to the left and go around left into a long lit corridor. Run down here pausing to pick up the flares halfway along.

Turn left at the end and you will come back out by the two switches. Repeat using the right switch but go into the middle door. Climb up through the hole in the ceiling - the trapdoor will shut behind you. Press the switch in the corridor (which opens a door in the first room), and then follow the corridor around to the left. Safety-drop through the hole at the end to land back by the two switches.

Repeat the process again but this time press the left switch and then go through the first door. From inside the door you can see the energy/save gem high on the opposite wall. Climb up on the block to the left. From here jump and grab the grating on the ceiling so you can monkey swing across the pool. Drop and grab the ledge so that you can pull yourself up into the room for a secret place noise but this is not an official one?. Collect the Shotgun shells, the energy/save gem and the second Solomen's key.

In the corner above the waterline is a hole in the wall. Don't take this as you will slide down into the corridor and have to go through the effort of opening the room door again. Instead there is an underwater exit in another corner of the pool.

Swim through a tunnel and climb out. As you run forward, up the tunnel, the door at the end will swing open. Draw your pistols and kill the gang member who attacks you as you pass through the door. You now need to buy a ticket from one of the four booths.

Each of the booths has two ticket machines (one on either side). You want the fourth one away from the ticket counter window. This has a defined slot for the penny at eye level. Once you have used the penny a ticket will appear on the ground. Pick this up and head down the escalator on the left.

Draw your weapons and wait on the mud at the bottom, as a fire wielding gang member will attack you. Once you have killed him go down to the trackside and kill the two rats crawling from the tunnel on the right. Now go back through to the mud filled room and at the end are some shutters, which you can shoot through. Climb up and drop down to Secret 2. Pick up the Shotgun shells on the floor. Now jump back up to the platform.

Jump down onto the track and go to the right. Draw your pistols and follow the tracks as they go down the slope. About two thirds of the way down a gang member will appear out of a door on the right. Start sprinting after him as he pops back into a door a little further on - to avoid the train that is now coming up the track.

Kill the gang member and push the switch on the wall. This will open two doors. The one that the gang member came from has an energy/save gem in it. The one on the other side leads past some water into a hallway.

Go down to the door and push the switch on the left. The door will open. Go through and take the turning on your right and then turn right again. Press the switch here and then turn around. Go back left back into the long corridor.

This time turn right and go down to the end until the corridor goes around to the left. There is a button at the beginning of this section and one at the dead end. Press the nearest one and then return back up the long corridor.

The last switch has opened two doors along the right hand side of the long corridor. Go in and you will see two switches on the wall in front of you. Press the left-hand switch and then look left. There is a short corridor with a small medi pack at the end.

Come back out of this corridor and turn right. Go across the main corridor and then turn right at the end. You are back at the second switch you pressed (still green). Press it again and it will go red. A door will open directly behind you.

Turn and head through this door. Go right and then left and then, in a small section on your right, you will see a small medi pack. Pick it up and continue to follow the corridor. As you take the next right turn there is another small dead end on your right. This time there are some MP5 clips.

Come back out of the dead end and follow the corridor toward the flickering light. Go past the candle in the alcove and follow the corridor around to the right. Go around to the right. The squeaking you hear is the rotating moon in the centre.

As you go down the right side of the room the first two central pillars have key controls on them. Use the two Solomon's keys here. As you use each key you will see bars on the door at the back of the room drop away. Now go into the space between the second and third central pillar. Here you will find the Uzi Machine Pistol. Leave the energy/save gem until later as you may need to be revived after a dogfight.

Go back to the right side of the room and go around to the back of the room. N.B. watch out for the breakaway tiles hidden around the room. There are spikes under most of them. Run up the ramp and across the breakaway tiles into the back room. Pick up the Masonic Mallet.

Do a standing jump and grab the far edge of the pit. Pull yourself up and draw your pistols. You will be attacked by a dog. Stand your ground and kill it. If you try running away from it you may run into one of the spiked pits.

In the corner of the room to the left of the back door is a curtain, which reaches down to the floor. Run across the breakaway tiles and you will pass through this curtain. Behind the curtain you will find the Ornate Star and some more MP5 clips. Jump back through the curtain, (this is the only pit with no spikes).

Retrace your route down the side of the room. Collect the energy/save gem, which will help to revive you if you were injured by the dog. In the corner opposite the pillars with the key controls you will find another open doorway.

Go in and collect the small medi pack and the flares.

To be continued………..

Copyright © Nigel Freeney 1999