VALLEY OF THE KINGS

 

LEVEL 3: THE TOMB OF SETH

 

DARK CAVE: Between the second and third lit torches, there’s a shallow pit that generates a red scorpion when Lara steps into it. In line with the low end of the pit, head uphill (south) to a corner on the side of the cave. A crawl-corner bug into the left face lifts Lara to the ceiling, but she falls with about 60% damage. Holding Action is no help. Imbedding with vertical jumps and then rolling works the same.

 

At the corner below secret #1 (the small med-pack in the raised alcove), crawl bugs work on both faces. There are other ways to get there, of course.

 

The corner below the large med-pack at the top of the ramp allows crawl-corner bugs on both faces.

 

ROOM WITH PEDESTAL AND DANGLING ROPE: In the next room Lara can release the slicing blades herself by edging past the left side of the line where the guide stops.

 

THE SPHINX: The outer faces on both sides of the entrance suck Lara into the wall when she attempts a crawl-corner bug.

 

If Lara approaches the grate to the left of the entrance to the ROOM WITH TWO RAM STATUES, crawling into the corner to the right traps her permanently in the wall.

 

In front of the sphinx, the two corners with three men on each face (next to the two passages) allow Lara to bug up to the top with a crawl bug on either face. The other corners of the passages work too, but Lara is impaled on a large spike.

LEVEL 4: BURIAL CHAMBERS

 

ROOM WITH TIMER AND SPIKES: If you go the wrong way to get secret #2, it’s possible to go back with a well-timed jump into and out of the deadly blades.

 

ROOM WITH ROTATING BLADES: It’s possible to pass this room without using THE HAND OF ORION. Use a crawl or plain corner bug to get on the northeast-most corner of the platforms, and quickly turn and jump to the opening, losing 25 – 30% of health. Lara’s health drains away in 5 or 6 seconds if you remain with the spikes. If you use THE HAND, this can be done with no damage. Imbed, wait for the arm with the small rotor to pass, and make the last vertical jump. Turn a few degrees right and jump to the opening.

 

Only the two northeast-pointing corners allow the corner bug (on both faces of each corner). The crawl-corner bug works on both faces of every corner. If the spikes are up, do not run off the corner; it leads to fatal damage. Jump off, for 30 – 40% damage. However, if the motionless rotor is in the way, Lara will be pushed off the corner or into the middle, with fatal results for either.

SET'S SARCOPHAGUS/AMULET OF HORUS: Crawling into the room face of either entrance corner, followed by a few jumps, will trigger the amulet-removal cut scene. Not good for anything.

 

The next corner to the right of the entrance triggers the same cut scene, from either face and via either a crawl or corner bug.

 

Southeast and southwest columns: both sides of all four corners allow the same trigger bug by crawling.    

 

Northwest column: the left faces of the northeast and southeast corners allow the same trigger bug via crawling; the right face of southwest corner also does.          

 

Northeast column: the right faces of the northwest and southwest corners allow the trigger bug via crawling; the left face of southeast corner also does.

 

Crawling also triggers the cut scene on both faces of the two corners on the south wall.

 

The two corners standing out from the east wall allow the crawl bug to trigger the cut scene from the west faces.

 

The corners of the exit door in the east wall have no bugs.

 

The corner bug triggers the cut scene on at least one face of all the northeast-pointing corners, except on the column in the northeast corner of the room.

 

In the next room with the three mummy cases (not two as Stella says; she must have meant there are two mummies), the cases stay closed until Lara pushes the statue or picks up the small med-pack. It’s in front of the empty mummy case.

 

In the hall beyond the mummy case, crawl bugs and jumping at the corner display the previous room for several seconds, but it doesn’t seem good for anything.

 

CAVE: The above also occurs at the entrance doorway; and as Lara attempts to crawl into the corner just ahead on the right.

If Lara runs from the entrance to the base of the stairs, there is a corner on the left about halfway across the CAVE. Only a crawl bug works on both faces, but the left face leaves Lara pinned to one spot in a crouched position after the bug works. If you do it quickly, Lara leaves before the two dogs arrive. This shortcut could save 4 or 5 seconds.

After taking the shortcut in the previous paragraph, or after climbing the stairs to this point, crawl into the right face of the southwest-pointing corner of the column with the flaming sconce on the east side.

Lara will bug up to a slightly-sloping platform with walls on two sides, but she will be imbedded in one wall. Jump vertically until she approaches the corner where the two walls meet. Then hold Action and jump. She will catch the edge; pull up to the surface above. But it’s useless, because the ROOM WITH SAND AND SPIKES can’t be passed in the reverse direction.

 

Most of the corners in the CAVE permit a crawl bug to show the mummy case room with Set statue. This only happened when I lured a mummy back near the sarcophagus room before dashing to the CAVE. The view changes, perhaps because of different corner locations, perhaps because the mummy is moving. Incidentally, I’m still carrying the HAND OF ORION. Near the end of the level, the same corners no longer show anything.

Two corners of the CAVE trap Lara partway into the rock, and jumping then traps her permanently in an odd crawlspace.

 

You can’t knock a mummy off a ledge with the shotgun, although it knocks him backward after several shots. Try grenades.

 

After picking up the large med-pack for secret #4, the corner to the left allows Lara to bug up to the stairs with a crawl-corner bug on either face.

 

ROOM WITH MUMMIES AND GOLDEN SERPENT ARTIFACT: The two corners at the entrances to the next room permit (on the room faces) a normal corner bug attempt to show the mummy case room for a moment.

 

The four corners in the room allow a crawl bug at all faces to show momentary views of the mummy case room. Only the upper part of the room is visible.

Normal corner bug tries at the corner near the GOLDEN SERPENT ARTIFACT show the mummy case room during jumps.

 

ROOM WITH SAND AND SPIKES: At the opening in the floor near the large med-pack, there’s a corner next to the opening. Both faces allow a regular corner bug to suck Lara into the rock; then a view of the upper half of the mummy case room is visible. You can hear her firing her pistols or lighting a flare, but the sounds seem distant. Holding Forward shows Lara mostly imbedded in rock; turn to an appropriate angle and jump out with an arrow key.

 

The right face of the corner to the south gives momentary views of the mummy case room while Lara attempts a normal corner bug.

 

Jumping from below is useless, because the room which fills with sand cannot be passed in the reverse direction.

 

After returning to the CAVE, corners no longer gave a view of the mummy case room that they had before. Probably the mummies have moved.

 

At the two corners on top of the stairs (past the two dogs), regular corner bug tries show glimpses of the mummy case room, on all faces.

 

ROTATING OCTAGONAL ROOM: Jump right then left, climb to the platform below the lever, and jump to the edge of the platform with large vertical blades. Move through them quickly to minimize damage. This shortcut is from Ewil’s speed run on Speedrun Demo Archive.

LEVEL 5: VALLEY OF THE KINGS

 

OPEN AREA OUTSIDE BURIAL CHAMBER: Lara can crawl into a corner to the left and three squares ahead of the covered vehicle. She is permanently trapped.

JEEP RIDE THROUGH CAVES AND CANYONS: At the first large open area, a corner on the left a few squares before the next tunnel area allows crawl-corner bugs on both faces.

Lara has a nice view from atop the rock wall.

 

In the next tunnel area on the left, there is an isolated column that widens out on all sides a bit above Lara’s head. The corner with no ground opposite the angle traps Lara permanently if she crawls into it. At the corner just down the hill, a crawl bug raises Lara to the top of the block.

Along the right side, crawl bugs at a series of five corners on top of blocks trap Lara permanently in the wall (both faces of each corner).

 

At the next side passage (on the right), normal corner bugs at both faces of the left corner put Lara above the next steep part of the road. The left face requires Roll just before or just after the bug works.

 

LARGE GAP AND ROCK BRIDGE: After passing the gap, there’s a corner on the left that lets Lara crawl into either face, which raises her to the rock roadway. But you could pull up at the end of the roadway a little farther along, and there’s nothing to do up there anyway.

 

A regular corner bug works at the left corner of the opening to the next bypass (which is unnecessary, by the way), but Lara always misses the catch at the top and falls to her death.

 

Inside the bypass, crawl bugs work on both faces of all columns.

Before entering the last cave of the level, a view to the east shows a green meadow between rocky canyon walls. Reach it in the following way: stand looking east at the edge of the bridge, two squares from the rocks on the left. Note the jutting triangle of rock, to your left. The idea is to jump to the slope on the other side of the “nose”. Turn until Lara is aimed about a foot above the end of the nose. Hop back and take a running jump, and hold Jump after the takeoff. If you’re aimed too far left, Lara will probably jump from the near side of the nose back to the bridge. If the aim is too far right, she will land a level lower with about 60% damage.

But in between, she will jump off the far side of the nose and land on a slightly-sloping block. Then start exploring!

You can go all the way to the east end of the rocks – and farther! If you drop to the grass, you can’t get back up; but near the west end, find the incline against the other wall. Lara can hop to it, or approach it from the right. Stand against the rock and hold Forward + Action (this is one of the few places where Jump + Action won’t work also). Lara will catch the edge of the higher “pavement”, and you can explore this side of the canyon, too.

At the west end, run or hop over the highest part of the rock and slide back to the original bridge.

 

Just before the final upslope, the jeep can drive into the exit of a bypass that takes it back before the deep pit with spikes. This allows Lara to drive back almost to the beginning of the level, since the jeep won’t jump the pit in the reverse direction, and she can’t drive backwards over the road above the pit (there’s a drop of a few feet at the end of that road).

LEVEL 6: KV5

 

Aha! The corner bug finally works, from the edge of the platforms under the giant statues' feet. Move to the back wall, turn right and go past the floating statue butts. Turn right past the last f.s.b. and begin a pleasant hike through the hills. Lara can cross over the entrance to the statue valley, then go along the other side. Pause half way, turn right to enjoy the four statues opposite. Note the colorful rock walls behind distant mist.

AREA WITH SCAFFOLDING AND GATE:
Just inside the area to the right there’s a low alcove. Crawl into the right side of the left corner. Lara will be raised to the surface above, but kept in a crawling position. She can back off the edge and drop, but even though she can catch the edge from the ground, she can’t pull up.

 

The inside faces of the corners flanking the gate allow crawl-corner bugs to work, but Lara just slides off the slope above.

 

The switch can be reached without a rope swing. From the south scaffolding, jump onto the slope above the gate and catch the edge. Traverse left until Lara is next to the north scaffolding. Press Forward to pull up; before that motion is complete, hold the Jump and Roll keys. As soon as she takes off, hold the Right arrow key. Lara will curve during the jump to land on the scaffolding.

 

RAMP WITH SPIKE CLUSTERS: To the right of the L-shaped pit with secret #4, a high corner on the right raises Lara with a crawl-corner bug, on both faces. This wall and the area north of the L-shaped pit closely resemble the area described above at the JEEP RIDE THROUGH CAVES AND CANYONS.

 

GREEN SANDY AREA: Turn back to the opening where you just entered. Both faces of both corners let crawl bugs put Lara on top of the south wall. However, judicious jumping a few squares to the east puts her on a horizontal triangle by a V-shaped notch, and thence to the wall top to the left or right.

 

The green sandy area is divided into quadrants by ridges. You enter in the southeast quadrant. It’s possible to move clockwise close to the central point of the four quadrants by means of careful jumping.

 

The northwest quadrant contains a stele wth scaffolding. If you shoot the assassin up there (instead of destroying the scaffolding), Lara can jump from the ridge to the scaffolding. But avoid the closest square, Lara will fall right through. The corner of the stele next to the immaterial square traps Lara permanently if she crawls into either face.

 

If you return through the gates on foot, jump at the center of the gate between the two spiked balls. Lara bumps her way through without injury. But she takes damage when driving through the spiked balls.