Colosseum - Shortcut Back to the Emperor's Box

After obtaining the RUSTY KEY, as shown in the previous section, exit the northeast corner room and turn left. We're now headed back to the EMPEROR'S BOX. Another gorilla (24)* has spawned down on the arena floor. If you're going for the achievements/trophies, leave it alive for now. Otherwise, shoot it from above.

You can take a shortcut from the seating area to the EMPEROR'S BOX by using a carefully angled running jump to grab the edge of the balcony. The screenshot above shows where to go. The setup is detailed below. (After a while, you'll get a feel for the game and won't need to set up complicated jumps so precisely.)

Walk to the edge of the ledge overlooking the arena. Position Lara with the toes of both feet at the edge and her left foot not quite touching the wall.

Sidestep once to the right.

Pivot to face just to the right of the corner. (You're ultimately aiming for the edge of the balcony beyond.)

Hop back once.

Then take the running jump, pressing Left while Lara is in the air to curve the jump slightly in that direction, so you can grab the edge of the balcony.

Pull up and you're in.

- OR -

If you're having trouble with this jump, or you're a fan of Newtonian physics and don't believe in curving your jumps, take the long route. Drop down into the arena. (Watch out for any arena animals you haven't killed.) Drop down into the spike pit in the southwest corner using the safe SHORTCUT described in the main walkthrough. Or, head for the rock pile in the southeast corner, go through the ROOM WITH TIMED GATES & PRESSURE PADS. (If you've already done the timed run, you won't need to do it again.) Then retrace the same route—past the spikes and through the tunnel to the top of the rock pile—that you used to reach the EMPEROR'S BOX the first time.

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