Throughout this walkthrough I use abbreviations for north (N), northeast (NE), southwest (SW), etc., to give directions. There is no compass in this game, but just to make it easier to navigate on screen, we'll assume north is up, west is left, east is right and south is down. Outdoor levels include a map screen in the Inventory in case you get lost. Also, I played using the medium combat difficulty setting so your experiences may differ slightly on a different setting.
*Although the PC, console and iOS versions are similar, there are significant differences in a few areas. This walkthrough covers the original version but may also be helpful to iOS users.
Level 5: Forgotten Gate (Single Player) | Updated: 9/18/12(†) |
For the 2-player co-op walkthrough, please see here.
Score Challenges: 140K, 170K, 230K (Bonus: Double Barrel Shotgun) Reward Challenges:
Artifacts: Stone Arrow, Clay Arrow, Gold Lizard A complete list of artifacts, relics and weapons can be found here. |
NOTE: There is no in-game map for this level. I may make a map later on.
ENTRANCE: There are health and ammunition pickups just inside. You won't need them yet, but they may come in handy later on. Go past them into the large room to the north.
MAIN ROOM WITH EIGHT ROUND PADS: Here there are 8 circular pressure pads, but only one LARGE BALL (1/8). In order to open the huge skull-shaped gate, you'll need to find at least 6 more balls to place on the pads. (If you have at least 7 balls, Lara can stand on the 8th pad to depress it. This is handy if you're going for the time challenge, but you'll need to retrieve all 8 balls for one of the other challenges.) Smash the urns for more health, ammo and gems.
There are two staircases leading out of this room. The door at the top of the left flight of stairs is barred for now, so head up the stairs on the right to the second landing. Go through the doorway with the blue flame sconces in to the room to the NE.
BI-LEVEL ROOM WITH MOVING COLUMN: When you enter this room, numerous lizards spawn from the floor. If you jump onto the square column on the right, they won't be able to reach Lara, but you may need to hop back onto the ledge a few times to draw them out so you can shoot them.
Afterward, drop down into the area on the right. Shoot the bull's-eye target to lower the square column. Push the LARGE BALL (2/8) onto the column and drop a bomb on the lower right (SE) side of the column. Shoot the target again to raise the column and then detonate the bomb to propel the ball across the gap to the upper level of the room. (screenshots)
Lower the column once more, stand Lara on it and shoot the target to raise her up and collect the floating gems. When you jump back over to the upper level, a squad of enemies appears. Roll the ball over them if they're clustered together and then finish off any stragglers. Destroy the stone coffin in the upper corner with a bomb to get the gem inside. Then push the ball out the door, down the stairs and off the ledge so it lands in the MAIN ROOM below.
There's no need to go downstairs yet; you still have more balls to find. So climb the stairs to the SE as far as you can go. Smash the urns on the small landing and the L-shaped walkway at the top to get gems and ammo. Jump across the gap in the walkway to the NW.
ROUND CAGE WITH HOLE IN FLOOR: This contraption looks like a slightly demonic version of the "Rotor" carnival ride. And look! There's another LARGE BALL (3/8) inside. Move around the edge of the circle, tilting the cage to drop the ball through the hole in the center. (screenshot) When you do, it ends up down below in the MAIN ROOM.
Shoot the nearby urns to get gems, ammo and health. Then continue up the stairs to the right (NE). Stand on the square pad and shoot the bull's-eye to raise a column beneath Lara. Grapple the golden ring on the wall above and swing across to the doorway above the bull's eye. Watch out for the spikes just below the doorway.
ROOM WITH SQUARE PRESSURE PAD AND TALL COLUMN: Several enemies attack from behind as you enter. Shoot them and then smash the urns for more health and ammo. Then step through the gap on the right (SE) wall and drop onto a wooden ledge with a red skull (1/10). Grab it. Then plant a spear in the wall and use it to climb back up. (screenshot)
There's another LARGE BALL (4/8) on top of the square column. To get it, stand on the pressure pad to lower the column. Step off the pad and throw 2 or 3 spears into the column as it rises. Use the spears to climb up and then push the ball off the column. Before climbing down, jump to grab the edge of the ledge above on the left (NW) and pull up. Pick up another red skull (2/10) and then carefully drop back down onto the column and from there to the floor. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you're replaying the level after collecting all the red skulls, it's quicker to retrieve the ball by planting a bomb at the base of the column, stepping on the pad to lower the column and then detonating the bomb to blow the ball off to the side.
Push the ball out the door and off the ledge with the spikes and bull's eye switch below. Carefully hop down past the spikes. Shoot the switch to lower the column you raised earlier. Push the ball down the stairs and into the chute in front of the ROUND CAGE so it falls into the MAIN ROOM below.
Now go past the ROUND CAGE and up the steps on the left (NW). Step on the square pad to open the door and go through.
SMALL ROOM WITH SPIKES AND CHALLENGE TOMB ENTRANCE: The door closes behind you, and an ogre, 2 shamans and various lizards appear. When you defeat them, the ogre drops health and/or ammo. You can also use a bomb to blow up the stone coffin to get more health/ammo.
There's a red skull (3/10) floating above the spikes. Throw a spear into the wall just above the skull. Run over the spikes to trigger them and quickly hop up onto the spear. You should get the skull in the process. Wait for the spikes to retract and then jump off. Triggering both sets of spikes also opens the alcove to the right, where you'll find a HEALTH UPGRADE. (screenshot)
FIRST CHALLENGE TOMB: Go through the door on the right (NE) with the red lights. Inside is a round, spike-lined pit with a spiked column in the middle of it. Place a bomb near the bull's-eye target. Then stand on the SE side of the pit directly opposite the golden ring. Grapple the ring so the cable extends across the middle of the pit and column. Still holding the grapple button, detonate the bomb to flip the target and raise the column. As it rises, the spikes on top retract and the grapple cable wraps over the top of the column. When it stops moving, jump off the edge of the pit toward the column and quickly press up on the left stick (or press the Up direction key if using a keyboard) to climb the cable to the top of the column. Pick up a Stone Arrow Artifact (+ weapon, - bomb). Jump down to the edge of the pit and return to the main area. (screenshots)
Cross the room with the small spike field, where you found the last red skull, and climb down the ladder in the left corner to the room below. On the way down, pick up the LIGHTWEIGHT MACHINE PISTOLS on the ledge. (screenshot)
ROOM WITH SQUARE SPIKE FIELD: As with previous spike traps, the dark tiles are triggered when Lara steps on them. To open the exit and the alcove containing the LARGE BALL (5/8), you must trigger all the spikes at once. Begin in the upper right corner, where there are no raised spikes blocking access to the retracting spikes. Jump over the first spiked tile to land on the one beyond it, and then run around the square without pausing. As long as you jump over the first tile so you don't trigger those spikes (as shown in this screenshot), you'll have a clear path all the way around.
When all the spikes have been extended, the entire spike field retracts and the gates open. Grab the AMMO UPGRADE in the center—carefully since the dark tiles can still be triggered.
Roll the large ball out into the hallway. Break the urns to find 2 health and 2 ammo pickups. Then roll the ball onto the square pressure pad to lower the bars ahead and raise a pair of wooden ledges on the level above. (You'll be headed up there soon.) Push the ball down into the MAIN ROOM.
MAIN ROOM WITH EIGHT ROUND PADS (again): When you descend into the room, all hell breaks loose. An ogre, a pack of lizards and numerous man-sized enemies, including 2 shamans appear. All the gates close, preventing you from leaving the room, but you can go as far as the top of each staircase to shoot down on your opponents if you like. Don't forget about the health and ammo in the urns if you didn't use them earlier.
When the fight is over, the gates re-open, so you can get the health and ammo in the entrance hall to the south and at the top of the left staircase.
STAIRS AND ELEVATED WALKWAYS – UPPER LEVELS: Climb the stairs on the right (E), up all 4 flights to the L-shaped walkway. Jump across the gap to the ROUND CAGE. Cross in front of the cage past the chute where you dropped one of the balls earlier. (screenshot) When you approach the gap on the left, where the wooden ledges were just raised, several regular enemies attack. Deal with them and then jump across. (screenshot)
Break the urns on the landing for a gem and some ammunition. Then climb the stairs. To safely pass the arrow trap ahead, stay close to the right edge as you climb the stairs and then quickly roll under the arrows and around the corner to get clear. (screenshot) Go behind the arrow trap to find a health pack and some gems. I recommend that you don't destroy the trap at this time. It may be useful to you later. Leave it and continue upstairs to the right (NW).
At the top of the stairs is a wide gap with a wooden wall ahead. Throw a spear into the wall and climb onto the ledge above. (screenshot) Smash the urns for a gem. Then climb 2 wooden ledges, a ladder and a flight of stairs to another room with blue flames on each side of the doorway.
ROOM WITH ROUND PRESSURE PAD AND COLUMNS: There's a LARGE BALL (6/8) perched atop the tall column. Stepping on the round pad raises a medium-sized column, but it sinks again as soon as Lara moves off the pad. You'll need to find another ball to hold it down.
Smash the urns and blow up the coffin for gems, health and ammo. Then climb the wooden ladder in the corner. At the top is the red-lit entrance to another CHALLENGE TOMB.
SECOND CHALLENGE TOMB: When you step out into the room, 6 shamans appear on the other side of the wide gap in the floor. Dodge their blue energy bolts as you hurl spears at them across the gap. (Until you acquire some of the more powerful weapons, spears are especially effective against shamans.) After the fight, smash the urns for ammo. Then jump across the gap and take the Scepter of Huitzilopochtli Relic (Health Regeneration) from the pedestal. (screenshot) Return to the main area.
ROOM WITH BALL IN SPIKE FIELD: Continue NW to the next room. Here you'll find another LARGE BALL (7/8) with a HEALTH UPGRADE floating above it, sitting in the middle of a spike field. As you begin to explore, enemies spawn, including numerous lizards and several shamans. Take care not to run into the spikes as you fight. There are 2 ammo and 2 health pickups here, some inside the breakable urns.
Pull the golden handle to temporarily retract the spikes. Jump on top of the ball and then jump straight up to reach the health upgrade. Leap over the spikes to the safe floor. Pull the handle again and either quickly roll the ball off the spikes or set a bomb near the ball, run off the spikes and detonate the bomb to move the ball off to one side.
Now, if you like, you can do the Reward Challenge: Bomb a ball onto the skull pedestal. Position the ball just a little bit in front of the pedestal (i.e., the square block with the round divot on top). Set a bomb on the opposite side of the ball and detonate it to (hopefully) blow the ball onto the pedestal. If it doesn't work at first, just keep trying. The reward is a HEALTH POWERUP. (These screenshots show how to obtain both the upgrade and powerup.)
Afterward, push the ball into the chute in the NW corner. Exit this room the way you came in, return to the end of the hall and climb down the ladders to the room below.
ROOM WITH ROUND PRESSURE PAD AND COLUMNS (again): Go through this room and out the other side to find the BALL you just sent down the chute. Roll it into the room and onto the round pad to raise the medium-sized column. Jump onto the ball. Jump to grab the edge of the medium column and pull up. Jump to grab the edge of the tall column with the 6th LARGE BALL on top and then roll the ball off the edge. (screenshots)
When you do this, an ogre appears on the ledge at the top of the room. If you start shooting right away, you can probably kill him from atop the tall column. If he gets so close to the column that you can't target him, climb down to get his attention. Then quickly climb back onto the shorter column to shoot him from safety. He drops health and/or ammo.
Roll both balls out into the hallway, but instead of depositing them into the chute, just push them off the edge of the walkway. They'll fall directly into the MAIN ROOM. (If you put them in the chute, they'll end up in the ROUND CAGE on the level below, and you'll have to spend time later tipping them into the hole in the center of the cage. Also, as you deposit the first ball in the chute, a shaman will appear on the other side of the gap.)
NOTES: If you're trying to complete the level in under 10 minutes for the Reward Challenge, be sure to roll the 6th and 7th balls off the ledge, rather than into the chute. Then don't bother going after the 8th ball. Just return downstairs to the MAIN ROOM. Roll all the balls onto the round pads and have Lara step on the 8th pad to open the skull gate.
Likewise, if you accidentally push the 7th ball off the edge or down the chute before using it to raise the column, you won't be able to get the 6th ball on top of the column. Just proceed to the 8th ball as described below. You'll end up with 7 balls, but you can then have Lara step on the 8th pad to open the gate. You will need to replay the level later to beat the 8-ball and 10-minute Reward Challenges, however.
STAIRS AND ELEVATED WALKWAYS – UPPER LEVELS (again): If you're going after the 8th ball, after pushing the 6th and 7th balls off the ledge, jump across the gap onto the walkway to the SW. This walkway has flights of stairs leading up and down. Climb the stairs at the end of the walkway to find a red skull (4/10). Run onto the break-away tiles to get it and quickly run off before the tiles collapse. (screenshots)
Go back down to the walkway and descend the other flight of stairs. Shoot the enemies that spawn below. Then carefully retrieve the gem and red skull (5/10) sitting on 2 tiles with retracting spikes. You can do this by running over the spikes, but they extend pretty quickly. You may have better luck throwing a spear into the wall just above them and then running forward and jumping onto the spear before the spikes extend. Then jump from the spear to grab the ledge above and climb up. (Again, check the screenshots if necessary.) Climb the stairs to another room with blue flames flanking the door.
ROOM WITH SPIKES AND WOODEN LEDGES: Climb the wooden ledges just inside on the right and grapple the golden ring on the wall above. Jump off the ledge and quickly climb up the cable a bit so Lara doesn't swing into the spikes. Swing to the left and jump onto the next set of wooden ledges. Then climb down on the other side of the spikes. (screenshots)
Push the LARGE BALL (8/8) onto the square pad to open the bars so you can get the AMMO UPGRADE. Break the urns for a gem and some ammunition as well. Depressing the pad also retracts some of the spikes so you can get the gems, but as soon as you roll the ball off the pad, the last set of spikes will pop up. To get the ball out, roll it onto the retracted spikes. Drop a bomb behind it, step back onto the pressure pad and detonate the bomb to propel it across the room. Then use the grapple ring to get back to the other side. Roll the ball out the door, down the stairs and into the chute, which deposits it in the ROUND CAGE below.
STAIRS AND ELEVATED WALKWAYS – UPPER LEVELS (again): Jump back down over the spikes where you found the 5th red skull. Go up the stairs and then right (NE). Jump the gap in the walkway, pass the next chute, turn the corner and continue past the ROOM WITH ROUND PRESSURE PAD AND COLUMNS. Go down the next flight of stairs, climb down the ladder and ledges and jump across the gap to the stairs below.
On the walkway with the arrow trap, which hopefully you did not blow up earlier, you'll encounter a few enemies. The arrow trap will soften them up if it's still there. Roll along the walkway in front of the arrow trap to trigger the appearance of several more enemies, including an ogre. Roll back to the other end of the walkway, stand on the broken stairs and shoot at anything the arrows don't kill. (screenshot) Afterward, blow up the arrow trap and continue to the end of the walkway, retrieving any health/ammo the ogre dropped on the way.
NOTE: If you're trying to beat the 230,000-point score challenge, you're better off destroying the trap, since you don't get points for anything you don't kill yourself.
ROUND CAGE WITH HOLE IN FLOOR (again): Jump across the gap between the wooden ledges to the ROUND CAGE with the hole in the middle. Depending on how you played the earlier sections, there may be one or several large balls inside now. Move around the edge of the circle, tilting the cage to drop the ball(s) through the hole in the center and into the MAIN ROOM below.
NOTE: If you followed this walkthrough and pushed the 5th and 6th balls off the edge of the walkway earlier, rather than into the chute, there should only be one or two balls in the cage now: the 8th ball, from the highest room in the level, and perhaps the 3rd ball, which was in the cage at the start. If you took the shortcut, described above, and didn't obtain the 8th ball, there will be one ball (the 3rd) in the cage, unless you sunk it earlier.
If you found all 8 balls and sent them down, you'll receive the AMMO POWERUP promised in the Reward Challenge.
Jump across the gap in the walkway to the SE. When you reach the top of the wooden ramp, 2 ogres spawn—one behind Lara and another on the landing below—along with a couple of other enemies. To fight the ogres one at a time, roll past the one behind you and jump back across the gap to ROUND CAGE. The ogre will follow, but you'll have time to deal with him before the second one arrives. Take health and/or ammo from both and continue down to the MAIN ROOM.
Roll 7 of the balls onto the round pads and step on the 8th pad to open the gate. If you're not in a hurry to reach the exit, top up your health and ammo with any of the pickups you didn't use earlier (i.e., here, in the entrance hall to the south, and in the hallway at the top of the NW staircase). Then go through the gate you just opened.
GAUNTLET OF TRAPS: Before moving forward into the trap hall, use bombs to destroy the stone coffins—2 on the left, 2 on the right—to obtain some gems and a red skull (6/10). (screenshot)
NOTE: You'll probably need to play this level at least twice if you're going for 100% completion—once to get all the red skulls and the 8-ball Reward Challenge and again to beat the challenges involving finishing the level in under 10 minutes and navigating this trapped hall without dying. (These screenshots and this video walkthrough show one way of navigating the trap hall. Both also show the locations of the remaining red skulls.)
The first part of the gauntlet consists of a series of pounding blocks. Run forward between them until a cut scene takes over. This shows the blocks Lara has already passed beginning to close. After the first four sets have closed, you regain control. Start rolling forward (rolling is faster than running) as the blocks close behind you. There are several gems here, but unless you're going for the score challenge, don't worry too much about them; concentrate on keeping Lara alive.
Next comes a section of break-away tiles. If you're trying to get through without dying, stay near the middle and keep running as you jump across the gaps where there are missing tiles. If you stop moving, the floor will collapse beneath you. Otherwise, start on the left side to get the red skull (7/10). Then work your way toward the middle.
Beyond the collapsing floor there are 12 more sets of pounding blocks. This time, move forward more cautiously as the blocks ahead of you open. After you've cleared the first 4 sets of blocks, the ones behind you start to close again. Keep moving forward. After the 8th set of blocks opens, it will close again before the next set opens. Notice how they shudder slightly before snapping shut. If Lara doesn't step back, she'll be crushed. Don't back up too far, though, since the blocks behind close as well.
When the blocks ahead start to open again, continue moving forward. All but the last set will now open. Then the second- and third-to-last sets close again. Be sure to step back out of the way. It's difficult to count blocks as you're running, so when you come to that last set that remains closed, move back into the safe space between the 4th and 5th sets of blocks from the end. Wait for the 2 sets just ahead to close. After a moment, they'll re-open, along with the last set, so you can run through.
Next comes a second section of collapsing tiles with huge boulders falling from above. Each boulder casts a shadow on the floor where it's about to land and create a dangerous gap. But if you keep your eyes on the shadows, you can avoid those sections or get ready to jump over them as you approach.
There's another red skull (8/10) a little way in, near the middle of the floor; however, a boulder falls right in front of it, so you'll need to jump across the gap formed when the boulder falls in order to get it. The next red skull (9/10) is about halfway along, on the right side of the floor. The final red skull (10/10) is a little more than three-quarters of the way along, on the left side. If you manage to get them all, you'll be rewarded with a Clay Arrow Artifact (+ weapon, - defense).
When you come to the end of the collapsing floor, a humongous spiked boulder falls from the ceiling. You can see its shadow spread out across the floor. Quickly run/roll onto the solid ledge beyond the break-away tiles and straight on through the level exit.
Reward Challenges: If you manage to navigate the trap hall on the first attempt, you'll receive a Gold Lizard Artifact (+ bomb). If you finish the entire level in 10 minutes or less, you'll get the Golden Scepter of Cihuacoatl Relic (Ammo Regeneration, Scatter Shot).
†UPDATE HISTORY: 8/25/10 - First draft walkthrough posted.
8/31/10 - Added stats for the Golden Sceptre, thanks to Clara.
9/12/10 - Fixed ammo/health upgrade mix-up in the room with spikes and wooden ledges, thanks to a correction from Cas.
9/20/10 - Made a few minor strategy tweaks to help with the speed-run Reward Challenge, thanks to tips from Robert S.
10/7/10 - Added screenshots and video. Also fixed a few typos and made other minor changes for clarity.
9/18/12 - Made a few minor tweaks for clarity during the writing of the co-op walkthrough.
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