Tomb Raider I-III Remastered updates are in progress but will take time. For levels that have not yet been updated, I will continue to link to the ORIGINAL WALKTHROUGHS, which cover all the basics. Please check the introductory notes at the start of the first level for info on my process, modern vs. classic tank controls, etc. This guide covers most but not all possible achievements/trophies. Follow this link for the archived classic Atlantis walkthrough.

Secrets: 3  Pickups: 51*  Kills: 32
Save Crystals: 7 (New Game + only)

NOTE: One of the regular pickups here will be the UZIS if you don't already have them.

*IMPORTANT: The remastered game initially included a bug in which you couldn't get all 51 items. This was fixed in the first patch (released March 12, 2024), so make sure you have the current version before starting this level. Check the footnote for details.

LEVEL MAP by VGCartography (used with permission)

Atlantis Video Walkthrough by Eldincy

OBJECTIVES: Make your way past various traps, hazards, and mutant guardians to the top of the pyramid for the penultimate confrontation with Natla.

LEVEL START - MUTANT HATCHERY: Walk forward. The lights come on and you'll find some Uzi ammo (1) on the floor. In the room ahead are 6 incubators ready to hatch some nasty Atlantean mutants. Step forward cautiously and the first egg on the left will hatch, releasing a projectile-hurling mutant (1). (It seems to be random whether each mutant uses darts or fireballs. Occasionally, if they survive long enough, they'll change attacks.) Backflip several times into the doorway while firing. If the mutant runs off, run forward and keep shooting until it explodes. (screenshots)

NOTES: The first pickup will be the UZIS, instead of ammo, if you don't already have the guns. Regarding the incubators, you'll encounter a number of these throughout Atlantis. You can tell when an incubator is ready to hatch a live mutant because the mechanical arms that support each yellow "egg" begin to move. If the arms aren't moving, it's usually safe to approach.

To hatch the next mutant (2), advance forward and to the right. To minimize the damage, you can backflip a few times to get a little distance between Lara and the creature. Then jump from side to side while shooting to avoid its projectiles. After the second mutant explodes, go down the right or center to the opposite end of the long room. As you approach the slightly raised area in the center pathway, the third egg on the left explodes and a third mutant (3) emerges. Again, jump backward then use those side flips to avoid its projectiles, and kill the mutant. Continue forward to find some Uzi ammo (2) on the floor near the middle of the south wall. (screenshots)

Here at the back of the room are 3 doors: one on each side and another in the center. The door on the left opens as you approach. Enter and go up the stairs. The see-through floor is safe to walk on, but there are gaps where Lara can fall through, so stay alert. Pick up the small medi pack (3) in the far left (southwest) corner. The door a little to the right of the health pack leads back downstairs, but it doesn't open yet. (screenshots)

Advance along the right (east) side of the room. When you near the middle, turn left and approach the shotgun shells (4). The egg below will hatch. Hop back and kill the flying mutant (4) from above if possible. (Note that the third incubator on the west side is now active as well. So avoid that corner of the room, or you'll have another mutant on your hands.) If the flying mutant starts launching fireballs or darts, back away from the edge and try to take cover. If it flies up above floor level, back away if possible and/or jump from side to side to dodge its projectiles, taking care not to fall through the openings in the floor. Don't let it back Lara into a corner. Assuming you're not attempting a pistols-only run, this would be a fine time to break out those Uzis. (screenshots)

When the coast is clear, get the shotgun shells if you didn't do so already. Then head for the northeast corner (on the right when facing the level entrance below). Use the switch in the dark alcove to open the door directly across the room (in the northwest corner). There you'll find a second switch. Use it to open the exit on the upper level west wall, opposite the doorway where you first came up the stairs, and also activates the middle incubator on the east wall. (screenshots)

Exit the switch alcove and turn right. Continue forward then left onto the center walkway. When you reach the middle, where the shotgun shells were, the egg below explodes releasing another flying mutant (5). Hop/flip back and kill it from above, like you did the other. This one seems more aggressive and more likely to try and land on the upper level. So watch out. And don't hesitate to use more powerful weapons if you can. When it's dead, continue along the right (west) side toward the exit. The last egg will hatch below and a catlike mutant (6) will come up the stairs in the far left (southeast) corner. If you don't run forward, you should have plenty of time to kill it with pistols as it approaches. (screenshots)

Grab the small medi pack (3) in the far right (southwest) corner alcove if you missed it earlier. Then head down the west stairs (opposite the ones you came up) to the lower level. On the way down, you'll see a third switch. Throw it to open the middle door in the room below. The door at the bottom of the stairs opens as you approach. Proceed forward then to the right, through the door you just opened. (screenshots)

TALL ROOM WITH LEDGES ABOVE BIG LAVA POOL: Advance to a ledge above a large lava pool. Kill the flying mutant (7) that comes down from above. Back into the previous room if necessary once you get a lock on it. (screenshots)

NOTES: This will happen several more times as you make your way to the top of the pyramid. If you use Photo Mode to scan the area, you can see where the fliers are situated and watch out for them. They can knock Lara off the ledges. Also, they explode when you kill them, damaging Lara if she's close to the blast. Since they tend to avoid smaller openings, a useful strategy is to draw them down then retreat into doorways and kill them from cover. However, you'll still need to watch out for their fireballs/darts.

If you like, you can use a glitch to take a MASSIVE SHORTCUT here, bypassing most of the level, including all of the secrets. Details are in a footnote.

FIRST SECRET: This secret is easy to get but also easy to miss. When the flying mutant (7) explodes, turn around and hang from the outside edge of the ledge. Let go and grab the ledge below. Pull up and enter the passageway. The chime sounds for SECRET #1. Pick up a large medi pack and ammo for the magnums and Uzis (5-7). Continue along the tunnel to an opening in the floor where you can drop down into another hallway with gray and gold tiles. At one end of this hallway is a ledge above the big lava pool. (This is within jumping distance of the ledge you stood on previously, but by finding the secret, you avoided that jump.) There are chomping blades in the doorway, but you need not worry about them. Go the other way. (screenshots)

CAVE WITH TRANSPARENT BRIDGE & MUTANT INCUBATOR: The next room contains a lava pit below a transparent bridge with a gap in the middle. Down in the gap is an incubator. Walk out toward the gap, turn right, walk to the edge, then take a standing jump to grab the crevice in the wall. Let go and grab the edge of the doorway below. Pull up and follow the tunnel to a switch. Use it to open the fleshy door on the far side of the bridge. Continue along the tunnel to the opening at the upper end. Pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips (8-9), then run off the edge or take a standing jump down onto the bridge. Take a running jump across the gap to grab the other side of the bridge. As you pass the incubator, the egg will hatch, releasing a winged mutant (8). Pull up and run into the doorway. Get a lock on the mutant and back up into the passageway so it can't reach you. Then shoot it from there. Or, if you don't want all the kills, just keep going. (There's a save crystal in the passageway in NG+.) (screenshots)

POOL BELOW EXPOSED PYRAMID: Continue to a room with a pool of water. On the left is a part of the sloping outer wall of the pyramid. Like the visible part of the pyramid at the end of the last level, there are several flat spots. There are also 2 spike pits at the bottom of the slope. On the right side of the pool are some rocks and pillars, which are too high to reach from the water, and a small room containing a switch. The exit is that red fleshy door on the far side of the pool. The lever that opens that door is underwater on the right. There's also a secret room at the top left (northeast) corner of the slope. (screenshots)

You'll need to go across the pyramid twice: once to spring some boulder traps and find a secret, and again to get out. First, take a running jump from the doorway onto the tall square block ahead. (Note the square ledge below on the right. You can climb out of the water here if you fall in.) Turn left and take a running jump from the top of the tall block to the nearest flat spot on the pyramid. A boulder rolls from above, so quickly take a standing jump to the next flat spot higher up and to the right. This spot is safe. Move to the far side of the flat tile, angle Lara slightly uphill, and take a standing jump forward to land on the pyramid and slide down to the flat spot just above the second spike pit. A second boulder rolls down. If Lara is facing uphill, you can immediately pivot a little to the right and take a standing jump up to the next safe spot. (screenshots)

NOTE: It's possible to avoid triggering the second boulder by taking a running jump straight across the pyramid from the second flat spot to the next one at the same level, as indicated by the green arrows in the overview screenshot. However, I recommend triggering both boulders now so you don't have to worry about them later.

Now you can take your time. Take a series of standing jumps, from flat spot to flat spot, up the side of the pyramid to the top right corner. As you get closer, you'll be able to make out an opening in the rock wall. Climb into it for SECRET #2, magnum and Uzi clips (10-11), plus a large medi pack (12). Grab the goodies. Then exit this room and slide down the pyramid to the flat spot near the red door. (screenshots)

Take a running jump across the water to grab the lowest step on the other side. Pull up, turn right, and step up onto the higher part of this ledge. From there, take a running jump to grab the edge of the tall block ahead. Pull up and get the large medi pack (13). Take a running jump to grab the next higher block. Pull up and enter the room on the left. Pick up the 2 sets of Uzi clips (14-15) on the ground and pull the switch. This alters the terrain in the next room enabling you to exit. (screenshots)

TIMED RUN TO THE EXIT: Jump into the pool and swim forward and down to the underwater lever on the right (south) wall. Pull it to open the exit. The door is timed, but it's a fairly long timer, about 45 seconds. Roll, swim forward, then to the left, and climb out of the water on the low stone ledge just below the entrance. Pull up onto the tall, gray block. Walk forward to the far right corner of the block. Turn right to face the exit. Now, if you've made good time so far, save the game. This next sequence is a little tricky. If you want the "Watch Your Step" achievement/trophy, you can only touch one tile on the side of the pyramid during the next sequence. (screenshots)

Angle Lara so she's facing the nearest corner of the flat spot just above and to the left of the second spike pit. Press Look to position the camera directly behind Lara to check your angle. Then adjust as needed. Hop back, then take a running jump to land on the flat spot. If you didn't trigger the second boulder earlier, do not pause here. Continue holding Jump and Forward as you steer Lara slightly to the right. She should run two steps along the flat tile then take off in another running jump to land on the gray ledge in front of the doorway. The boulder rolls down the side of the pyramid toward the flat spot where Lara was just standing, but she should be long gone by the time it lands in the spike pit below. (screenshots)

If you did trigger the boulder, as described earlier, you can take your time setting up the running jump from the flat spot to the gray ledge in front of the doorway. Just don't go too slowly or the door will close before you get there. If you've made it in time, and not touched any part of the sandy-colored pyramid except that one flat tile, the achievement/trophy should unlock. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you didn't make it in time, either reload that last save or return to the underwater lever, pull it, and try the sequence again. The achievement/trophy should register on a later attempt, even if you accidentally touch the pyramid earlier. It did when testing with the Steam version.

ROOM WITH THREE LAVA SLIDES & PASSAGEWAYS BEYOND: Face the door opposite the entrance and take a running jump over the lava to grab the left side of the walkway (the lower of the two steps). Pull up. Climb the two low steps then take a running jump into the doorway. Or, follow the walkway to the end, turn a little to the left, and take a standing jump into the doorway. (There's a save crystal here in NG+.) (screenshots)

NOTE: Ignore the switch off to the right of the doorway. This only comes into play if this room is not filled with lava. If that's the case, then you missed a switch in the previous area. Instead you'll see an elevated walkway, 3 closed doors holding back the lava, and a gray, rocky floor. You can't reach the exit from below, but you can go back and fix things. This page with screenshots shows how.

After exiting the room with the three lava slides, follow the narrow but extremely disgusting passageway to the top, jumping over a spike pit partway along. Jump into the flooded tunnel and swim down and forward through a square opening. In the next flooded room, there are some shotgun shells (16) on the bottom and a lever below on the right (left if you're facing the entrance). Pull the lever to open the exit on the opposite wall. Roll and grab the shells, then swim through the door and upward to an opening where you can climb out of the water. (screenshots)

TALL ROOM WITH LEDGES (again): Walk forward and pick up the 2 sets of Uzi clips (17-18) on the ledge. The chomping blades in the doorway only begin to work after you pass. Once again, you find yourself above the huge lava pool. Another flying mutant (9) approaches from above. Rather than going back through the blades, take a running jump to grab the next ledge on the right. Pull up, pick up 2 more sets of Uzi clips (19-20), and kill the flier from that doorway. Alternatively, skip the two ammo pickups at first and immediately jump over to the second ledge. Kill the flying mutant from inside the doorway, then retrieve the ammo afterwards. (You can also ignore the mutant entirely and continue, but it will be waiting for you the next time you return to the tall room.) (screenshots)

ROOM WITH INCUBATORS, SWITCHES, & UNDERWATER DOORS: Follow the short hallway to another flooded opening. Swim down and forward into a room with 4 underwater pillars. Behind the first pillar on the right is a small medi pack (21). Grab it and surface near the entrance. This room contains 4 mutant incubators, none of which are active yet. There are also 3 underwater doors on the left (north) side and 5 switches (plus a convenient save crystal in NG+). You only need to pull 3 of the switches (#1, #3, and #4) to open the doors so you can exit. The other switches activate the incubators. Each switch and incubator described here is also labeled in the diagram at right and in this series of screenshots.

Start with switch #1 in the northwest corner. Use it to open the outer door. Walk up the short ramp between the two switches to get 2 sets of Uzi clips (22-23) and a closer look at the exit doors. Continue clockwise around the perimeter of the room. Skip switch #2 in the northeast corner. Use switch #3 in the southeast corner to open the middle door. Continue to switch #4, the middle one of the three on the south wall, and use it to open the inner door. It also activates incubator A, the one on the northeast side of the room between switch #2 and the exit. You'll see the arms holding the egg begin to move. (screenshots)

You can now choose to skip the next four kills, or take between one and four of them. For no kills, after opening all three doors, jump into the water and quickly swim through and away. For one kill, after throwing switch #4, approach incubator A to hatch the egg and kill the projectile-hurling mutant (10) inside. Use the usual back-flip/side-flip routine. Just be sure not to fall into the water or you'll have difficulty getting out without being toasted. Now leave through the underwater doors. (screenshots)

Or, for the rest of the kills, use switch #2 (in the northeast corner, near the incubator that just hatched) to activate incubator B (in the northwest corner between switch #1 and the entrance). Walk toward it to hatch the egg, releasing a flying mutant (11). Again, hop back and flip from side to side while shooting, and it shouldn't harm Lara. Switch #5, in the southwest corner, activates the last 2 incubators. The one just above the switch (C in the diagram) hatches immediately, and another winged mutant (12) attacks. To prevent it from pinning Lara in the corner, as soon as you pull the switch, roll and run/jump away from the switch and across the pool. Roll again and start firing. The mutant won't cross the water, so you'll have a little time to maneuver and shoot as it makes its way around the pool toward you. Do not approach the other egg (D) yet, or it will hatch and you'll have 2 mutants on your hands at once. When the flier is dead, hatch the remaining egg (D) and kill the fourth projectile-hurling mutant (13). Then swim through the 3 doors you just opened. (screenshots)

ROOM WITH BOULDER & MOVABLE BLOCK: Surface and follow the passageway. At the top of the second, longer slope, the walls change from tan to fleshy red, and there are two short, side passageways with closed doors. Enter the first one and throw the switch to open the door next to it. Go in and pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips (24-25) on the ground. As you do this, a boulder rolls down the ramp in the far right corner of the room and stops at the bottom left, blocking the doorway. To get out, position Lara with the boulder on her right, the ramp behind her, and her chest against the wall. Side flip to the right several times, and Lara should easily squeeze past the boulder into the hallway beyond. (screenshots)

Alternatively, find the movable block near the bottom of the ramp. Pull the block once. Then go around to the right side and push it so it's blocking the ramp. Exit through the pulsating tunnel. The door at the end opens when you approach. Go around to the left to the door where you originally came in. Use the switch again to open the door and magically reset the boulder trap. This time, when you enter, the boulder rolls down and is stopped by the block. Exit through the doorway that was previously blocked by the boulder. (screenshots)

Follow the corridor to emerge once again in the TALL ROOM WITH LEDGES above the lava pool. Kill another winged mutant (14). Then take a running jump to the next ledge ahead on the right. (screenshots)

ROOM WITH INCUBATORS & TRENCH FULL OF SPIKES: Advance along the next corridor. (There's another save crystal here in New Game+.) Angle Lara slightly to the left as you enter the room with the 2 incubators, so only the egg on the left hatches. Then back up into the doorway to kill the first of 2 winged mutants (15-16). It may try to enter the narrow passageway, but it shouldn't get very far. If you back up all the way to the wall, Lara should take little or no damage when the mutant explodes. Of course, you can kill it quickly with more powerful weapons, but I recommend conserving some Uzi ammo for later when you'll really need it. When the first mutant explodes, repeat the process to hatch and kill the one on the right. (screenshots)

Now position Lara at the top of the slope, facing either section of pulsating floor on the opposite slope (not the three tan slopes, which are too steep and slippery to stand on). Slide down the slope and jump near the bottom to clear the spikes and land on the fleshy floor. Go to the top and pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips, a large medi pack, and some shotgun shells (26-29). (screenshots)

BIG ROOM WITH LAVA POOL & MEAT BRIDGE: Follow the passage to a ledge above a lava pool. There is an incubator on the left and an uneven bridge made of that freaky meat stuff spanning the length of the room. Approach the Uzi clips (30) on the ground near the end of the bridge and a winged mutant (17) drops down from the ceiling. This one attacks aggressively and will follow Lara into the fleshy passageway, so you'll probably want to kill it quickly with magnums or Uzis. Then pick up the ammo. Return to the entrance and face the incubator. Take a standing jump into the alcove on the left. Move to the far end of the alcove. Then take a carefully angled standing jump onto the small, square ledge that juts out next to the the incubator. The egg hatches, releasing another winged mutant (18). This doorway is not big enough to keep the mutant out, so use the shotgun or Uzis to kill it quickly. (screenshots)

Turn around and follow the tunnel around to its higher opening, picking up more Uzi ammo (31) on the way. Take a running jump angled slightly to the right to land on the sloping ledge projecting from the fleshy bridge. (The slope directly in front of the tunnel opening is too steep to land on.) Walk forward onto the bridge then turn around. Step to the right just far enough to target the 2 mutants (19-20) in the cave to the right of the spent incubator. Don't jump around, or you're likely to slide into the lava. Instead switch to pistols, lock onto either mutant, and sidestep back to the left so you're out of range of their projectiles. Hold Action and Lara will shoot whenever the enemy comes within range. It shouldn't take too long before the first mutant explodes. Then repeat the process for the second. (screenshots)

Turn around to so Lara's back is toward the empty incubator. Walk out onto the sloping projection on the other side of the bridge. (There's a fleshy area just below in the lava pool.) Take a running jump to the stone ledge on the far side, then follow the slope up to the right, picking up 3 sets of Uzi ammo (32-34) on the way. (screenshots)

NOTE: This one pickup should contain 3 separate items after the first patch, bringing the total number of pickups in the level to 51. If you only receive two items here, see this footnote.

Use the switch at the top of the slope to open a door you can't see yet. Turn around and go back down the slope. Take a running jump across the two consecutive tiles that slope down to the right. If Lara lands on either, she'll slide into the lava. In the far right (southeast) corner of the room there's a movable block. Pull it once to uncover the door you just opened with the switch. (screenshots)

Enter and follow the passage up and around to a doorway with chomping blades overlooking the meat bridge. Stand close to the blades without touching them and then run through just as they begin to open, then stop. (If Lara slides down the slope ahead by mistake, just continue forward along the bridge, jump over to the stone ledge on the left, just as you did before, then return past the block and blades once more.) After clearing the blades in the doorway, turn right and take a running jump into the cave where the 2 mutants were. Head up the slope, turn left, and climb the blocks to a ledge with a small medi pack (35) and more Uzi clips (36). (screenshots)

Follow the corridor to another, even higher ledge in the TALL ROOM WITH LEDGES above the big lava pool. Kill another winged mutant (21) that swoops down from above. Then jump over to the next ledge on the right. (screenshots)

ROOM WITH SQUARE PILLARS & LAVA POOL: Proceed through the door, which opens automatically as you approach, into a room with square pillars set in a lava pool. (There's a save crystal here in NG+.) Go to the end of the walkway and take a running jump to the ledge ahead. Follow the hallway to a switch and use it to change the heights of the pillars. Return to the lava room and take a running jump back to the walkway by the door. Take another running jump to the nearest pillar, which is just to the left of the entrance. Walk to the far left corner of this block and take a standing jump to the next pillar on the left, then a running jump to grab the edge of the doorway above the low step. Pull up, follow the passageway to the end, and use the second switch to rearrange the pillars again. (screenshots)

Return to the doorway and take a standing jump to the pillar on the left. Take a running jump to the next pillar ahead. Turn left, walk to the corner, then take a standing jump onto the pillar near the exit. Again, walk to the corner, then take a standing jump into the doorway. (screenshots)

FLESHY RAMP & SECRET ROOM: Ahead is another narrow corridor leading to a wide, low-ceilinged ramp with 3 mutants (22-24) at the top. If you're able to use powerful weapons, whip out those Uzis, run forward, turn left, and start up the ramp. Begin shooting as soon as Lara locks onto one of the mutants. Don't get too close, though, or they'll swarm her. The low ceiling makes it impossible to flip from side to side. Lara bangs her head and falls to the ground, losing valuable firing time. Instead run forward a few steps, shooting constantly, then hop back a few times. Advance on a slightly different angle, and repeat. If you find yourself standing in the center pathway, go ahead and backflip. The ceiling is high enough there. Repeat until all three mutants are destroyed. Try and keep an eye on your health bar during the excitement and and use a medi pack or two if necessary. (screenshots)

Alternatively, if you don't mind cheesing it a little, try this excellent strategy, lifted from GuideBob's excellent NG+ walkthrough: Save the game first, if possible, since occasionally this won't work and you'll need to reload and try again. Advance just as far as end of the dark-floored passageway. Then roll so Lara comes up standing on the fleshy floor, activating the mutants. Immediately run/jump back along the corridor to the corner. Roll again, draw pistols, and start blasting. The mutants should line up in the doorway waiting their turn to be murdered, and their projectiles should sail harmlessly over Lara's head. Now just keep firing away until all 3 mutants are destroyed. (screenshots)

Now, go for the next secret. It's difficult to spot but easy to get, once you know where it is. If you fought the mutants out in the open, return to the corridor at the bottom of the slope. Step on the one floor tile without the gold pattern on it. This pressure pad opens a concealed door at the top of the fleshy ramp. It's on the right, just before the hallway narrows. The door stays open for about 25 seconds, giving you ample time to reach it. Inside is SECRET #3, consisting of Uzi clips, shotgun shells, and a large medi pack (37-39). Pick up the goodies then return to the ramp, turn right and follow the tunnel to another red, see-through door. (screenshots)

SWITCH & LAVA TRAP: The door opens automatically as you approach, then closes as you continue along the passageway. Don't use the switch ahead on the right. It's a trap. Rather than opening the next door, it releases a deadly lava flow into into the hallway. Instead, ignore the switch and climb up through the opening in the ceiling near the first door. Follow the passageway to yet another ledge in the TALL ROOM above the big lava pool. You're almost at the top now, and this time, there's no flying mutant. Take a running jump to the next ledge on the right, pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips (40-41), and enter the passage beyond. (screenshots)

RAMP WITH DARTS, BLADES, & BOULDER: Advance with weapons drawn. Kill the mutant (25) that emerges at the far end of the room, then pick up the Uzi clips (42) lying on the floor. (There are some tips on the page with screenshots.)

Continue to the bottom of the ramp. There are dart pipes on either side, blades in the doorway mid-way up the ramp and, for good measure, a boulder at the very top. This looks a lot more difficult than it is. Without stepping onto the ramp, move into either corner where the ramp meets the wall. The darts won't activate yet. Turn to face the ramp. Then sidestep toward the wall. You don't need to be too precise. You just want Lara to be out of the way when the darts start flying. Vault up onto the ramp then immediately hop back to avoid the boulder. When the boulder rolls by, it disables the blades, but not the darts. So carefully climb back onto the ramp and continue to the top. (screenshots)

THRONE ROOM: This room contains 3 large thrones (and a save crystal in NG+). Notice that they are labeled with the initials of the Atlantean rulers: Natla, Tihocan, and Qualopec. Climb up onto each of the thrones to unlock the "QTN" achievement/trophy. All three seats have movable blocks as their bases, but the one beneath Natla's throne actually moves. Push it twice to get into the area behind. (screenshots)

NOTE: Instead of going through one of the trapdoors, as described below, you can take a small shortcut, as described in another footnote.

Or, taking the usual path, after pushing the block, head to the right, toward the back of the room behind Tihocan's throne. Here you'll find 2 switches with trapdoors beneath them. There's also a regular door between them, which doesn't open yet. It doesn't matter which trapdoor you choose, since both lead to the same place. If you choose the left switch, use it, and quickly backflip off the trapdoor as it drops open. Turn around and hang from the edge of the opening. Let go and, as soon as Lara hits the slippery slope below, jump to clear the spike pit. Continue up the slope and turn left. (Skip the next paragraph.) (screenshots)

For the trapdoor on the right, throw the right switch and quickly backflip off the trapdoor. To minimize fall damage, hang from either side of the opening and traverse toward the switch before dropping into the room below. (You can also just fall through the trapdoor, but Lara loses more health that way.) The slope below is not slippery, so there's no rush here. Take a standing jump over the lava pit, then immediately backflip to where Lara just was, in order to avoid a rolling boulder, which then lands in the pit. Hop back across the lava and continue up the slope then to the left. (screenshots)

Climb through the opening above the low step. Throw the switch in the small room above to open the red door between the trapdoors. Continue climbing to emerge in the throne room above and behind Qualopec's seat. Hop down and head forward and around to the left. Go through the red door between the switches and follow the passageway to the next area. (screenshots)

ROOM WITH FLESHY DOORWAY & THREE INCUBATORS: When you enter this room, the door closes behind you. At first, only the incubator on the far side is active. So you can pick up 4 sets of Uzi ammo (43-46, two pickups, four items) near the entrance without any interference. Then draw weapons and move along the right (west) wall toward the incubator. A centaur mutant (26) hatches out. Do the back-flip/side-flip routine to avoid its projectiles as you shoot it. (screenshots)

NOTE: This is a rare case when an incubator is active but the arms supporting the egg aren't moving. I can only assume it's a minor bug.

Cross the room and throw the switch to the left of the empty incubator to open the exit. This also activates the 2 incubators above. As long as you don't step on either of the low, fleshy ramps next to the door, the eggs won't hatch and you can leave at any time. If you want all the kills, you can hatch the remaining eggs and fight the 2 mutants (27-28) that emerge. I highly recommend the alternative strategy in the next paragraph, but if you need to get it done quickly, at least try to fight them one at a time. Throw the switch, draw weapons (preferably Uzis), then walk forward just as far as the first ramp. If you just step on the near edge of that ramp, only the catlike mutant above will hatch. Backflip away while firing, dodge/roll as needed, so it doesn't trap Lara against the wall, and take it down as quickly as you can. Then step forward onto any other part of the two ramps, and the flying mutant will hatch from the other egg. Backflip away, then flip side to side while firing, to (hopefully) destroy it before it gets too close. Then slide down into the next area. (screenshots)

Alternatively, after throwing the switch, face the exit, then run diagonally across the fleshy ramp on the right to hatch both remaining eggs. Immediately slide down into the next area, veer to the right, and run/jump forward between the dark rocks in the near right corner. Then climb onto the angled black pillar against the right (south) wall. Shoot the next 2 mutants (29-30) from there. (Take extra care not to target Lara's fleshy doppelgänger. We'll deal with her shortly.) Then return to the base of the slide and finish off the 2 mutants (27-28) in the room above. (Details are included on the page with screenshots.)

NOTE: In New Game+ there's a save crystal just beyond the exit door.

CAVE WITH FLESHY DOPPELGÄNGER: If you haven't already done so, you'll need to deal with the 2 mutants (29-30) running around in this cave. Again, I recommend sliding down the chute, then climbing on top of the angled rock against the right (south) wall, as described in the previous paragraph. Lara can then shoot the mutants with pistols from safety. Just be careful not to target Lara's fleshy doppelgänger, who will be standing on the similar light-colored ledge on the far side of the room. You must avoid harming her for the next achievement/trophy. (The screenshots for the previous section show this sequence.)

Once the mutants are dead, head for the middle of the cave. Upon examining this next fleshy creature (OG fans call her "Bacon Lara"), you'll realize she mirrors Lara's movements precisely—including shooting at Lara if Lara shoots first. You must kill her in order to leave, but you'll need to do it indirectly, by luring her into a trap. (screenshots)

NOTE: You'll need to avoid harming the doppelgänger in order to unlock the "Be Like Prince" achievement/trophy, but you'll also need to harm her in order to unlock the "Deadline" achievement/trophy, awarded for finding all 36 ways to die. In order to do both, save the game, shoot the doppelgänger, so she in turn shoots Lara, until Lara dies. Then reload and proceed without harming her.

Here's how: Head for the dark rock formation near the entrance. Walk up the short ramp and vault up onto the block above the ramp. Turn around and take a standing jump onto the taller block. As you go, you'll notice how Lara's double mimics her movements using the tan blocks on the other side of the room. Now take a running jump along the corner of this tall block to land on the left side of the platform with the switch, trapdoor, and square exit door. (Or take a running jump to grab the right edge and pull up.) (screenshots)

Pull the switch to open the trapdoor, revealing a lava pit below. You now have about 40 seconds before the trapdoor closes. So you don't need to rush, but don't dawdle either. Roll and run past the exit door toward the edge of the platform. Veer to the left a bit and take a running jump off the edge to land on (or grab) the angled, tan block against the left wall. (You can probably take the time to set up this jump, or just jump straight forward to land on the ramp below the angled block, turn left, and climb up.) Step forward, turn a bit to the right, and take a standing jump onto the taller tan block. The camera shifts to emphasize the svelte beauty of Bacon Lara. Press look to get Lara's perspective back. Then take a running jump along the corner of the pillar to land on the jutting left edge of the platform ahead. (Or take a running jump to grab the right edge and pull up.) Run to the middle of the platform. The doppelgänger should then run to the middle on her side and fall into the lava pit. (screenshots)

If you manage to do this without being injured by the doppelgänger (i.e., not harming her with weapons, so she doesn't harm Lara), you'll unlock the "Be Like Prince" achievement/trophy. When Bacon Lara becomes Extra Crispy Bacon Lara™, the exit door near the lava pit opens. Drop down to the floor, climb back up the dark rocks, jump over to the platform near the exit, and go through. (screenshots)

NOTE: Since you defeat the doppelgänger indirectly, she does not count as one of the official kills.

BUG WARNING: I think this bug has been squashed in the remastered game, but if you find the doppelgänger disappears or gets stuck in the scenery, see the footnote for possible solutions.

MEAT HALLWAY BEFORE DRAWBRIDGE ROOM: Climb up into another sloping, flesh-textured hallway. Pick up the Uzi clips (47). At the top of this sloping passageway, to the left, is a room with a lava pool below and two mutants: a centaur (32) on the left and a catlike mutant (32) on the right. You can run forward, trigger both, and blast your way out of danger. Or, if you prefer a more strategic approach, try this:

Draw weapons and advance up the slope, staying close to the right wall. Just before the bend in the passageway, slow down to a walk. Take one step past the jagged hump, where the floor slopes up then sharply downward. This animates the centaur (31) around the corner. Immediately backflip 3 or 4 times. Then take a precious second or two to make sure Lara is standing near but not touching the right wall. If she's too close, or too far away, she'll hit the wall when you attempt to side flip, making her vulnerable to the centaur's fireballs. If you set it up correctly, you can then side flip left to right while firing, and all or most of the centaurs attacks should miss her. (screenshots)

When it explodes, return to the top of the slope, this time along the left side, but don't advance too far. Round the corner to the left, then back up against the wall, so Lara is facing the Uzi ammo lying on the floor. Draw pistols. Then, keeping Lara's back to the wall, sidestep to the left just far enough to animate and target the other mutant (32), lurking around the opposite corner. As long as you don't go too far to the left, Lara should be able to shoot the mutant, and its projectiles will smash harmlessly into the wall. When it explodes, pick up the Uzi ammo (48) and take a deep breath. (screenshots)

TIMED DRAWBRIDGE: The exit is directly across the lava pool, but it's closed, and the drawbridge leading to it is down. Both door and bridge are controlled by switches at the ends of the walkway running around the perimeter of the room. The left switch raises the bridge. The right switch opens the door. Both are timed, but the door stays open longer than the bridge stays up (about 45 seconds and 15 seconds, respectively).

NOTE: The small square door in the northwest corner, near the right switch, doesn't open yet. It's a way back from a later area, described below.

Here's the drill: First, follow the walkway to the left and pick up some Uzi clips (49). Don't use this switch yet. Now go all the way around to the other end of the walkway. Save the game if you like and throw that switch to open the exit door. Immediately roll and run all the way around the edge of the room to the left switch. Use that second switch to raise the bridge. Roll, run/jump back to the center of the walkway, and cross the bridge to the exit. You should have just enough time if you run without weaving too much and don't bump into anything. But if you want to shave off a few seconds, take running jumps along the straight parts and leap over the corners instead of running all the way around them. (screenshots)

SCION ROOM: Just beyond the drawbridge is the room where Natla placed the Scion on the mechanical altar in the earlier cutscene. Pick up 2 sets of Uzi clips (50-51) on the floor. (screenshot)

If you like, you can go after a couple of quick achievements/trophies before ending the level. Save the game first, or you'll need to do the timed drawbridge run again. Move to the edge of the wide opening overlooking the platform with the ominous giant incubator above. (You'll return here at the beginning of the next level.) Step off the edge and fall into the lava pool below. On the way down, Lara will scream several times, and you'll unlock the "Shelley's Encore" achievement/trophy. (screenshots) (Note that Lara doesn't scream if you swan dive, so as lovely as that is, it won't work here.)

Reload and approach the edge once more. This time, jump down onto the big platform and head for the small, square door on the wall to the right. It opens as you approach. Take a standing jump with Action to cross the gap and land in the opening, unlocking the "Secret Door" achievement/trophy. ("It's not [the] right time to be here. There's a door for you.") Either reload that last save or follow the passageway and climb up into the doorway to emerge in the DRAWBRIDGE ROOM. You'll then have to repeat the timed run to get back into the SCION ROOM. This is also what you'll need to do if you jump down onto the platform to explore before taking the Scion. (screenshots)

When you're ready to move on, walk up the low ramp on the side of the pedestal and take the SCION (which doesn't count as an official pickup) to end the level.

†UPDATE HISTORY: 5/23/24 - First major update for the Remastered version. Updates made prior to the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered release, including credit for tips sent in by other players, are tracked in the original guide. Tweaked a few strategies along the way, including the alternate method for dealing with the 3 mutants near secret #3. Thanks to Shawn O. for putting me onto GuideBob, whose primo New Game+ walkthrough includes this tactic.
5/29/24 - Added a note about the "Deadline" achievement/trophy.

DARK MODE: I plan to add optional dark mode for these pages, but my current priority is updating the walkthroughs. Meanwhile, may I suggest a reputable dark mode browser extension, such as Dark Reader? (Download only from trusted sites, like darkreader.org or your browser's web store.)

UNOBTAINABLE ITEM FIXED IN FIRST PATCH: There is an extra, unobtainable Uzi ammo pickup embedded in a wall in the BIG ROOM WITH LAVA POOL & FLESHY BRIDGE. On release, the remastered game mistakenly counted this item among the official pickups, making it impossible to get all items, and thus impossible to unlock the "Tomb Cleaner" achievement/trophy. This was fixed in the first patch, released 3/12/24. If you completed the original, unpatched game, you will need to update the game then replay Atlantis and The Great Pyramid for 100% completion. If you have a save somewhere in Atlantis, you can restart the level. To do this, kill Lara, press Action to open the passport menu, then instead of reloading your last save, press Right to turn the page in the passport menu and choose "Restart Level." Then play through to the end of the game. Steam players can download a save file for the start of Atlantis here.

SHORTCUT SKIPPING MOST OF THE LEVEL: If you don't mind missing most of the level, there's a handy shortcut from the entrance to the TALL ROOM WITH LEDGES ABOVE THE BIG LAVA POOL to the end of the level. It may be useful if you're attempting a challenge run (speed run, no medi packs, etc.) or just want to try something different. It involves glitching through the corner of the first doorway with the chomping blades onto the platform where you'll fight the giant mutant in the next level. See this page with details and screenshots. This skip has been used by speedrunners for years. I don't know who discovered it, but if you can enlighten me, please do.

SHORTCUT FROM THRONE ROOM: After entering the area behind Natla's throne, go all the way around to the right, behind Qualopec's throne. There's a raised opening, through which you would normally return to this room after navigating the traps below. Instead, stand on the low step behind Qualopec's throne. Face the back of the throne, sidestep to the left, then try to climb onto the block that forms the seat of the throne. Lara can't stand there and will start to slip back, but before that happens, flip to the left to land in the opening above. Drop down into the small room below and throw the switch to open the red door between the trapdoors in the THRONE ROOM. Ignore the opening in the floor. Climb back up the way you came and drop down behind Qualopec's throne. Return to the area behind Tihocan's throne and go through the door you just opened, skipping the switches and trapdoors completely. Pick up the main walkthrough at the "SMALL ROOM WITH THREE INCUBATORS". Thanks to Beau for this tip. (screenshots)

MISSING OR STUCK DOPPELGÄNGER: As far as I know, this no longer occurs in the remastered game, but in the original version, if you saved your game and reloaded while exploring the doppelgänger's cave, there was a risk of her freezing or disappearing. If this happens, try jumping onto the ramp where you slid into this area. This will usually un-stick her. If you are on top of a block or ledge when you save and reload, Lara's double can end up stuck inside the rocks instead of on top of them. If this happens, climb down to the ground, move into the open area, save again, and reload. Then try jumping onto the ramp at the entrance to get the doppelgänger moving again.

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