TombRaider IV.

Giza Level.

Game Plan Flow Chart.

Key Design.

Puzzle Design.

Set Pieces and NPC’s.

Required Lara Animations.

Key Descriptions.

Key A. – Found in the Sphinx area.

This single Silver key opens the padlock on the gate to the Sphinx Temple area.

Key B. – Found in the Sphinx Temple area.

This single Silver key opens the padlock on the gate to the Valley Temple area.

Key C. – Found in the Sphinx area and the Valley Temple area.

This key is a combination of two items; the Spade blade and Spade handle. When combined the resulting spade can then be used to dig through the floor whilst standing infront of the ‘Dream Stelea’ inbetween the Sphinxes paws. The player can then access the underground tunnels area.

Key D. – Found outside Khafres Pyramid area.

This large gold coloured key will open a set of worn steel gates allowing you access into the Eastern Cemeteries area.

Key E. – Found in the Underground tunnels area.

Throwing this switch will open the metal grating that blocks the players path through to Menkaures Mortuary Temple area.

Key F. – Found in the Underground tunnels area.

This single silver key will open the gates of Menkaures Mortuary temple allowing you access to Outside Menkaures Pyramid area.

Key G. – Found in the guardhouse area.

Using this group of three keys will allow you access to 1. The start of the Causeway.

2. Inside Menkaures Pyramid.

3. Outside Khafres Pyramid.

If Puzzle D is successfully completed the player will be rewarded with an extra key which will allow access to a secret bonus area found in one of Khufu’s Queens Pyramids.

Key H. – Found inside Menkaures Pyramid area.

This is a magical key that when placed in its correct position in an alcove in the Kings chamber allows you to open one of the four cosmic shafts found in the Great Pyramid.

Key I. – Found in Khafres Queen Pyramid area.

Throwing this switch opens the main entrance to Khafres Pyramid.

Key J. – Found inside Khafres Pyramid area.

This is a magical key that when placed in its correct position in an alcove in the Kings chamber allows you to open one of the four cosmic shafts found in the Great Pyramid.

Key K. – Found in the Eastern Cemeteries area.

This is a magical key that when placed in its correct position in an alcove in the Kings chamber allows you to open one of the four cosmic shafts found in the Great Pyramid.

Key L. – Found in the Western Cemeteries area.

This is a magical key that when placed in its correct position in an alcove in the Kings chamber allows you to open one of the four cosmic shafts found in the Great Pyramid.

Key M. – Found in the Boat Museum.

Using this large gold coloured key will allow you access to the Great Pyramid of Khufu.

Key N. – Found in the Western Cemeteries.

After finding the plastic explosive and detonator, these items must then be combined to form Key N. This item can then be used to blow a small rock fall that is blocking the entrance to Queen Mercerankh’s tomb.

Key O. – Found outside the Great Pyramid of Khufu area.

Using this small silver key will allow you access to the Boat Museum.

Item Descriptions.

Spade Handle. – Found in the Sphinx area.

This item is located in one of the guardhouses found within the Sphinx area. By itself it has no use but when combined with the Spade Blade item it becomes Key C, (A Spade.) And can be used to solve Puzzle A – when standing infront of the Dream Stelea.

Spade Blade. – Found in the Valley Temple area.

This item is located in one of the guardhouses found within the Valley Temple area. By itself it has no use but when combined with the Spade Handle item it becomes Key C, (A Spade.) And can be used to solve Puzzle A – when standing infront of the Dream Stelea found in the sphinx area.

Bag of Dirt. – Found in Menkaures Mortuary Temple.

A bag of dirt resembling a sand-bag with a tied top, this item can be found lying on the floor of Menkaures Mortuary Temple next to the wall which it used to be part of. This item shall be used together with other items inorder to solve Puzzle F.

Water Skins (x2). – Found in the guardhouse next to Menkaures Pyramid.

The Water Skins come in two different sizes; one can hold 3 litres of water and the other 5 litres. These items are necessary for the completion of two puzzles. The first being Puzzle F, where either skins can be used. And the second being Puzzle K where both skins must be used together inorder to solve Puzzle K.

Petrol Pump. – Found outside Khafres Pyramid.

Located outside one of the Guardhouses, (with a road running past it.) This item cannot be removed from the map – as it is intended only to serve as a source of petrol, and should be used together with the petrol can (from Andy’s level). When the petrol can is full it can be used in conjunction with other items inorder to solve Puzzle F.

Amulet. – Found in the Eastern Cemeteries area.

When examined this Amulet reveals to the player a map of the wall found in Puzzle J. Using the Amulet the player will be able to see which blocks he must remove inorder to solve this puzzle.

Explosives. – Found in Khafres Pyramid area.

This item is located in one of the dig sites found around the pyramid area. By itself it has no use but when combined with the Detonator it becomes Key N, And can be used to blow the rockfall blocking the players path into Queen Mercerankh tomb.

Detonator. – Found in the Western Cemeteries area.

This item is located in one of the smaller tombs. By itself it has no use but when combined with the Explosives it becomes Key N, And can be used to blow the rockfall blocking the players path into Queen Mercerankh tomb.

Puzzle Descriptions.

Puzzle A. – Found in the Sphinx area.

If the player examines the Dream Stelea of Thutmose’s the inscription will read as follows: –

One night in dreaming came to me the spirit of the sphinx,

In his passing he spoke unto me words of great wisdom,

“Thutmose’s, here is your true destiny,

This land of Egypt is forever yours to rule,

In return protect me always from the sands of time,

As you are I must be free from head to toe,

So that we both may see the divine beauty of creation.”

The Player must firstly find the Spade, then use the Spade while standing infront of the Dream Stelea of Thutmose. This inturn will show an animation of Lara digging away at the ground. After a while a hole will appear allowing Lara access to the underground tunnels section. The spade should then be discarded and cannot be used elsewhere.

Solving this Puzzle will allow you access to the Underground Tunnels.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Dream Stelea, and a Spade. (This will be made up of two parts – a handle aswell as a blade, forcing the player to use the combine option in the inventory.)

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara reading animation and Lara digging animation.

Puzzle B. – Found in the Underground Tunnels area.

Exploring the underground tunnels Lara will eventually come across a dead end.

In the wall found at the end of this tunnel the player can see nine stone symbols set into the wall. This sequence of symbols goes from left to right top to bottom.

The player must find out which of the bottom row would be next in the sequence.

The lower three symbols are drawn onto stone switches that can be pushed. If the player presses one of the incorrect symbols then they will be penalized in some way. Perhaps poisonous darts could fly out of the walls to either side of Lara – forcing the player to use a medi-pack to save themselves. Pressing the correct symbol will cause the wall (which is infact a door) to slide upwards allowing the player to continue.

The solution is the middle symbol. The pattern is (starting from the first symbol), firstly to add 2 elements (giving you the second symbol), then take 1 away, add 3, take away 2, add 4, then take away 3 – which leaves 4 elements as shown in the bottom middle symbol.

Solving this Puzzle will allow you access to the Man-made chamber.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Nine stone symbols.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara pushing buttons animation.

Puzzle C. – Found in the man-made Chamber area.

The player enters the man-made chamber and is locked in automatically – he can see that there are four alcoves located in the walls, each containing a statue. The room has a high ceiling, on the walls are visible scrape marks. As soon as the player removes the first of the statues the roof will begin to descend towards the floor. The player must quickly remove all of the statues to open the door and exit the room before getting squished by the falling roof!

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the four statues.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Four Statues.

Animations needed for this puzzle – If Lara gets squished perhaps we could activate an animation showing her desperately trying to hold the roof up with her hands before finally getting completely pulverized!

Puzzle D. – Found in the guardhouse area.

Here the player must enter the guardhouse by simply shoulder barging their way through the doorway. After Lara enters the guardhouse she is confronted with the sight of a lone guard being attacked by several scorpions. If Lara manages to kill the scorpions before they kill the guard, then we will show a small cut-scene showing the guard thanking Lara for saving his life, (this is Set Piece E), and then offering her a bunch of keys. (This is Key G). If Lara doesn’t save the guards life then she can still retrieve the keys by searching the guards body, but they will not allow her access to the secret bonus area found inside one of Khufu’s Queens Pyramids.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key G.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Destructible Doorway, Key G.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara shoulder barging through the doorway and a cut-scene showing the Guard giving Lara key G.

*NOTE: – After entering the guardhouse the player must try to rescue the guard found within. Because of this, it would be nice for the player to be able to hear the guards screams when standing near to the doorway, and before entering the guard house.

Puzzle E. – Found Inside Menkaures Pyramid area.

The player comes across a room that is fairly long in length. From the ceiling hangs ropes of various different lengths. There is no floor – it is either covered with spikes or consists purely of sinking sand – to fall would mean certain death. Lara must jump from one rope to the next to cross this room. Some of the ropes are linked to triggers that will trigger different effects.

Rope pulls out of ceiling – The player will get a short warning before they must quickly jump to another rope before plummeting to the ground.

Triggers dart trap – Poisonous darts fly out of the wall at varying Heights towards the rope. Lara must either quickly jump off or shimmy up/down the rope to avoid the dart.

Rope falls a set distance – Some ropes will fall a set distance, depending on what height the player has grabbed hold of, they might get skewered or might not – they will certainly get a shock!

Rope has a weak link – If the player looks closely at the ropes they will be able to see that some of the ropes are frayed, if the chain is grabbed below this it will break.

Triggers a flaming arrow – This arrow will hit the top of rope causing it to burn away, the player will have a short amount of time in which they can jump to another rope before they plummet to the ground.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key H.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Ropes of various types and Key H.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Generic Lara rope animations.

This puzzle needs a test – how does the rope stuff work?!?!

Puzzle F. – Found in Khafres Queen Pyramid area.

The Four Elements. (Fire – Earth – Air – Water)

The player enters a room and finds that it contains four pedestals each having a large round container on the top, all of the containers are empty. In each corner of the room are burning torches, and small water pools can also be found at either side of the room. The player must fill each of the bowls with one of the elements. (Except for air – which is already present.) An inscription on the wall behind the bowls when read gives a clue as to what must be done – such as “four Elements”.

Water – Using a water container the player can transport water from one of the water pools and place it into the bowl giving the first element.

Earth – Emptying a bag of dirt into a bowl gives the second element.

Fire – The player must fill a bowl with petrol and then light it using one of the torches to give the third and final element.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key I.

Objects needed for this puzzle – a bag of dirt, a petrol container filled with petrol, (carried over from Andy’s level.) and Key I.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara filling and emptying water skins animation, Lara emptying petrol can animation, and Lara emptying bag of dirt animation

Puzzle G. – Found Inside Khafres Pyramid area.

Somewhere inside Khafres Pyramid the player will come across a doorway that appears to be completely stuck – no key holes etc… If the player examines the area above the door carefully they will see three gargoyle type carvings – each with wide-open mouths containing a bright sparkly gem. The player must use the targeting system to target each of the gems and blow them away. When all three have been destroyed the doorway will open allowing the player to continue.

Solving this Puzzle will allow you access to the Secret Vault.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Gargoyle heads with gems in their mouths.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara targeting animations.

Puzzle H. – Found Inside Khafres Pyramid area. (The secret vault.)

In a big open chamber the player is confronted with three statues of baboons. One with his hands covering his ears, one covering his eyes, and the other his mouth. Infront of each of these statues is a lever. Each lever pulled will have a different effect. Not all the levers will be able to be pulled straight away – they must be pulled in the following order: –

Hear no Evil – A Baboon that cannot be heard will be released into the chamber from a concealed entrance behind the player. The player will have to destroy this Baboon – but will not expect its presence as it is completely silent when released aswell as when it moves.

See no Evil – A Baboon that cannot be seen will be released into the chamber from a concealed entrance behind the player. Using Dels funky env-map stuff the Baboon will have no visible textures but on close examination will appear to have a slight reflective sheen to it. The player will have to destroy this creature – it will be difficult to destroy as it cannot be seen easily but it does make a noise!

Speak no Evil – A Baboon is released into the chamber from a concealed entrance behind the player, at first this Baboon will run up to and around the player. If the player attacks the Baboon then it will attack Lara – forcing Lara to kill or be killed. If this happens then the player must again pull the first lever and repeat the puzzle. The trick is not to attack the third Baboon as if left alone it will eventually run off to an altar located high in the far wall and pull a switch – in a flash of light the Baboon will disappear, while Key J will appear on the altar for the player to collect.

After each lever is pulled it will reset to its original position.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key J.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Three statues in various poses, Three Baboons of various types, a lever, and Key J.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara pulling levers and Baboon anims.

*NOTES – The final Baboon will be able to climb heights of 4, 6 & 8 blocks to pull the final switch that will reveal Key J. This is so that Lara cannot simply climb to the switch herself. The Switch will be made more apparent by means of several lit torches at either side.

Once the switch has been pulled the exit will then become available to the player – perhaps a series of platforms can rise up off of the floor. (Cutscene shows this?)

Puzzle I. – Found in the Eastern Cemeteries area.

The player comes across a large room containing a chess-like checkerboard. At the other end of the room the player can see an altar with Key K plainly visible.

As the player tries to cross the checkerboard, each tile they stand on will make one of the other tiles rise to a height inaccessible to the player – eventually blocking the players path across the room. The challenge here will be to find the correct route across the checkerboard and retrieve the key.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key K.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Key K and extending blocks.

Animations needed for this puzzle – None.

Puzzle J. – Found in the Western Cemeteries area.

On entering a room the player is locked in and presented with a huge chasm preventing access to the other side where the exit can plainly be seen lit by a single light. With the exception of the wall behind the player the room is very dark. A single shaft of light comes down from the ceiling and hits a tile that appears to be floating in space above the center of the pit. This is a clue to the player that they have to use light to cross the chasm.

If the player inspects the wall found behind them they will see that the blocks form a pattern that is exactly the same to an object discovered in an earlier tomb. Certain markings on the object appear to mark out individual blocks. If the player removes these blocks by pulling them out / pushing them in, then beams of light will shoot out across the chasm highlighting invisible blocks as they do so. The player will then have to negotiate these blocks by jumping / catching them so as to cross the chasm.

Solving this Puzzle will reward you with the Key L.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Platforms, Stone blocks, Amulet and Key L.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara pushing/pulling blocks.

Puzzle K. – Found in the Underground Lake area.

This puzzle is split over three rooms, the first being the easiest to complete and the last being the hardest. At some point before the first of these rooms Lara will discover two Waterskins. One can hold 3 litres of water and the other 5 litres. These waterskins can be filled wherever there is water and could act in much the same way as medi-packs. The more water Lara drinks the more health she will receive, (a 5 litre drink might replenish a third/half of Lara’s energy bar.) It is also possible to empty waterskins and to transfer water from one skin to the other. This can be shown in the inventory system as follows…

Use waterskin. Fill. Waterskin is filled (must be near water.)

Empty. Water skin is emptied. (If near container.)

Drink. Water skin is emptied.

Transfer. Water is passed from one skin to the other.

(If there is available space.)

Lara enters the first room, in the center of the room can be seen a large set of scales. In one pan we can see a small container, shaped like an urn. In the other pan there is a feather – the symbol of truth. We can see that the scales are tipped showing that the feather is heavier than the urn. Statues of Osiris and Thoth can be seen either side of the scales. The hieroglyph ankh, the ‘cross’ or ‘key’ of life – the symbol of eternity is shown high on the wall behind, also clearly visible on the wall we can see two zigzag hieroglyphs which represent water (see pic). At either side of the room we can see two pools of water, both being fed by springs from the walls. Also set in the back wall the player can see a large metal grill behind which there is a strange looking animal walking back and forth growling. This is Ammit, the Eater of the Dead, a monstrous hybrid who is part crocodile, part lion, and part hippo.

To solve the puzzle the player must realize that each water symbol represents 1 litre of water. So in this room the player must fill the urn with 2 litres of water inorder to balance the scales. If the player fills the urn with either too much or too little water then Ammit will be released and the player will be killed.

Now the player has to work out how to get a 2-litre measurement exactly. The answer in this case is relatively simple. The player must first fill the 5-litre skin and then fill the 3 from the 5. This leaves 2 remaining in the 5 litre skin. If the player then empties the remaining 2 into the urn the scale will balance and the door to exit the level will open.

In the second room the player will be confronted with the same setup except this time there are four water symbols on the wall, representing 4 litres of water. To get a 4-litre measurement the player must again fill the 3 from the 5 leaving 2. Then empty the 3 and fill with the remaining water from the 5. Then fill the 5 litre skin and the fill the remaining 1 litre in the 3 litre skin to leave you with 4 litres. Again the door will open allowing the player on to the next challenge…

In the third and final room the player will again be shown the same setup except this time there is only one water symbol on the wall, representing 1 litre of water. To get a 1 litre measurement the player repeat the process used in the last room but finally fill the 3 from the 5 which leaves you with 1 litre! On completion of this room the player may finally venture on to pastures new….

Solving this final piece of the puzzle will allow passage down to the Underground Lake itself.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Waterskins, Scales, Urn, Feather, and Ammit.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara filling and emptying water skins.

Puzzle L. – Found in the Underground Lake area.

Here the player must simply place each of the four statues found in the man-made chamber on one of the four pedestals marking out each of the corners of the temple of Horus site.

Solving this Puzzle will reconsecrate the Temple of Horus site.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Four statues, four pedestals.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara placing statues on pedestal.

Puzzle M. – Found in the Underground Lake area.

Here the player must simply place each piece of the armour of Horus on to the Statue of Horus located in the center of the Temple of Horus site. Placing the final piece of armour will activate an FMV sequence showing Set and Horus battling over the statue, with Set being the final victor – destroying the statue of Horus in the process.

Solving this Puzzle will allow the spirit of Horus to enter the statue – only to immediately be defeated by Set.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Statue of Horus and Armour of Horus.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara placing armour on statue.

Puzzle N. – Found in the Underground Lake area.

The Final battle with Set basically involves the player picking up the Magical Amulet that has been left behind after the destruction of the Statue of Horus. Dodging attacks from Set himself; the player must make his way towards the center of the island. Here we can see that the ‘Cosmic Starlight’ is still being channeled from the four shafts of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and strikes the ground where the Statue of Horus used to stand. Using the Amulet the player must direct this ‘cosmic energy’ at Set. Sets attacks however, will not allow the player simply to just stand in this middle area. Some of Sets attack moves will force Lara into the water surrounding the island, and the player will have to time his movements onto the island inorder to avoid being wasted! Once Set has been struck with the ‘Cosmic Starlight’ a number of times he will be destroyed and the area will start to self-destruct, and the player will have to exit the area. Cut to final FMV.

Objects needed for this puzzle – Magical Amulet.

Animations needed for this puzzle – Lara relfecting light while holding the Amulet.

Set Piece Descriptions.

Set Piece A. – Lara reading the ‘Dream Stelea’. – (Found in the Sphinx area.)

This Set Piece will show Lara reading the inscription from Thutmose’s ‘Dream Stelea’, which is located between the front paws of the sphinx itself. Perhaps Lara could kneel down and gently brush the sand away from the face of the Stelea, before reading aloud the text as described in the documentation for Puzzle A.

Set Piece B. – Lara digging infront of the ‘Dream Stelea’. – (Found in the Sphinx area.)

This Set Piece will show Lara digging infront of the ‘Dream Stelea’, which is located between the front paws of the sphinx itself. It is quite a hard job for Lara to dig through to the underground tunnels section, and this small cut-scene should get this point across.

(As described in the documentation for Puzzle A.)

Set Piece C. – Guards V’s Scorpions. – (Found in the Valley Temple.)

When Lara enters the Valley Temple area and also the surrounding guardhouses, it would be nice to show some of the guards doing battle with the scorpion baddies found in this area. Very similar to the way in which Half-Life guards can be seen wasting mutant scientists – perhaps we could even have speech samples like “eat that you scorpion scum!”, or words to that effect. (In Egyptian of course!)

Set Piece D. – Lara getting squished. – (Found in the Man-Made Chamber.)

In the event of the player not succeeding while attempting to complete Puzzle C, it will be necessary to show Lara being squished by a huge stone ceiling that is moving down towards the floor! Perhaps we could show her desperately trying to hold the roof up with her hands before finally getting completely pulverized…(Come on Daz, you’ll enjoy this one!)

Set Piece E. – Making friends with a Guard, maybe! – (Found in the Guard House area.)

After Lara enters the guardhouse by shoulder barging her way through the door she is confronted with the sight of a lone guard being attacked by several scorpions. If Lara manages to kill the scorpions before they kill the guard, then we will show a small cut-scene showing the guard thanking Lara for saving his life and then offering her a bunch of keys. (Key G.) If Lara doesn’t save the guards life then she can still retrieve the keys by searching the guards body, but they will not allow her access to the secret bonus area found inside one of Khufu’s Queens Pyramids.

Set Piece F. – Baboon pulling switch. – (Found inside Khafre’s Pyramid.)

The final piece of Puzzle H. A Baboon is released into the same chamber as the player. At first this Baboon will run up to and around the player. If the player attacks the Baboon then it will attack Lara – forcing Lara to kill or be killed. If this happens then the player must repeat the puzzle. The trick is not to attack as if left alone the Baboon will eventually run off to an altar located high in the far wall and pull a switch – in a flash of light the Baboon will disappear, while Key J will appear on the altar for the player to collect.

Set Piece G. – Lara dressing the Statue of Horus – (Found in the Underground Lake area.)

This set piece will show Lara placing the recovered armour of Horus onto Horus’s statue. With the Magical Amulet being the final piece to be put into place around the statue’s neck. Once this is done we cut to FMV.

Set Piece H. – Lara defeating Set. – (Found in the Underground Lake area.)

After Defeating Set the surrounding area starts to self-destruct. Basically this can be done by means of a camera shake with the odd bit of falling masonry chucked in for good effect.

NPC Descriptions for Giza Level – (In order of importance).

Set. – Found in the Underground Lake section.

The evil god that Lara unwittingly released at the beginning of the game, Set finally makes an appearance in this section and is infact the final boss of the game.

Von Croy. – Found outside the Pyramid of Khufu. (Maybe FMV.)

Lara’s Archrival Von Croy will make a surprise appearance at the end of the game.

Ammit. – Found in the Underground Lake section.

Ammit, the Eater of the Dead, a monstrous hybrid who is part crocodile, part lion, and part hippo. This baddie is used as part of puzzle K.

Refer to the Puzzle K documentation for more details.

Baboons (x3). – Found Inside Khafres Pyramid.

Baboon #1 – this Baboon cannot be heard, as it is completely silent when it moves.

Baboon #2 – this Baboon cannot be seen as it is completely devoid of all textures! (But if you look closely you’ll be able to see Dels funky env-map stuff!)

Baboon #3 – this Baboon is pretty normal really. If left alone it will not attack the player but will infact help by pulling a switch previously inaccessible to the player. This inturn will reveal Key J!

See description in Puzzle H documentation for more details.

Egyptian Guards. – Found in the Valley Temple and guardhouse areas.

These characters are on Lara’s side and are mostly seen doing battle with the various monstrosities faced throughout the Giza level. In the Valley temple area they can be found trying to destroy the many huge scorpions wandering around the area. In the Guard House near Menkuare’s Pyramid Lara will also find one very scared Guard who offers her Key G in return for saving his life. (See SP E.) If she doesn’t save his life she can find the key on his corpse anyway! This key will then allow her access to several locations.

Demi-Gods. – Found Inside all Three Pyramids.

Sets servants, these will attack Lara in a variety of ways.

Swordsmen. – Found in the Sphinx area, and Outside the three Pyramids.

The swordsmen baddies are basically on a mission to stop Lara from achieving her goal and will stop at nothing to do so! They will pop up from all over the place trying their hardest to ambush Lara and catch her unawares.

Mummies. – Found on the Long Decaying Causeway and the Eastern and Western Cemeteries.

Mindless brain dead ambling creatures – hell, we all know what mummies are like, don’t we? (Lara can set mummies on fire if she is holding the flaming torch!)

Scorpions. – Found in the Sphinx, Valley Temple, Menkaures Mortuary Temple, and Khafres Queen Pyramid areas.

These rather large nasty looking creatures don’t really care whom there after – they just want to kill people! With the ability to climb up walls or even upside down on the ceiling, (and then dropping ontop of you!) These baddies represent a formidable opponent. Scorpions are well known to dislike fire – if surrounded by it they will sting themselves to death! (Maybe we can use this?)

Beetles. – Found in the Underground Tunnels, Khafres Queen Pyramid and the Eastern and western Cemeteries.

These small baddies attack Lara in hordes and have the ability to hide themselves in borrows underneath the sand – this enables them to only become visible when Lara is nearby!

Locusts. – Found at the Start of the Causeway, on the Causeway itself and Outside the Pyramid of Khufu.

Large swarms of locusts these will try to surround Lara, when doing so Lara will take damage. She will not be able to shoot them but will be able to out run them. (Same as on Andy’s levels.)

Required Lara Animations for Giza Level.

1. Lara reading from the ‘Dream Stelea’. – As described in Set Piece A.
2. Lara digging infront of the ‘Dream Stelea’. – As described in Set Piece B.
3. Lara pushing buttons animation. – As described in Puzzle B.
4. Lara getting squished by roof. – As described in Set Piece D.
5. Lara shoulder barging through doorway. – As described in Puzzle D.
6. Generic Lara rope animations. – As described in Puzzle E.
7. Lara filling and emptying water skins. – As described in Puzzle F.
8. Lara filling and emtying petrol can. – As described in Puzzle F.
9. Lara emptying bag of dirt animation. – As described in Puzzle F.
10. Lara pulling Levers. – As described in Puzzle H.
11. Lara pulling or pushing blocks. – As described in Puzzle J.
12. Lara placing statues on pedestal. – As described in Puzzle M.
13. Lara relfecting light while holding the magical amulet. – As described in Puzzle N.
14. Lara talking to Guard and receiving Key G. – As described in Set Piece E.
15. Lara dressing the statue of Horus. – As described in Set Piece G.
16. Lara targeting animations. – As described in Puzzle G.

The post Tomb Raider 4 – The Great Pyramid Design document appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

In the archive below you can download an entire TRAOD website plus a scrapped “Lux Veritatis” landing page.

Download zip archive. Extract it and open base.swf with Ruffle. This will let you view Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness website.

We kindly ask you not to hotlink to the file.

Lux Veritatis website is located in a subfolder as well. There is not much to it, just words Lux Veritatis and random loading icons.

The post [PRESERVED] Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Website appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

https://www.accelevents.com/e/uplink2021

UPLINK is a full digital weekend extravaganza produced by the award-winning team behind the LI Retro Gaming Expo, that explores the cultural and societal impacts of gaming from a global perspective. There are plenty of other speakers, tons of gaming and rare merch sale! Check it out!

Updated:

Never done a panel before, let alone on main stage in prime time. But it was so much fun! Thank you UPLINK for having me <3

The post updated[EVENT] Tomb Raider 25: The Search Within appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

The post Voices of Lara Croft. Video Interview with Shelley Blond and Jonell Elliott appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

Phil Chapman, the animator for Tomb Raider games, sent us a DVD with some incredible renders and screenshots

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We continue to publish exclusive Angel of Darkness documents from Murti Schofield, the writer of the game. This one reveals more details about the second game in the Angel of Darkness trilogy.

Game II kicks of by revisiting the ending of AOD, after events at the Strahov, where we all thought we knew the fates of Lara, Kurtis and Karel. Well think again. (See document which revisits the final scene of AOD and puts a new light on the entire concluding scene between Lara, Kurtis and Karel).

KURTIS survived and managed to crawl into the relative safety of the Vault of Trophies. There he went into a protective toxic coma and later, much much later, escaped making his way back to the place of his birth at Utah Salt Flats where his mother & family tribal elders took him in whilst he convalesced.

Later, onboard a Nato transatlantic convoy, he met up with an old buddy from the Foreign Legion and heard disturbing rumours about disquieting events in the Languedoc region of southern France. Kurtis had once followed a trail which led him to believe that a Lux VeritatisBloodline Room might be located there. There had been some possibility that it might also have been located in Castle Kriegler,hidden away beneath its ruins in extensive catacombs and tunnels but Kurtis’ money was on the ruins of Montsegur.

Kurtis decides to go and check out the rugged region around Carcassone first. This blood soaked landscape is where the Cathar/Albigensian ‘heresy’ was so brutally suppressed around the time that the Knights Templar were also persecuted and scattered. Beneath the fortress of Montsegur, deep in the quarried subterranean quarters, is a massive vaulted door protected by occult seals and slumbering, deadly guardians. Inside there are vital clues to where the Lux Veritatis hid the last two Nephilim Sleepers.

There were always three Sleepers and Karel wants the remaining two Nephilim Uyuyanlar to continue his unchanged dream of reviving his near extinct race and set it in dominion over the dark age that is looming. Everywhere on the planet there is war, slaughter and strife and amidst such all consuming chaos his great shadow-plan has every chance of gaining ground before coming to anyone’s attention – until it is too late of course.

LARA meanwhile, has been recuperating with her once-mentor Putai in the heat and isolation of the desert landscapes of North Africa (El Hawa, Lara of Arabia). She too picks up rumours and signs of Nephilim-Karel’s survival and has begun tracking his moves as tries to recover his strength and powers.

Karel is in action again. He has hunted down the only other living descendant of a Lux Veritatis initiate, Vasiley, and tortured her into translating the unbreakable LV code of the Sleeper Scrolls. The name rings a bell, Morgau Vasiley. It emerges that Mathias Vasiley, the murdered dealer in Prague, was a rogue Lux Veritatis initiate expelled from the Order in the 1950’s for degenerate behaviour. He should have been terminated by the Order but disappeared and re-emerged decades later with a new identity and a daughter tutored in basic LV skills. The unfortunate Morgau never had the true training that made Kurtis unique and when she came to Karel’s attention she suffered terrible treatment, which left her mutilated and unhinged. Whatever, the end result was now that Karel had the Sleeper Scrolls at least partially translated and subsequently knows where the last two Sleepers are hidden – or are likely to be hidden. Lara has to go after Karel and scupper the Nephilim Shapeshifter’s plans, again.

For Kurtis the clues at Monsegur seem to indicate that the Sleepers are back at one of the ancient original sites in Anatolia, Turkey and Karel, along with the pain-slaved Morgau, hightail it to the Cappadocian plains and the Gőrėme valley.

LOCATION CAPPADOCIA – TURKEY.

Eckhardt planned and built a base here once on an ancient site but never got to use it before he was incarcerated beneath Castle Kriegler. (It’s weird, deep and scary and of course ideal for our heroes to bash the living daylights out of creepy abominations). Time for intense subterranean action in the underground cities of Anatolia –  Nevşehir, Kayseri, Kaymaklı Derinkuyu and Niğde along the Gőrėme valley.

[ See other documents on possible final scenarios.]

THE NEW CABAL

Gunderson and Rouzic the Illusionist are reassembled by Karel posing as Eckhardt. The Cabal survivors presume Karel perished at the Strahov and have no idea he was a Shapeshifter or a Nephilim. They get introduced to the three replacement Cabal members by Eckhardt who explains to them all about the two remaining Sleepers and why he needs them.

The LV Scrolls that were part translated by Morgau put the site of the last Sleeper in a sunken Nephilim complex in a huge underground lake. Cabal forces are sent ahead to secure the location and assemble a massive submersible platform (a huge lunking steam punk contraption) to access the Sleeper at the sunken site. It also comes to light that the other Sleeper was destroyed in a Lux Veritatis action decades ago, so this really is the last one. No mess ups this time.

Gunderson and Rouzic are antagonised by the new Cabal members. Bitter rivalries are blossoming already. This is not a collection of easy going personalities and mutual venom and infighting is rife. The newcomers are mocked as inadequate and Gunderson says that running the Anatolian-Sub operation is what Karel used take care of so well. Pity he’s dead.

Not so, says Eckhardt and morphs into Karel giving everyone the conniptions, especially the newcomers. Shit! What have they let themselves in for? They are all pretty scary individuals in their own right but this takes some adjusting to.

Karel goes on to explain how things are going to be, promises them wonders and victories and gives them their orders. He’s lying of course but what do they know.

LOCATION – ANTARCTICA  BASE

Towards the close of WWII, when the misdirected Allied bombers were bombing Castle Kreigler and unknowingly setting the monstrous Eckhardt free the Nazi Kommand was looking to re-establish its power base in places as far flung as Argentina, the Himalayas and remote Scandinavian regions. But the most ambitious bunker base was located in Antarctica. (imagine what fun could be had with Nazi-Nephilim….wow!)

Various branches of what had once been Eckhardt’s breeder programme back in the 1300-1400’s have survived and have continued in various remote parts of the world. Some of these obscene experimentations were carried out under the guise of the 1930’s and 1940’s concentration camps. As the thousand year Reich began to implode large shipments of equipment, research data, materials and personnel were shipped off to their remote Antarctic base in the ice-locked mountain ranges far beyond reach. This had been under construction since the 1930’s and by the end of the war was complete, ready to receive the results of the Dunkle Welten Programme (Dark Worlds) into its bunker complex.

So, guess where Lara and Kurtis are going to end up…? Yep.

For precedent see:

Genesis by W. A. Harbinson.

At the Mountains of Madness by Lovecraft

The post KURTIS, KAREL, LARA, MORGAU and ANTARCTICA appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

Andy Sandham, the level designer and writer for Tomb Raider 3-5, send us the first part of Tomb Raider Chronicles’ script.

TOMB RAIDER V SCRIPT: ANDY SANDHAM CORE DESIGN LTD

INITIAL LOAD FMV: FMV 1:

FADE IN:
EXT. CROFT ESTATE – OVERCAST DAY
Thundery skies, rolling clouds, and the rest. Not the best
day for a funeral. LIGHTNING FLASHES, and silhouetted
against it, a FAMILIAR FIGURE.
LARA CROFT.
ANOTHER FLASH, and the silhouette revealed. A STATUE, atop
a MEMORIAL STONE. a plaque set in the stone below the
figure bearing a simple inscription:

‘LARA CROFT – 1968 – 2002. ONCE AND FUTURE ADVENTURER – FOR
HER UNDYING SPIRIT.’

A figure rises from laying a wreath beside other floral
tributes at the base of the statue. WINSTON, her ever
faithful butler, looking none too cheery.
Glances across, nodding to a shadowy couple, huddled under
an umbrella. They nod back in acknowledgement, and then
turn toward the ancient church behind them.
Winston watches them go, and then turns to hobble down a
gravel path toward a waiting rolls.
EXT. LARA’S MEMORIAL -GLOOMY DAY
A repeat of the earlier image, it suddenly SHRINKS, moves
to a corner of the screen, revealed as a video feed in a
NEWS REPORT, news reader sitting before it in a studio.
INT. ROLLS ROYCE – GLOOMY DAY
The news report plays on a small built in television,
leather surrounds, mini bar, a tasteful, British conversion
of the back of a Rolls.
Winston sitting, attempting to dry himself, one eye on the
report. Beside him, dressed in the abrupt black and whites
of a priest, FATHER PATRICK, forties.

PATRICK
’tis a sad day, Winston.
WINSTON
She will live on forever in our
hearts.
PATRICK
Surely, Winston- and for this is
only a memorial service–
we may yet receive news from Von
Croy in Egypt.
WINSTON
We can only hope and pray that
she may yet be returned to us.
PATRICK
Yet, If Von Croy is digging in
the hopes of finding her, I fear
he may only be met with black
reality.

Winston sighs, looks back to the mini television. The
report continues, stills of Lara in her various adventures.
He leans in, turns it off, sudden BLACKNESS.

TO START GAME FLYBY/OPTIONS SCREEN:

INTRO/FMV2:

INT. CROFT MANSION -CENTRAL HALL -NIGHT
Dimly lit, a lofty chamber framed by majestic stairwells,
adorned with antique canvasses, caught in flickering
candlelight, and notably EMPTY.
Except for FOOTSTEPS.
A LIGHTNING FLASH, revealing an imposing STAGS HEAD,
mounted on the wall, bleached for a moment in the sudden
light.
Below it, Winston, leading father Patrick, and our cheeky
Gallic buddy, JEAN YVES through a dark corridor below the
stairs.

WINSTON
To the study, gentlemen, where we
may pontificate over the day’s
disheartening events.
Winston arrives at an oak door, begins to unlock it.
JEAN-YVES
Indeed, my friend.
Another CRASH of lightning.
JEAN-YVES (CONT’D)
Even the heavens cry out.

Winston looks at him dolefully, before leading them into
the room.
FADE TO:

INT. CROFT MANSION -STUDY -STORMY NIGHT
a roaring fire, flickering light illuminating wood panelled
walls, the impression of a turn of the century Gentleman’s
club.
Before it, Father Patrick and Jean-Yves in large leather
chairs, face each other over an antique coffee table.
Attention on a smooth, medium sized STONE Patrick holds up,
studying it reverentially as the firelight dances across
it.

INT. CROFT MANSION -STUDY -STORMY NIGHT – WINSTON POV

Winston enters, looking down at the TRAY he carries,
decanter and crystal glasses rattling on it precariously.
Hesitates, looks across the expanse of room to the two men.

INT. CROFT MANSION -STUDY -STORMY NIGHT
Winston is feeling optimistic. Re-embarks on his hero’s
journey, but Jean-Yves is up, and relays the tray to the
table before Winston can protest.
All attention now on the STONE:

WINSTON
The ‘philosophers stone’. One of
Lara’s first artefacts. And one
of her most challenging pursuits,
if my memory serves me.
FATHER PATRICK
The Vatican still smarts with the
episode.
JEAN-YVES
She was never the one for
diplomacy, Lara. But she
certainly knew how to paint the
town red.

CUT TO:

INT. OPERA HOUSE -ROME -NIGHT

Female opera singer, centre of a magnificent stage, mid
performance.
As seen through OPERA GLASSES- Lara’s, revealed in a foxy
evening gown, the only occupant of a luxurious box
overlooking the show, two spare seats either side.
LARSON, he of the original TOMB RAIDER, appears in tux from
the curtain behind Lara, sits beside her, grinning broadly.
Not a flicker of acknowledgement from Lara.

LARSON
Well, goldarn, ain’t you just a
picture?
LARA
Ah, the charming Mr. Larson.
Returns to her glasses.
LARA (CONT’D)
Has Pierre let you off the leash?
Talking of which, where is our
‘learned friend’.
LARSON
Oh, he’s around.
(beat)
You got the cash?
LARA
I’ve got the cash.
(beat)
But I don’t deal with the monkey.
Larson’s grin drops from his face.
LARSON
Well now, that ain’t polite for a
lady. And would that still be the
case, even if the monkey has got
a little something that lady
might want?

She Turns to look at him for the first time. Larson’s smile
returns, twice as wide. He hesitates, savours the moment.
Then from his jacket, produces the ‘Mercury stone’
NOTE: this is the first element of the Rome puzzle – four
stones, that once combined, will give access to the level
reward – ‘the philosophers stone’.
Lara’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. Then,
as her eyes narrow, Larson shifts in his seat,
uncomfortable in her suddenly predatory gaze.
A FLUID movement, and Larson SPRINGS BACK.
Her turn to return the grin, a wad of NOTES in hand.

LARA
Lucky I’m in a generous mood.
The barrel of a small PISTOL placed at Lara’s TEMPLE. She
doesn’t need to look up.
LARA (CONT’D)
Crawled out from under your rock?
PIERRE, a small, well dressed, elaborately coiffured
Frenchman, stands over her. Cocks the hammer.
PIERRE
No need for unpleasantaries Miss
Croft. I am afraid I must, once
again–
Gently removes the cash.
PIERRE (CONT’D)
–Relieve you of your burden.

On Lara, oddly passive

LARA
Easy come, easy go.
Larson now at Pierre’s side, holding the stone, giggling
like an irritating child. Lara unmoving, they begin to edge
backward toward the curtain.
As Lara raises her gloved arm toward Pierre, awaiting the
polite gentleman’s response.
He hesitates.
PIERRE
Now now, Miss Croft. No games.
She looks to him like butter wouldn’t melt.
LARA
As if.

Pierre keeps the gun steady, leveled at her. Hesitates.
Then Steps forward, to cautiously take her hand, meeting
her gaze.
And in the briefest moment, as he lowers his eyes to kiss
her hand, a CRACK, as she flattens her open palm across his
nose.
Pierre drops onto his backside with a thump, gun slipping
out of his grasp.
Lara out of her seat, closing on the retreating Larson,
knuckles white around the stone, other hand searching
frantically in his jacket. Expression suddenly triumphant.
A TINY, easily concealed PISTOL, leveled at Lara. She
looks at it coyly.

LARA
Larson. I expected more from you.

His eyes drop instinctively to his tiny weapon. He can’t
help himself. That’s his bad luck, as a KICK from Lara
sends him CRASHING BACK through the curtains.
And the STONE arcing HIGH INTO THE AIR, following a
trajectory OUT OVER THE BALCONY, falling toward the crowds
below.
LARA PROPELS herself from the LIP OF THE BOX, LAUNCHING
HERSELF INTO SPACE.
SPINNING out over the AGHAST FACES FAR BELOW – and CATCHING
THE STONE at its APEX, her momentum carrying her forward
into the GIANT STAGE CURTAINS.
SCREAMING FROM THE AUDIENCE, discordant notes of the
musicians abandoning their instruments for the spectacle.
LARA clutches the top hem, for her weight to TEAR THE
MATERIAL FREE of its hooks, gradually SLOWING HER FALL,
eventually DEPOSITING HER by the CONFUSED SINGER.
INT. OPERA HOUSE -STAGE -NIGHT
SILENCE.
Lara checks the stone, dusts herself off – looks up to find
the AUDIENCE, gazing, stupefied.
The SPOTLIGHT finds her, and the first ripple of APPLAUSE.
BUILDING in volume.
She takes a bow, as the cheering SWELLS, flowers thrown
onto the stage, the opera singer looking somewhat
CRESTFALLEN at this invading opportunist.
A GUNSHOT from above – Pierre, leaning drunkenly over the
lip of the box, gun back in his hand – and as the screaming
starts once more, Lara EXITS, stage left.
INT. OPERA HOUSE -BACK STAIRS
From the back of the box, Larson and Pierre scrambling down
the stairs, all bloody nosed and out of breath.

LARSON
(wheezing)
It ain’t over till the fat lady
sings.

EXT. ALLEYWAY -ROME -NIGHT

A Narrow, cluttered alley. Parked beside the STAGE
ENTRANCE, A helmeted DELIVERY BOY removes PIZZA’s from the
back of his scooter, approaches the door.
CRACK!
Door thrown open, Mr. Dominos flung unceremoniously into an
unpleasant assortment of waste bags.
Lara, MID FLIGHT, Sizes up the situation in an instant–
TEARS off the excess dress material below the thigh–
LEAPS onto the scooter, a moment to store the ‘Mercury
stone’ in the PIZZA COMPARTMENT, before KICKING the still
idling engine INTO GEAR.
She is OFF AT SPEED into the alley, Dominos back on his
feet, scrambling after her momentarily before conceding
defeat, hands on thighs, gulping in breath.
Notices FOOD MATTER on his clothes, beginning to sweep it
off with disgust, until a ROARING from behind causes him to
SPIN.
The helmet framing his expression of INCREASING ALARM–
DIVES HEADFIRST INTO THE WASTE he just climbed out of, as a
TAXI CAREERS PAST, speed informing us that it may not the
Owner in control.
INT. TAXI CAB -NIGHT
Larson DRIVING, expression FIXED INTENTLY AHEAD,
illuminated in the lights of the dash.
Also illuminating Pierre, hands wedged in front of him,
eyes blinking tight shut at BOXES, other waste flung over
the windscreen.
Until a LARGER BUMP, drawing his ATTENTION FORWARD, Larsons
intensity replaced once more with the familiar GRIN–

The post Tomb Raider Chronicles Script appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

Phil Chapman, the animator for Tomb Raider games, sent us a DVD with some incredible renders.

Discover more content on the Angel of Darkness

The post Tomb Raider – The Angel of Darkness Character Renders appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

Celebrate Tomb Raider Anniversary in style! Get your tickets now for this truly unmissable event!

The post Tomb Raider – Live in Concert | Eventim Apollo appeared first on Tomb of Ash.

Natalie Cook, the original Lara Croft model, was asked by then Eidos to record this song back in 1996. The track and its 2 remixes were never released publicly. In the spirit of Tomb Raider’s 20th Anniversary, Natalie sent us the original cassette of the song. We converted it to a modern digital format and are now happy to share it with you all.

Enjoy!

Studio mix

Dance mix

Read our interview with Natalie:

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