Tomb Raider: The last Revelation

Training

LEVEL 2: THE RACE FOR THE IRIS (Training Level - part 2)

The length and difficulty of the race course in this level depends on the number of golden skulls you found in the previous level. Finding all eight skulls opens up the longer, more difficult course.

In either case, you'll probably want to take the course slowly, following Von Croy's lead, the first time or two. When you learn the twists and turns, you'll be able to go faster. In the easier course, Von Croy stops at the big doors and waits for Lara to open them. To do this, step up to the small, rectangular niche on the wall to the right of the door and press Action. Lara will reach in and operate a mechanism to open the door. (This is new to TR4, and you'll be doing it frequently in later levels.)

At the end of each course is a cut scene in which Lara and Von Croy discover the Iris. I will add a full transcript of this scene when time permits, but the basic gist--in case you're having trouble following the dialogue--is that Von Croy needs Lara's help to operate the mechanism. She suggests a cautious approach, reminding him of his teachings about haste and disrespect. Von Croy is impatient to get his hands on the artifact and testily orders Lara to pull the lever. She reluctantly agrees. But as Von Croy reaches for the Iris, in classic Indiana Jones style, the temple begins to crumble and he is trapped. Lara attempts a rescue, then, at the last minute, barely escapes with her life.

The moral of the story: Greed and arrogance don't pay. The other moral: Never abandon a cranky old man in a desolate ruin, or you'll probably live to regret it.

Introductory Movie: Flash forward to present-day Egypt. Lara, dressed in Bedouin garb, follows a guide on camel back. He leads her to some ruins, all but concealed by shifting sand dunes. Lara dismounts and finds a piece of crumbing statuary, along with a nest of poisonous nasties. (A little foreshadowing, anybody?) After making a strategic retreat, she locates a handle-like mechanism. Activating it sends Lara and the guide on a wild slide into The Tomb of Seth.

After taking a moment to recover from the rough landing, Lara scrambles up, the Tomb Raider theme music swells, and she whisks off her robe. She's baaack!