Tomb Raider 8: Underworld

PROLOGUE: CROFT MANOR

The game begins with a cinematic sequence recapping past events in Tomb Raider: Legend and Anniversary. We then witness a huge explosion that leaves Croft Manor in flames.

From the starting point, move forward along the hall and around several corners, climbing over the fallen rocks and avoiding the open flames. Jump up to grab the low wall (press X); jump again to pull up to the level above. Continue up the stairs. Stand near the switch on the left and press Interact (Triangle) to pull the switch, opening the door ahead.

NOTE: You should see on-screen hints explaining how to use the various controls. Once you become familiar with the controls, you can turn these off by disabling Training Text and Helper Buttons in the Game Options menu.

Go through the door into Lara's bedroom. Duck or roll under the pile of debris by pressing Forward and (Circle). Go around to the left, climb onto the flat-topped pile of stones and hop down on the other side. Face the wooden door and press (L1) to target the door. Then fire (R1) several times to shoot the door to bits. Go through into the hallway.

Stand at the edge of the flaming hole in the floor facing the narrow light-colored band of molding on the wall ahead. Jump across the hole to grab onto the molding. Climb to the left and then jump up to grab the strip of molding above. Climb to the left some more until Lara is hanging above another strip of solid molding. Press Crouch (Circle) to drop and grab it. Continue climbing to the left. When you can't go any farther, press Back on the left stick to lean away from the wall, and then press Jump to leap off and land on the solid floor behind.

Stand next to the ornate lacquered chest and press Interact (Triangle) to grab onto it. Use the left stick to push it forward toward the wall. Let go (Interact again). Then climb on top of it and jump to grab the horizontal molding on the wall. Climb to the right as far as Lara will go. Then jump to the right to land on the safe floor ahead.

Watch out for the gap in the floor ahead. Press (Square) to grapple the door and (Triangle) to pull on the cable to yank the door from its frame. Press (Circle) to detach the cable. Then walk over the fallen door into another hallway.

Again, jump across the flaming hole in the floor to grab the light-colored band on the wall above the opening. Climb to the left, jump up to grab the molding above, climb to the left some more, drop down to grab the molding below, and continue climbing to the left to clear the edge of the hole. Drop down to the floor and continue to the end of the hallway.

Go through the open doorway into the main hall of the manor.

Turn left and run straight to the end of the balcony. Then turn right to face out over the flaming staircase. Position the camera behind Lara (right stick) so you can see the metal ring on the ceiling above. Press the Grapple key (Square) to fire the grapple, anchoring it to the ring. Run and jump off the edge and Lara will swing across the flames. If she has enough momentum, just press Jump as she nears the far balcony and she'll detach the cable and land there. Otherwise, keep the camera pointing forward and press forward on the left stick to swing back and forth. When you've built up enough momentum, wait for Lara to swing toward the far balcony and then press Jump to land there.

Turn right and move along the balcony to the gap in the railing. Step off to grab the edge and then drop to the floor.

In the ensuing cinematic sequence, Lara spots Zip and Winston near the main entrance. Zip aims a gun at Lara and fires. Winston tries to intervene, but Zip seems determined to stop Lara from following them. Apparently he knows or suspects something that neither Winston, Lara or we, the players, do.