Tomb Raider 8: Underworld

LEVEL 4: SOUTHERN MEXICO - PART 4: LAND OF THE DEAD

Health Items: 0
Treasures: 2
Relics: 1
Keys/Puzzle Items: 0

NOTE: As far as I know, the following method for obtaining the relic and then climbing to the exit works in all versions of the game. It is so quick and easy that I decided to make it the primary version, rather than an alternate strategy. If you have problems getting the relic this way, then by all means refer to the original version. Many thanks to Jezyk, Nobbi and Jeff R. for suggesting this excellent shortcut.

OBTAINING THE RELIC:

As you probably noticed during the cut scene showing the Thor statue opening its arm, the RELIC in this level is one of the statue's eyeballs. Here's how to get it.

When the new level begins, drop down to the floor and use the grapple to return the big screw to its original position.

You'll know the screw is all the way up when you see a cut scene of the Thor statue lowering its head and moving the hand holding the hammer back toward its chest.

Now go to the tall, free-standing carved pillar on the other side of the screw. With Lara wearing the belt and gauntlets, it glows with blue energy. Use your Thor strength to push the huge column along the groove in the floor until it stops in the depression at the end. With the column positioned here, you'll be able to reach the exit more easily after you get the relic.

Climb back on top of the shorter column the one you used to jump over to the statue earlier. Jump from the top of the pillar to grab the stairs on the front of the Thor statue; pull up. The rivulets on the steps are safe, but the falling eitr in the doorway is not. So watch out for it.

Walk around behind the hand holding hammer and stand facing Thor's forearm. The handle of the hammer will now be on Lara's left. Step as close to Thor's forearm as you can. Then jump forward. Lara should end up balanced a little higher on Thor's arm but not all the way on top. Roll forward beneath the overhanging part of the hammer and onto the outer edge of Thor's arm. Be careful not to move any farther forward or Lara will slip and fall, losing quite a bit of health. Then you'll have to climb back up again. The camera may bug out a bit if Lara gets stuck underneath the hammer. If this happens, carefully inch forward until Lara clears the edge of the hammer and stands up. Once she's standing on Thor's arm, turn around, climb up onto the hammer and press Interact to take the RELIC that is Thor's right eye.

CLIMBING BACK TO THE UPPER LEVEL:

Step back down onto the flat part of the hammer and turn to face out over the pool. Jump to the top of the nearest square pillar and from there to the top of the carved pillar that you moved earlier. Turn right and jump from the movable pillar to the stone slab that juts out from the walkway ahead. Do not drop down to the walkway, since this triggers the appearance of 2 or possibly 4 Mayan thralls from the gap on the right. Instead just jump back to the carved pillar.

NOTE: Jumping from the pillar to the slab and back again seems like nonsense, but for some reason it triggers the accessibility of the grappling ring on the upper snake head. If you don't jump to the slab first, Lara will always target the screw or the snake on the other side the pool.

While standing on top of the carved pillar, tilt the camera to look up at the carved serpent head high above. Grapple the metal ring under its chin. Now step off the pillar to dangle from the cable. Lara's weight pulls the serpent's mouth open so the pool starts to fill again. Go quickly now before Lara drowns in toxic water. Climb the cable until Lara is hanging just below the serpent's chin. Turn to the left just a little so Lara is facing the stone block beside the serpent's neck. Then swing forward, jump to grab the block and pull up. Now Lara is safe from the rising water and you can take your time.

Hop down on the other side of the block. Climb the rocks on the left. Then climb along the narrow handhold around the corner and on to the left. When you can't climb any farther, jump back to land near the entrance.

MIDGARD SERPENT POOL - UPPER LEVEL (again):

Before leaving this area, pick up the last two treasures. With the stairs that lead out of here on Lara's right and the pool on her left, run forward to the corner. There's a carved block here that you passed earlier. Only now, with the belt and gauntlets, the runes on it glow. Pull the block away from the corner to reveal 2 treasures (49 and 50/50).

RETURN TO THE SURFACE:

Exit the pool area the same way you entered. Follow the stairs up to the first cave-in. To reach the opening in the rock pile, climb up on the right and then jump to grab the ledge on the left. Pull up, roll through the opening and drop down on the other side. Pick up the XIBALBA KEY from the floor here if you didn't get it earlier. Then get back on the motorcycle and follow the passage to the next cave-in.

Dismount and push the carved block on the left forward as far as it will go. Now you can drive the motorcycle through the gap.

Then continue up the stairs to the LORDS OF XIBALBA STATUE ROOM. There are 3 giant spiders here now. If you want to, you can stop and kill them or try and run them over by doing donuts with the motorcycle. Or, just ignore them and drive on. The exit door is straight ahead. It is closed when you arrive but opens slowly as you approach.

Continue up the stairs and along the twisting passageway. Jump the first 2 pits using the log ramps and then stop the bike to avoid sliding into the third pit. To raise the ramps, first jump to grab the lower of the horizontal poles on the right. Climb in toward the wall and pull up to crouch on top of the pole. Then chimney jump up to the higher pole. Pull up to stand on top of it and walk to the end. Jump to grab the pole on the other side of the hallway. Climb in toward the wall, turn right, swing, jump and grab the light-colored handhold on the support column ahead. Lara's weight pulls part of the column down, raising the ramps above the pit.

Get back on the bike and use the speed burst to get across. Follow the hallway back to the entrance room with the large spike pit. Dismount here and place the XIBALBA KEY in the empty spot to the right of the switch. Then pull the switch to open the exit.

Position the motorcycle facing the exit. Again, use the speed burst hold the brake, rev the engine and then release the brake to race forward, jumping the deep pit in the doorway and landing on the ramp beyond.

Cinematic: Lara emerges through the Xibalba gate and it begins to close behind her. She stops to phone Zip and request that he send the hammer's coordinates to her PDA. She also asks if he's made any progress on his "other project". Zip says he hasn't tracked them down yet, though it's not clear at this point to what or whom he is referring. Lara says she'll call again when she reaches her next destination, Jan Mayen Island, in the North Atlantic between Norway, Iceland and Greenland.