Training Level 1

Angkor Wat

Lara and Von Croy break into a hitherto undiscovered section of the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia. Don't be put off by Von Croy's hectoring tone - you can take all the time you want to explore and he will wait for you in strategic spots.

This level is used to familiarise yourself with Lara's various moves. It is very easy and you should become familiar with the moves and with the inventory system if you're new to the games.

Before leaving the opening area to follow Von Croy, check out the floor - there's a Gold Skull, Secret#1, on the ledge by the left hand set of steps.  Pick it up and then follow your mentor. Von Croy will stop at a circular pattern on the wall.

Since only he has the notebook containing the secret route, you should let him operate these ancient devices - in this case caution is even better because he is disabling a spiked floor just beyond the circular device.

Von Croy will teach you how to jump a little further on, but before following his example, head down the stairs on the left or right and wade into the water at the bottom - there's another Gold Skull, Secret#2, to pick up here and then you can follow Von Croy over the narrow gap back upstairs. Follow Von Croy into a passage hewn out of the rock.

A warthog will appear - they're not the most dangerous animals in the world and Von Croy will kill it if it stands still long enough. Wait for him to finish it off and then follow him to a large courtyard containing lots of waterfalls. Von Croy gives you a lecture about patience at the entrance, but ignore that and head left and down the slope to ground level.

Cross the courtyard to the far side and pick up the Gold Skull, Secret#3, from the alcove on the right. Now head back to Von Croy and learn how to jump-grab.

Let Von Croy lecture you across the jumps in the courtyard and up through the crack in the far wall. Follow him to a large cave, doing a safety drop from the entrance passageway, and then prepare to go swimming.

Von Croy will drop a hint about treasure at the bottom and, sure enough, there's another Gold Skull, Secret#4, in the middle of the pool.

If you surface abruptly he will laugh at you and tell you to get over to the platform near the far end of the open bridge - you can make that swim yourself without that lecture... 

Climb out and, following Von Croy's instructions, find the lever and drop the bridge. Follow Von Croy to the climbing ladder, climb up and use the lever to open the gate down below.

Get back down the ladder and follow the leader until you get to the overhead vines. Monkey swing across the gap in Von Croy's wake and drop off the vines at the end.

Given the chance, Von Croy will head off without you - just follow the passage and climb up the dark slope to emerge into sunlight in a large courtyard. Two warthogs are running around here and you're unarmed!

 Run off to find Von Croy and he will take care of the beasts for you. The courtyard has two sections around the central building.  Head around to the second one and look in the far corner for another Gold Skull, Secret#5.

When you turn around, Von Croy will likely be standing in the exit passage waving at you, so follow him to another outdoor area.

On the way through the second building go to the right-hand side of the right pillar to find another Gold Skull, Secret#6, then continue out into the courtyard.

Hear you learn to crawl (even though you can already walk and run!).  Get into the crawl space and head around to the left to pick up another Gold Skull, Secret#7. Then return and head round to the right for a movie that explains how Lara got her treasured backpack. Before leaving, push the lever that opens the huge door outside and then crawl back to Von Croy.

Despite Von Croy's hint, you can stroll down the gloomy stairs, but it is recommended that you dash through the poison darts at the bottom.  The very clever can time their dash-dive manoeuvre to roll through the crawlspace at the end of this section - the rest of us can practice the move in the middle of the dash and crawl through the hole the normal way.

Follow Von Croy outside into another courtyard and save your game.  There is a Gold Skull, Secret#8, in the corner opposite Von Croy. Leaving it alone gets you an easy ride through the next level, while picking it up gets you a much tougher option. (Wait until Von Croy has open the door and go back and get the Gold Skull, that way you will have all the Secrets).

My advice? Do 'em both, using the save game to return to the right spot. If you pick up the skull Von Croy's little speech will end with Lara choosing the Path of the Heretic. Without the eighth skull she choose the Path of the Virtuous.

Either way, the route to the end of this level is that same.  Follow Von Croy to a high vaulted room. On the difficult trek the pool in the centre of the room is empty; on the easy trek it is full of water. 

Von Croy will explain that you need to go upstairs, so head for the high crawlspace to the right. Jump up and crawl in and round until you can stand. Now head round the upper level until you reach the platform facing the rope.  Take a running jump at the rope and remember to grab it as you flay by! You will start swinging, but it's best to climb down the rope a bit and then set it swinging again. Jump off when Lara's legs are flying away from the rope.

Pull the lever to open Von Croy's doors and then try and impress him by doing a swan dive off the upper level into the pool (only on the easy trek, of course!).

He isn't impressed and doesn't even speak to you as you get close.

Save the game and run into the darkness to end the level.

Secrets 8 (Total 8 out of 70)