Training Level 2

Race for the Iris

Practice make perfect. Keep several saved games. If you have a good run, save and then start from there. Follow Van Croy through the course for the first couple of times to learn the course. Use the dash key when you can.

I am somewhat clumsy and seem to smack into walls. To shave off time, try doing running jumps onto blocks. The walkthrough does not include the most optimal or fastest methods win the Race for the Iris.

To take the easy path:

If you picked up all 8 skulls. You may want to go back and only pick up 7 skulls. 8 skulls gives you the hard course. 7 skulls gives you the easy course. To make the race easier, do not pick up all of the gold skulls. (Or not until Von Croy has opened the door)

You can have all 8 skulls and play the easy course. The trick is...  Don't take the 8th skull until Werner says "The Garden of the 5 towers. To the right, the path of the heretical...bla bla bla", and Lara replies "You know me Werner, a regular virtuoso." That means you will go on the easy path.) Otherwise Werner will say "So you found the Garden of the 5 towers, well done my child..." and Lara reply "I'm out for a little heresy."

The Easy Course:

After Von Croy is done talking, save your game. Start off running and add the Dash key (/). You may want to slow down to a run in the halls if you start running into walls. While running, add the jump key to jump over the first pit. On the second pit, you will need to do a long running jump with grab. At the very last minute at the edge of the pit, press the Jump key and before you land add the Action/Grab key while in the air. (Let go of the forward and jump keys.) Climb up.

OR drop down into the right hand side of the second pit and run through the secret passageway. Take an almost immediate right and go straight thought the room - you will beat Von Croy through the door.

After the pits:

Run and drop down into the lower area to save some time. Run through the door before it closes. Save your game if you got through the open door. If you do not succeed, look for a high opening to the left of the door. Do a jump grab to the vines and climb up. Drop down on the other side of the door.

Take a right and climb up. Run through the halls until you reach a large pit with Von Croy running around the edge. Take a long running jump grab across the pit (by jumping at the last minute) or play it safe by dashing around the edge of the pit. Continue through the halls until you reach the monkey bars.

Monkey bars:

To shave off a second, use a long running jump grab to the monkey bars.

Von Croy is quite speedy and tends to beat you across. Continue until you reach the room of rocks.

Room with rocks:

Continue straight ahead and do a simple jump over the ramp to a higher ledge. Use the Action key to climb up to the high block. WALK until you are in line with the higher ledge on the right. Climb up and run around the ledge and do a simple jump to the exit door.

After bridge:

If you make it through the door after the bridge, you have got the race won.  If you are blocked by the large doors, look to the right of the doors for a small hole in the wall. Face the hole and stand next to the wall. Press the Action key and Lara will reach in to open the doors.  Just keep the wall on your left side as you make the turns through the maze, when you see the Iris, press the dash key for an extra boost.

End of Level

The Difficult Course:

Save your game when you complete a difficult part and are even or ahead with Von Croy. Click on the little picture for the big picture. Also this path is a tough one. You may want to go back and take the easy path.

The beginning:

No stopping allowed. Hit the Dash key (/) after you start running to follow Van Croy.  Release the dash key when you get to the jumps. To win, you must get this next jump correct without stopping. Run and jump from the end of the last grey block landing on the centre ledge. Keep holding down the forward arrow and Jump key to jump over the next pit.  Run into the next room and at the last minute do a long running jump with grab to grab the vines and climb up. Start running and add the dash key to beat Von Croy to the closing door on the right.  Save your game once you beat the first door.

You beat Von Croy before he shut the first door:

If you got through the door in the room with the crocodile symbols before Von Croy closed it, follow this part of the walkthrough.

Pool with underwater lever:

Fall into the pool and swim to the other side. Pull the underwater lever on the underside of a block to open the shortcut door. Swim up near the lever and press and hold down the Action key until Lara pulls the lever.

Swim through the tunnel to the wading pool (being careful not to get Lara's ponytails tangled up during the swim, swim near the bottom) and climb out. Go through the door on the left. You should be even or beating Von Croy.

Von Croy shut the door before you could get through. This route is faster. If you got to the room with the crocodile symbols after Von Croy closed the door, follow this part of the walkthrough.

Spike pit with collapsible walkway:

If the door is closed, take the opening to the east with a collapsible walkway above a spike pit. Run down the collapsible walkway, and walk! To the very end of the walkway. From the end of the walkway, do a standing jump with grab (not a long running jump with grab). Grab the edge above the spike pit and climb up, slide down the ramp and do a standing jump grab over the last spike pit and grab the final ledge. Climb up.

OR

Lara slides down the first slanted wall, forward-jumping near (not at) the bottom over the 1st Spike Pit, then immediately forward-jump when on the next slanted wall over the 2nd Spike Pit, landing Lara standing on the ledge.

Wading pool:

Follow the hall and climb over some rocks. Take the door to the right or east. If you were slow, Von Croy should be stuck running in circles in the wading pool.

After wading pool path and spike pit path:

Follow Von Croy and run across bridge which is over the water. If Von Croy cuts the bridge, drop into the water and swim to the lake with the walkway. If the door is closed, you can open it by going close to the small hole in the wall and pressing the Action key. OR if the door is shut, find the climbing block to the right of the door, climb up and find an alternate path to the spike pits.

Trapping Von Croy underwater (optional):

Don't enter the door shown in the picture above.  (Note, Von Croy must be chasing you and not be stuck in the wading pool.) There is a hole in the wall on the left, go to it and press action button.  The door will close.

Press roll and don't move.  Just stand there with your back to the hole.

Wait for the Von Croy to enter who will do one of three things.

1. He will cross the bridge and leap next to the door and climb the ledge on the right, in which case you should run and climb up after him and out race him.

2. He will leap into the tree and climb into it, taking a short-cut, in which case you should climb up the ledge but he will have a head start.

3. If you are lucky, he will jump into the water and run underwater thus becoming stuck underwater near the tree.  Then you can leisurely climb up and explore the surroundings without fear of losing the race.

Spike pits:

Run and take long running jumps with grabs across the two vine pits with spikes. No stopping allowed. Turn the corner and climb up the first ledge.

Pit with rope and bridge:

Beat Von Croy and run across the bridge (or he will cut it.) Try to jump to the first ledge to avoid pulling up. Continue on and find the door near the pit. You need to beat Von Croy to this door or he will close it.  Make a wrong turn and you will be with the warthogs. To climb out of the wart hog pit, find the wall with vines.

Above the warthog pit:

Carefully navigate around the wart hog pit to avoid falling into the pit. If you fall into the pit, there is a wall with vines that you can climb up back up near the mouth. Just drop down the hole in the mouth Go up a couple more dark tunnels and see the Iris. Run towards the Iris and Von Croy will wait for you. You have won the race for the Iris.

Movie:

Von Croy and Lara end the race at a large globe surrounded by a deep pit. Lara runs forward to read a written inscription written on the stone while Von Croy stands by the rotating lever.

Von Croy: "Ha! I am not such an old man after all - Yah?  Von Croy motions to the lever "Come here child. The mechanism will require us both to release it."

Lara crouches reading the stone with the written inscriptions, “The Plinth inscription warns of vengeance on those who remove it."  Von Croy replies, "Nab, ancient hocus-pocus. Forget this nonsense and come over here!" Lara: "I don't count poison darts and triggered entombment your average child's tea party. I feel we should lend this some respect." Von Croy sneers: "Ahh, so you are the world famous archaeologist, Lara Croft. No! I am the world renowned archaeologist/adventurer Werner Von Croy and you shall do as I say. Go to the wall and pull the lever NOW!"

Lara: " What is you said? Disrespect is the root of carelessness?"

Von Croy growls, "I am weary of this. Pull the lever now, Miss Croft."

Lara: "On your head be it - Von Croy."

Lara pulls the lever, and the globe opens like a sliced orange revealing the Iris as a walkway descends to create a path from the outer ledge to the centre of the now open globe. Von Croy walks out to the centre of the now opened globe and reaches to pick up the Iris.  Von Croy: “Have faith in experience child and you will learn more than simple ...." Von Croy stops talking as the entire structure trembles.

Lara struggles to stay on her feet and says: "As you were saying" By now an earthquake triggered by trying to remove the Iris has both Lara and Von Croy struggling to stay upright on their feet. Von Croy falls and his leg is caught. Von Croy cries: "My leg, my leg, I am trapped! My leg is trapped! Help me, Lara, help me...!"

Lara runs toward the exit, but stops and turns back, "Hold on, I am coming back to get you." Then the globe closes up as Lara cries, "Werner!"

The escape route is rapidly closing as large stones quickly descend to block Lara's escape. Lara races to escape and slides under the stone at the last minute.