LEVEL 12: SANCTUARY OF THE SCION
Kills: 15 Items: 29, including a key, 2
Ankhs, the Uzis, a Scarab
and a piece of the Scion
Save Crystals: 7 (PlayStation only) Secrets:
1
(NOTE: The regular pick-ups
here will include the MAGNUMS if you didn't get them
earlier.)
Objectives: First get into the area near the giant
sphinx. Then locate 2 Ankh artifacts to unlock the door at
the base of the sphinx. Enter and find the way back to the
top of the area to get a Scarab artifact. Use this to open
the final gate of the level. Inside, confront Larson and get
the third and final piece of the Scion.
Walkthrough: Go down the stairs. The doors close
behind you. Pick up 2 sets of magnum
clips, one in each corner at the base of the stairs.
(NOTE: If you didn't find the
MAGNUMS earlier, you'll get them
here instead of one of these sets of clips.)
LONG STAIRCASE WITH MUTANTS: Notice the closed
gates. You'll be returning later. Advance up the stairs and
2 Atlantean mutants will start
down. Back flip down the stairs shooting and continue to
jump from side to side if necessary to avoid their attacks.
Or, stand your ground and use the shotgun. When they
explode, go to the room at the top of the stairs. Pick up
more magnum clips in the dark area
to the right of the blocks. Climb up the blocks and through
the opening in the ceiling to emerge on the back of a
sphinx.
HUGE CAVE WITH SPHINX: Face the front of the
sphinx, cross over the left shoulder to the front and hop
down onto the small ledge below (the sphinx's collarbone?).
Another mutant will be running
around on the sand below so don't go all the way down yet.
You'll be seeing more of these shortly. Some throw
fireballs, others spit
dangerous goop of unknown
origin, and both attack Lara if they can reach her. Use the
ledge for cover and shoot the mutant until it explodes.
If you're low on health, climb back up onto the sphinx's
back and pick up the large medipak
on the raised path at the rear. Then slide down the side of
the sphinx to the ground. Otherwise, just jump down onto the
paw and from there to the ground. (You can get that medipak
later.) Between the sphinx's paws are some
magnum clips and a closed door.
Your goal now is to open that door.
CLIMBING TO THE FIRST SWITCH: First, head for the
northwest corner of the cave, beyond the sphinx's right paw.
Here you'll find a sandy area with square pillars of various
heights. Climb onto the lowest one. (This spot, and the rest
of the climb is shown in a series of screenshots.)
Take a running jump to the next low block up the slope
near the cave wall. Pull up onto the ledge above. Stand so
the tallest pillar is on Lara's left and take a running jump
to grab the second tallest pillar. Turn and take another
running jump to land on top of the tallest. Pull up onto the
jutting ledge above. Walk forward and turn right.
(PlayStation users get a save crystal
here.) Advance slowly as there is a
metal jaw trap just around the corner. Carefully run
or jump through it, pick up the small
medipak and follow the ledge around to the right
toward the switch. Be careful to jump the
gap in the path just before the
switch.
(NOTE: To avoid the blade trap,
after climbing from the pillar onto the jutting ledge, turn
right and take a running jump over to the path. Go left to
get the medipak, then turn around and head toward the
switch.)
Throw the switch to open a
gold door on the far side of the cave. A
winged mutant flies in from the southwest. You can
kill it from this ledge, but I found it easier to make a
quick descent and shoot it from the ground. Take a standing
jump from the edge of the ledge with the switch down to the
one with the large medipak. Hang
from the far edge of that ledge (so Lara's back is toward
the sphinx). Drop and slide down the sloping rocks to the
ground, pressing and releasing Action as Lara slides to
break her fall.
(NOTE: If you prefer to fight
the mutant on the high ledge, try and kill it before it gets
to Lara, or it may knock her off the ledge. Also, try
backing Lara into the corner near the switch. There isn't
much room to maneuver there, but it's more difficult for the
mutant to push Lara. Also, be sure to begin with at least
half health. If the mutant explodes close to Lara, she'll
take some damage.)
CLIMBING TO THE SECOND SWITCH Return to the front
of the sphinx. Along the cave wall, just opposite its left
paw, is a light-colored block just the right height for
climbing. (These screenshots show the spot and the climbing
sequence.)
First get on top of that block then take a standing jump
to the angled block to the right. Get on top of that block
then take a standing jump to the angled block to the right.
Turn around and take another standing jump to grab the
brownish ledge above. Pull up. Walk along the ledge to get
the magnum clips ahead on the
left.
Turn around and make your way back along that same ledge
to the spot where you just pulled up. Vault onto the low
ledge to the left and then jump the gap to the ledge ahead
(the one with a low sandy step above it). From there, take a
running jump to the next higher ledge. Turn left to face the
cave wall. Climb onto the ledge ahead and above, then to the
block on the right, where you'll find more
magnum clips.
After picking up the clips, turn so the cave wall is on
Lara's right. Climb or jump onto the angled block ahead.
Then jump the gap to land on the next flat block. Do the
same again and continue down and to the left to the switch.
(Pick up a save crystal on the
way.)
Use the switch to open a
carved stone door down below (not the one between the
sphinx's paws). Turn and ready weapons. Another
flying mutant approaches from the
far side of the sphinx. Again, try and kill it before it
reaches the ledge where Lara is standing and/or move into
the corner to make it harder for the mutant to push her off
the ledge.
When the coast is clear, face the switch, angle Lara a
little to the left and then jump to the ledge with the
shotgun shells. Take a running
jump to grab the next thin, jutting ledge. Pull up and get
more shells. Return to the spot
where you just pulled up and take another running jump to
the next ledge (as shown in this screenshot).
From here, you should be able to see a gold door high on
the cave wall ahead and a bit to the left. This is the one
you opened earlier using the first switch, and it's where
you're headed next. But first, if you want to, you can go
after the level's only secret: the Uzis.
SECRET ON INVISIBLE PLATFORM: (The following
sequence is shown in this series of screenshots.)
When standing on the jutting ledge after the one with the
second box of shotgun shells, turn to face the sphinx. If
you use the Look button and rotate Lara's vision, you can
catch a glimpse of a dark object against the lighter
background of the sphinx's neck or headdress. This is the
SECRET #1, the
Uzis, floating on an
invisible platform.
To get there, carefully set up a running jump: Position
Lara at the edge of the ledge, between the left corner and
the middle. (If she's too far to the right, she won't be
able to jump far enough to grab the invisible ledge.)
Save your game if you can. Hop back once, then press
Forward and Jump to make Lara take a running jump right at
the edge. While Lara is in the air, press and hold Action to
grab the edge of the invisible platform; pull up. Hold the
Walk button while on the platform. This way
you can maneuver Lara around without fear of accidentally
stepping off. Pick up the guns. (At the same time you get
some clips to go with them.)
After the secret chime sounds, 2
winged mutants fly in from the other side of the
sphinx. If you use the Uzis, you can kill both before they
get close enough to push Lara off the platform. Or, to
conserve ammo, quickly descend from the platform (next
paragraph) and kill them with pistols or magnums from below.
To get down, turn back toward the cave wall. Walk to the
edge and line Lara up so she's squarely facing the
left side of the ledge where you started. (The right
edge is a little too high to grab, and Lara will fall if you
try.) Hop back and then take a running jump to grab the
ledge. Let go to drop to the rocks below.
(NOTE: Lara loses a tiny bit of health when you do
this. To avoid any injury, hang from the left side of the
ledge instead of the front, traverse to the left and then
drop.)
CLIMBING TO THE GOLD DOOR (FIRST ANKH): Now you'll
be making your way to the gold door you opened earlier using
that first switch. Turn so the sphinx is again on Lara's
left. Walk forward along the sandy ledge. Jump the
gap, continue forward a few
steps and then climb up the blocks on the right. Turn so the
cave wall is again on Lara's right and continue along the
ledge. Jump one more gap and
enter the dark passageway ahead. Turn left and climb two low
blocks. You're now facing the side of the sphinx, and
there's a drop-off ahead. Take a
diagonal standing jump to the flat spot on the right. Climb
the rocks to the gold door. (PlayStation users will find
another save crystal here.)
Enter and go to the right. Find the
movable block—the middle one, which is much brighter
than the surrounding blocks—and push it through to the other
side of the wall. Go around the wall, climb onto the block
and from there to the ledge. A centaur
mutant stands guard inside. If you draw weapons
(pistols or magnums work fine) and take just a few steps
toward the doorway, you should be able to target the centaur
without prompting it to attack. (If you get too close it
will begin to hurl fireballs.)
Once you get a lock on it, hop back and toward the wall and
just keep shooting as it runs past the opening. (Hold the
Look key to see what's going on.) When the mutant explodes,
enter and pick up a small medipak
from the floor and the ANKH from
the pedestal.
Climb down from the wall, exit through the gold door and
slide down the ramp on the right. If you didn't take it when
you entered this area, there will be a
large medipak on the path. Another
mutant lurks on the back of the
sphinx. Kill it quickly before it starts spitting or
throwing fireballs. You can use the pointy block for cover
if you like. Hop down onto the sphinx's back.
SIDE AREA WITH STAIRS, POOL & BRIDGE (SECOND ANKH):
Slide down the right side of the sphinx to land near the
carved stone door you opened earlier using the second switch
(shown in this screenshot).
Or, if you are already on the ground, find this door by
heading for the back left side of the sphinx when facing it.
Pick up some magnum clips on the
ground near the door and enter.
Walk forward to a slope above a pool. Turn around and
slide down backwards, grabbing the end of the slope.
Traverse to the left and drop onto a ledge. Pick up more
magnum clips and climb into the
opening above. Climb the block steps. At the top, turn left
and head down to a second pool. Swim down to the bottom to
find a GOLD KEY. Climb back up the
block steps, turn left and then go up the smaller steps to
another ramp. (Save your game if you're
playing on the PC or Macintosh.) This time slide facing
forward and jump at the very bottom of the slope to grab the
bridge ahead; pull up. If you miss and fall into the water,
reload your saved game or swim to the left, climb back to
the top of the ramp and try again.
Once on the bridge, use the GOLD KEY in the lock to open
the door at the opposite end. There's another
centaur in the room beyond.
Again, take a few steps toward the door with weapons drawn,
get a lock on it and step back toward the keyhole. As with
the last centaur, if you don't get too close at first, it
won't start to throw fireballs.
Maintain the target lock by holding Action and Lara will
shoot whenever the centaur runs past the door. When it
explodes, go into the room and pick up another
small medipak and
ANKH. (There's also a
save crystal here in the PS1
game.)
(NOTE: I encountered a minor
bug here. If you save the game just as Lara uses the Gold
Key in the lock, the gold door does not open. However, if
you attempt to use the lock again without a key, Lara says
"No", but the door opens anyway.)
To get back to the SPHINX CAVE, take a standing jump from
the edge of the bridge into the opening below on the right,
pressing Action to lower Lara's arc so she nails the
landing. Or, jump into the water and swim to that opening.
Climb the block steps, turn right and go down more steps to
the other pool. Swim to the doorway, climb out of the water,
go up the steps and turn left toward the exit.
At this point you should have TWO ANKHS. If
not, refer to the previous sections of the walkthrough to
find whatever you're missing.
CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE SPHINX: Go around to
the front of the sphinx and climb up onto its left paw
(i.e., the one on the right when facing it). Climb the
ledges on its shoulder to reach its back. Step up onto the
low angled block on the sphinx's back and from there take a
running jump to grab the ledge at the back of its head.
(These screenshots show where to climb.)
Pull up and climb to the top of the head. Place one of
the ANKHS in the receptacle here. Go around to the other
side of the head, hop down onto the ledge there and put the
second ANKH in place. This opens the door between the
sphinx's paws. (PS1 players also find a
save crystal on this ledge.)
To reach the ground quickly and safely, first climb back
onto the sphinx's headdress on the right side (when facing
the rear of the sphinx). Turn right and walk
out to the corner overlooking the rocky cave wall. (The
correct spot is shown in these
screenshots.)
Turn around and slide down the side of the headdress,
holding Action to grab the edge. Drop to the ledge below,
losing a little bit of health. Or, to avoid taking any
damage, traverse to the right and drop onto the darker
ledge. Climb down onto the sphinx's paw and slide down to
the door you just opened. If you didn't already get the
magnum clips on the ground here,
pick them up now.
UNDERGROUND POOL BENEATH THE SPHINX: Step through
the door and fall into a deep pool. Here you'll find huge
submerged statues of the Egyptian gods Horus, on the left
with the falcon's head, and Set, on the right with the head
like an aardvark crossed with a jackal. Swim down and pick
up some Uzi clips on a ledge
between the two statues and shotgun
shells on the lap of the statue on the left. Note the
doors below each statue and the switch
on the arm of the statue on the right. This is one of those
switches that doesn't work underwater. The
lever you're looking for is
down in the tunnel between the feet of the statue on the
right, just to the right of the gold door. Pull it to
partially drain the lake. In the process, Lara will be
sucked through the door and whisked along to a room where
you can surface.
A strong current prevents you from swimming back the way
you came. So get out of the water and climb up onto the
lowest square pillar. Stand at the front left corner of this
pillar and take a standing jump to grab the front right
corner of the next taller pillar. Pull up. Turn right and
take a running jump to grab the bottom of the stairs. Pull
up, climb the stairs and follow the ledge to the end. You'll
hear and see a winged mutant rise
up in the area beyond the doorway. Don't slide down the
slope yet. Instead, shoot the mutant from the safety of the
doorway. After it explodes, slide down the slope.
You're now on a ledge above the two statues. (There's a
save crystal here in the
PlayStation game.) Go to the left and drop down to the
small, square ledge below. Turn around and take a running
jump to grab the head of the statue of Set. Climb on top of
the head and pick up a large medipak.
(NOTE: In some versions of the
game, this medipak is not visible. It may be partially or
completely embedded in the statue's right ear. Using the
Look button and swiveling Lara's view may help you spot it.
Even if you can't see it, you can still get it. Just step
into the ear where it meets the top of the head, as shown in
this screenshot, press Action and Lara should pick up the
medipak.)
The quickest way to the bottom is to jump into the water;
however, the programmers have made this a bit difficult.
(It's impossible to jump or swan dive over the statue's nose
but worth trying since the result—Lara springing back to the
head—looks so goofy.) Instead, taking a running jump
straight down the statue's nose. Lara will bang into an
invisible wall then drop into the water between the statue's
legs without taking any damage. Alternately, climb down
between the two statues and over to the Set statue. Climb up
to Set's arm and use that switch
now. This opens the door at the base of the Horus statue.
Swim down and through it.
LONG, WINDING PASSAGEWAY TO TOP OF SPHINX: Surface
and follow the long passageway all the way up to the top. On
the way pick up 2 sets of magnum clips
(and another save crystal in
the PS1 game). At the top is a SCARAB
artifact. Remember you saw it behind the closed gate at the
beginning of the level? In the stairway beyond the gate are
2 "regular" mutants and a
centaur. When you pick up the
SCARAB the gate opens.
If you have shotgun ammo, you can probably kill both of
the smaller mutants before they reach you. Back flip or roll
and run about halfway down the long, straight hallway
leading up to the gate. Advance toward the gate. Then, when
the first mutant approaches, get a lock on it and hop back
shooting. Three clean shotgun blasts should take it down.
Repeat the same process with the second mutant.
Save the game if you can and then approach the gate and
listen for the centaur whinnying and trotting around out
near the staircase. When you hear it go up the stairs, run
out, drawing weapons. (Uzis or magnums work better, but
pistols will do.) Stand at the bottom looking up the stairs.
Get a lock on the centaur and begin side-flipping from left
to right while shooting. If you keep moving side to side,
its fireballs will miss and you should be able to take it
down fairly quickly.
If you prefer a less direct approach (or can't hear the
centaur in order to use that method) try this instead: After
taking the SCARAB, back flip or roll and run down the
hallway to the first bend. The mutants will approach first.
Wait for them to come down the hallway, then back (or side
flip) down the ramp about a third of the way. They won't
follow Lara beyond this point and you can kill them from
here, though you may have to go up into the hallway a few
times to draw them closer. When both are dead, advance
toward the doorway to attract the centaur's attention. Get a
lock on it then back down the hallway about halfway. Its
fireballs won't reach this far, and you can shoot it as it
runs past. Again, you may need to advance into the room a
couple of times to draw the centaur down the stairs. This
will take a while but can be done with pistols only.
SCION ROOM: When all the mutants are dead, cross
the room at the base of the stairs and place the SCARAB in
the lock to open the other gate. Pick up the
large medipak and
magnum clips, then slide down the
ramp. Climb through the opening on the left and prepare to
take on Larson once again.
(Apparently Lara only stunned him back in the Lost Valley.)
He is lurking behind the pillars on the right but emerges
spouting threats and lead as soon as Lara hits the ground.
Keep moving and shooting, and try not to let him get behind
Lara, and you'll be done quickly. Go to the top of the
stairs and take the third PIECE OF THE
SCION to end the level.
A movie follows: Lara emerges from the caves
into bright sunshine. As her eyes adjust to the light, we
see two figures approach—a cowboy and skate punk. Another,
tall, bald and burly, grabs Lara from behind. They disarm
Lara and hold her as Jacqueline Natla emerges from her white
Caddy. Natla demands that Lara hand over the Scion. One of
the thugs pulls the artifact from Lara's knapsack and gives
it to his boss. Natla admires her treasure for a moment then
shouts, "Well, kill her!" Lara shoves the cowboy to one
side, sprints toward the edge of the cliff and dives into
the water below. When she doesn't surface after a moment,
Natla and her minions drive off.
Lara crawls out of the water, finds her motorcycle and
takes off after the bad guys. She speeds along a twisting
canyon road then out onto a spit of land above Natla's
parked car and the yacht anchored nearby. In true
action-hero style, she guns the bike, takes off into the
air, and splashes down near the boat. As the baddies try to
figure out what caused the big splash, Lara surfaces on the
far side of the boat, climbs aboard and sneaks below deck.
She collapses and some time later awakens to the sound of a
motor. Natla and one of the men take a small boat to land.
Lara emerges from her hiding place and swims after them.
GILDOS BUG NOTE:
If you're playing the Windows PC version of the game using
Glidos and the game crashes after the statistics screen at
the end of the level, try this fix, suggested by Tom C.: Run
Glidos and on the Glide Server screen, click the 'Adjust'
button. Click the Audio tab and then un-check 'Redbook
Emulation'. Click 'OK' and then run the game as usual. (Or,
open the Glidos.ini file with a text editor and delete the
line "Redbookemulation: Yes". Save the file and run the game
as usual.) Play through the buggy spot, save your game and
quit. Before starting the game again, change the audio
settings back to normal.
Walkthrough text, maps, diagrams, and all
other original images copyright © 1997-2008 Stellalune.
All
rights reserved.
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