Level 34 - Underneath the Sphinx - Guide for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

LEVEL 34: UNDERNEATH THE SPHINX

Secrets: 1*

HALL WITH BULL GUARDIANS AND HIEROGLYPH BUTTONS: Enter the hall.

Cut scene: A panoramic view of the area, including the two dozing bull guardians, 
the cages to the left and right, and the gate closing ominously behind Lara.

First get the lay of the land: two bulls, two cages. There's a certain symmetry 
there. Each cage has a switch outside which lowers and raises the bars. Approach one 
of the bulls at a time to awaken it. Run back to one of the cages with the bull hot 
on Lara's tail. Run inside the cage and stand just inside the doorway, facing the 
wall with the door in it, and standing on the opposite side of the door from the 
switch. (As in this screenshot.) The bull will paw the ground outside then charge 
in. Then you can run out to the switch and quickly use it to trap him. Repeat the 
process for bull number two.

Return to the area where the bulls had been sleeping, near the hieroglyph buttons. 
Off to the left are the remains of another explorer (perhaps someone who didn't have 
this walkthrough). Pick up the flares and SCRAP OF PAPER he or she dropped. The 
paper is apparently supposed to be a clue to the hieroglyph button puzzle, but it's 
a bit obscure—at least to me. The three buttons, from left to right, show: two reeds 
(equivalent to the letter I, according to the clue); a shape that looks like a right 
triangle with the top point lopped off, which represents a sandy slope in 
hieroglyphs (perhaps the letter Q, according to the clue); and a bird (perhaps the 
letter A in the clue).** So we have I, Q and A. What to make of this? If we arrange 
them in alphabetical order by the Western alphabet (which the ancient Egyptians of 
course couldn't know), we have A, I, Q—bird, reeds, sandy slope. And, in fact, this 
combination opens the gate you want.

You must first press the buttons in the correct sequence (bird, reeds, sandy slope) 
in order to open the west gate and gain access to the clues to the puzzle. If you 
press any other combination before doing this, you will only open the northeast 
gate. You'll then have to go through the TRAPPED HALLWAY to use the switch that 
resets the puzzle. (See that section of the walkthrough below, which includes a bug 
note.) After opening the west gate to access the clues, certain other combinations 
will work to open gates besides the northeast one.

WEST GATE/ROOM WITH METAL STATUES AND CHUTES WITH COLORED LIGHTS: Press the 
hieroglyph buttons in the order bird, reeds, sandy slope (right, left, middle). The 
gate at the west end of the hall opens. Follow the tunnel taking a running jump 
across the deep pit. Kill a couple of bats. Then continue around the corner to a 
second deep pit. Jump across and enter a small room with two metal statues, where 
you'll need to kill a few more bats.

The statues don't move. The gate doesn't open yet. The clues you want are inside the 
chutes high on the side walls. Each chute is lit with a different color (red, green, 
blue and purple). Use your BINOCULARS to look up each chute, pressing Action to turn 
on the flashlight. Inside each chute you'll see an inscription showing a different 
combination of hieroglyphs, corresponding to the puzzle buttons back in the other 
room. The table below shows each possible combination of buttons along with what it 
does.

After noting the clues, return through the cave, jumping over the two deep pits, to 
the HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE. You can then explore the other areas in any order you like.

NORTHEAST GATE/TRAPPED HALLS: There is no artifact to be found in this area, so you 
can avoid it completely if you find and follow the button-combination clues in the 
west room. If you press any other combination before discovering these clues—or if, 
after opening the west gate and getting the clues, you press the combination reeds, 
bird, sandy slope—you will need to go through this area to use the switch that 
resets the puzzle.

When you enter the cave beyond the northeast gate, the gate closes behind. You'll 
need to kill a couple of bats before continuing through the cave. Jump across the 
deep pit at the left side. Go through the doorway surrounded by carved skulls and 
down the ramp. (The diagram at right shows the next area.)

It doesn't matter whether you go left or right at the first intersection. In either 
case, when you round the next corner, you'll come to a trapped hallway. You'll be 
safe if you crawl slowly along the hall close to either wall. First comes a spiked 
ball, which drops down from a trapdoor in the ceiling. The next square of floor 
contains concealed blades. If you crawl slowly forward, the blades will pop up but 
won't cause Lara any damage. Stop and wait until they recede before crawling on. The 
square beyond that has another spiked ball dropping from above. After this, you can 
stand up.

Continue forward to a T intersection. Which path to take now depends on whether you 
prefer the concealed blades in the floor or the circular blade traps (like the ones 
you encountered in previous levels). If you take either of the outside hallways, 
you'll need to go through two of the circular blade traps. If you go through the 
center hallway, you'll need to go past two sets of concealed blades in the floor and 
one circular blade trap. All three of these north-south hallways also have 
converging horizontal blades, which are triggered when Lara reaches the middle of 
the each hall. These will cut her down at the waist if she walks through them, but 
she's perfectly safe crawling. To get past the concealed blades in the floor, follow 
the tips in the previous paragraph. To get through the circular blade traps, stand 
Lara as close as possible without injury, position her at the center of the blades 
facing into them, then roll as they begin to open.

When you reach the four-way intersection with circular blades on three sides, you 
want to head north. Go through the circular blade and pull the switch to open the 
gate back up in the cave and reset the HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE—and the traps. Return back 
through the trapped hallways (follow the map if necessary) to the ramp at the south 
end. Go back up the ramp to the cave. At the deep pit, carefully line up a running 
jump close to the right wall to grab the block ahead. Pull up and return to the main 
hall and the HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE. All that effort for nothing...sigh!

NORTHWEST GATE/CAVE WITH MAZE OF CRAWLSPACES: After getting the clues in the west 
room (see above), press the hieroglyph buttons in the order bird, sandy slope, 
reeds. The gate at the northwest end of the hall opens. When you enter the gate 
closes behind you. Kill a few bats and follow the tunnel to a deep pit. Proceed on 
the right side of the pit. Take a standing jump up the slope, but be sure to stop 
short at the top or Lara will go over the edge. Jump to the flat ledge on the 
opposite side of the pit, turn around and jump back across the pit to the flat ledge 
a bit farther on. Jump up the slope into the cave. Kill another bat or two.

This cave and network of tunnels is illustrated in the diagram below. There are 
three low tunnels leading out from the left (north), right (south) and straight 
ahead (east). It doesn't matter which you explore first. You'll probably need to use 
flares here (or turn up your monitor all the way). As you go through the tunnels, 
avoid the boarded-up sections of floor, most of which conceal deadly spikes. There 
is one section that hides a secret. This is noted below.

NORTH TUNNEL: Crawl in and take the first left (west). (If you continue on ahead, 
you'll come to a spike pit.) Continue straight (west) past a short passage to the 
right (north), which only leads to another spike pit. Turn left (south) a little 
farther on and you'll find the STONE OF MAAT.*** Crawl back out the way you came.

EAST TUNNEL: Crawl forward a short distance to where the passage forms a T. Avoid 
the left (north) branch, which leads to a spike pit. Instead, turn right (south). 
Crawl onto the boards and fall through to find secret #1 (64/70), the GRENADE 
LAUNCHER (or normal grenades if you already have the weapon). Crawl back to the cave 
the way you came.

SOUTH TUNNEL: Crawl into the tunnel and immediately turn left (east) to avoid a 
spike pit ahead. Make the next right (south). (If you continue on ahead, you'll come 
to another spike pit.) Continue south, following the passage past an opening on the 
right with another spike pit. At the end of the tunnel stand and pull the switch, 
which opens the gate at the other end of the cave. Crawl back out of the tunnel.

Return across the deep pit: First slide down to the flat ledge on the right side. 
Then turn left (to face the torch-lit area near the gate) and take a running jump to 
the ledge near the left wall, aiming for the left side. (The right side is slippery 
and if Lara lands there, she'll slide into the pit.) Continue through the gate back 
to the HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE.

SOUTHWEST GATE/SQUARE POOL WITH ISLAND: After getting the clues in the west room 
(see above), press the hieroglyph buttons in the order sandy slope, reeds, bird. The 
gate at the southwest end of the hall opens. When you enter, the gate closes behind 
you. Kill a few bats and follow the tunnel, jumping across the deep pit on the left 
side. Draw that shotgun in a hurry because 4 crocodiles rush toward Lara from the 
pool at the base of the hill.

After dispatching the crocs, go around the edge of the pool, activating the 
mechanisms inside each of the 4 niches and pulling the switch on the wall opposite 
the cave entrance. The switch opens the exit gate. The niche mechanisms open the 
trapdoor in the middle of the square island. Drop through that opening and take the 
STONE OF KHEPRI.***

Watch out for 2 more bats in the tunnel on the way back to the pit and gate. Jump 
the pit on the right side (see the note above) and return through the gate to the 
HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE.

EAST GATE/SECOND HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE: After getting the clues in the west room (see 
above), press the hieroglyph buttons in the order reeds, sandy slope, bird. The gate 
at the east end of the hall opens. When you enter, the gate closes behind you. 
You'll need to kill several more bats between the gate and the deep pit. Jump across 
the pit and continue to a small room with another hieroglyph puzzle.

Again, I'm not sure about the logic of this one. The only thing that made sense to 
me—as a complete Egyptology novice—was to reach into the two niches labeled with the 
mirror-image snake symbols (rightmost niche on north side and rightmost niche on 
east side). Inside one of these niches is the STONE OF RE***. Inside the other is 
the mechanism that opens the gate so you can exit. Every other niche contains a 
swarm of beetles. If you're reading this, then you can avoid reaching into the 
beetle niches altogether.

Return across the pit and through the gate to the first HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE.

SOUTHEAST GATE/WATER MAZE: After getting the clues in the west room (see above), 
press the hieroglyph buttons in the order sandy slope, bird, reeds. The gate at the 
southeast end of the hall opens. When you enter the gate closes behind you. Continue 
to the deep pit. (No bats this time.) Take a standing jump down to the ledge inside 
the pit on the right. Take a running jump to the ledge ahead (south), then a 
standing jump out of the pit.

SMALL ROOM WITH TWO METAL STATUES: What follows is a complicated sequence involving 
swimming through an underwater maze. You must swim to each of five openings and pull 
a switch at each one to open the door to the next one. The diagram below provides a 
visual to go with the text. It's easy to get disoriented and drown poor Lara, so you 
probably want to save your game after each successful swim.

START TO ROOM #1 (blue path in diagram): Stand Lara at the opening above the first 
water-filled tunnel facing east (toward the two statues). Jump in and swim down to a 
three-way intersection. Here you have a choice to go forward (east), left (north) or 
right (south). Turn right (south) and follow the tunnel forward and down (there are 
a few turns but no splits in the passage). At the bottom, you can turn left (east) 
or right (west); turn left. At the next intersection you have a choice of right 
(west) or forward (south). Continue forward. The tunnel slopes downward then 
descends sharply. At the bottom you must turn right (west). Continue straight on to 
a tile with a bird symbol on it. Then follow the tunnel upward (the only choice) to 
ROOM #1, where you can get some air. Pull the switch between the two statues to open 
the trapdoor to the next switch room (#2 in the diagram).

ROOM #1 TO ROOM #2 (light green path): Now, on to the next room. Stand Lara at the 
tunnel opening facing east (switch behind her). Jump into the water and swim down 
then forward (east), up then left (north). Up to this point there are no choices; 
you're just following the tunnel. At the first intersection you can go left (west) 
or straight (north). Go left. The tunnel slopes up and you'll pass a tile with a 
snake on it and a passage leading straight up. Don't go up; instead continue on 
straight (west). Follow the tunnel as it slopes down then turns right (north). At 
the next turn the tunnel goes up and you'll pass a tile with a hand symbol on it. 
Continue upward, passing a tunnel leading off to the right (east), to surface in 
ROOM #2. Pull the switch to open the trapdoor to the next room.

ROOM #2 TO ROOM #3 (dark pink path): This time, stand Lara at the tunnel opening 
facing south (switch behind her). Jump into the water and swim down. Halfway down 
the shaft you'll pass an opening on the left (east). Skip this an continue to the 
bottom. Pass the hand symbol at the bend and continue forward (south). A little 
farther along you must turn left (east) as you follow the tunnel. You'll come to a 
tile with a snake symbol on the left. Here you can either continue forward (east) or 
up. Swim up to surface in ROOM #3. Pull the switch to open the trapdoor to the next 
room (#4 in the diagram).

ROOM #3 TO ROOM #4 - VIA START (magenta path): The swim to the next room is a long 
one, so you'll probably want to stop off for air at the room where you started (in 
the cave). Position Lara facing south at the opening (the switch is behind her). 
Jump in and swim down to the snake tile. Here you'll have a choice to go left (east) 
or right (west). Either one is okay, but I'll only describe one route. Turn left and 
swim down a short slope to a T-intersection. Here you can go left (north) up a slope 
or right (south) down a slope. Turn left. At the next intersection you can go left 
(west) or up. Go left. At the next intersection you can go up or forward (west). Go 
up. Continue to follow the tunnel as it turns north. At the next intersection you 
can continue forward (north), turn right (east) or go up. Swim up to emerge in the 
SMALL ROOM WITH TWO METAL STATUES where you started.

Take some deep breaths and dive back down (you're still facing north at this point). 
At the three-way intersection at the bottom you have a choice to go forward (north), 
right (east) or turn around and head south. Go forward. The tunnel slopes up then 
goes straight up in a vertical tunnel. At the top there's a dead-end alcove on the 
left (west) containing a small medipak. (Grab it now or continue upward for air 
first.) Continue east toward a tile with reed symbols on it. Then head upward to 
surface in ROOM #4. Pull the switch to open the trapdoor to the last room (#5 in the 
diagram).

ROOM #4 TO ROOM #5 (orange path): Face west (with the switch behind Lara). Swim down 
and forward (past the reed symbols). At the dead end, swim down then left (south), 
following the passage. At the next intersection you can go up (to the room where you 
began the maze), forward (south) or left (east). Unless you're really low on air, go 
left. The tunnel slopes upward. At the next intersection you can go up or right 
(south). Go up. Follow the tunnel upward through a few turns and past a snake 
symbol. Climb out of the water in ROOM #5. Use the switch to open the exit gate back 
in the cave, and pick up the STONE OF ATUM on the opposite ledge.***

ROOM #5 BACK TO START (dark green path): Returning to the first room is fairly easy. 
Position Lara facing west at the opening (the switch is behind her). Jump in and 
swim down past the snake tile. Keep going forward (west) through all turns. When you 
reach the last intersection (where you can go left, right or up), swim up to surface 
in the SMALL ROOM WITH TWO METAL STATUES where you started.

Slide down to the ledge on the left side of the deep pit. Take a running jump to the 
ledge ahead on the left, or jump to the slope, slide back and grab the edge, then 
traverse to the right and pull up. Be extra careful when jumping out of the pit; 
it's very easy to slide in. You need to line up a running jump along the long 
(outside) edge of the triangular ledge to get up the slope. Go through the gate 
(which should be open if you used the switch in ROOM #5, where you got the STONE OF 
ATUM). Return through the hall to the HIEROGLYPH PUZZLE.

When you have all four stones—Maat, Re, Khepri and Atum— return through the west 
gate to the ROOM WITH METAL STATUES AND CHUTES WITH COLORED LIGHTS. Place each of 
the stones in the niche below the chute with its corresponding color and hieroglyph 
clue. When you place all four, the gate opens.

TRAPPED ROOMS LEADING TO THE EXIT: Follow the short hallway to a deep pit. Use the 
bars on the ceiling to traverse across the pit. Drop to the ledge on the other side 
and kill a couple of bats.

When you enter the next room, the gate closes and drill-like blades begin to descend 
from the ceiling. You'll need to run around to the four alcoves on the side walls to 
collect each of the 4 HOLY SCRIPTURES before the door will open. I recommend making 
your last pick-up one of the figures nearer to the exit door. Then you can get out 
more quickly.

Continue up the short ramp to the next room. Here you'll find concealed blades in 
the floor. There are only four sets of blades—none in the corners or the center of 
the room. So you can either jump to the center then from there to the exit, or crawl 
slowly forward, triggering the blades, waiting for them to recede, then crawling on.

Ahead is another deep pit with monkey bars overhead. Traverse across the pit, drop 
down and kill 2 more bats. Continue through the cave to the next level.