Level 36 - Inside Menkaure's Pyramid - Guide for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

LEVEL 36: INSIDE MENKAURE'S PYRAMID

Secrets: 1*

HALL WITH SWINGING BLADES: Head down the ramp, killing a bat as you go. To get 
through the swinging blade, position Lara at either side, close to the blade (but 
not too close) and run through as the blade starts to swing toward the other side. 
Repeat the process for the second blade. And kill a few more bats in the room beyond.

STAIRS DOWN TO ROOM WITH HUGE BASIN: Start down the stairs. About a third of the way 
down, Lara will look up at a recessed spot the ceiling containing a gold star. Use 
the revolver or crossbow (normal arrows) with the laser sight to target the star. 
One shot should break it, opening a trapdoor in the room below. Continue down the 
stairs a little farther and you'll see 2 mummies shambling around near a white 
marble basin. If you wait for them to move near each other, you can destroy both 
with a single grenade or explosive arrow. (Other weapons are ineffective.) Switch to 
pistols, then enter the room and kill another bat. Pick up the revolver ammo on the 
floor behind the basin.

PITS WITH CONCEALED SPIKES AND DANGLING ROPES: Stand on the edge of the low platform 
supporting the basin. Take a standing jump diagonally over the edge of the basin to 
get into it. Drop through the trapdoor you opened by shooting the star. Follow the 
ramp down to a large pit filled with concealed spikes that has a rope dangling above 
it.

Take a running jump to grab the rope. Scoot down to the bottom and swing across the 
pit, jumping off the rope to land on the opposite ledge. The next room contains 2 
more mummies and a bat. If you Advance slowly toward the entrance, you can destroy 
the mummies without triggering the bat. Then switch to pistols, go in and look for 
the bat on the left.

Beyond this are two more pits with concealed spikes and ropes. First swing across 
the pit on the right: Take a running jump to grab the first rope. Climb to the 
bottom then swing and jump to grab the second rope. Climb to the bottom of that 
rope, then swing and jump to the doorway. Go up the ramp and use the switch to open 
a trapdoor elsewhere. Swing back across the spike pit.

Go around the corner to the second pit. Repeat the rope swinging business to get 
across this pit. Go up the ramp to the trapdoor you just opened. A hawk-headed 
guardian (perhaps a minion of Horus?) waits in the room above. When you climb 
through the opening, he begins to shoot energy bolts from his staff. It isn't too 
hard to dodge them if you immediately start flipping from side to side while firing. 
You can use any weapons you like, but grenades or explosive arrows work fast. When 
he is destroyed use your CROWBAR to pry the WESTERN SHAFT KEY from the wall with the 
huge star.

(NOTE: Alternately, you can climb into the room, run across and get the key, then 
run back to the trapdoor, using medipaks as needed. Once you get the key and escape, 
the guardian won't follow.)

Cut scene: Taking the key also causes a block to recede elsewhere, revealing a 
doorway.

Return down the ramp to the spike pit. Swing back across the pit, then back across 
the first pit (the one with only one rope). Go back up the ramp and jump out of the 
basin in the room at the foot of the stairs. Go upstairs and turn right (east) to 
find the door that just opened.

Enter and slide down the ramp to a dark tunnel. Crawl along the long, straight 
passage to avoid the converging horizontal blades. Go around the corner and up the 
ramp to a trapdoor in the ceiling. Jump straight up to grab the switch at the edge 
of the door to open it. Climb through the trapdoor to the desert above.

(NOTE: You'll probably recognize this area from the previous level. The building 
where you rescued the guard from the scorpion is off to the south beyond the deep 
excavation pit.)

OUTDOORS NEAR TWO SMALLER PYRAMIDS: Two giant scorpions attack almost immediately. 
You can use the tunnel opening for cover if necessary. When the scorpions get too 
close, drop back into the opening and they'll soon lose interest. Then you can climb 
out and start shooting again. When you've killed both, go between the two pyramids 
and find the button in the small alcove on the left. Press this to open up the top 
of the other pyramid. This also releases another giant scorpion.

Climbing the pyramid is a bit of a challenge. Save your game first, since any 
misstep will likely result in Lara's sliding into the excavation pit. (Refer to this 
screenshot if necessary. The numbers in this text refer to the numbers on the 
picture.) (1) Walk onto the flat spot at the bottom left of the pyramid. From here 
you can climb up one tier. (2) Take a running jump across the sloped section to the 
right, landing on the next flat spot on the same level. (3) From here you can climb 
up two more tiers. (4) Walk onto the flat step to the right, then climb onto the 
ledge at the very top center of the pyramid. Turn around, drop back and catch the 
edge of the opening. Then climb down the ladder into the pyramid.

INSIDE THE SMALL PYRAMID: Go up the ramp to a spike pit. Take a running jump across. 
Use the monkey bars on the ceiling to traverse across the next deep pit. The next 
pit is a wide one with concealed spikes and a swinging blade. To get across, 
position Lara facing the pit and close to either of the side walls. Take a running 
jump to grab the opposite side of the pit, starting to run when the blade reaches 
your side. By the time you get to the blade, it will have swung away. Pull up and 
continue.

Around the corner you'll need to repeat the running jump across a second spike and 
blade pit. On the other side there's a deep pit with monkey bars off to the left and 
another spike and blade pit ahead. First go across the spike and blade pit. Around 
the next corner is a chain. Pull it to open a gate elsewhere. Return across the 
spike pit then use the monkey bars on the ceiling to traverse across the deep pit on 
the right. Continue to the gate you opened using the chain.

LARGE CAVE WITH SLOPE AND SPIKES: Save your game first if you like. You may need to 
try this bit more than once to get the secret. Slide down the slope, jumping to the 
right at the end to land in the one safe spot in the spike pit (or on the tiny, 
triangular ledge just above this safe spot). Pick up the UZIS (Uzi clips if you 
already have the weapons). This is secret #1 (66/70). Climb out of the pit onto the 
triangular ledge and continue sliding through the small, square opening at the 
bottom of the cave.

You'll find yourself in the passageway where you began the level UNDERNEATH THE 
SPHINX. At the bottom of the hill is the HALL WITH BULL GUARDIANS AND HIEROGLYPH 
BUTTONS (the gate is still closed). Go to the top of the slope to re-enter the 
SPHINX COMPLEX level.

SPHINX COMPLEX - EXCAVATION PITS REVISITED: Climb out of the pit between the 
sphinx's paws. Go to the right (west) around the corner, which is the right paw of 
the SPHINX, toward the excavation pit. Take a running jump from the triangular flat 
spot at the left side of the pit (near the wall). Tap the left directional key while 
in the air if necessary, to land near the stone gate supports. Use the GUARD'S KEYS 
(which you should still have from the MENKAURE'S PYRAMID level) to unlock the doors. 
Go through the dark opening to finish the level.