🪙 Written: January 29th-February 7th, 2024 🪙
🪙 Published: February 14th, 2024 🪙
Secrets Guide
Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog, thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it! 😃
Today is February 14th, usually a date associated with Valentine's Day. In this case, however, it's got to do with something else that is important and significant (at least as far as video games are concerned): it marks the birthday of Lara Croft* from Core Design's iconic 1996 3D platforming classic Tomb Raider. 🥳 For this reason I wanted to celebrate by doing something Tomb Raider-related, and I figured that perhaps I would make a pictorial walkthrough of how to access this game's Secrets.
* For those who've never been acquainted with the game or series, need a refresher if they have been acquainted, genuinely don't know, or never bothered opening up the instruction manual (presuming they had it): Lara Croft was born on February 14th, 1968, thus making her 28 years old back when her first game came out
I apologize ahead of time when it comes to the occasional screenshot quality, sometimes there's so much movement and I tried to limit that as much as I could manage and there are certain ones that were affected by the dark to light exposure contrast. I just hope it will be alright in the end. 😔 But more importantly I hope this will be very helpful and fairly entertaining and enlightening to read whether you're a fan of the first Tomb Raider or not.
But anyway, without further ado, here is my Secrets Guide for my favorite 3D platformer on the Sega Saturn:
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Level 1: Caves
Number of Secrets: 3
Once you're there, face its wall and jump upward while holding down the action button to grab on to its ledge. Climb up and immediately you'll find yourself sliding downward.
Just as you're on the bottom end of the incline press the jump button and hold down the action button to grab onto the ledge of the wall. Climb and walk through to find Secret #1 to your right, the first item you'll find and pick up being a small Medipack.
Partway through after making your way up to higher ground (the one I told you to ignore earlier) and disposing of pesky bats along the way, turn left and walk toward the large space of the caves where there is plenty of light. Now this next part is very particular how you go about it, but have Lara walk to the right side of it and while walking keep the action button held down throughout until you get to the leftmost corner, facing the snow in its wall.
and enter the interior all the way to the left to find Secret #2, your second item as well as second small Medipack.
Later on you will find yourself in a large vacant spot where there are two wolves who'll attempt to attack you the moment you step inside. After having dealt with them, walk until you find yourself standing at the edge facing the wall completely decorated with green foliage. Even though it's considerably obscured, you'll notice that there's a platform sticking out. That's where you want to go.
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Level 2: Village of Vilcabamba
Number of Secrets: 3
Right by the corner to the left is a switch, have Lara pull it and the trapdoor will open above you. Swim towards the surface to regain your breath.
Climb out of the water to access Secret #1 and pick up the small Medipack by the darkened corner. Inside the same room is a lever which you can pull down to open up the door to lead you back into the center region with the small pool.
You are almost at the end of the Village of Vilcabamba, for you will find yourself in the final room. First things first, kill the bear roaming around so it won't bother you from the upper level where it won't reach you.
However, once you reach the lever, turn right and run straight through the darkened red room, and once inside turn left where there are two steep block-like steps leading into a basement. A quicker way down there would be to drop down from running, but if you do that you won't die but will lose a chunk of your health. If you wish to err on the side of caution, you could turn Lara facing away from the edge, tap backward, grab the ledge, and then let go, rinse and repeat one more time.
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Level 3: Lost Valley
Number of Secrets: 5
A large chunk of this level takes place in a lost valley with dangerous Raptors, including the towering Tyrannosaurus Rex. 🦖 Life, uh, finds a way. Be sure to dispose of them before proceeding to find the Secrets so you won't have to worry about them later. One of the Secrets is inside the opening above where the waterfall is streaming from. Make your way to the closest rock beside it and climb.
From there, walk to the wall of the tall rock just ahead, jump up and grab on so that way you can climb it. Aim Lara slightly to the right where there's a rocky structure that is close to the waterfall below the massive amounts of green foliage. Tap backward and make a running jump towards it.
Now walk towards the wall beside the waterfall, and have Lara jump up so that she can grab the ledge. While still holding the action button, shimmy yourself to the right until you more or less arrive at the center of the waterfall.
This can be a bit easy to miss, but on the ground level to the right of the waterfall you'll notice there's a small entrance. Run towards the wall and climb up the hole, enter it and then make a turn to the right. You've found Secret #2, take the Shotgun shells and depart the cave.
At the far end of the lost valley is an abandoned architecture, where the roof above it is where the next Secret is. Kill the two Raptors before you proceed further so they don't become a threat to you later. Head to the right from where Lara looked and climb the nearest rock (the one that is slightly crooked at the top). Turn left.
From there make a normal jump towards the next climbable surface, get on top of it. Now aim Lara a tiny bit to the left for the foliage-textured platform and get on top of it. After that make a running jump towards the next foliage-textured platform above and ahead of you.
then in the central upper tip of the roof close to the edge are Uzi clips, and finally on the left portion of the roof are Shotgun shells.
Let go of the action button, drop down, walk a little to the left and then immediately turn right, and you'll come across Secret #4, a large Medipack.
If you did like I told you and collected all the Machine Cogs, placed them, and pulled the lever, the large door will block the water so that it will be redirected towards a thin corridor. I suggest starting from about here for it is a long swim to get there with a winding path. Grab the Shotgun lying by the unfortunate skeletal corpse, and dive into the water. From here, swim downward and straight, turn right and swim straight, turn right again at the end, keep swimming straight until you reach the end and turn right once more, swim a little ahead then immediately turn left and swim upward,
and in the two opposing corners some much needed Shotgun shells for your newly obtained Shotgun. Congratulations, you've found all five Secrets of the Lost Valley!!!
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Level 4: Tomb of Qualopec
Number of Secrets: 3
After having aligned yourself with the wall, jump up and grab the ledge. Climb up it, run past the statue, and a door at the end will open up for you.
Inside is a compartment almost replete with collapsible platforms that will break down and fall upon stepping on them, all except for one on the back corner of the left. Now I want you to be very strategic about how you approach it because you'll need to leave the room once you're done here, for below the collapsible platforms are beds of deadly spikes. However you go about it, once you've reached the solidly structured corner you're now at Secret #1, for there are Shotgun shells for you to obtain. From here, have Lara face the left side of the corner away from the ledge, tap backward, hold the action button to grab on, shimmy all the way to the right,
drop down and you should be spared from being impaled. And just like that you've found Secret #2, for below the solid platform you were just on are Magnum clips for the taking.
Follow the path a little downward and then immediately proceed to swim all the way up to the large body of water where you can regain your breath.
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Level 5: St. Francis' Folly
Number of Secrets: 4
Tap backward and make a running jump towards the even taller structure, and be sure to hold down the action button to grab on to the ledge. Climb up, and then position Lara to her left where a platform is sticking out of the wall. Aim for that platform, tap backward, and make a running jump toward it to land there safely.
This next Secret is among the most annoying in the game to obtain (maybe the most). 😣 It's not impossible, but you've only got one shot at it and if you fail to get it you'll have no choice but to restart the level all over again and have to go through that again (particularly if you're in a completionist mood) for the Saturn and PlayStation console versions only allow you to save through the Save Crystal. Anyway, make your way to the door you just unlocked at the top, you'll go through a small corridor to the left. Once there, have Lara face away from the ledge,
and in the opposite corner to the distant right you'll find Shotgun shells. Now it's okay to get into the water, where a crocodile roams, you can exit down there from where you came from or you can drop down to the opposite end where there's a lever in the back. Do not pull the lever yet or the water will be completely drained and you won't be able to reach the Secret. In the middle of the water-filled corridor there is a small square opening for you to swim up towards.
Get out of the water, regain your breath, and you'll find yourself in Secret #3. Pick up the Shotgun shells and proceed with your business.
On the way down the towering basement of St. Francis' Folly, you'll notice that one of the surfaces connected to the wall has got a floor switch on top of it. Aim for it, tap backward, and make a running jump toward it.
Step on the switch, seemingly nothing will happen, but in actuality it opens up a covert door. The catch here is that it is all the way at the bottom in ground level. Because it is a timed switch you have one of two choices: you daredevil your way down there to get there on time or there is a safer and more convenient way of accessing it. Strewn throughout are Save Crystals from top to bottom, with the last one being accessed in ground level. Approach the Save Crystal, save when given the prompt, and then I want you to pause the game and select the passport icon to load your current progress.
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Level 6: Colosseum
Number of Secrets: 3
The first Secret is located in that far rocky wall over there, which you can look at from the upper region of the temple entrance. You'll have to come up here anywhere to progress further into the story. Once you walk all the way to the left, I'll need you to jump to the flat-surfaced platforms all the way across and avoid to the best of your ability jumping on slanted surfaces that will cause you to slide down; the first flat stop will be by the entrance into the deeper cave (which you can ignore for now). Tapping backward and making running jumps are a must.
You're almost there, aim for the small cave entrance, tap backward, and make a running jump toward there. Walk in and you'll come across Secret #1 which houses Shotgun shells.
Make your way back to the deep cave entrance I told you to ignore earlier (either the short way by making carefully planned out running jumps or the long way by climbing all the way from the bottom). Just as you've cleared the entrance turn left, walk to the ledge (kill the two crocodiles below if you want to), and then turn left again until you're facing the wall. Jump upward and hold the action button to grab on, and start shimmying your way to the right.
Shimmy in that direction until you're right at the spot where the ledge is slightly measured lower than the rest of the path. There should be enough ceiling space for Lara to climb up.
Later on into the level you'll be required to enter a room with two tall Grecian columns located in the leftmost corner of the Colosseum's auditorium section. Be sure to shoot enough bullets at Pierre Dupont to make him go away, and kill the roaming lion as well, before entering. In front of the left column is a floor switch that will open a secret door that is located at the top of the room. If you position yourself properly you should be able to do this without a hitch simply by holding down the jump button: step in front of the column, then from there jump forward, leap sideways to the right, jump backward,
leap sideways to the left, and jump across so that you'll be able to enter the room before it closes on you. If you don't make it on time, don't worry, you have unlimited attempts (you just have to carefully make you way down to the left column). If you've successful, you've made it to Secret #3, which has got a large Medipack by itself, a large Medipack with Uzi clips that you can pick up all at once, and a pair of Magnum guns. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Colosseum!!!
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Level 7: Palace Midas
Number of Secrets: 3
You may want to consider running so you can perform a running jump across the steep incline facing towards you so you can land on
the steep incline facing the opposite direction, and just as you slide to the bottom tip make a jump from there to the back corner where you'll land on a flat surface. Now turn left and make a run for the corner on the other side, where you'll slide yourself down to Secret #1.
Now you can pick up the small Medipack and Magnum clips all at once. From there swim back and go back to the ledge across from the large pool of water. Walk to the left corner and look down to see some items. Have Lara face away from the ledge, tap backward,
hold the action button to grab the ledge, and then let go to fall down. Once you hit the ground immediately have her roll to mitigate the amount of damage taken.
You are now at Secret #2 which has got Shotgun shells, Uzi clips, and a small Medipack that can be picked up all at once.
Once you've opened the gate in the back, make your way there and kill the gorillas that inhabit the zone so they won't bother you anymore. Once inside, head toward the left side
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Level 8: The Cistern
Number of Secrets: 3
Now this next part is visually dark on the Sega Saturn (at least partway through), and I really hate to do this, but for this sake I'll adjust the gamma settings to its brightest so you can get a good look (and so my camera won't go crazy with the exposure contrast). Walk to the right then turn left to face the wall,
then get ready to jump up and grab the ledge, climbing it up, initiating Secret #1.
then move forward and climb one more time to find Shotgun shells for you to pick up. Walk forward and you will find yourself sliding down a steep incline, and just as you arrive at the bottom edge jump across
and hold down the action button to grab the ledge ahead of you, then climb up to collect two extra sets of Shotgun shells.
This next Secret can be accessed regardless whether you decide to pull the lever to fill the room with water or not, but either way jump into the water in the direction across.
Alas, once again I have to adjust the gamma settings for your benefit (and my camera's) so you can get a good look.
Swim toward the bottom pool region and you will find a small rectangular hole on both the left and the right side.
Swim through either one to unlock Secret #2, and after turning to the center swim down to collect Magnum clips.
Run all the way up those stairs, by this point you should have both Silver keys and the Gold key in your inventory. Before reaching the door, have Lara turn left and walk toward the darkly textured face block.
Hold down the action button and push it forward, then enter the hidden room to your right to access Secret #3. Run toward the steep incline on the left, face away from it,
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Level 9: Tomb of Tihocan
Number of Secrets: 2
You will find yourself in a room with two large square holes for you to enter. Jump toward the right hole and you'll be forced to deal with Pierre Dupont again cursing out his existence for the umpteenth time. Shoot enough bullets at him to make him leave, then run down the winding corridor but be sure to stop by the time you see a crushing trap.
With ample timing run past it, look back if you want to see what you narrowly avoided, then keep going until you drop down. Kill the crocodile inside the large area before proceeding any further.
Do you see that blood scrawl in that wall? Behind it is a hidden room which can be opened through three floor switches. Ugh,
Once using both keys (that are suspiciously unlabeled 🤔) on the locks of either side of the door, it will open taking you to a Save Crystal. Save there.
There's one of two ways to go about it, and which method you choose is up to you. The first is if you slide down a considerable amount while the camera is momentarily fixed at the mouth motif, and then when you're at a certain point jump to the left to reach the flat surface. Another way to go about it is by making a running jump from the door to the right side of the inclined pathway making you slide down at which point you can jump enough times until you make it to
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Level 10: City of Khamoon
Number of Secrets: 3
Turn a little to the right, walk to the edge, and aim for the sandy platform sticking out to the left. When you're ready, tap backward,
and perform a running jump to safely make it to the other side. From there, walk all the way to the left edge until you can't anymore, tap backward, and make another running jump toward the green roof with the triangular corners. Walk on top of the nearest right triangular corner, tap backward,
and make a running jump toward the top of the gate to gain access to Secret #2, where you can make your way to the right side to pick up Uzi clips.
In the deepest basement walk across the bridge to the central platform (thereby triggering the release of two panthers below), get on the left side, walk to the ledge, tap backward,
A thing of note here is that on the other side of the entrance to this basement area (close to the corner) is a lever. It is not mandatory to pull it down for all it will do is open up a panel at the top to let the light in, it is perfectly manageable to play through this room while it's completely dark. What also happens if you pull the lever is that it will make three cat statues appear which were not present before when it was dark. Creepy! 🙀 The main reason I bring this up is that if you jump toward the left corner the first time while there is a cat statue (at least as far as the Saturn version I'm playing is concerned) the Secret cue will not play, but if you get there while it's dark it will. Maybe it was an oversight on the programmer's part, who knows. But anyway, congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the City of Khamoon!!!
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Level 11: Obelisk of Khamoon
Number of Secrets: 3
The neat thing about this level is that all three Secrets are relatively close to one another, which is a huge plus. Once you've reached the large stairs at the top of the room, be sure to kill the mummy first so it won't cause trouble for you later. Start turning left and across the step adjacent to the green surface, and once there turn left again and tread lightly past those Egyptian columns until you're at the part of the surface sticking out from the wall.
In the center of the room is a tall pillar which is where you'll want to go. Stand at the edge, aim for the pillar, tap backward, and perform a running jump toward it.
At the far wall in the back is a mirror. 🪞 If you haven't already, aim for it, and when you're all set tap backward and prepare to make a running jump toward where the mirror is located.
You'll lose a tiny fraction of your health as you land behind the mirror, however your consolation prize is that you've made it to Secret #2. Feel free to pick up your large Medipack and two sets of Uzi clips all at once. When you're done, go toward the direction where you see that lever at the end.
Face away, tap backward, grab, and let go if you don't want to lose any damage on the way down. Turn Lara around (or tumble to make her 180 degree turn go quicker) and walk until you're at the part of the ground that is green.
Once reaching there, turn left and walk straight across for a bit, then turn left again and run up those stairs until you reach the wall at the end.
Jump up and grab the ledge above you, then shimmy sideways to the right until you're at the right side of the wall.
Once past it climb up, then turn right, back up against the wall, and make a normal jump forward to grab the ledge that is above you. Climb up,
then turn left so you can enter the small U-shaped interior where walking at the end of the left corner will trigger the cue for Secret #3 which houses a large Medipack on the left corridor and at the tip of the U are Magnum clips to pick up. Considering you're likely to come here anyway to progress further in this room I find it rather odd that this is considered a Secret. 🤨 Oh well, I didn't make the game, I'm just playing it. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Obelisk of Khamoon!!!
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Level 12: Sanctuary of the Scion
Number of Secrets: 1
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Level 13: Natla's Mines
Number of Secrets: 3
Climb up and make your way through the corridor.
Partway through, make Lara face the right side for above you should be a ledge for you to grab. Jump up and hold the action button to grab on the ledge, then climb up it.
Later on down the line you'll be required to jump from flat surface to flat surface in a large pathway with deadly lava below you. Jump to the platform that appears slightly slanted but is otherwise safe to stand in.
Run to the right side of the block, then hold the action button and press down to pull it toward the middle. Now go to the left back corner, position yourself properly and jump up to grab the ledge above you where you'll come across Uzi clips and a large Medipack. Jump across the small gap
You'll pick up Uzi clips, a large Medipack, and a Shotgun, now you won't have to kill the last of Natla's henchmen to obtain it (though you could still pick it up after the fact if you want).
Later on, you'll come across a large skate park where you must kill the skateboarding punk to reclaim your Uzis. After you did that, run up to the middle of the room and then turn left until you're straddling the left wall. This man is insane, for literally having a skate park situated on top of lava! 🛹 Fortunately, there is a small body of water for you to jump in to.
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Level 14: Atlantis
Number of Secrets: 3
After opening up the door will step inside the large room for the first time with the lava below you. Kill the winged creature looming above you first so as to not be put into a position to fall down and get burned. Once you've finished that, walk to the ledge, have Lara face away from it, tap backward, and grab the ledge. You'll notice there's a platform below it.
Drop down by letting go of the action button, then immediately press and hold it again to grab the ledge below it. Climb up and run all the way to the back before proceeding to turn left. Just like that, you've arrived at Secret #1 where you can pick up Magnum clips, Uzi clips, and a large Medipack.
Right by the entrance to this later corridor is a basic tile that is mismatched from the rest that is ornately patterned, the penultimate one closer to the room. Kill all three baddies first, then proceed to step on it making sure to bank left and upward.
Continue until you come across an open wall on the right side that leads into Secret #3 which houses a large Medipack, Uzi clips, and Shotgun shells. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of Atlantis!!!
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Level 15: The Great Pyramid
Number of Secrets: 3
You will find yourself inside a cave where to your right is a wide steep incline with three flat surfaces in-between. Face the right and make a running jump toward the first flat surface, then tap backward and make a running jump to the next flat surface, and do so again for the last one. At that point turn around, and start making your way back to notice that a bridge has been extended, but don't take too long to get to it for it is a timed floor switch that you stepped on. If you land on a steep incline after jumping forward, don't worry, you can still save yourself from being burned by the river of lava by jumping from opposing incline to opposing incline until you land on a flat surface.
After successfully jumping on the bridge make your way to the right to enter a cave, then turn left to find Secret #1 where a lever awaits to be pulled down and in the middle of the corridor are a large Medipack, Shotgun shells, and Magnum clips for you to pick up.
Later on you'll find yourself at a segment that will take you to the penultimate Save Crystal of the game as you carefully make your way down to it. But in lieu of that, walk along the edge as you face the wall and give yourself just enough distance
for you'll want to grab the ledge that is above to the side by jumping up toward it. If you jump too close you'll forcibly get bumped back by making contact with the wall thereby enabling Lara to fall to the scorching lava below. While holding down the action button start shimmying all the way to the right (which will take roughly half a minute for you to do so) until you see a close surface for you to land on upon letting go.
You are now at Secret #2 (which, as far as the Saturn version is concerned, you could see the items from a distance as you stood by that ledge at the top). Pick up the Uzi clips, a solitary large Medipack next to the wall, and in the middle of the room two large Medipacks which you could pick up all at once.
You are nearing the end (just like the Tomb of Qualopec, this is among the shortest Tomb Raider levels overall, at least it is for me). You find yourself in a room where a pendulum blade is swinging left and right atop a crumbling platform, and across from that you can see an entryway. Carefully walk to the ledge until you can't anymore, make a normal jump,
Happy birthday, Lara Croft, you are now officially twice as old as you were when you partook in your first adventure!!!!! 🎂
Thank you for reading my guide, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! 😃
