Tips & Strategy
Using the Moves
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When you first start playing the game, take some time to learn the controls and practice the moves. Test Lara's capabilities early on in relatively safe situations. Then you won't have to do as much repeating later on when more complex series of movements are needed. The training level, Lara's Home, is a good place to start, but you can also use the earlier levels.
Walk, don't run. Okay, maybe not always, but definitely along narrow ledges and high platforms. Lara will never walk off a ledge. Walking, sidestepping, pivoting and looking will also help set Lara up for jumps (see Set Up for Jumps, below).
Learn to judge distance. Similarly, you can save a lot of time if you know what Lara is capable of doing with each move. The game environment is built on polygons or blocks. All the terrain is divided into these squares, and each of Lara's moves covers a different amount of distance. Learn how far she can go with each move and you'll rarely misjudge a jump when it counts.
MOVE (PC/Mac/PSX keys)
DISTANCE COVERED
Standing Jump
(Alt/Command/Square + Up Arrow) Approx. 2 squares
Standing Jump & Grab
(Alt/Command/Square + Up Arrow + Ctrl/X) Approx. 2 ½ squares—from edge of one square over 2 squares, grab edge of third square. (Note: Adding grab (Action) to a jump also lowers the arc of the jump, which can be useful for jumping into low doorways or onto blocks set a bit too close for a regular standing jump.)
Running Jump
(Up Arrow + Alt/Command/Square) Approx. 3 squares
Running Jump & Grab
(Up Arrow + Alt/Command/Square + Ctrl/X) Approx. 3 ½ squares—from back of one square, over 3 squares, grab edge of fourth square. (Note: For the longest jump to land on a flat surface, use the running jump without grabbing. Pressing action when there's nothing to grab onto actually shortens the distance covered. Also see the note under Standing Jump & Grab, above.)
Hop Back (Down Arrow) or Roll/Reverse
(End/Up + Down Arrows together/Circle) Just short of 1 square
Backflip
(Alt/Command/Square + Down Arrow) Approx. 2 squares
Side Jump
(Alt/Command/Square + Left or Right Arrow) Approx. 2 squares
The more complex combinations follow the same basic principles.
Set Up for Jumps. It takes a moment, but you'll never miss a jump if you do. To set up for a running jump, first walk Lara up to an edge and line her up facing the opposite edge (If necessary, use walk, sidestep, pivot and look from your Basic Moves.) Once she's lined up, hop back once (down arrow). Then press Up Arrow + Jump, and Lara will run forward two steps then jump on the third. If you don't set up, Lara may step off the edge or jump too soon, falling short of the spot where you want her to land. So unless you're being chased or trying to beat a timed trap, don't take a long running start before a jump.
Set up standing jumps similarly. If Lara needs to jump and grab a ledge opposite, walk up to the edge before jumping. If she needs to land on a flat spot ahead, gauge the distance and step back if necessary before jumping. And remember that pressing Action shortens the jump, so don't do it unless you need to.
Safety Drop instead of jumping from great heights. Lara will still take some damage, but not as much. Safety drop + draw weapons + roll is a handy combo move, since Lara drops then comes up ready for action. Lara can also safety drop to hang from a ledge, then release and grab another ledge or opening below.
Using Slopes. There are some angled surfaces that Lara can't climb. If she lands on these, she'll start to slide unless she jumps immediately. She can grab and hang at the end of some slopes if she slides down backwards (i.e., facing uphill). Once hanging, she can drop to a surface below, traverse left/right, or pull up and quickly backflip to a ledge behind her. She can also slide down facing forward and leap before she reaches the end to land on or grab a ledge. When jumping from a slope, Lara will always take off parallel to the slope. (This is handy to know for places where multiple jumps from angled blocks are required.) Beginning in TR2, she can reverse in midair if necessary to change directions while sliding. (See Combo Moves for details.)
Climbable Surfaces. Beginning in TR2, Lara can climb ladders, bookshelves and certain other vertical surfaces. Action (Ctrl) makes her hold on. Arrow keys make her climb up, down, left and right. She can jump up and grab a ladder using Jump + Action. And sometimes she'll need to do a fancy dismount to get from a ladder to a surface behind her or to jump to grab another ladder. (For tips, see Combo Moves.)
Beginning in TR3, she can also use certain overhead surfaces to traverse monkey bar-style. The controls are similar to regular ladder climbing: Jump (straight up or forward as needed) + Action to grab hold, arrow keys to move about.
In TR4, Lara can climb and traverse around both concave and convex corners. The controls are the same: Just continue holding Action and left/right, and if the surface permits, she'll climb/traverse around the corner and keep going.
Choosing & Using Weapons
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Two basic rules of thumb apply: Pick the right weapon for the job and conserve ammunition.
Early on in the game, you probably won't have much choice—pistols, maybe a shotgun. Later, you'll have a variety of weapons at your disposal so you'll need to set some priorities. You may be tempted to use your high-powered weapons as soon as you find them, but remember that the enemies in the higher levels are bigger and tougher.
Sometimes it doesn't matter what gun you use, but certain enemies can be taken out more easily with certain weapons. I've provided some general tips below and a few case-by-case recommendations in the walkthroughs for each level. You'll undoubtedly come up with your own methods.
Shooting fish (or whatever) in a barrel. In TR1, enemies can't climb. So critters on the ground can't reach you if you climb on a block or ledge. In both games critters in the water can't reach you on land, and vice versa. So get yourself to higher ground then use the pistols to finish them off. A few exceptions: Obviously if someone or something is shooting at you, pick a more powerful weapon. Also, humans can shoot at Lara when she's in the water, so in this case you'll have to come out to finish them off.
Using Lara as bait. If you suspect there are enemies below but they haven't come out yet, you can make Lara drop and hang to draw them out. Then pull up and take care of business. This works with water dwellers like crocodiles and barracudas too.
Handling Human Enemies. In TR1, there are times when the human adversaries won't die no matter how much you shoot at them. Pierre du Pont can't be killed until the end of Level 9 (Tomb of Tihocan), and Larson won't die until the end of Level 12 (Sanctuary of Scion). So when you meet these guys before then, save your good ammo. Shoot them with pistols until they run off or a cut scene ensues. In Level 13 (Natla's Mines), however, you'll need to dispatch some human foes quickly, so go ahead and use what you've got.
In TR2, all the human foes are beatable. I've found pistols or automatic pistols to be the weapon of choice except when fighting heavily armed or multiple attackers. In the water levels of TR2 and 3, the scuba divers can be taken out in the water with the harpoon gun, but it's can be difficult to aim, and the reload time doesn't help. Often it's better to get yourself to dry land as quickly as possible then use the pistols. Similarly, it's sometimes easier to outswim underwater enemies than to try and harpoon them.
Also in TR2, you'll have a chance to make a few friends—or at least avoid making enemies. In Level 12 (Barkhang Monastery), do not...I repeat, do not...shoot at the monks. If you do, they'll dog you through the entire level, making things much more difficult than they have to be. If you treat them with respect, they'll even help you fight off the cult goons. There are also places in TR3 where holding your fire will help you advance in the game. The ice men TR2 Gold are the same: They'll help Lara if she doesn't harass them.
New Weapons & Targeting System in TR4. The individual weapons are detailed in the table below. Note that some can be combined with the laser sight for more accurate long-distance targeting, and some can use various types of ammo. Details on combining items (like a weapon and laser sight) and choosing ammo appear below under TR4 Inventory & Targeting, along with information on automatic and manual targeting options.
Undead in TR4. In this game there are some enemies that won't die no matter what. In most cases, it's because they're already dead. So don't waste precious ammo and priceless hours blasting away at something that won't ever go down permanently. If you can't figure out how to get around these nasties, check the walkthrough.
WEAPON
DESCRIPTION/TIPS
Pistols Not too powerful but have unlimited ammo. Can aim while running and jumping. Will lock on a target if you hold Action, so even if Lara can't see the enemy, she'll shoot when they come back into range. Remember to release Action to target another enemy. Can also be used in place of flares in dark areas. Shotgun Powerful but slow to reload and hard to aim while moving. Best for unarmed enemies at close range (e.g., 2 shots will bring down a big cat or a Yeti in TR2).
In TR4, the shotgun can be used with either normal or wideshot ammo. (See choosing ammo, below.) Magnums (TR1) or Automatic Pistols (TR2) Similar to pistols only with a slightly faster output. Will lock on target if you hold Ctrl. Can aim while running and jumping. Desert Eagle Pistol (TR3) Revolver (TR4) Powerful single gun (Lara holds it two-handed). Great at close range—one or two shots brings down most enemies; much easier to target than the shotgun. Replaces the Magnums or Automatics.
In TR4, the revolver is one of the weapons that can be combined with the laser sight for more accurate long-distance targeting. (See laser sight, below.) Uzis These put out a lot of rounds very quickly, so perfect for tougher enemies. Can aim while running and jumping. Will lock on target if you hold Ctrl. Harpoon Gun (TR2 and 3) The only weapon that can be used underwater. Fires four harpoons then there's a pause as Lara reloads. In a few cases, it can be used from the water to shoot targets on land. M-16 Assault Rifle (TR2) Powerful. Can be used in most situations, but I found this best for targeting larger/armed enemies at a distance. Will lock on target but doesn't target easily, so be careful not to waste ammo. MP5 Assault Rifle (TR3) Similar to the M-16 and replaces it in TR3. Targets well at a distance; rapid fire rate. Hard to aim while moving, so best for sniping. Grenade Launcher (TR2 and 3) Grenade Gun (TR4) Lara cannot throw grenades. She must use the grenade launcher, which hurls a grenade up to about 8-10 squares ahead. If it hits something before that, it will explode on impact. Auto-aims but not too well. Best saved for bigger, harder enemies in the higher levels. Also useful on petrified guards in TR2 before they awaken (see walkthrough).
In TR4, the grenade gun can be used with three different types of ammo: normal, super (big boom) and flash (blinding). (See choosing ammo, below.) Rocket Launcher (TR3) Lara's biggest, most powerful weapon to date. Naturally best for long-distance. Rockets are few and far between, so use them wisely. Crossbow (TR4) For precise targeting at a distance. The crossbow can be combined with the laser sight and used with three different types of arrows: normal, poison and explosive. (See laser sight and choosing ammo, below.)
General Tips
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Save your game frequently. If you're playing the PC version of the game, there's no reason not to save often. It'll save you a lot of retracing of steps, and can even save your life—for example, during a battle with a big enemy, if you're doing well, save during the fight so if you do get killed, you won't have to start from scratch. One caveat: Save in a new slot every so often, so if you mistakenly save a game where you're doing badly, you can go back to a fairly recent saved game to start over.
You can copy your savegames to separate files in your TR directory then reload them later if you want to. Consider labeling the folders with the levels the games come from so you can distinguish them easily later. (For more information on savegame files, see here.)
Conserve your med-packs. You'll probably need more later in the game, as the enemies get tougher and the traps get more dangerous. Don't use more than you need. Small med-packs bring back half of Lara's health; large kits restore full health. Remember, too, that full health is restored before each new level. So don't bother cracking that med-pack if you're almost at the end of a level. And in TR4, where you can go back and forth between certain levels, you can use this feature to restore Lara's health.
small med-pack large med-pack
Be creative with med-packs. You can use them during a fight if necessary. TR2 has in-game med-pack hot keys (8 for small and 9 for large). In both games, the escape button is like a time-out for healing. Med-packs can work like scuba gear if you get caught underwater and run out of air. This tactic is only for emergencies though, since drowning burns health pretty fast. Med-packs can also keep Lara7 alive if she catches fire.
Conserve your flares. Beginning in TR2, Lara gets flares to light her way. There are plenty to be found, but if you're running low, try these tricks. Save your game, explore a dark area using a flare then reload if you don't find anything interesting. Or, if you're desperate, use pistol fire to light your way or turn up the monitor brightness. In TR4, you can also use the binoculars for light. Press the Action key while looking through the binoculars to light up Lara's view.
Walk through spikes, broken glass and barbed wire. This will seem obvious to veteran players, but if you're new to TR, take note. Lara won't take any damage if you WALK through these dangerous areas. (NOTE: In TR4 spikes are unsafe at any speed, so avoid them.)
Tomb Raider 1: Disable that Windows button. TR1 runs in DOS, and as a result, accidentally pressing the Windows button will cause the game to crash to the desktop. This can be prevented by downloading and using the Microsoft Logo Key Control utility (formerly called "Doswinky"). You'll need to download a collection of "Kernel Toys" from the Microsoft site. Instructions for installing and using Doswinky are included. (NOTE: Microsoft moves this page around from time to time. If the link comes up dead, search the site for "Kernel Toys" and/or "Logo Key Control.")
TR4 Inventory & Targeting
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Combining/separating items & choosing ammunition. When selected, some items and weapons present additional choices. For example, certain found objects can be combined to make a single item, and some weapons can be combined with the laser sight for more accurate targeting. Also, some weapons can use various types of ammunition.
Press Escape to go to the menu screen. Use left/right direction keys to rotate the menu ring to the item you want. Press Action/Enter to select it. Use up/down keys to choose Equip, Combine/Separate or Choose Ammo (where available). Press Action/Enter to select. When you select Combine or Choose Ammo, you'll be given additional choices. Use left/right keys to move among the various options (i.e., the item you want to combine with the first item or the type of ammo you want to use), then Action/Enter to select the one you want. Press Action/Enter again to use or equip the item. Or, press Escape to cancel without selecting and return to the main inventory. Press Escape again to resume play.
Automatic vs. Manual Targeting. In the Options menu (accessible from the main menu or Pause screen), you may choose between automatic or manual targeting. Automatic Targeting is similar to the combat system in the previous games. When an enemy comes into range, Lara will automatically lock onto it if she has a weapon drawn. With Manual Targeting, she won't lock onto the enemy until you press the Look key. In both automatic and manual targeting, when more than one enemy is in range, tapping the Look key will make Lara cycle through the available targets. (NOTE: Unlike in the earlier games, where you could hold the Look key to stay locked on a target, when Lara loses sight of an enemy, the lock is broken.)
Using the Compass. Press Escape to go to the inventory screen. The compass is on the left side, below the menu ring. In case you've never used a real compass (or are a product of the American education system), the red side of the needle always points north. You can then infer where east, west and south are; or turn Lara so she's facing due north, then the settings on the compass will read true.
(NOTE: The compass points relative to Lara, not to the camera. So watch Lara's position. If she's against a wall or wedged into a corner, and the camera isn't directly behind her, the compass reads true to the direction she is facing, not the direction the camera is looking. If you're confused about this, just walk Lara into an open area before attempting to read the compass.)
Using the Binoculars. Press Escape to go to the menu screen. Use left/right direction keys to rotate the menu ring to the binoculars, then press Action/Enter to select them. The view will change to binocular view. Use the < and > keys to zoom out and in. (NOTE: If you have reconfigured your controls, these will be the same keys as Flare and Sprint.) Use the space bar (draw/holster weapons) to put the binoculars away and return to normal view.
Using the Laser sight. This is similar to the binoculars, except that it can be combined with certain weapons (the revolver and crossbow) for more accurate long-range targeting. Use the menu ring to combine the weapon and laser sight (see below). Then equip the weapon. When you press the Look button, the view will change to laser-sight view. Use the < and > keys to zoom out and in as needed. (NOTE: If you have reconfigured your controls, these will be the same keys as Light Flare and Sprint.) Release Look or put away the weapon to return to normal view.