Siberian Wilderness - First Encounter with the Bear

Approach the ledge to the east (the one with the elaborate wooden decoration above it), scramble up the tree on the left, and jump onto the ledge.

Follow the path forward through the deep snow toward the red light. An on-screen warning lets you know Lara can't run through drifts like this. This will soon become very useful information.

As you enter the clearing in front of the cave, a cutscene ensues.

As Lara examines the body of a fallen mercenary, a HUGE BEAR emerges from the cave. Perhaps thinking Lara plans to steal its kill, the bear goes ballistic and lunges toward her.

When you see the on-screen prompt, press B on the Xbox controller or C on the keyboard to dodge the bear's swiping paw.

Even if you do this correctly, and Lara dodges to the left, the bear still gets in a good hit. Lara is then briefly disoriented.

You can't go back the way you came. If you try to turn around, the bear will catch Lara and kill her. So run along the open path toward the broken wagon that forms a low ramp. The bear is hot on Lara's trail so don't hesitate.

Run up the ramp, not into the snowdrifts on either side of it, and jump at the end...

...to get a small lead over the bear.

Lara will have now recovered enough to sprint, so press in on the left stick as you press forward to go faster. Instead of running into the snowdrift ahead, which will mean certain death, run up the fallen log and jump at the end...

...to sail over the deep snow...

...and land on the path beyond. Sprint forward to the pile of wood directly ahead.

Lara is able to fit through the gap, but the bear cannot. When you see the prompt, press Y/F repeatedly to melee attack the bear with your axe.

You don't need to mash the button frantically. Just keep up a steady rhythm, and Lara will continue to whack the bear as it tries to break down the barrier.

Lara notices that the bear is about to burst through. She retreats to the edge...

...and turns to face her foe.

Now watch carefully. As the bear rears up preparing to lunge, the colors on the screen will dim slightly, and the action shifts into slow motion. This is your cue to press B/C to dodge.

Doing so triggers a brief quick time event (QTE). A gray circle appears over the bear. When the outer ring of the circle contracts...

...the center turns yellow, and a Melee button prompt appears. This is your cue to press Y on the Xbox controller or F on the keyboard for a melee attack. It's important to get the timing right. If you press before the prompt appears, or wait too long afterward, or the attack will fail.

NOTE: On the "Adventurer" (easy) difficulty setting, you'll have more time during QTEs like this.

When you do it right, Lara sinks her axe into the bear.

Lara and the bear struggle briefly, and Lara is thrown off the cliffside and knocked unconscious.