Stella's Tomb Raider: The Lost Artifact Walkthrough - Updates for Tomb Raider 3 Remastered coming soon

LEVEL 5: IT'S A MADHOUSE

Updated: 5/9/17()

Kills: 22* Items: 45 plus 3 keys and the Hand of Rathmore (again) Secrets: 3

*22 is the maximum number of kills. Your total may be substantially lower since, in most cases, you don't have to kill the monkeys. The regular pickups in this level will include the shotgun, Uzis, MP5 submachine gun, Desert Eagle pistol, grenade launcher, and rocket launcher if you don't have them already.

LEVEL MAP by VGCartography (used with permission)

SEASIDE CAVE: Swim away from the sunken raft until you can surface for air. Approach the steps leading up from the water but don't climb out yet. Below on the left is a greenish area under the water. Swim down there and light a flare to see and pick up the HAND OF RATHMORE. You don't have to light a flare to get the artifact, but it helps to see where it is. There are some flares on the nearby steps in case you need them. (screenshot) Taking the artifact opens the gate above the nearby ladder so you can climb up into into the zoo. (screenshot)

NOTE: At this point, I encountered a minor bug in which Lara continues to hold spent flares. This doesn't seem to affect gameplay, however.

COURTYARD WITH CAFÉ TABLES: At the top of the ladder, turn right and move out into the courtyard. Go through the doorway on the left into another brick-floored area. (screenshot) Pick up 2 boxes of shotgun shells—one in each of the stairwells with semi-circular windows. (screenshot) When you take the shells on the left, a cut scene shows a red car speeding down the street outside. At the upper end of this street, where the car originates, is a GOLDEN STATUE. (screenshot) Return up the brick steps and look through the barred window on the right to spot a SECOND GOLDEN STATUE with a trapdoor in front of it. (screenshot) Make a mental note of this area. You'll return later for two of the secrets.

NOTE: If you don't yet have the SHOTGUN, you'll get it here in place of one of the ammo pickups.

Return to the first courtyard and continue to the left (i.e., through the opening opposite the trapdoor where you entered this area). (screenshot) In the next open area, there's a gate on the left through which you can see the street and one of the GOLDEN STATUES. This gate doesn't open, so go through the doorway on the right and around the left side of the small building just inside the doorway. (screenshot) At the bottom of the brick steps near the tiger cage, you'll find 2 more boxes of shells. (screenshot)

Equip the shotgun (or your weapon of choice) and head up the uneven steps between the two zoo maps (C'Est Le Zoo Ici!) As you do, 2 white tigers charge down. (screenshot) If you're low on ammo or just want to play it safe, you can roll, run back into the room at the foot of the stairs, and climb into one of the ledges near the doorway to shoot the tigers from safety with pistols. (screenshot)

Go to the top of the uneven stairs. Note the locked gates on each side. The posters here, and elsewhere in the level, are wittily chosen from popular movies. "La Volière" (The Birdcage) hangs outside THE AVIARY. "La Planète des Singes" (Planet of the Apes) decorates the MONKEY HOUSE. "Jeanne D'Arc" (Joan of Arc) is reminiscent of the golden statues.

Climb onto the high ledge at the far end of this area. There's a streetlight up there. (screenshot) Go through the gap in the foliage on the right and pick up the ZOO KEY. (screenshot) Climb back up, drop down into the area with the uneven stairs, and use the key to unlock the gate on the right near the "Planète des Singes" poster. (screenshot)

MONKEY HOUSE ENTRANCE: Go down the stairs to a low-ceilinged room with square pillars. Use the switch (screenshot) to open the gate at the left end of the room. On the way there, pick up the shotgun shells near the benches. (screenshot) A brief cut scene shows some playful monkeys inside the cage making off with a medi pack. Go through the open gate and crawl into the low opening in the greenery to get a large medi pack. (screenshot) Crawl back out the way you came, then go to the right. Pick up some flares on the ground near the brick pedestal. You may see a couple of tigers lurking in the bushes, but you can't get them yet. Climb onto the brick pedestal and up through the hole in the ceiling.

Madhouse maze diagram

HEDGE MAZE: This maze isn't too complicated, but I've included a map anyway. You'll meet 2 of the tigers soon after entering the maze. If you're reluctant to fight them up close, pull up into the maze run forward, following the path marked with the blue dots in the diagram. Then vault up onto the carved block marked B1 on the map. The tigers can't reach you, and you can shoot them from above, though you may have to hop down off the block and back up again in order to draw them out of the tunnel ahead. (screenshots)

When the tigers are dead, continue forward, still following the path marked with blue dots. Enter the low-ceilinged passageway where the tigers came from, turn left, then left again, and follow the ramp down into the TIGERS' ENCLOSURE. At the bottom of the ramp, go around the thick vine dangling from the ceiling and continue forward through the foliage into the cage proper. Pick up the Uzi clips inside. Then return along the path through the bushes to the bottom of the ramp. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you don't yet have the UZIS, you'll get them here instead of clips.

STREET WITH GOLDEN STATUE: Just to the left of the ramp and the thick, dangling vine is an opening concealed by leaves. Walk through the foliage and the chime sounds for SECRET #1. Climb up two ledges, then up to the left onto a third ledge, which juts out above the street. A cut scene shows another red car speeding down the hill. (screenshots)

Hop down into the street and pull the switch on the back of the GOLDEN STATUE. This opens the trapdoor at the lower end of the street near the SECOND GOLDEN STATUE. You won't be able to reach this area yet, but you must do this in order to obtain SECRET #3 later. (screenshots)

Now head down the street. As you pass the lamppost about halfway down on the right, a monkey appears from behind the peach-colored house ahead. If you don't move fast, the monkey will steal the small medi pack sitting on the ledge to the right of the peach house, and you won't be able to get it without cheating. So try to retrieve the medi pack quickly or shoot the monkey. (screenshot)

NOTE: If you miss the medi pack, the monkey will carry it up the hill to the small barred ledge with the "Patisserie" signs. You can still get it using the crawling corner bug. See the page with screenshots for additional details.

Continue to the end of the street where the red car is parked. Get the large medi pack in the alcove on the left. On the other side of the bars, you'll notice the SECOND GOLDEN STATUE with the trapdoor below it. Pick up 3 sets of MP5 clips on the cement ledge. Be careful; it's a long drop. When you take the clips near the corner, you get a wide-angle view of the area below, where a couple of mutant creatures come down some stairs. You can shoot them from above with the MP5 if you like, but you'll get an easier shot later on. (screenshots)

NOTES: If you don't yet have the MP5 SUBMACHINE GUN, you'll get it here along with 2 sets of clips. There's a huge potential shortcut here, but if you take it you'll miss most of the level, including secret #2. See the footnote for details.

Return to the top of the hill. Turn right at the GOLDEN STATUE. (Make sure you pulled the switch on the back of it. The switch should be in the down position to ensure the trapdoor is open for secret #3.) Climb back onto the ledge with the broad-leafed plant where you entered this area. Drop into the TIGER ENCLOSURE and follow the ramp back up to the HEDGE MAZE. Go through the covered passageway to the far end and re-enter the maze there. Climb onto the first carved block you see (marked B2 on the map above) and shoot the tiger that emerges from the opening on the right. Now continue through the maze to the corner farthest from the tiger enclosure, following the path marked with orange dots on the map. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you don't care about getting all the kills, just avoid this block and the tiger won't appear.

MONKEY PLAY AREA: As you enter this open area with wooden walkways and bridges, a couple of monkeys rush to grab the goodies: the FIRST AVIARY KEY, which is lying on the walkway on the far right, and a small medi pack near the exit. (screenshot) You'll have to kill the monkeys to get the items. The wrought iron gate in the corner opposite the entrance closes automatically as you approach. Don't worry about this; you'll be leaving through the other doorway.

NOTE: If you really don't like killing innocent little monkeys, it's possible to avoid triggering these two by taking a carefully angled running jump into the doorway. As long as you land on the block to the right of the entrance (screenshot), rather than the block directly in front of the doorway, you won't trigger the dramatic music or the monkeys, and you can then explore freely.

BUG NOTE: I encountered a bug here in which, after shooting the monkeys but before picking up the key, I saved the game. When I reloaded, the key was gone. So, I recommend picking up the key before you save in this area. If you made the same mistake, you can download my save file, in which Lara has the first Aviary Key. For help with savegame and zip files, click here.

In addition to the medi pack and KEY, there are also 5 pairs of grenades hidden around this room. One is in an alcove just below the doorway where you entered. To get them, take a diagonal running jump from the lower walkway past the white brick pillar to grab the edge of the alcove. (screenshot) Pull up and take the grenades. Then turn around and drop into the water to find another pair of grenades. (screenshot) Notice the round windows at water level on the same side of the room where you found the KEY. There are grenades on the bottom of the pool near the right (screenshot) and left (screenshot) round windows. The fifth grenade pickup is in an underwater alcove beneath the gray rocks supporting the lower walkway. (screenshot)

When you have everything, climb back to the upper level and go through the doorway directly opposite the entrance. (screenshot)

OVERGROWN AREA WITH SPIKED WALKWAYS: Inside this room, turn right and walk carefully to end of the broad branch. It's a long way down and there are spikes below. If you have ammo to spare, you can use the MP5 to shoot the white tiger below. Jump straight up to grab the branches on the ceiling. Monkey swing forward, a little to the left, then forward some more toward the far end of the room. When you reach the thick vine hanging from the ceiling, turn right, swing forward as far as you can, then let go and immediately press Jump + Action to leap forward and grab the horizontal crevice on the wall. Traverse to the right along the crevice as far as you can. Then drop to land in a safe spot amid the spikes. Kill the tiger if you didn't do it before. (screenshots)

Turn around and walk through the spikes to the clear area of the walkway opposite the alcove with the flares. Take a running jump into the alcove. (screenshot) Get the flares, turn around, and take a running jump back to the walkway. Turn left and continue to the far end of the walkway. Here, below the big branch where you entered this area, safety drop off the ledge into the shallow pit in the corner. Climb into the alcove to get some Uzi clips then climb the branch-covered wall back to the walkway. (screenshot)

Move carefully along the walkways to the far end of the room and go through the doorway on the right, into a hall with stairs going up on both sides. (screenshot) Climb the stairs on the left and use the switch to open the gate. (screenshot) If the monkey grabs the small medi pack on the low pedestal in the next room before you can get it, either shoot the monkey or follow him downstairs to see where he hides it: Just inside the room with the spikes is a thick, square tree trunk. Behind this tree is a green plant with broad leaves. The medi pack should be in the little alcove behind this plant. (screenshot) Get it and return up the stairs through the gate you just opened with the switch.

From the room with the low pedestal at the top of the stairs, head to the right, through an L-shaped corridor with brick floors and wrought iron benches. At the far end is a gate with a small courtyard beyond. This is secret #2, but the gate isn't open yet. For now, go through the doorway on the right. (screenshot) Don't jump over the slope on the right; there are spikes on the other side. Instead climb onto the high, gray ledge on the left (screenshot) and ride the zip line down onto the rocky island. (screenshot)

NOTE: If it's been a while, or you haven't played Tomb Raider 3, in order to use the zip line, position Lara at the edge of the ledge just below the handle. Press and hold Action and don't release it until she lands on the island.

MONKEY ISLAND: There are 3 monkeys frolicking here. As you arrive these little guys will attempt to make off with 2 small medi packs. You don't have to kill them if you don't want to. You can retrieve the medi packs in a moment. As you explore, be careful not to fall into the water or Lara will quickly be devoured by piranhas. Face the small, square pool between the two palm trees. (screenshot) Save the game. Then jump into the pool and grab the SECOND AVIARY KEY from the bottom. You have a few seconds before the piranhas find their way in, so climb out as quickly as possible and use a health pack or two if necessary. Pick up 2 rockets, one on either side of the zip line. (screenshot)

NOTE: If are unable to retrieve the key from the piranha pool, you can download my save file or use the alternate method for accessing secret #3 using the corner bug, as described in a footnote.

SECRET COURTYARD: Cross the wooden walkway to the right of the zip line handle and go through the gate, which opened when you slid into this area. Instead of re-entering the room with the spiked walkways, immediately turn right. Go up the stairs and through the gate near the switch (the same way you came before). Continue to the end of the brick-floored hallway. Now the gate is open and you can go in and get the goodies. This is SECRET #2: small and large medi packs and 2 sets of Desert Eagle clips. If you didn't shoot all 3 monkeys on the island, one of them may have stolen the small medi pack from the secret area. Don't worry; we'll find it in a moment. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you don't yet have the DESERT EAGLE PISTOL, you'll get it instead of one of one set of clips as part of secret #2.

If you killed all the monkeys and picked up all the small medipacks in this area, exit the SECRET COURTYARD and go through the first doorway on the left. (screenshot) Climb up to the zip line and ride it back down to MONKEY ISLAND. (Skip the next paragraph.)

Or, if you let the monkeys live, follow the brick-floored hallway away from the SECRET COURTYARD. At the end of the hallway, turn right, go through the room with the brick pedestal, back downstairs, and through the doorway on the right into the room with the spiked walkways. Go around the square tree trunk and down the first few steps. Then turn left and look in the little niche behind the broad-leafed plant for the medi packs—there may be up to four of them, depending on how many the monkeys were able to steal.** When you have everything, exit through the gate between the two sets of stairs, and cross the wooden walkway to MONKEY ISLAND. (screenshots)

Use the switch on the cement block to open the gate ahead. It is timed, so pull the switch, hop back, take a standing jump onto the block, and then sprint across the bridge and through the gate before it closes. (screenshot) You're now back in the low-ceilinged room with square pillars near the MONKEY HOUSE ENTRANCE.

NOTE: Before entering the AVIARY, you should have 2 AVIARY KEYS. If you missed the key in the MONKEY PLAY AREA with the wooden walkways or the key in the piranha pool on MONKEY ISLAND, you can revisit those areas now. The gate leading back to MONKEY ISLAND won't open from this side, so go through the open gate at the end of the low-ceilinged room. (screenshot) Climb up into the HEDGE MAZE (screenshot) and make your way to the monkey cage entrance, shown on the map above. Pick up the main walkthrough above at the MONKEY PLAY AREA. Retrieve whichever key(s) you're missing. Then return to the low-ceilinged room with the switch—either through the HEDGE MAZE or through the timed gate from MONKEY ISLAND.

Climb the stairs opposite the switch (screenshot) and exit through the gate you unlocked earlier with the ZOO KEY (i.e., the one near the "Planète des Singes" poster).

AVIARY: Cross the courtyard to the AVIARY entrance ("La Volière") and use one of the AVIARY KEYS to unlock the gate. Enter and follow the elevated walkway out to the middle of the room. Kill the 2 vultures that fly in from above. One of them tends to get stuck near the striped awning on the far side of the room, so you may have to move closer to target it. As you shoot the birds, take care not to fall off the walkway. The pool below is infested with piranhas. (screenshots)

Move to the right side of the elevated walkway (left if Lara is facing the entrance) where there are 3 big, square trees. Notice the wooden ladder behind the middle tree. Jump down to the base of the tree and climb the ladder to a small room with shotgun shells, Desert Eagle ammo, and Uzi ammo. Grab the goodies and slimb back down. (screenshots)

Turn around so the ladder is behind Lara and come out from behind the tree on the right side. Beyond the bridge supports you'll see a green area with a cycad (fat-looking palm tree). Take a running jump across the water between the bridge supports to land there. Pick up the shotgun shells on the ledge ahead on the right. Then jump back to the area near the ladder the way you came. (screenshots)

Move around to the right and take a standing jump across the water to the nearest corner of the stone island with the palm tree and the square column supporting the first section of the elevated walkway. Take another standing jump up the slope to land just to the right of the palm tree. Carefully walk forward to the edge in order to avoid sliding down the slope into the piranha pool. Jump straight up to grab the edge of the walkway and pull up. (screenshots)

At this point the Aviary entrance should be on Lara's left and the carved stone column on her right. Take a running jump across the wide gap above the piranha pool to grab the edge of the walkway ahead. Pull up, make your way to the far left end of the walkway, and jump over to the ledge with the small medi pack. Pick it up. Then roll and shoot another vulture before it can knock Lara off the ledge. (screenshots)

Step off the left side of the ledge to land on the flat top of the small island below. Turn around again, walk to the edge of the island, and jump straight up to grab the ladder made of branches. Climb to the top. Turn right and walk to the end of the ledge. (Be careful not to fall through the transparent areas. Lara won't step off the solid ledge as long as you hold the Walk button.) Take a standing jump to the leafy triangular ledge ahead. From there, take a standing jump with Action onto the green ledge below the metal arch. Pick up the shotgun shells. Then crawl under the arch onto the other side of the ledge. From there, take a running jump to the top of the carved stone pillar below the zip line handle. Kill another vulture that approaches from below on the right. (screenshots)

Before riding the zip line, take a running jump over to the green ledge in the treetops. Walk to the top of the slope near the gray brick wall to get some grenades. Move back down the ledge and take a running jump back to the carved pillar below the zip line handle. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you don't yet have the GRENADE LAUNCHER, you'll find it here instead of the grenades.

IMPORTANT: Once you ride the zip line out of the AVIARY, you won't be able to return. In order to get secret #3, you must have found secret #1 (the STREET OUTSIDE THE ZOO) and used the switch on the FIRST GOLDEN STATUE to open the trapdoor near the SECOND GOLDEN STATUE. You also need the second AVIARY KEY, found in the MONKEY HOUSE. If you missed either of these, drop down to the walkway and exit the AVIARY the way you came in. Cross the courtyard, re-enter the MONKEY HOUSE, and follow the walkthrough above to find the statue and/or key. Then return to the top of the white pillar in the AVIARY. If you don't want to bother with this, an alternate method for accessing secret #3 using the corner bug is described in the second footnote.

AREA BELOW THE AVIARY - THIRD GOLDEN STATUE: When you're ready to move on, ride the zip line down into the next area. Use the SECOND AVIARY KEY in the lock on the base of the statue to open a gate near the SECOND GOLDEN STATUE (i.e., the one with the trapdoor that you opened earlier using the switch on the side of the FIRST GOLDEN STATUE). Follow the cobblestone walkway away from the statue with the lock. (screenshots)

If you didn't do what's necessary to get the third secret (explained in the note above) or you just aren't interested in secrets, drop into the hole on the left. (screenshot) This leads to the level exit. Pick up the main walkthrough below at the ***.

Otherwise, jump into the raised opening on the right, and follow the passageway to the SECOND GOLDEN STATUE. If you followed the walkthrough, the trapdoor at the base of the statue should be open. Drop through the opening and start down the steps. This is SECRET #3. (screenshots)

Jump the first gap above the deadly mutagen pool and pick up the flares. Hop across the gap onto the next step to get a rocket. Walk down to the lowest step for a second rocket. Turn left and take a running jump over the pool to grab the ladder. Climb down until Lara's hands are two rungs below the surface of the sparkling vapor. Then press Jump to backflip over the pool into an alcove containing another rocket. Alternatively, position Lara on the ledge where you found the second rocket with her back to the ladder. Drop and hang from the ledge. Let go and quickly press Action again to grab the ledge below. Climb into the crawlspace, turn left, crawl backwards, and drop down into the alcove with the rocket. Drop and hang from the ledge, Let go and quickly press Action again to grab the ledge below. Pull up into the crawlspace, turn left, crawl backwards, and drop down into the alcove with the rocket. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you don't yet have the ROCKET LAUNCHER, you'll get it here instead of the third rocket.

To get back up, take either a running or standing jump from the alcove to the ladder. Climb up until Lara's feet are one or two rungs above the the surface of the sparkling vapor. Then press Jump to backflip onto the ledge where you started. (screenshots)

SANDY BEACH WITH MUTANT CREATURES: Turn around, walk to the other side of the ledge, and drop down through the shimmering mist onto a rocky ledge overlooking a beach. If you didn't shoot them from above while obtaining secret #1, there will be 2 mutants running around on the shore outside. (They look like a cross between lizards and rats, but who knows?) Try to kill them from above with pistols. If their green breath touches Lara, she'll be poisoned. The health bar begin to flash yellow, and you'll need to use a medi pack to antidote the poison, or Lara will gradually lose health until she dies. Once you slide down onto the rocks, a third mutant will appear. If you have Desert Eagle ammo to spare, slide down, turn right, and shoot the creature as it comes down the block steps. (screenshots)

After killing the first 3 mutants, head for the square vents with the 2 large medi packs. Taking either one causes 2 more mutants to charge in. To get through this without taking damage, I suggest approaching the second health pack first. Stand on the vent, turn right, and then pick up the medi pack. The camera shifts to a wide-angle view, so you'll need to tap Look to get Lara's perspective back. Quickly draw the Desert Eagle and kill the mutant ahead. Then roll and shoot the next creature as it approaches. Grab the other medi pack and climb the block steps to get out of this area. (screenshots)

MUTANT POOLS: Safety drop into the next room. The floating mutants are creepy but harmless, but the sparkling goo below is deadly. Move around the right side of the first pool to the far left corner or carefully run across the left corner of the pit. (screenshot) Climb up into the next room, where there's another mutagen pool. This one contains an eviscerated corpse. (screenshot) If you want all the pickups, climb onto the ledge on the left side of this room and go up the steps to find some flares. (screenshot) Then return to the pool with the eviscerated body.

(***) If you've dropped in through the hole in the ground near the THIRD GOLDEN STATUE (screenshot), rather than climbing up from the SANDY BEACH, proceed down the stairs. Go carefully to avoid falling into the toxic green stuff. Pick up some flares along the way. (screenshot) At the bottom of the stairs you can see secret #3, including several rockets, on the far side of the the cave, but it's too far to reach from here. (screenshot) Go through the opening on the left and drop into the room with the floating corpses.

NOTE: If you came this way, you can still obtain secret #3 using the corner bug. See the footnote below.

Take a standing jump down to the translucent platform in front of the eviscerated body. (screenshot) Place the HAND OF RATHMORE in the hole in the man's chest to end the level.

[Previous Level]

[TRLA Level Menu]

[Next Level]

UPDATE HISTORY: 5/9/17 - First major update since 2000. This revision includes many new screenshots plus a few clarifications and strategy changes.

**NOTE ON STOLEN MEDI PACKS: In the MONKEY ISLAND area, the 4 little primates will attempt to steal various small medi packs. You don't have to kill any of them to get the goodies. Just go on about your business, and before leaving the area, return to the room with the spiked walkways and look in the little niche behind the broad-leafed plant (shown in this series of screenshots). You may find up to 4 small medi packs: one from the brick pedestal in the room near the switch, two from the island in the piranha pool, and one from secret #2.

SHORTCUT FROM SECRET #1 TO THE END OF THE LEVEL: If you like, after obtaining secret #1, you can drop down onto the beach with the mutant creatures near the end of the level. This involves hopping back off the corner ledge and holding Action to alter the curve of Lara's fall so she lands on the angled rocks below. This sequence is shown on a separate page with screenshots. Thanks to Emily for sharing this info.

ALTERNATE METHOD FOR REACHING SECRET #3 FROM THE LEVEL EXIT: If you arrive at the end of the level but missed secret #3, it's possible to obtain it by using the crawling corner bug. In the room with the floating corpses and the barred window overlooking the sandy beach, use the bug to reach the opening high on the wall. From there you can explore the beach and backtrack for the secret. This is detailed on a separate page with screenshots.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Special thanks are given to the participants in the alt.games.tombraider newsgroup for their contributions to the first draft of this walkthrough. Thanks also to Arvo29, DarkRedshift, and Emily for contributions to the 2017 revision, and to Rémy and Helena for earlier help with this level.

WAS THIS WALKTHROUGH HELPFUL? If not, I apologize and invite you to contact me with any questions. If you need help right away, I recommend the r/TombRaider subreddit. Other fan-run forums are listed at tombraiders.net/stella/community.html. If this site was useful, please consider supporting it financially or in other ways. For details, visit tombraiders.net/stella/support.html. As always, I welcome your corrections/suggestions. Thank you!

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