Throughout this walkthrough I use abbreviations for north (N), northeast (NE), southwest (SW), etc., to give directions. There is no compass in this game, but just to make it easier to navigate on screen, we'll assume north is up, west is left, east is right and south is down. Outdoor levels include a map screen in the Inventory in case you get lost. Also, I played using the medium combat difficulty setting so your experiences may differ slightly on a different setting.
*Although the PC, console and iOS versions are similar, there are significant differences in a few areas. This walkthrough covers the original version but may also be helpful to iOS users.
Level 4: The Summoning (Single Player) | Updated: 10/3/10(†) |
For the 2-player co-op walkthrough, please see here.
Score Challenges: 30K, 45K, 60K (Bonus: AR-06) Reward Challenges:
Artifacts: Clay Lizard, Stone Owl, Gold Feather A complete list of artifacts, relics and weapons can be found here. |
NOTE: There is no in-game map for this level, but it's just one big, open area, so hopefully you won't get lost. I may make a map later on.
THE SUMMONING: You can explore along the left and right edges of the map without being attacked, but crossing the river from any direction triggers a cut scene in which Xolotl and his shamans summon the demonic Tyrannosaurus rex. (And what kind of Lara Croft game would this be without a big, scary T. rex?) As soon as it comes to life, it homes in on Lara and will continue chasing her until it is destroyed. If it catches up with her, it sprays her with its fire breath and tries to bite her and toss her in the air.
The Tyrannosaurus is practically invulnerable to fire and other weapons. It's possible to kill it with regular weapons, but until you've progressed in the game and acquired some of the more powerful weapons, this will take some time. It's much more practical to use the traps at hand. (Strategy below.) I recommend equipping artifacts that increase defense and/or speed to help you avoid the giant reptile as you pursue the challenge goals.
If you want to beat all the challenges, you'll need to play the level at least twice: once to get the skulls, blow up the columns and rack up the 60,000 points for the Score Challenge, and again to defeat the T. rex in under 2 minutes. Here are some tips for each.
DEFEATING THE TYRANNOSAURUS REX: Since this is the main goal, we'll cover it first. So, if you're not interested in collecting goodies, you can (literally) cut to the chase.
There are 3 square spike fields around the central summoning area. You must lure the boss onto each of these and then trigger the spikes. You can use the spike fields in any order, and each time you manage to spike the T. rex, he loses a third of his health. The third time, he dies and the level ends.
The spike field on the right (NE) is raised when the level begins. The low, stone wall prevents you from hitting the bull's-eye target to the right, so use a bomb to blow it up. Then shoot the target to lower the spikes.
Note that if you get close to the target, you may also trigger a swarm of spiders from the doorway to the right. Switch to the flamethrower to make short work of them, and then continue fighting the T. rex.
Once the spikes are down, plant a bomb near the bull's eye switch. Lure the dinosaur onto the spike field, run/roll clear, and then detonate the bomb to flip the switch and trigger the spikes. You could also shoot the target, but if you use a bomb, you can trigger the spikes even if you can't see the target. (These screenshots show how it's done.)
Each time the T. rex takes damage from the spikes, they are destroyed so you can't use them again. Also, several enemies—mostly shamans and grunts, but also the occasional ogre—appear. You'll need to fight or avoid them as you lure the T. rex to the next set of spikes. There are various health and ammo pickups scattered throughout the area, as well as AMMO CACHES in the north and south corners. Ogres also drop health and/or ammo when they're destroyed.
The spike field on the left (NW) is raised when the level begins. To use it, you'll first need to retract the spikes by shooting the bull's-eye target just below it. Then plant a bomb next to the bull's eye. Lure the T. rex onto the spikes, quickly run/roll away and detonate the bomb to flip the switch and raise the spikes. (screenshots)
Again, you'll need to contend with more enemies after the second spiking.
Luring the T. rex to the middle spike field, between the starting area and the summoning circle, is probably the easiest, since it is always retracted unless Lara is standing on one of the 3 square pressure pads that trigger it. So basically, get the T. rex following Lara and run across the spike field from the south, east or west. When the beast moves onto the spikes, quickly step on the nearest pad and he's finished. A cut scene kicks in and the level is over. (screenshots)
If you manage to do this (i.e., make it from the end of the summoning cut scene to the third spiking) in under 2 minutes, you'll beat the Reward Challenge and receive a Gold Feather Artifact (+ speed).
REWARD CHALLENGES - COLUMNS AND RED SKULLS: If you want all the rewards, you'll need to explore the entire area pretty thoroughly, while staying ahead of the T. rex. There are 22 square columns in all. They're scattered throughout the area but are pretty obvious. To destroy them, either entice the boss to smash them for you or blow them up with bombs. Destroying all of them earns you a Clay Lizard Artifact (- weapon, + bomb).
Some of the red skulls are not so easy to find. Here are their locations (and screenshots if you need them):
When you find all 10 skulls, you are rewarded with a Stone Owl Artifact (- weapon, + defense).
SCORE CHALLENGES: The large doorways on the NE and NW walls, don't lead anywhere but do contain large spiders and gems. You can avoid them if you like, but if you're going after the Score Challenges, you'll want to visit them for the points.
In order to achieve 60,000 points, you'll need to fight the Tyrannosaurus in stages, luring it onto one set of spikes and damaging it, then running around the area waiting for enemies to spawn so you can kill them for points and gems. When enemies stop appearing, lure the T. rex onto the second set of spikes and damage it. Enemies will begin to spawn again, so you can rack up more points. The ogres are worth the most, and they drop health/ammo, but the shamans often drop gems.
You'll also want to use the available health packs carefully. Top up as needed so Lara doesn't die—you lose points every time she does—but save some health for the later stages.
When you finally achieve the 60K, you get the AR-06 weapon. Then you can finish off the T. rex and move on.
†UPDATE HISTORY: 8/22/10 - First draft walkthrough posted.
8/24/10 - Amended the T. rex strategy slightly.
10/3/10 - Added screenshots and made a few minor changes for clarity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Russell H. and Hunter W. for pointing out that the T. rex can, in fact, be killed using normal weapons.
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