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 9: Twisting Bridge (Single Player) | Updated: 11/15/12(†) |
For the 2-player co-op walkthrough, please see here.
Score Challenges: 190K, 210K, 250K (Bonus: Submachine Gun) Reward Challenges:
Artifacts: Gold Lizard, Serpent Drum A complete list of artifacts, relics and weapons can be found here. |
LEVEL ENTRANCE: There are health and ammunition pickups at the start, along with some gems and a barrel of TNT. Walkways lead off to the left, right and straight ahead. If you're not going for the time challenge, take a minute to explore each of the side areas.
The path to the left (NW) is a dead end with some gems. If you hop across the gap in the walkway, several enemies, including an ogre, leap down upon you. Jump back across the gap and try to shoot them before they reach you. Grab the health and/or ammo the ogre drops.
When you re-enter the starting area, several man-sized enemies appear. If you're after maximum points, return to the broken walkway to the NW to trigger the 2 man-sized enemies and an ogre again. Shoot them and then return to the start.
The path to the right (SE) leads down a flight of stairs, past some gems to a red skull (1/10). (screenshot) Another ogre and 2 regular enemies drop in. You can detonate the TNT at the corner of the walkway to do a little extra damage if you like. Otherwise, just back up toward the starting area shooting. Again, the ogre drops health and/or ammo.
WIDE LANDING: This time, head straight forward (NE) away from the starting area. At the bottom of the stairs is another open area with several TNT barrels and urns. A long-haired ogre and several other enemies converge. If possible, use the TNT against them. Or retreat up the stairs, shooting and also dropping and detonating bombs as you go. When the coast is clear, pick up health/ammo from the ogre, and more health, ammo and gems in and around the urns.
Follow the short walkway to the SE, grapple the golden ring and lower Lara down to the red skull (2/10) floating below. (screenshot) Climb back up and go to the NW onto a dead-end walkway with a TNT barrel and more gems. Then return to the open area.
ROTATING CORNER: This time, go forward (NE). Beyond the next gap is an L-shaped wooden platform with a bull's-eye switch on it. (This is the "Rotating Corner" indicated on the level map.) Shoot the target twice to turn the ledge so one end of the L points toward the ledge Lara is standing on and the other points toward the walkway to the (NW). (screenshot) Jump over there and follow the walkway to the end. Here you'll find the entrance to the FIRST CHALLENGE TOMB.
NOTE: The tomb entrance is shown on the level map just above and to the left of the rotating corner. (screenshot)
FIRST CHALLENGE TOMB: Collect a few gems outside and then enter the tomb. Inside is a single large room with a spike pit on the right, a corridor with a gate at each end on the left, and a shiny relic in a barred alcove on the far side of the room. The pressure pad near the entrance opens the relic alcove, but you'll need to find something to hold the pad down. (These screenshots show the whole sequence.)
Use the golden ring high on the NE wall to grapple-swing across the pit, snagging another red skull (3/10) in the process. On the other side of the room, go around to the left and roll the huge ball out of the hallway and onto the pressure pad near the relic. This raises a wooden ledge above the spike pit. Use that ledge to jump across the pit to the bull's-eye switch. Plant a bomb there, but don't detonate it yet.
Jump back across the wooden ledge and roll the ball off the pad and back into the hallway where you found it. Once inside, detonate the bomb to flip the switch, closing the NW door and opening the SE door. Roll the ball onto the pressure pad near the entrance. This opens the gate over the relic and keeps it open. Grapple-swing across the pit once more and claim the Golden Knife of Itzli Relic (Power Shot and Power Bomb). Then swing back across the pit and return upstairs and outdoors.
Jump back onto the rotating corner and shoot the target twice to rotate the L so one end points to the right (SE). (screenshot) Jump over to that area and head down the stairs.
NOTE: This is the open area shown on the level map below and to the right of the rotating corner. (screenshot)
CLEARING WITH HEALTH SHRINE: Grab the HIGH POWER SINGLE SHOT RIFLE sitting in the clearing (screenshot) and take care of several enemies. Pick up gems, health and ammo, and use the HEALTH SHRINE if you need it. There's also a red skull (4/10) concealed behind the narrow, square column on the left side of the clearing. If you have trouble spotting it, use a bomb to destroy the column. (screenshot)
Go up the steps onto the terrace in front of the small building. Grab the gems and ammo. Then step on the pressure pad to open the door and go in.
DUNGEON ROOM WITH PILLARS AND TILED FLOOR: As you enter this room, a message is displayed about a Reward Challenge: Knock the shield off a shield demon. When you move out into the room (surprise!) a shield demon appears. This new enemy type is basically an ogre dressed up with a big shield. To remove the demon's shield, equip the grenade launcher and lob a grenade at him from a safe distance. (You can also use a remote bomb, but it may take several attempts.) Destroying the shield earns you an AMMO POWERUP. Then you can finish off the demon with guns or Totec's spear. (screenshot)
As you fight the demon, more enemies join in, including a few skeletons and shamans. When you've killed the first shield demon, another demon jumps down from above. Defeat him just as you did the first: use a grenade or bomb to destroy his shield, then guns or spears to finish him off. Don't forget to bomb the skeletons' remains so they don't reanimate.
The various urns here contain 4 health packs and 4 boxes of ammo. The demons also drop health and/or ammo when they explode.
Afterward, go to the NW corner of the room and pull the handle to raise a set of wooden ledges. These ledges collapse again after a few seconds, so quickly climb to the room above. (screenshot)
Smash the urns here to get 3 boxes of ammo. Walk out along the narrow ledge on the NW wall to collect some gems and an AMMO UPGRADE. (screenshot) Return to the room and shoot the bull's-eye target to raise a pair of wooden ledges to the NE. Hop across these ledges, pull the handle and then quickly jump back into the room and run/roll through the door in the NW wall before it closes. (screenshot)
TWISTING BRIDGE: You emerge outside on a new section of the bridge. Follow the stairs and walkways up and around to the NE. You'll encounter 2 skeletons and 2 shamans on the way. There's a barrel of dynamite in one corner that you can shoot to damage enemies, as well as more ammo in an urn a bit farther along.
FIRST ROTATING PLATFORM: Follow this walkway around to the NW end. Jump across the gap onto the wooden platform. Cross over it and jump to the next stone walkway. Step on the pressure pad to open the wooden barrier ahead, as well as raising and rotating the wooden platform you just crossed. This is "Rotating Platform 1" on the level map. (screenshot/map detail)
Continue under the wooden barrier to the NW. As you step down into the open area ahead, a shield demon appears on the stairs behind Lara. Again, use a grenade to remove its shield if you can. This will make fighting it much easier. Several other enemies, including a couple of skeletons, emerge all around. There's a cache of TNT on the terrace. You may be able to lure some enemies up here and then detonate it, but I prefer fighting out in the open.
Afterward, pick up health/ammo from the demon, as well as health, ammo and gems lying in the clearing and underneath the TNT. Then pull the handle on the terrace to open the door and go inside.
FIRST CAVERN WITH WOODEN PLATFORMS: Hop across the smaller wooden platforms to the larger one to the NW. When you land there, 2 shamans and a couple of other enemies appear. Spear them before they do too much damage. The urn here contains ammunition if you need it. Most of the platforms here have gems on them; so I haven't mentioned each one. (These screenshots show how to navigate the whole room.)
To reach the red skull (5/10) on the platform to the north, shoot the bull's-eye switch to the right of it to raise the folding platform between the target and the large platform Lara is on now. Jump over to the skull. Jump back to the folding platform, then to the one with the bull's eye to collect gems. Then return to the large, square platform.
Jump to the next small platform to the SW. Shoot the 2nd bull's-eye switch off to the left (NW) to raise the folding platform ahead (SW). Jump onto it and from there to the next large platform. Three enemies, including a skeleton, attack.
After you've taken care of them, shoot the 2nd bull's-eye again to collapse the platform to the NE and raise the one to the NW. Jump onto it and move to the other side. Shoot the bull's-eye again and quickly jump onto the next platform as it rises and the one Lara is standing on collapses. Spear the shaman who appears on the small platform to the north. Then jump onto the next large platform to the NW and fight 2 skeletons. Smash the urns for health and ammo, and use a spear to reach the ledge with the red skull (6/10) and gems.
Drop back down onto the large platform. Leap onto the small one to the NE. Shoot the bull's-eye again to raise the folding platform to the NW. When you jump onto it, 2 shamans materialize: one on the next small platform, one on the large platform to the right. You can spear the first one immediately. You may need to jump across the platforms to the big one before you can see the second shaman well enough to target him.
Go up the wooden ramp, jumping across 2 gaps. Gather the gems on the next large platform and then jump to the stone walkway on the right (SE). Climb the stairs back to the main area.
TWISTING BRIDGE: You emerge outside on a new section of the bridge near the entrance to the SECOND CHALLENGE TOMB. This is the building in the northern corner of the main area on the map. (screenshot/map detail) Head down the stairs and around the corner to the gap in the stone railing on the left. Spear or shoot the shaman who appears on the wooden platform, and fight a skeleton and a few other enemies that attack Lara on the bridge. Jump over to the platform where the shaman was. Throw a spear into the outer wall of the tomb and climb onto the roof to get a red skull (7/10). Drop down and enter the tomb. (screenshots)
SECOND CHALLENGE TOMB: Advance along the middle of the corridor between the pounding blocks. These are similar to the ones in the Forgotten Gate level. If you observe carefully, you'll notice that after the blocks open, some of them start to quiver just before they slam shut.
Here's the sequence: Begin by running forward and stopping between the 4th and 5th sets of blocks as the ones behind and ahead close. As soon as the 6th and 7th re-open, run forward to stand between them, as the blocks ahead and behind close. After those blocks re-open, move forward. The 10th and 11th sets open in front of you, then the 9th, 10th and 11th quickly close, so move back between the 7th and 8th. When the 9th, 10th and 11th re-open, move forward and stand between the 10th and 11th as the blocks behind you close. You can now glimpse the Gold Lizard Artifact (+ bomb) beyond the next 2 sets of blocks. When they open, run forward and take the artifact, along with a few gems. All of the blocks behind you then re-open, allowing you safe passage back to the start. (screenshots/video walkthrough)
Return upstairs and outside to the main area. Jump from the doorway to the square, wooden platform then to the bridge. Follow it around to the NE, jumping across a gap and grabbing some ammo along the way.
SECOND ROTATING PLATFORM: Follow this walkway to the SE end and jump another gap to land on the wooden platform ahead. Cross over it and jump to the next stone walkway. Step on the pressure pad to open the wooden barrier ahead, as well as raising and rotating the platform you just crossed. This is "Rotating Platform 2" on the level map. (screenshot/map detail)
Continue under the wooden barrier to the SE. Fight a couple of shamans near the TNT barrel. Take the health pack at the corner and continue downstairs and through the doorway.
SECOND CAVERN WITH WOODEN PLATFORMS: Jump from the entrance to the large platform to the SW. Continue SW onto one folding platform then another. Jump from there to the platform with the bull's-eye switch. Shoot it to raise the folding platform with the red skull (8/10) and collapse the others. Jump over to get the skull. Then return to the bull's eye. (screenshots)
Shoot the target again to raise the platforms to the NW once more. Jump onto the nearest one, then to the one beyond it to the SW. You can now see another red skull (9/10) on the next folding platform, which is collapsed. Shoot the target to the east and quickly jump onto the platform with the skull as it rises and the one Lara is standing on collapses.
Move to the bottom corner of the platform where you found the skull. Shoot the target once more and quickly jump onto the next platform to the SE as the previous platform collapses. Move to the SE side of this platform, shoot the target again and quickly jump to the next platform to the SE, then the next one, where you'll find a HEALTH UPGRADE.
Jump back to the previous platform and then leap from the left corner of that platform to the corner of the large one with the urns. Smash them to get 3 ammo and several gems. As long as you don't step on the NW edge of the platform (outlined in one of the screenshots) you can move about freely without triggering the next set of enemies.
When you have all the goodies, move over to the NW edge of the platform. Stepping here triggers the appearance of 2 shield demons, along with a few minor enemies. If you like, you can then jump back to the previous folding platform. The enemies will not follow, and you can shoot them from safety. Alternatively, when the shield demons appear, jump down into the room on the left to fight them. (The screenshots show both options.)
DUNGEON ROOM WITH PILLARS AND TILED FLOOR (again): The room below on the left is actually the area where you first encountered the shield demons earlier. Any supplies you didn't take then should still be available. When you hit the floor, several other enemies join the fight, including a shaman and 2 skeletons. If you're going for the 6-minute Time Challenge or just aren't interested in racking up points, just run through the exit to the SW. Otherwise, keep fighting, and pick up more health/ammo if you need it. Once you've cleared the room, exit to the SW.
CLEARING WITH HEALTH SHRINE (again): When you step down into the area where you found the HIGH POWER SINGLE SHOT RIFLE earlier, 3 skeletons attack. Shoot them and blow up their remains as usual. If you didn't get red skull #4 earlier, it's hidden behind the brown column on the left side of the clearing.
Return up the stairs to the NW and jump across the gap onto the ROTATING CORNER with the bull's-eye switch. When Lara lands there, a brief cut scene shows the final wooden barrier rising. This is the path to the exit.
If you followed this walkthrough, the rotating corner should already be in the correct position, but if not, shoot the bull's eye to turn it so you can jump onto the stairs to the NE. (screenshot) Climb to the top and jump across the wide gap beyond the wooden barrier onto the FIRST ROTATING PLATFORM. A shaman and 2 other enemies attack. Take care of them and jump across to where the shaman was. (screenshot)
Another shaman appears ahead, and a skeleton and regular enemy jump down from above. Kill them and smash the urns for 2 health packs and some ammo.
Before leaving this ledge (i.e., the stone section between the FIRST and SECOND ROTATING PLATFORMS), jump across to the broken walkway on the left (NW). Lara can run, jump and grab the edge, or shoot a spear into the edge and jump onto it. Here you'll find the final red skull (10/10). (screenshot) If you found the others as well, you'll receive the Serpent Drum Artifact (+ bomb, + speed).
Hop back down to the previous ledge. Then continue NE onto the SECOND ROTATING PLATFORM. A few more enemies attack, including a skeleton and a long-haired ogre. By now you should be able to put them down pretty quickly. The ogre drops health/ammo. Afterward, jump over to the foot of the staircase to the NE.
GIANT STAIRCASE WITH ROLLING BOULDERS AND FIREBALLS: At the foot of the stairs there are 3 health packs and a big urn with some ammo inside. I guess Xolotl wants Lara to be in top form when she tackles his next fiendish trap. ;)
Start up the staircase to trigger a cut scene: large balls, some of which are on fire, begin rolling down toward you. One of the fireballs hits a barrel of TNT, setting it off and igniting the fuses connected to the other barrels of dynamite positioned at intervals along the stairs. When they explode, the bottom of the staircase is destroyed.
As soon as you regain control of Lara, start running up the stairs, avoiding the rolling obstacles as much as possible and keeping ahead of the explosions that knock out each section of the stairs behind you.
This is also the site of a Reward Challenge: Bomb the rolling fire. To do this, drop a bomb in the path of one of the fireballs and detonate it just as the fireball passes. You must do this three times to earn the reward: a HEALTH POWERUP. (screenshots)
Continue to the top of the stairs, gather the last few gems and run through the exit.
If you finish the level in less than 6 minutes, you'll beat the Reward Challenge and receive the Mask of Itzli Relic (Power Shot, Health and Ammo Regeneration).
†UPDATE HISTORY: 9/1/10 - First draft walkthrough posted.
10/25/10 - Added screenshots, fixed a few typos and made a few other minor changes for clarity.
11/15/12 - Made a few minor changes for clarity during the writing of the co-op walkthrough. Also added a few screenshots in the section "Second Cavern With Wooden Platforms."
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to OB One T Raider for info on the relic powers.
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