SAVING, CHECKPOINTS & TECH SUPPORT: This game incorporates autosave checkpoints. If you only rely on one save slot, you may run into trouble if you get stuck, encounter a bug, or if your autosave becomes corrupted. To avoid problems, I highly recommend changing your save slot in the pause menu at least once per level. If you encounter a bug that can't be fixed by restarting the game, reloading a different save, restoring a backup save in the Xbox version, or rebuilding the game cache in the PC version, I encourage you to visit the Official Rise of the Tomb Raider Support Forum and or put in a support request with Square Enix. I also have PC save files for download.
AREA 1: MOUNTAIN PEAK
Updated: 10/11/16(†)
Camps: none Weapons/Gear: Climbing Axe
Collectibles: none Challenge Tombs/Codices: none Challenges: none
OBJECTIVE: Reach the Mountain Summit
After the opening cinematic you find yourself on a snowy trail high in the mountains of Siberia. Use the left stick to maneuver Lara along behind her friend, Jonah. Partway up the hill, the path collapses and Lara slides down an icy slope. Press Interact (X on Xbox controller/E on keyboard/Square on PS4) when you see the on-screen prompt to dig in with your climbing axe and prevent Lara from falling to her death. Once Lara is hanging from the ledge, push the left stick to the right and then press Jump (A on Xbox controller/Space on keyboard/X on PS4) to clear the gap in the ledge and grab onto the other side. Climb to the right a little more then press Jump (A/Space/X) three times to climb to the upper ledge. (screenshots)
Turn right and approach the ice wall. The game gives a brief tutorial about climbable walls. Any time you activate Survival Instinct (by pressing in on the right stick or Q on the keyboard), you'll see climbable surfaces highlighted in yellow. Jump toward the wall and press Interact (X/E/Square) to latch on with both climbing axes. Now use the left stick to climb up the wall, around to the right, upward a little more, then to the left as far as you can go. Push the left stick to the left so Lara leans out toward the rocky gap between the ice walls. Then press Jump (A/Space/X) to leap across the gap and Interact (X/E/Square) again to latch onto the ice once more. Climb upward and to the left again. Finally, jump toward Jonah to trigger a brief cutscene in which he pulls Lara up onto the ledge. (screenshots)
At this point you are rewarded with 50 experience points (XP) for surviving the mishap. As in Tomb Raider (2013), throughout this game you'll earn XP for passing minor milestones, killing enemies, finding collectibles, etc. A shield-shaped meter appears on the left side of the screen whenever you earn XP. This meter gradually fills up. When it does, you earn a Skill Point, which you can then use to unlock a new ability for Lara. This is covered in the third level and on the Skills page (coming soon). I do not note every XP award in this walkthrough, but if you follow along, should get close to the maximum possible XP.
For now, continue up the path, pressing forward and Jump (A/Space/X) to vault up each of the low ledges. (screenshot) When you enter the cave ahead, Lara automatically lights a flare. Make your way through the dark tunnel. On the other side, follow the path up and around to the left.
Next comes a brief cutscene in which Lara tells Jonah she has a good feeling about what lies ahead. Then the two prepare to ascend. Where the path becomes a narrow ledge, Lara automatically stands with her back to the cliff wall. Press on the left stick to sidestep along the ledge. At the end, lean then jump to the right and quickly press X to latch onto the next climbable ice wall. (screenshots)
When you near the top, a huge chunk of ice and rock breaks off and plummets toward you. Just wait for the cutscene to finish. Climb up as far as you can and jump straight up. Lara automatically grabs the ledge above. Jump across the gap to grab the next ledge to the right. Then jump up, quickly latch onto the ice with your axe, and climb upward then to the right. The ice wall shatters leaving a wide gap where Lara was about to climb. Lara tells Jonah she can make it across. Lean then jump to the right. Hold Jump (A/Space/X) while in the air for the longest possible jump. Then quickly press Interact (X/E/Squar) to latch on to the climbable wall with one axe. Due to the long jump, Lara almost loses her grip so you'll need to quickly press Interact again to dig in with both axes so you don't fall. Continue climbing up and around to the right. When you can't go any farther, jump straight up and press Interact to latch onto the ice above. (screenshots)
In another short cutscene, Lara climbs onto the upper ledge and catches a glimpse of the ruins ahead. Then a lightning strike causes the ground to shake. Lara loses her grip and falls backward, still tethered to Jonah. Lara takes a hit as she swings into the cliffside but recovers quickly. Press forward and back on the left stick or W/S on the keyboard to swing toward the ice wall ahead. When you get close to it, press Interact to try and latch on with your axe. The first time you get close enough, Lara whacks the ice but can't get a firm hold. Try again. This time she'll latch on. Climb to the ledge above. (screenshots)
At this point, the two spot an avalanche barreling down the mountain toward them. Lara calls to Jonah to take cover. Now you must turn right and run along the snowy ledge. When you reach the wooden walkway, continue running and jump across the gap to grab the next section of walkway. Lara barely makes it, and you must press Interact at the on-screen prompt to grab on. Pull up and continue forward. Jump down to the next section of wooden walkway. Then run/trudge forward through the snow toward the airplane wreckage. Take a running jump from the boulder and Lara will automatically grab the red pole, swing forward, and jump toward the angled cable. She then slides down the cable and crashes through a wall of icicles into a rocky tunnel. (screenshots)
You can steer Lara with the left stick as she slides but this is not really necessary. When you see the Interact button prompt, press it to dig in with your axe and prevent Lara from sliding over the edge into a deep chasm. The avalanche is still coming, though, so jump to the right, latch onto the ice wall, and climb onto the ledge above. (screenshots)
The ground ahead is unstable, so run forward, jumping across the gaps that appear in the rock. Keep running and then at the very end of the ledge jump forward, sail through the air, and press Interact to latch onto the ice wall as the avalanche strikes. (screenshots)
NOTE: Between the first and second levels are a series of flashbacks in which Lara finds information in her late father's research that leads her to Syria. I will flesh out these sequences and upload cinematics once the first draft of this walkthrough is finished.
†UPDATE HISTORY: 11/21/15 - First draft of walkthrough posted online.
10/11/16 - Added PS4 controls.
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