The TR2 Remastered guide is now complete. For the guides that have not yet been updated, I will continue to link to the ORIGINAL WALKTHROUGHS, which cover all the basics. Please check the introductory notes at the start of the first level for info on my process, modern vs. classic tank controls, etc. This guide covers most but not all possible achievements/trophies. Follow this link for the archived classic guide.

CONSERVING FLARES: Parts of this level are DARK. Consequently, I brighten the screenshots in Photoshop and use more flares than you'll probably need. To conserve flares, save before entering dark areas. Then use as many flares as you like during your initial exploration. Once you know where to go, reload and proceed, using only as many flares you need. If you run out of flares, try turning up the brightness on your monitor, or fire your unlimited-ammo pistols to light the way.

Pickups: 33, including Tibetan Mask, Gong Hammer, Talion, and 3 secrets
Kills: 22

NOTE: The number of pickups includes the three dragon statuettes and the bonus items awarded for finding all three secrets. Also, one of the regular pickups here will be the GRENADE LAUNCHER if you don't already have it.

LEVEL MAP by VGCartography (used with permission)

Ice Palace Video Walkthrough by Eldincy‡

OBJECTIVES: Make your way to the top of the room with the cages and springboards. Go through a cave, picking up another Tibetan mask along the way. Proceed through a dark room with Yetis and use the mask to open a door leading into a previously unreachable part of the Catacombs. Figure out how to obtain the Gong Hammer beneath the surface of the frozen pond. Once you have it, swim under the ice to the next area and make your way through the caverns to a huge cave with a gong. Bang the gong to access the Talion artifact. Then defeat a rather large enemy to finish the level.

STARTING AREA AND LARGE ROOM WITH CAGES AND SPRINGBOARDS: The level begins in a small anteroom. Shoot the huge bell to open the door. In the next room are two cages: an empty one on the right and another high on the left that holds 3 Yetis (1-3). Don't worry; they can't get out until you release them. (screenshots)

The odd-looking floor tiles in this room are springboards, which will launch Lara into the air if she steps on them. Many players have difficulty with these springboards at first. If you jump onto one, Lara will just ping-pong up and down until she eventually crashes to the ground. Usually, the trick is to stand a few steps away from the springboard, facing in the direction you want to go, then run onto the board. Lara will sail up and slightly forward, allowing her to reach areas high above. (This short video shows the technique in action.)

Cross the room and stand in front of either of the 2 adjacent springboards, facing the archway with the 2 black gates. Run onto the springboard to launch Lara upwards to land on or grab the sloping ledge high above. Go to the left to find 2 sets of Uzi clips (1-2) on the floor in a little alcove near a switch. Flip the switch to raise the empty cage and lower the Yetis' cage, freeing them. Now, either safety drop to the wide platform below and kill the 3 Yetis (1-3) as they approach, or move back onto the sloping ledge and shoot the Yetis with pistols from above. (screenshots)

If you killed the Yetis from above, drop down to the level below now. Head for the far left corner (i.e., left when facing the entrance and the now raised cage). Watch out for the holes in the floor above the springboards as you go. Retrieve a large medi pack (3). (screenshots)

Then return to the other side of the room overlooking the Yeti cage. Just above the cage, is a long, barred alcove. Jump into this alcove and pick up another large medi pack (4). Continue toward the back of the alcove with weapons drawn. Another Yeti (4) charges down the stairs as you approach. Hop back firing. Two shotgun blasts at close range will put it down. Continue up the stairs, and throw the switch to raise a metal platform out in the corridor with the black gates. (screenshots)

SECRET ROOM WITH GOLD DRAGON: Return downstairs to the barred alcove above the Yeti cage, where you just found the medi pack. Locate the movable block set into the wall across from the gap in the bars. Pull it out and push it aside to gain access to a large room. SECRET #1, the Gold Dragon (5), sits on a high platform at the other end of the room. To get across requires a "leap of faith" à la Indiana Jones. Position Lara squarely facing the platform with the statuette and step off the edge to land on an invisible bridge, which will take you across to the dragon and back. The bridge is just one block wide, so be careful to move straight across or hold Walk so Lara doesn't accidentally step off the edge. There's nothing below, but if you do fall down and survive, use either of the 2 ladders to climb back to the entrance. (screenshots)

CAGE AND SPRINGBOARD ROOM (again): Return to the main room and go to the single springboard just to the right of the two adjacent springboards you used earlier. Above it is a second bell. This one requires a slightly different approach. Position Lara touching the wall with the sloping top, her back toward the springboard. Then hop back once. Lara should now be standing just in front of the springboard. Draw pistols. Then backflip (i.e., press Jump + Back together). Now, instead of backflipping, Lara will step onto the springboard and be launched into the air. Shoot the bell at the peak of the jump. There's a clang, and the bell sways back and forth when you hit it. Lara will then fall back and slide down the sloped wall to the floor without taking any damage. Shooting this bell opens the first of the 2 black gates. (screenshots)

Enter the corridor in front of the double springboards you used earlier, where the black gates are. Turn left to face the single springboard and, high above, the metal platform you raised earlier. Hold Action as you run onto the springboard to sail up and land on the platform. Turn around and you'll see a third bell. Shoot it to open the second black gate below. Hop down onto the slope on the left (just above the two gates), slide, grab the edge, and drop to the ground. (screenshots)

Go through the black gates and approach the springboard in the corner. If you play the next section carefully, you can unlock the "Recess Bell" achievement/trophy. The goal is to "ring the fourth bell and reach the ladder, stepping on the slides no more than four times." (This sequence is shown in both screenshots and a short video.)

Start by positioning Lara in the middle of the tile to the left of the springboard, facing it, and save the game. Run onto the springboard and as Lara bounces upward hold Action to grab the angled ledge high above. (If she lands on the slope rather than grabbing it, reload and try again. You want to minimize the number of times her feet touch the slopes.) Traverse to the right so Lara is hanging above the flat ledge above the black gates. The fourth bell is ahead, and there's another angled ledge behind. You can save again here if you like. (screenshots)

Pull up onto the slope and before Lara can slide off, press Jump to backflip onto the slope behind you. Hold Action and Jump then quickly press Draw Weapon to pull out your pistols and shoot the bell as Lara springs forward onto the slope where you just pulled up. Quickly release all controls to slide back and land on the flat ledge above the black gates. Once you've rung the bell, stand under the slope below the bell and jump straight up to grab it, but don't pull up. Instead, traverse to the left as far as possible. Pull up and immediately press Jump and Left to backflip onto the slope behind you, spring off that slope, and land on the flat ledge. When you climb onto the ledge near the ladder, the achievement/trophy should pop.) (screenshots)

NOTE: If this isn't working for you, there are a various other approaches on YouTube. Most involve eliminating the last jump off the slope by instead dropping down to the floor, then running onto the springboard from the other edge to boing up to the ledge below the ladder. Of course, if you don't care about achievements, you can jump back and forth between the slopes as many times as you like while you shoot the bell.

Climb the ladder and dismount on the ledge on the right. Pull up into the opening opposite the ladder. Take a running jump diagonally to the left to avoid the hole in the floor. Immediately draw weapons and kill the Yeti (5) that climbs in through the opening on the other side of the room. Then grab the flares (6) on top of the block. (screenshots)

ROCKY PASSAGEWAY: Notice the dragon statuette behind the barred window. To get it, climb into the opening where the Yeti came in. Step to the far edge and wait for a white tiger (6) to charge toward you along the passageway. Kill it from above. Then hop down onto the path and climb onto the ledge on the right. Note the painted wooden door on the left. We'll open it shortly. Jump into the angled opening on the right and follow the short tunnel to the to the barred window with the Silver Dragon (7). This is SECRET #2. Return to the main tunnel and jump/climb onto the opposite ledge. Go to the right end to find a small medi pack (8). (screenshots)

Then return to the path, draw weapons, and continue toward the end of the passageway. Just ahead is a room with 3 more tigers (7-9). One charges as you enter; the other two emerge as you advance into the room. There are tips for dealing with them on the page with screenshots. Afterwards, retrieve the TIBETAN MASK (9) from the pedestal in the room where the tigers originated. Doing so also opens the painted wooden door.

Return to the rocky passageway where you killed the first tiger. Climb onto the ledge on the left and go through the painted wooden door. Follow the short tunnel down to a barred window overlooking the buildings in the previous level. (screenshots)

DARK ROOM WITH SPIKES AND YETIS: Ready weapons, hop down into the next room, and kill a charging Yeti (10). Light a flare and drop it through one of the openings in the floor. You should then be able to see and kill the second Yeti (11) lurking below. Hang from one of the openings to draw it closer if necessary, then pull up. Take care not to drop into the spikes. When the Yeti is dead, cross the room with the holes in the floor and pick up a large medi pack (10). Hang from the middle of the opening nearest the medi pack. Then drop into the lower room, landing in a safe area between the spikes. Carefully cross the dark room to the corner below the entrance, where you'll find 2 sets of automatic pistol clips (11-12) on the floor. (screenshots)

Climb onto the wide ledge with the red columns. There's a small medi pack (13) at the far end of the balcony. Grab it and return to the other end, where you climbed up. Place the TIBETAN MASK in the receptacle to open a nearby door. Carefully hop back down into the spike room and climb up to the door you just opened, which is just to the left of the of the ledge with the red columns when facing it. (screenshots)

WOODEN BRIDGE AND FIREPOT (ABOVE CATACOMBS AREA): When you step out onto the wooden bridge, you'll notice that you're now above the area you explored in the last level. Before crossing the bridge, turn left and take a running jump onto the snowy ledge across the way. Pick up the flares (14) in the corner. Then jump back onto the bridge. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you accidentally drop off the bridge or the upcoming ledges, you can climb back up to the bridge using the snowy blocks below the corner ledge where you found the flares. (screenshot) This rock formation was not here during the CATACOMBS level.

Continue across the bridge, turn left, and go through the opening in the corner to emerge on a ledge overlooking the FROZEN POND WITH THE FIREPOT from the previous level. Jump over to the ledge on the left and pull the switch to spill hot oil from the firepot onto the ice below, melting it so you can get into the water. (screenshot)

Safety drop from the ledge in front of the switch to the angled blocks below and slide to the ground. Kill the 2 tigers (12-13) that charge in from the OPEN AREA WITH THE ICE WALL beyond f the frozen pond. (If you like, you can jump up onto the angled block in the cave, where you maybe shot the leopards earlier.) Go into the ICE WALL area to find 2 boxes of shotgun shells (15-16). Then climb over the rocks near the opening and drop into the pool. There are now 2 sets of Uzi clips (17-18) on the underwater pedestal where you got the TIBETAN MASK in the last level. Climb out of the water and back over the rocks. (screenshot)

UNDER THE ICE/GONG HAMMER: Return to the area with the FROZEN POND AND FIREPOT and drop through the hole you just made in the ice. Swim down and grab the GONG HAMMER (19). Then quickly climb out of the water to shoot the 2 biting fish (14-15) that appeared when you took the hammer. Jump back in the pool and swim under the ice into the next cavern. (screenshot)

CAVE WITH FALLING ICICLES AND YETIS: Surface to breathe but don't step out of the pool yet. There are icicles on the ceiling just above the water's edge and 3 Yetis (16-18) running around on the bank. If you'd rather not take on the whole mob at once, swim toward the shore and stop just as Lara's feet touch the bottom. Going any farther forward will trigger the falling icicles, but if just Lara's head and shoulders are sticking out of the water, you should be able to draw and fire pistols. The Yetis may step into the shallows but shouldn't go any deeper. If they come too close, just swim back a bit, wait, and try again. (screenshots)

NOTE: If you have leftover harpoons, you can also shoot from the deep water to "tenderize" the Yetis before you emerge from the pool. If they run off, climb onto the flat ledge on the right side of the pool to get their attention, or swim back to the pool where you found the GONG HAMMER, then return to this pool. (screenshots)

When the coast is clear, step out of the water on the far right or left. (Ignore the dramatic music.) Then carefully walk along the water's edge to trip the 3 icicle traps (16-18/19) without getting hurt. Now head for the back of the cave. Approach the opening on the left first. Kill another Yeti (19) as it emerges. Then carefully step up onto the block with the icicles (19/19) above, staying as close to the left corner as possible to avoid being impaled. If you tripped all of the icicle traps in the Tibet levels without injury, the "Public Service" achievement/trophy unlocks here. (screenshots)

Continue into the next cave, weapons ready. As you approach the low ice wall, another Yeti (20) vaults out from behind it. Kill the beast then climb over the wall and collect 4 pairs of grenades (20-23). (screenshots)

NOTE: One of these will be the GRENADE LAUNCHER if you somehow managed to get this far without picking it up.

Return to the cave with the pool and go through the opening on the right (i.e., right when Lara's back is toward the water). As you approach the foot of the block steps, another Yeti (21) appears at the top. Shoot it as it descends. Then grab the small medi pack (24) lying on the ground and climb the steps to the cave above. (screenshots)

NOTES: If you go into the opening on the right first, the Yeti (19) that normally appears when you approach the left opening will attack Lara from behind as she approaches the block steps. If the door at the top of the steps is still closed, then you missed the GONG HAMMER. Return to the cave with the pool, swim back to the previous area, and you'll find the hammer sitting on the low, underwater platform.

AVALANCHE AND ICY CHASMS: Continue to a large, sloping cave with many snowballs perched above on the right. Walk forward to trigger the first 2 clusters of snowballs. Wait as they roll past. Then step out a little farther to trigger a third cluster. The remaining snowballs won't roll until you make your way downhill. So turn left and run down the hill toward the pointed archway at the bottom right. The remaining snowballs will then start to roll. As you continue downhill, the camera shifts to show Lara running away from the avalanche. Press Look to regain Lara's perspective and take a running jump into the archway. Lara is safe here. (screenshots)

Follow the tunnel into an ice cave. Before crossing the first deep chasm, save the game, light a flare, and toss it down the hole to unlock the "Better Not Slip Here" achievement/trophy ("Illuminate the deepest chasm"). Reload to get the flare back. Then step off the edge, slide briefly, and jump across the chasm onto the opposite slope. Slide back and grab the edge. Then traverse to the right until you can pull up onto the flat ledge. (screenshots)

Vault up onto the low ledge. Take a running jump across the next chasm to grab the climbable wall of ice on the other side. Climb into the opening at the top and step forward to another slope above a large hole. Top up Lara's health if necessary, since she'll lose about half her health in the next fall. Slide backwards down the slope, grab the edge, and drop to the ground in front of a huge gong. (screenshots)

GONG AND TALION: Before striking the gong, go after a secret: Head down the steps in front of the gong, turn around, and drop/slide to the ground. On the way down, you'll glimpse the TALION artifact in the room below the gong, but you can't reach it yet. Turn around and cross the open area in front of the ice structure to the far left corner. Watch out for the sheer drop-off along the edges. Step down into the little depression in the corner, walk to the edge, take a standing jump to grab the ladder, then climb down. Climb down into the dark pit on the left. (There are spikes below on the right.) Flip the switch at the base of the blocks you just climbed down. This opens a painted wooden door above, providing a glimpse of the Jade Dragon. Climb back up and backflip off the ladder. Head for the back right corner of the cavern when facing the ice structure with the gong. Go through the wooden door and take SECRET #3, the Jade Dragon (25), with a bonus of 4 pairs of grenades (26-29) for finding all 3 secrets. (screenshots)

NOTE: It's possible to claim this secret after picking up the Talion and awakening the boss, but it's much easier to do so beforehand.

Now it's time to bang the gong and finish the level. Move around to the left side of the ice structure and climb/jump up next to it. Follow the cavern wall to the back left corner, jumping over the uneven blocks of ice as you go. Follow the left cavern wall to the back left corner, jumping over the uneven blocks of ice as you go. You'll pass a solid ice window in the base of the structure. The TALION is behind it, but you can't get through yet. At the back left corner, turn right and climb the ice ledges to emerge behind the gong. Follow the ledge along the right side of the gong (i.e., right when facing the back of the gong). Turn left and jump over the steeply angled block of ice to land on the steps in front of the gong. (screenshots)

Stand close to the gong and press Action to strike it with the GONG HAMMER. This will break the ice windows on either side of the structure below. Face the low ice wall to the left of the gong. Grab the edge, pull up, and slide down the other side to land on the ledge below. Turn around, drop down, enter the room below the gong, and take the TALION (30). (screenshots)

You can't see this from inside the structure without using Photo Mode, but when you pick up the artifact, the large ice window outside shatters, and the level boss spawns inside the alcove. Exit through the same opening where you came in. Jump across the uneven ice blocks to the front right corner of the ice structure (i.e., right when facing out over the flat, open area), and save the game. (screenshots)

BOSS FIGHT - GUARDIAN OF THE TALION: When Lara touches the ground, a huge, wingless bird monster, the TALION GUARDIAN (22), emerges from the alcove on the right side of the open area with the huge columns. (screenshots)

If you don't care about the last two pickups , position Lara a bit more than one tile back from the front edge of the icy ledge, with the cavern wall on her right. Take a standing jump down to the snowy block. Wait a moment for the Guardian to emerge. Then backflip onto the ledge. The Guardian can't reach Lara here. So you can shoot him with pistols at your leisure. When the Guardian falls, the level ends. (screenshots)

If you do want all pickups, you'll need to do some running. Inside the monster's alcove are 2 sets of Uzi clips and a large medi pack (31-33) in two piles. To get them, hop down to the ground and run to the left, taking running jumps when you can to cover more ground. The Guardian should emerge from his alcove and follow Lara. Continue clockwise around the edge of the open area, behind the two huge columns, to the depression near the ladder in the far left corner. The Guardian can't reach Lara here. If the Guardian gets stuck and won't approach, face away from the ladder, vault up out of the depression, and wait a second or two for the Guardian to notice Lara. Then continue running/jumping toward the far wall and around the next column. The monster should chase Lara the long way around the columns, giving you a few moments to go for the goodies. Run/jump into the Guardian's alcove and grab what you can. (To save a little time, stop just short of the item, roll, then press Action to make the pickup.) Run/jump past the Guardian, out of the alcove, then to the left. If you managed to get both pickups, skip the next paragraph. (screenshots)

Heal if necessary as you make another circuit around the columns to the safe spot near the ladder. If all has gone well, you can save again there. (You can also pause and take a few potshots at the Guardian. Just be sure not to kill him, and finish the level prematurely.) Then repeat the process for the second pickup. Run/jump to the alcove, run inside, stop just before the pickup, roll, and press Action to grab the item(s). Then run/jump out past the Guardian once more. (screenshots)

Once you have everything, you can kill the Guardian. Outside the alcove, turn left and run forward, staying close to the cavern wall so Lara runs straight up onto the snowy block. Jump at the far edge and she'll and on the safe ledge below the ice structure. Now, draw pistols and blast away until the Guardian falls and the level ends. (screenshots)

NOTE: You can, of course, run out into the open and take on the Guardian while running and dodging. Just watch out for the deep crevasses around the edges of the platform. And keep moving so he doesn't catch Lara or pin her against one of the columns. His pounding fists do a ton of damage very quickly. It takes about 7 grenades, 200 Uzi Rounds, 70 M16 rounds, etc., to kill him. Or, run back to the depression in the corner near the ladder (screenshot), or the doorway to the room where you found the Jade Dragon secret (screenshot). Both of these spots are safe, but it's a bit more difficult to target the Guardian. You'll need to hop up/down to the floor to get its attention, then retreat and shoot.

The "Lara Stamps Out Yeti!!!" achievement/trophy, for finishing the Tibet chapter, registers automatically on the statistics screen.

Cinematic: Lara emerges from the caves and steals a Jeep from the bad guys' camp. A slippery, snowy car chase ensues, with the pasty Marco Bartoli and his henchmen in hot pursuit of our heroine. Of course she makes a clean getaway and soon returns to the Great Wall. She uses the Talion to open the puzzle-lock door and enters the Xian temple.

†UPDATE HISTORY: Updates made prior to the Tomb Raider I-II-III Remastered release, including credit for tips sent in by other players, are tracked in the archived classic guide.
8/1/26 - Remastered guide posted. Better late than never. :D

‡NOTE ON VIDEO GUIDES: Eldin's videos don't always follow the same strategies I use in my walkthroughs, but if you prefer that format, I think you'll find them very helpful.

DARK MODE: I plan to add optional dark mode for these pages, but my current priority is updating the walkthroughs. Meanwhile, may I suggest a reputable dark mode browser extension, such as Dark Reader? (Download only from trusted sites, like darkreader.org or your browser's official add-on/extension site.)

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