TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD - SPOILER-FREE BUG NOTES

IMPORTANT WARNING: Tomb Raider: Underworld contains several serious, potentially game-stopping bugs. Most of these apply only to the PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 game, though the Nintendo Wii game has its share of bugs as well. I am trying to stay up-to-date on bug-related info, but please understand that I don't cover Tomb Raider full time and my not be aware of every new discovery. I encourage players to visit the official Eidos Support site and the major Tomb Raider forums listed on my Community for the most current bug warnings and fixes.

As with every game, I highly recommend that you do not rely exclusively on the autosave. Instead be sure to save manually at least once or twice each level. Then, if you do run into a bug, you can reload rather than having to replay large parts of the game. If you're playing on the PC or Wii, you're welcome to download a savegame file if you run into difficulty. PlayStation and Xbox users unfortunately don't have that luxury. So be safe; save often in new slots.

Players using the PC DVD game should also download and install the Underworld PC patch. The file, along with a list of fixes, can be found on the Eidos Support site.

Here is a list of most major bugs and ways to avoid them (if known). Additional information can be found in the walkthrough. This page is meant as a warning so that players will know where to pay particular attention when playing through the game for the first time.

MAJOR BUG #1 - MEDITERRANEAN SEA - The Norse Connection

At the end of the level, you return to Lara's boat and the final cut scene in the level is triggered. This bug prevents the cut scene from playing, so you are unable to move on to the next level.

Systems affected: PlayStation 3 only (as far as I know)

Prevention: Unknown. So far this has not been recognized by Eidos Support as an "official" bug. As far as I know there is no guaranteed solution or prevention. However, I do recommend saving several times as you go along. Then if you do encounter the bug, you may be able to reload one of those saves and play through successfully.

Solutions:

• Reload an earlier save and play through some or all of the level again. With any luck, when you reach the boat, the successfully scene will be triggered normally.
  
  
• Without reloading, make your way back through the level. (I'm not sure exactly how far back you need to go. You may have to experiment a bit.) Then return to the surface again. The cut scene may then trigger normally.
  
  
• Download a save file for the start of the next level, God of Thunder.* Save files for both the North American (NTSC) and European (PAL) games are available here. Thanks to Nicole for this.

If you have a European (PAL) format PS3 save file for the beginning of the God of Thunder level, I would love to have it to post here.

MAJOR BUG #2 - COASTAL THAILAND - The Remnants/A Puppet No Longer

At the very beginning of Part 1: The Remnants, there is an underwater cave. Do not swim into this cave while exploring this area. Doing so can trigger a bug later on, at the end of Part 4: A Puppet No Longer, in which the lever required to open the exit and finish the level is missing.

Systems affected: Wii only (as far as I know)

Prevention: Simply avoid the cave in question. There's no reason you have to go inside. The exact location of the cave is described in the Wii walkthrough.

Solutions:

• Download a savegame file for A Puppet No Longer without the bug. Or reload one of your own saves made before triggering the bug in The Remnants and play on from there.

MAJOR BUG #3 - SOUTHERN MEXICO - The Unnamed Days/The Midgard serpent

Near the end of Part 1: The Unnamed Days, there is a fork in the path where the player can choose to go left or right. If you go to the left and Lara dies before reaching the next checkpoint, this can trigger a bug at the beginning of Part 3: The Midgard Serpent, in which a certain set of ramps, which allow you to cross a deep pit, are missing, preventing you from continuing in the level.

Systems affected: PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

Prevention:

• Players using the PC DVD game can download the patch, which fixes this bug.
  
  
• On any system, go to the right at the fork and avoid the area that can potentially trigger the bug until after finishing The Unnamed Days and beginning the next level, Xibalba. See the walkthrough details.
  
  
• On any system, save manually in the middle of The Unnamed Days and do not overwriting that save until you've finished Southern Mexico. That way, if you do experience the bug, you'll have a "clean" save from which to reload. Again, check the walkthrough for details when the time comes.
  
  

Solutions:

• Windows PC or PlayStation 3: Download a save file for The Midgard Serpent without the bug.* Or, reload one of your own saves for the beginning of The Unnamed Days (or earlier), before triggering the bug. Then replay without doing that.
  
  
• Xbox 360: As far as I know, the only solution is to reload the autosave for the beginning of The Unnamed Days, or any earlier save. Then replay without triggering the bug.
  
  

MAJOR BUG #4 - SOUTHERN MEXICO - The Midgard Serpent

In the middle of Part 3: The Midgard Serpent level, there is a room where 2 wooden poles or clubs are used as puzzle items. Some players have experienced a bug here. After picking up one of these poles and then dropping it in another location, the pole then becomes stuck in the floor or otherwise unusable. After reloading the game, the pole is missing entirely, so the level cannot be completed.

Cause: Unknown

Systems affected: As far as I know, only PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

Prevention:

• If you make it to the start of the Midgard Serpent without encountering MAJOR BUG #3 (above), save your game in a new slot and do not overwrite this save until you finish the level. That way, if you encounter any of these bugs, you can reload that clean save and try again.
  
  

Solutions:

• Windows PC: So far I haven't heard of these happening in the PC or Wii games, but if it does happen to you, download one of my bug-free save file. Or reload one of your own saves from earlier in the level and play on from there.
  
  
• PlayStation 3: Download a save file for the start of the Midgard Serpent level.* Or, reload your own save for the beginning of The Midgard Serpent (or earlier), before triggering the bug. Then replay and hopefully you won't encounter the bug the next time through. If you have no earlier save, you'll have to restart the game.
  
  
• Xbox 360: As far as I know, the only solution is to reload the autosave for the beginning of The Midgard Serpent, or any earlier save. Then replay and hopefully you won't encounter the bug the next time through.
  
  

MAJOR BUG #5 - SOUTHERN MEXICO - Midgard Serpent/Land of the Dead

In Part 4: The Midgard Serpent there are actually several potential bugs, which may or may not be related. Here are the different manifestations I've heard about so far:

• At the end of The Midgard Serpent level, Lara retrieves an item that enables her to move a large rock and proceed to the level exit. After dying and reloading the game during the next level, Land of the Dead, this artifact is missing from the player's inventory. It is also not to be found in its original location. So the player is prevented from moving the rock and finishing the level.
  
  
• Near the end of The Midgard Serpent level, Lara retrieves the key that opens the level exit. After dying and reloading the game during the next level, Land of the Dead, they key is missing from the player's inventory. It is also not to be found in its original location. So the player is prevented from finishing the level.
  
  
• After dying and reloading during the Land of the Dead, all of the health items collected previously are missing from the player's inventory. This isn't as big a deal, since it's possible to continue the game without them, but it's still annoying.
  
  
• Smaller unrelated bug: Near the end of The Midgard Serpent level, there is a set of break-away handholds that disappear after you use them. It's possible to break the handholds and then get stuck as a result. The walkthrough describes a way around this.
  
  

Cause: Unknown

Systems affected: As far as I know, only PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

Prevention: Same as MAJOR BUG #4, above.

Solutions: Same as MAJOR BUG #4, above. (PC and PS3 players can choose the save file nearest the point where they experienced the bug.* Xbox 360 players should reload the nearest level-start autosave.)

MISSING ARTIFACTS & RELICS IN SECOND PLAY-THROUGH

If you've completed the game and want to replay certain levels to obtain artifacts and relics you misssed the first time, choose Treasure Hunt from the main menu and then select the level you want to replay.

Starting a new game, either during the first play-through or after beating the game, can result in a bug in which any treasures and relics you found previously are missing. As far as I know, the only solution is to delete all save files (on the PC these are located in the My Documents > Eidos > Tomb Raider - Underworld folder) and then select New Game. If you have the PC version, you may also need to uninstall and reinstall the game to start from scratch.

NOTE ABOUT SAVE FILES: PC and Wii save files can be transferred fairly easily between players. Downloads and instructions can be found on the Underworld Save Files page. PS3 saves are more complicated. After the original PS3 Underworld game was patched for trophy support, players could no longer transfer saves between profiles. There is a work-around for the original game, but to the best of my knowledge, the Tomb Raider Trilogy version is the patched game and consequently does not allow players to share saves. I don't own a PS3, though, so I have not experimented with this. If you know otherwise, please tell me.

[Main Underworld Page]

[First Level]

†UPDATE HISTORY: 1/1/09 - First draft posted online.
2/23/09 - Added notes on the Norse Connection PS3 bug.
8/30/13 - Added notes on transferring saves among the various PS3 versions.

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