TOMB RAIDER GBC: CAVERNS A
NOTE: Letter designations for switches (S#), doors (D#), save crystals (C#), etc., in the text refer to labels on the corresponding level maps. The switches are numbered to match their corresponding doors (e.g., switch 1 opens door 1, switch 3 extends ledge 3, etc.). All pickups are marked on the map (I hope). Enemies and hazards are noted in the walkthrough but not on the maps.
Caverns A - Map 1 (click for printable map/map key)
You begin the level near the top left of the map. The first save crystal (C1) is just ahead. Save and jump over the pool of purple goo to the right. Climb onto the small platform above and then to the platform above that. Jump up to grab the bars on the ceiling and monkey swing to the left. Pick up heavy bullets, dynamite and a small medipak in the room to the left.
Monkey swing all the way to the right and drop onto another small platform. Jump to the ledge on the right with the switch (S1). Kill 2 bats (use Look to trigger them) and use the switch to open a door below. Slide down the ramp and go right to the blue door (D1) you just opened. (If you missed the switch, you can use the platforms to climb up to it.)
Take a running jump to grab the ladder to the right of the blue door. Keep climbing up and to the right (you'll meet a bat on the way). Pick up some dynamite and run across the white break-away tiles to the next save crystal (C2). Step off the ledge, slide down the slope and jump at the end to land on a ledge with a small medipak, rapid bullets and a steam vent. (These hazards are marked with pink S's on the map.)
Slide down the next slope to land near a small medipak and a dart shooter in the shape of a fish head. Drop down to the ledge below and pick up another small medipak and some dynamite (if you don't already have any) below and to the right. Climb back up to the ledge with the fish-head dart shooter and take a running jump to the left to grab the ceiling bars. Monkey swing to the left (above the huge pool of purple goo) and drop onto the narrow ledge with the DOOR KEY (K).
Pick up the key and slide down the slope, jumping to grab the next set of ceiling bars. Monkey swing to the left and drop onto the small platform above the purple goo. Take a standing jump to the next small platform to the left. From there, take a running jump to the next ledge. Climb up and use the DOOR KEY to unlock the blue door (D2).
(NOTE: The ledges above and to the right lead back up to the first blue door. You don't need to go there if you have the key, but if you missed it, you can go back that way to get it. Go past the 2 steam vents, climb the ladders and then follow the walkthrough above from crystal C2.)
Hop down beyond the blue door (D2) and get rapid bullets (2x) and a small medipak. Climb up two ledges on the left and shoot the mercenary on the ledge above before climbing up there. Go through the cave opening (marked "A" on the map) to the next area.
Caverns A - Map 2 (click for printable map/map key)
You enter this map near the top left. Go right to the save crystal (C3). Climb the ladder as far as you can and jump to grab the ladder behind. Climb to the top and kill 2 bats. Safety drop into the pit on the left to avoid landing in one of the steam vents. Get the large medipak and climb back out.
Take a running jump to grab the top of the wall with the ladder to the right. Shoot another bat and take a running jump to the small platform ahead. (If you fall into the piranha-infested pool below, climb out of the water and back up the ledges.) Take another running jump to the next platform, just below the blue door (D3). Kill another bat and drop to the ledge with the small medipak. To the right is a shallow pit with rapid bullets and a switch (S3). Use this to open the blue door above and then climb up to it.
Go through and take a running jump across the spike pit to the next save crystal (C4). Hop down on the other side. Jump over to the next blue door (D4), which isn't open yet. Climb down the ladder and let go. Go to the right and take a standing jump to grab the next ladder. Climb down to a ledge near a pool with two waterfalls and pick up a small medipak.
Jump into the pool and swim down and to the right for another small medipak. Avoid the electric eels if possible. Get air if necessary and then swim down to the bottom of the pool. Pick up rapid bullets and swim to the left. Use the underwater switch (S4) to open the blue door up above.
Climb out of the pool and go back up the two ladders to the blue door (D4). Pick up dynamite and heavy bullets. Climb down the first ladder and backflip to the ledge with the gray door. Use dynamite to destroy it. Go through and hop down to a second gray door. Use the dynamite you find there to blow up the door. Slide down the ramp into another pool.
Swim down and to the left. Pick up a small medipak on the bottom and continue left and then up to surface near a save crystal (C5). Hop into the pool to the left of the crystal. Use the underwater switch (S5) there to open the exit door (D5) from this map. (It's way down at the bottom right of the map. You'll get there a bit later on.)
Climb back out of the water near the crystal (C5). Swim across to the next ledge on the right, climb out of the water and then jump into the pool to the right. Swim down behind the reddish-orange rock that denotes a concealed passage. (These are indicated in dark gray on the map.) Watch out for the electric eel as you pick up the small medipak and use the underwater switch (S6) to open a secret room below. (You'll be getting the goodies shortly.)
Climb out of the pool and jump back into the pool between the two ledges. Swim down and to the left through another concealed passage (reddish rock). Avoid the electric eel and jellyfish as you pick up a small medipak, rapid bullets and heavy bullets on the bottom. Swim back up to the cave with the save crystal (C5) to breathe.
Swim down and take the first fork to the right. Follow the passage to the right and upward. Surface in the small air pocket with the single waterfall. Then swim straight down. At the bottom, go to the left through the blue door (D6) you opened earlier. Pick up heavy bullets and a large medipak. Swim back up to the air pocket.
Now head for the exit: Swim down and to the left. When you come to the vertical shaft, you can swim up to get air and use the save crystal (C5) again if necessary. Otherwise, swim down and to the right. Swim along the bottom of the map past 3 jellyfish, pick up the small medipak and go through the blue door (D4) you opened earlier. Continue to the right to the next area.
Caverns A - Map 3 (click for printable map/map key)
You enter this map at the bottom left. There are piranhas scattered throughout the level. Avoiding them wastes time and air. I found it easier to ignore them and just use a small medipak when Lara's health gets low.
Swim forward to the small medipak. Then swim up and left to the first air pocket. Here you'll find a save crystal (C6), heavy and rapid bullets on the ledge above and a switch (S7). Use the switch to open a blue door (D7) elsewhere.
Swim back down to the main passage and then swim up past a jellyfish. Angle up and to the left and go through the blue door (D7) you just opened. Use the underwater switch (S8) to open another door and then swim up through the hidden tunnel of reddish rock to another air pocket. Get the large medipak on the bottom.
From this air space, swim down and to the right, through the blue door (D7) where you entered, and on to the right. You'll pass another jellyfish before coming to the next blue door (D8), which will be open if you used the last switch. Beyond the blue door, swim down and right, pick up a large medipak and then swim up and right to find air and a save crystal (C7).
From the crystal, swim back down and to the left. Follow the passage as it slopes upward to the left. The passage forks ahead. Take the lower fork and follow the passage as it slopes upward and then down to the left. You'll pass a blue door (D9) on the right that isn't open yet. Swim down through a hidden tunnel to an underwater room with dart traps and 2 underwater switches (S9 and S10). Use the switch on the right (S9) to open the blue door you just passed. Do not use the left switch (S10); it only sets a trap. Swim back through the hidden tunnel and then to the right through the blue door (D9). Continue to the right, following the ceiling, to the next small air pocket.
[NOTE: If you used the left switch (S10) in the room with the two switches, the current will be strong here (T10) and Lara will be swept into the spikes at the right end of the tunnel unless you swim hard to fight it.]
From the air pocket, swim down and a little to the right, then head straight up the shaft lined with fish-head dart traps. After the dart traps, head upward and to the right to find air and another save crystal (C8). Jump into the pool to the right of the crystal. Swim down through 2 concealed tunnels to find rapid bullets, heavy bullets and 2 small medipaks on the bottom. Swim back up to the crystal.
Swim back down and to the left. When you pass over the shaft with the fish-head dart traps, continue straight on to the left. The passage slopes upward. At the fork with the jellyfish, head up and left to find air. Take a breath and swim down and to the left, through an opening with dart traps above and below, into a room with a switch (S11) on the right wall. Use this to open 2 blue doors (D11a and b) elsewhere. Then return to the air pocket.
This time, swim down and to the right. When you enter the next passage (with the jellyfish and the 2 electric eels on patrol), angle up and to the right. Continue through the first blue door you just opened (D11a). Follow the passage as it twists downward to the left then right. Go through the second blue door (D11b) and then swim up and right to surface near a gray door.
Climb onto the ledge above to get dynamite if you need it. Blow up the gray door and go through. Pick up the small medipak and continue to the right to exit this level.
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