STELLA'S TOMB RAIDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS REMASTERED WALKTHROUGH
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered updates are in progress. For levels 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 TR1 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 Temple of the Cat walkthrough.
LEVEL 4: TEMPLE OF THE CAT - REMASTERED
Updated: 1/18/25(†)
Secrets: 4 Pickups: 63, including 7 keys Kills: 42
NOTE: The MAGNUMS and UZIS will be among the regular pickups if you didn't find them in the previous level.
LEVEL MAP by VGCartography (used with permission)
Temple of the Cat Video Walkthrough by Eldincy
OBJECTIVES: Make your way through the starting area into the desert. Find a way into the stepped pyramid. Then make your way through a flooded area into the main temple. Explore several trapped and wildlife-infested areas, opening a series of gold doors and moving deeper into the temple complex. Finally, gain entry into a large, open room with a giant cat sphinx. Climb to the top of the sphinx and locate the level exit. Why? Because Tomb Raider.
HALLWAY WITH RAMP & ALCOVES: Turn around and use the switch to open the trapdoor. Drop down and retrieve the 2 sets of magnum clips (1-2) from the alcoves. The gold door doesn't open yet, so proceed up the ramp. There's a mummy (2, below) on the stairway behind the fence on the left. It can't reach you yet. Climb into either of the openings on the right. Inside are three small cages containing a mummy (1) and 2 small medi packs (3-4). The switch opens all three cages. When you pick up the second medi pack (in either order) the mummy awakens, so take the one closest to the mummy first. Stand over the second medi pack and turn to face the opening on the opposite wall. Pick up the heath and immediately take a running jump into the opening as the mummy attacks. Turn around, step back from the edge, and shoot the mummy from safety. When it is dead, flip the switch back to its up position to open the gold door you passed earlier (i.e., outside to the left when facing the switch). (screenshots)
BEHIND THE FIRST GOLD DOOR: Another mummy (2) lurks inside. Kill it from the raised doorway then hop down into the passageway. This is SECRET #1. Continue to the top of the stairs but watch your back. Two panthers (3-4) attack from behind when you reach the goodies. Here, I like the shotgun. Draw it as you approach the ammo, roll, and run down the stairs a little, so you can see the cats as they cats approach. Shoot one panther as soon as Lara locks on. Then jump and roll over the second panther and hop back while continuing to fire. Pick up 4 sets of magnum clips (5-8) in two piles. (screenshots)
NOTE: One of these ammo pick-ups will be the MAGNUMS if you don't already have them.
Return down the stairs and through the gold door. Make a U-turn to the left and go back up the first ramp, this time all the way to the top. Climb through the opening in the sandy colored rocks to the desert above. (screenshots)
OUTSIDE NEAR THE STEP PYRAMID: Follow the path to the right. At the bend, jump through the gap between the rocks on the right into a small hollow, where you'll find 2 boxes of shells (9-10). Jump back through the gap and continue along the path. When you reach the carved block on the left side of the path, 2 mummies (5-6) spawn on either side of the pyramid. Climb onto the carved block to kill them from safety. If you jump up on the pyramid, you may run into a panther (7) as well. (See below.) (screenshots)
Pick up more shotgun shells (11) on the low block near the whitish rock outcropping. Off to the left (north), you'll notice 6 boulder traps ready to be sprung. (screenshots)
NOTE: There are 9 boulder traps in this level—6 in this area, 4 more later on—and 47 boulders across all 4 Unfinished Business levels. You must trigger them all for the "Roll, Action!" achievement/trophy.
As you run forward to the far right (northeast) corner, the first boulder (1/9), perched on the eastern slope, rolls down behind you. Jump up onto the corner ledge and pick up a box of shotgun shells (12). The second boulder (2/9), above this corner, only rolls when you jump onto the slope next to the shells (i.e., ahead when the boulder is on Lara's left), so you can avoid it if you like. But if you're trying to trip every boulder for the achievement/trophy, jump forward onto the slope, then immediately backflip once to get out of the way. The next 2 boulders (3-4/9), high on the north slope, roll as you run past them. As long as you run straight to the 2 boxes of shells (13-14) in the northwest corner, the boulders won't do any harm. The last 2 boulders (5-6/9) are triggered one at a time when you pick up each box of ammo. It's probably safest to pick up the second box (i.e., the one in the corner) first. This trips the boulder on the right. Hop back to get out of the way. Then pick up the other box of shells, triggering the boulder ahead, and quickly hop back or side flip to the right. Note that the last boulder will roll through the previous one, so even if you triggered that boulder first, you still need to jump out of the way. (screenshots)
Return to the pyramid and approach the movable block to the right (west) of it. A panther (7) appears on the first tier of the pyramid and moves toward you. It can't get down to the ground, though. So kill it now from below or from on top of the block. Pull the carved block toward the pyramid to find some shotgun shells (15) underneath. (screenshots)
POOL WITH TIMED DOOR: Follow the path behind the movable block forward and left to a small pool. Jump in and pull the underwater lever (below and to the left of the ledge when facing it). This opens a door at the other end of the pool, releasing a crocodile (8). Quickly climb out on the ledge to kill it. Pull the lever again to re-open the door. It is timed to close in about 10 seconds, so swim through quickly. Retrieve the 1st ORNATE KEY (16) from the bottom. Doing so reopens the door. Swim up to take a breath if necessary and then swim back to the pool. Climb out on the ledge near the lever and return to the pyramid. (screenshots)
INTO THE TEMPLE BESIDE THE PYRAMID: In order to unlock the "Cat's Cunning" achievement/trophy ("enter the temple without moving two adjacent blocks"), you'll need to take a slightly longer route to the next key. Normally you'd climb up the pyramid and shift the 2 movable blocks there to get inside. Instead, push the carved block at ground level toward the pyramid. Pull/push it out to the corner of the pyramid. Then push it along the side of the pyramid until it's close enough to reach the temple with the blue crocodile murals. Climb on top of the block and take a running jump to grab the raised opening with the shotgun shells (17). Pull up. Take the shells, then drop into the room below. When you pick up the 2nd ORNATE KEY (18), the achievement/trophy should pop, as long as you didn't move the two blocks at the top of the pyramid. The gold door at the end of the passageway doesn't open from this side, so climb the stairs, pull up into the window, and drop back down outside. (screenshots)
CLIMBING THE PYRAMID: Climb up to the first tier of the pyramid and kill that panther (7) if you didn't do so earlier. Continue climbing. Another panther (9) emerges when Lara stands on or near the movable block set into the corner on the fourth tier. The panther can only move between the third and fourth tiers. So you can trigger it by jumping onto the brown corner block. Then, if it gets too close, hop down and continue firing from below. (screenshots)
On the seventh tier, just below the iron fence, are a small medi pack and shotgun shells (19-20). And if you do a handstand on the corner pillar with the cat statue, you get a stunning wide-angle view and an achievement/trophy: "Let's Stretch Together." (To do a handstand, grab the edge of a ledge, hold Walk, and press Forward + Up.) (screenshots)
Return to the 2 movable blocks below the pillar with the cat statue. Pull the left block out to the side, then push it out of the way so you can pull the other block out. Behind the second block is an opening. Safety drop into the sandy room below. Pick up a large medi pack (21) and use the switch to open the nearby door. Go through to the room where you found the 2nd ORNATE KEY earlier. Climb the stairs, pull up into the window, and drop back down outside. (screenshots)
IMPORTANT: If you didn't take the extra steps to unlock the "Cat's Cunning" achievement/trophy (above), be sure to pick up the key on the carved cat's face and the shotgun shells in one of the window openings above.
Climb back up to the 2 movable blocks. Above and behind the blocks is a sandy rise, and beyond that, on the west side of the pyramid, is a huge door overlooking the pool where you killed the crocodile earlier. Use the 2 ORNATE KEYS to open the door. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you want to reach the top of the pyramid and the temple with the crocodile murals, you can use the corner bug on the west side of the pyramid, where the fifth tier meets the stone doorway. The spot is indicated in this screenshot. My Useful Bugs page has more information on using this technique.
INSIDE THE PYRAMID: The passageways leading into the pyramid are laid out fairly simply, but since it's dark, I've included this diagram to make navigating a little easier.
Inside, just ahead on the left, is a switch that lets in some light; don't use it yet or you'll miss a secret. First, go to the right. If you like, you can draw pistols and fire continuously to light your way. Follow the passageway forward, then left. As you advance, a panther (10) charges around the next corner. There's a bit more ambient light here, so you can switch to the shotgun if you prefer. Then go back to pistols for illumination. Continue around the next corner to the left, then straight on to a lighted area with a large medi pack (22). This is SECRET #2. As long as you didn't play with that first switch, this door will be open. Turning the lights on closes this door permanently, so you can't access the secret. (screenshots)
Return to the entrance, using pistols to light your way if necessary. Just beyond the entrance, on the right, is the alcove with the switch. Use it to turn on the lights and unlock the "No Feline Vision" achievement/trophy. Then retrace your steps to the secret room. The door will be closed now. Just beyond it is a well-lit room with a golden trapdoor, and beyond that, on the right, is a second switch. Use it to open the trapdoor. Safety drop into the room below. (screenshots)
ROOM WITH SQUARE HOLES IN FLOOR & POOL BELOW: Below are a catwalk (literally) and a pool. To kill the prowling panther (11) easily from above, follow either passageway (they connect) to the east, jumping over the holes, until you come to a pair of switches. Shoot the cat through the wide opening near the left switch. Flip one switch, then the other (the order doesn't matter), to open the large doors on the east side of the flooded room below. The doors are timed to close after about 20 seconds, so don't linger. (If you don't make it through the first time, see the note below.) Drop into the pool, swim through, then head for the ceiling just beyond the doors, as a pair of crocodiles (12-13) approach from the next room. (screenshots)
HIDDEN ROOM ABOVE POOL: Climb out on either narrow end of the rectangular opening and shoot the crocs if you like. (Don't stress if you can't get them; you'll have a better angle shortly.) Pick up a 3rd ORNATE KEY (23) and 2 small medi packs (24-25) in the alcoves on either side. Stand up near the cat statue, if you like, for a glimpse of the next room. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you don't make it through the doors in time, fight the current to surface on either side of the walkway (it's easier on the south side) and climb out of the water. Just watch out for crocodiles, since they may swim into this area while the door is open. Climb back up through one of the openings in the ceiling and try the switches again. (screenshots)
ROOM WITH TIERED LEDGES AND RUNNING CAT MOTIFS: Once you have the 3rd ORNATE KEY, swim on to the next room to the east. If the crocs are still alive, climb out of the pool quickly. There are low steps in all corners except the far right (southeast). Shoot the crocodiles from safety. Then retrieve the 2 sets of magnum clips (26-27) in the underwater alcoves. (screenshots)
Take the 4th ORNATE KEY (28) from the low step with the cat face. Kill the panther (14) that appears on a ledge across the pool. There are magnum clips (29) underneath the movable block on the second tier and a 5th ORNATE KEY (30) on a higher step in the northeast corner. When you take that key, another panther (15) charges from the opposite corner of the room. Just hop down to the step below to kill it from safety. (screenshots)
The 6th and 7th ORNATE KEYS (31-32) are in raised alcoves on either side of the barred archway on the upper west side. Two more panthers (16-17) guard these, one above each. They won't climb down from the top tier, so you can easily shoot them from below. Since you used two keys to get into the pyramid, you should now have 5 ORNATE KEYS. Use them in the locks on the top level, north side. This opens the door in the corner to the left of the locks. (screenshots)
SIDE ROOM WITH SLOPES AND SPIKES: Enter and approach the opening in the floor cautiously. here are spikes below. Drop down onto the corner block, then drop down again onto the rectangular block below. Jump over the spikes into the alcove with the shotgun shells (33). Jump back to the previous ledge and then to the alcove with the small medi pack (34). Turn around to face out over the spikes. Walk to the left edge of the opening, pivot slightly to the left, and take a standing jump to grab the horizontal crevice above the spikes. Traverse to the left, pull up, and slide down into a short sandy passageway. Climb into the raised alcove and use the switch to open the next gold door in the room above. (screenshots)
To exit, climb onto the ledge to the left of the switch alcove (when facing it). Walk to the right edge above the ramp. Take a standing jump down to the rectangular ledge in the middle of the room. Climb out of the pit. Then go through the door you just opened into a small room with a water-filled opening in the floor. (screenshots)
UNDERWATER ROOMS: Since it's easy to get disoriented here, I've made another map. It doesn't include all the barred windows, just the walls, openings and other major features. The blue square labeled 'H' is the hole where you jump into the water from the room above. Stand at the hole facing north (i.e., open doorway on Lara's left). Jump in and swim down and forward, through the small opening straight ahead at floor level. Following the path marked with blue dots in the diagram, swim to the middle of the underwater room and pick up some Uzi clips (35). You can surface in this room to get air if you need it, but there's no place to climb out of the water. After a moment, a crocodile (18) enters through one of the openings in the east wall. You can either out-swim it or return to the opening where you started, climb out, and shoot it. (screenshots)
NOTES: One shotgun blast will kill the croc, but luring it to the opening can take a while, and it may get stuck, requiring you to swim close to it and draw it out. If you don't care about getting all the kills, you can just avoid the croc while you do the necessary business here. Or, you can instead swim clockwise all the way around the perimeter of the room from the entrance hole to the lever and back. If you go this way, the crocodile won't appear, but you'll miss one of the ammo pickups, and you'll have just enough air to make it if you don't hesitate at all.
Next, from the opening in the floor, again swim down to the bottom. (Notice the switch on the other side of the bars. That's where we're eventually headed.) Continue along the path marked in blue on the map, across the center room, where you found the first Uzi ammo, and through the raised opening in the far right (northeast) corner. Turn left into the northeast corner room, where you'll find more Uzi clips (36) on the floor. Grab them, then roll and swim back along the left (east) wall, now following the path marked in red on the map. If you need air, return through the small square opening on the right and head for the ceiling to breathe (blue path). Otherwise, continue along the left (east) wall to the corner (red path). Turn right and swim through another raised opening. Pull the lever on the left (south) wall to open the next gold door in the room above. The metal bars prevent you from heading directly to the exit, so swim back to the corner, turn left, and continue forward, now following the path marked with orange dots on the map. About halfway along the right (east) wall, swim through the raised opening on the left, into the center room. Swim up to the ceiling for air if you need it, then on through the raised opening in the far left (southwest) corner. Swim up to the hole in the ceiling and climb out of the water. Go through the door you just opened. (The door leading back to the room with the spike pit will be closed now.) (screenshots)
ROOMS WITH PRESSURE-PAD DOORS & MUMMIES: This next room has pressure pads decorated with pharaoh faces on the floor. Step on both pads and the doors open. There are 2 mummies (19-20) beyond, which must be dispatched. If you have shotgun ammo to spare, I'd suggest using it. Stay inside the room with the pressure pads to kill the first mummy without animating the second. Then step forward to animate the second and hop back firing. When the coast is clear, enter and flip the 2 switches. One moves the boulder (7/9) blocking the west doorway. The other opens a door back in the ROOM WITH TIERED LEDGES AND RUNNING CAT MOTIFS, as well as another door in the room behind the boulder. (screenshots)
NOTE: This boulder is not actually a hazard, since there's no danger, but it does count toward the "Roll, Action!" achievement/trophy.
Stand in the doorway that was previously blocked by the boulder and take a running jump to the alcove with the small medi pack (37). This awakens the hibernating crocodile (21), which you can then shoot with pistols from the safety of the alcove. When it's dead, hop down and pick up the shotgun shells and magnum clips (38-39). (screenshots)
Climb into the doorway near where you got the ammo and pull up onto the ledge above. Before moving on, turn around and check out the carving of the modern adventurer on the west wall to unlock the "Not the First Raider Here" achievement/trophy ("stare at Lara's ancient image on the wall for 5 seconds"). Then follow the passage to an opening where you can drop into the pool in the ROOM WITH TIERED LEDGES AND RUNNING CAT MOTIFS. Climb the ledges to the southwest corner room (to the left of the barred archway) to find the door you just opened. (screenshots)
RAMP WITH MUMMIES IN ALCOVES: Enter and pick up the Uzi ammo (40) from the pedestal. The gold door to the left isn't open yet. There are 8 mummies (22-29) in the alcoves flanking the ramp. They animate when you reach various points in the room. Take your time exploring, keep your ears open for their telltale groaning, and you won't have to fight more than two at once. You can pick up the goodies on the ledges near the mummies now if you like. Doing so won't cause them to wake up. In all there are 4 sets of Uzi clips and a small medi pack (41-45). (The first Uzi ammo (screenshots)
NOTE: The first Uzi ammo pickup in this area (40) will be the UZIS themselves if you don't already have them.
Here's one possible sequence for animating the first 7 mummies and destroying them with pistols without taking any damage: Head down the ramp to the sandy area and take the left path. The first mummy (22) awakens. Climb onto the first flat, sandy block on the left, and the mummy will not be able to reach Lara. You can then jump over to the sand pile in the middle for a better firing angle. If the mummy runs off, you may need to hop down to get its attention and then climb back to safety. When you approach the large medi pack (46) in the back left (southeast) corner, 2 more mummies (23-24) animate. Jump back to the first safe block, then the sand pile, and shoot them. The next 2 mummies (25-26) awaken when you approach the Uzi ammo (47) in the back right (southwest) corner. They can't reach Lara here, but you also can't see them very well. So you'll probably want to return to the sand pile to shoot at them. (Avoid the area near the switch for now, though, or more mummies will awaken.) (screenshots)
For the next 2 mummies (27-28), approach the switch on the west wall from the left side. When you flip the switch, the gold door at the top of the ramp opens, and the 6th mummy (27) awakens. As you run to the stone block beneath the tan archway, the 7th mummy (28) animates. Pull up onto the block and kill both mummies from there. (Or jump back to the sand pile if you need a better angle.) (screenshots)
Return to the top of the ramp, past the eighth mummy (29), which still hasn't moved. Pick up all the items lying in front of the mummy alcoves if you didn't do so before. Then proceed through the gold door into an anteroom with an ornate chair on a pedestal. The gold door opposite the entrance is still closed. (screenshots)
BRIGHTLY LIT ROOM WITH WIDE STAIRWAY: Go through the doorway on the right and start up the stairs, but watch your back. When you reach the top step, the eighth mummy (29) wakes up. Roll, draw weapons (I like the shotgun or Uzis here), and run partway down the stairs. Then, as the mummy approaches, you'll have room to hop back while shooting. Try not to jump around too much, though, since there are gaps on all sides, and it's a long drop to the deadly floor below. (screenshots)
Return to the top of the stairs. Walk to the right corner. Step off the corner to land on the flat block below. From there, drop to the next lower block. Walk to the edge then take a standing jump to the ledge across the gap, between the right (west) wall and the carved pillar. Jump to the small ledge ahead on the left (behind the carved pillar), and from there to the yellow block with the decorative border and Uzi ammo (48). Turn to face the wall and jump straight up to grab the horizontal crevice. Traverse to the left until you can pull up. Turn right and climb onto the ledge with the cat statue. (screenshots)
ROOM WITH SWITCH BEHIND CAT STATUE: As you enter the room behind the cat statue, a golden bridge extends from the ledge behind you to the top of the stairs. Use the switch to open the gold door in the room at the foot of the stairs. Leave the switch room, but ignore the bridge and instead go after a secret. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you don't care about getting all secrets, pickups, and kills, just skip the next section. Proceed across the bridge, down the wide stairs, and into the anteroom with the chair on the pedestal. Watch out here, as a panther (31, below) charges out through the door on the right. Go through that door and pick up the walkthrough below at the "ROOMS WITH GREENERY."
SECRET ROOM & DEADLY SANDS AREA: To get the secret, exit the switch room and immediately turn left. Hang from the edge and drop onto the ledge just below. Turn so the tall, square pillar with carved hieroglyphs is directly behind Lara. Drop down onto the next square ledge. Now turn so the carved pillar is on Lara's right. Then safety drop to the ledge below. (At this point, you may hear some growling. You'll meet this panther later.) (screenshots)
There are spikes in the shallow pit straight ahead, and the sandy floor below on the right is deadly, so avoid it. Instead turn left and go through the small, square doorway leading to SECRET #3. Take the Uzi clips and large medi pack (49-50) from the ledges. (screenshots)
RAMP WITH BOULDER TRAPS & STAIRS LEADING UPWARD: The ramp at the back of the secret room leads to the top of the temple, but it's also a boulder trap. Run up the ramp to trigger the first boulder (8/9) and immediately veer into the first small opening on the left so Lara doesn't get squashed. Return to the base of the ramp and do the same for the second boulder (9/9), running into the alcove about two-thirds of the way up the ramp on the left. If you've tripped all the other boulders in the Unfinished Business levels (47 boulders in all), you'll unlock the "Roll, Action!" achievement/trophy here. Continue up the ramp and turn left into a brown stone hallway with stairs. (screenshots)
A panther (30) appears on the ledge above on the left and makes its way down toward you. You should have plenty of time to shoot it before it reaches Lara. When it's dead, climb onto the ledge and pick up the shotgun ammo and small medi pack (51-52) in the alcoves. The bars in the other alcoves are now open, so head for the farthest one and go through to emerge at the base of the wide stairs. (For whatever mysterious Tomb Raider reason, the bars then close behind you.) The next panther (31), which you may have heard earlier, will be waiting here. Kill it quickly with the shotgun or hide in any of the barred alcoves alongside the stairs. Just take care not to slide down into the room with the deadly sands. Re-enter the anteroom with the fancy chair at the bottom of the stairs, turn right, and continue through the gold door. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you reach this point and the gold door is still closed, you missed a switch. Return to the top of the stairs and follow the walkthrough above to reach the switch behind the cat statue. Use the switch to open the gold door. Cross the newly extended bridge to get back to the top of the stairs. Descend, kill the panther that emerges from behind the gold door, then go inside.
ROOMS WITH GREENERY: Note the gold trapdoors in the ceiling of this room. For now, follow the passageway in the near right (southwest) corner. Just beyond the dogleg, the passage opens into a low-ceilinged room with palm trees, and a crocodile (32) charges straight at Lara. One shotgun blast at close range should take care of it. Grab the small medi pack (53) in the alcove on the right. Then continue into the next room, which contains a pool. When you approach the large medi pack (54) off to the left, another crocodile (33) attacks from the previous room. If you back up toward the medi pack, you can target the croc as it approaches. A third crocodile (34) lurks in the pool. Kill it from the edge with pistols. Then use the underwater lever to open the two gold trapdoors back in the first room. Follow the passageway back there and climb through either of the trapdoors into the room above. (screenshots)
Vault up onto the pharaoh face in the middle of the room to open the nearby trap door. Drop into the room below and pick up a small medi pack and shotgun shells (55-56). The exit opens when you approach. (screenshots)
HALLWAY WITH THREE DOORS FLANKED BY SWITCHES: This long corridor contains 3 gold doors, each flanked by a pair of switches (6 switches in all), as well as a carved square door at the far end opposite the entrance. The MIDDLE DOOR, below the skull motifs, leads to a trappy dead-end, but you can complete it for an achievement/trophy. The LEFT AND RIGHT DOORS, below the cat motifs, both lead to the next area. The small carved door hides a secret. If you're going for 100% completion, follow the sequence below.
NOTE: If you want to skip the trap room and the secret, and proceed directly to the end of the level, head for either of the doors under the cat motifs. Skip down to the section "ANTEROOM & LARGE ROOM WITH CAT SPHINX," below.
MIDDLE DOOR - TRAP ROOM WITH MUMMIES: Use the 2 switches to open the middle door, with the reassuring gilded skulls above it, but don't rush in; it's a trap. To get in and out alive, and unlock an achievement/trophy in the process, climb the stairs to the second-from-top step. Do not step into the barred alcove at the top yet. The 2 mummies (35-36) in the side alcoves don't animate yet. Stand in the middle of the second-to-top step. Sidestep to the right edge, then turn around to face the entrance. Save the game, since this next bit will probably take several attempts. Backflip into the barred alcove and immediately jump forward, while pressing Left, to land on the gold steps near the mummy's alcove. As you go, the stairs change into a slope, leading down to the deadly floor below, and the mummies awaken. Before the mummy can shove Lara off the edge, run forward and jump into the corner alcove ahead on the left. (screenshots)
Once you make it to the corner alcove, shoot the mummies with pistols. If you have trouble targeting the mummy on the same side of the room take a running jump across the room to grab the edge of the opposite alcove. Pull up and shoot the mummy from there. Save the game again before taking a standing jump (with Action) from the alcove to the entrance. (If you're having trouble with this jump, there's an alternative on the page with screenshots.) As you leave the room, the "Pitfall" achievement/trophy should pop.
NOTE: You can also start on the right side of the steps and aim for the far right corner alcove, if that's better for you. This method worked fairly consistently for me, using classic tank controls, but if you're struggling, there are several variations with different combinations of jumps and rolls on YouTube.
SECRET ROOM WITH TIMED DOOR & MOVABLE BLOCKS: You can obtain this secret even if you don't open the trap room. Stand just outside the gold door below the skull motifs. Doing so opens the small door with the hieroglyphs at the far (north) end of the corridor. Once Lara leaves this pressure pad, the door only stays open for about 8 seconds. If you stand on the pad with the gold door on Lara's right, side flip to the left, then take running jumps all the way to the door, you'll make it in time. (screenshots)
Inside is a warren of rooms with movable blocks. You'll need to rearrange the blocks in order to reach the secret room and get back out. To unlock the "Sokoban" achievement/trophy, you must "get all secret items and leave the room by moving the blocks no more than 24 times." Save the game before you start pushing blocks, in case you mess up.
The diagram below follows the same sequence as the walkthrough and accompanying screenshots. Each of the movable blocks is labeled with a letter. The various stages of the arranging are numbered 1-8.
(1) When you first enter through the timed door, there's a movable block (A) directly in front of you. Push it once, go around to the left, and push it again (2). Behind the first block is a switch, which opens the exit. You don't need to use it yet. Next to the first block is a second movable block (B). Pull it once, then go around to the other side and push it into the doorway (3). In order to unblock the doorway so you can get out later, you'll need to move the first block (A) into the corner on the other side of the switch by pulling it once, going around it, then pushing it once. Now, you can pull the second block (B) out of the doorway and push it into the corner next to the first block (4). (screenshots)
Enter the next room, where there's a third block (C), (also shown in step 4). Face this block so there are open squares on either side. Pull it once into the middle of the room, then go around to the right side and push it once. This opens up a passageway with a fourth block (D), (5). Pull this block 3 times, then go around to the opposite side and push it against the wall (6). Now move the third block (C) against the opposite wall by pulling it once to position it in front of the fourth block (D), then going behind it and pushing it again (7). (Don't bother pushing block C into the corner next to D; you'll only waste a move you'll need for the achievement/trophy.) (screenshots)
Enter the next room and pull the fifth block (E) once to get it out of the corner. Then go around to the side and pull it 4 times to bring it through the doorway into the previous room. Go around to the left and push the fifth block (E) against the wall next to the third block (C), (8). The sixth and final block (F) is obstructing the doorway to the secret room (also shown in 8). Pull it twice and enter. This is SECRET #4: small and large medi packs, shotgun shells, and Uzi clips (57-60). Return to the first room (with blocks A and B) and use the switch to open the exit. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you found all secrets in both Egypt levels, you'll unlock the "Codex of Cat" achievement/trophy as you enter the secret room. If you solved the block puzzle in 24 moves, and picked up all 4 items in the secret area, the "Sokoban" achievement/trophy will unlock as you re-enter the corridor with the gold doors.
ANTEROOM & LARGE ROOM WITH CAT SPHINX: Return to the corridor with the 3 gold doors and 6 switches. You can reach the next area through either the left or right door and still get 100%, though it is possible to avoid one mummy by choosing the left door. (See the note below.)
We'll go through the gold door on the right (i.e., at the south end of the corridor). Use the 2 switches and go inside. As you start up the steps toward the next room, the door closes behind you and 2 mummies (37-38) attack: One drops from the ceiling; the other spawns on the far side of the large room ahead and makes its way toward you. There are only a few enemies left, so don't hesitate to bust out the good guns. But if you'd rather use pistols, you can run up the steps and through the doorway, veer right, and jump up onto one of the safe blocks just inside the large room. Then snipe at the mummies from there. (screenshots)
Now head for the back of the sphinx. When Lara steps on any of the tiles along the far (east) wall, a third mummy (39) spawns near the front of the room and sneaks up from behind. Again, you can destroy it quickly with the shotgun or Uzis, or jump up on any of the blocks and shoot it with pistols. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you enter through the left gold door (at the north end of the corridor) instead of the right, there's no terrifying ceiling mummy in the anteroom. As you approach the back of the sphinx room, one mummy (37) appears behind the sphinx. When you step on any of the tiles running along the back (east) wall, a second mummy (38) spawns in front of the sphinx. If you like, you can trigger them one at a time and jump up on blocks to shoot them. You'll only meet the third mummy (39) if you go into the southwest anteroom (where you would have come in had you chosen the other gold door).
Go around to the back of the sphinx to get inside. Climb the short flight of steps, and push the movable block to find a small medi pack (61) underneath. Climb onto the block with the cat face. Turn around and grab the gold ledge above. Pull up, turn around again, and take a running jump to the gold ledge opposite. Be careful not to run off the edge. From there, take another running jump to grab the long, turquoise ledge across from the cat sphinx. Pull up. You'll probably have noticed some growling as you climbed up through the sphinx. There's a panther (40) high above in the sphinx's mouth. You may be able to snipe it from below, but you'll have a better angle shortly. (screenshots)
If you avoided the TRAP ROOM WITH MUMMIES earlier (see above), you will meet 2 mummies on this level: one spawns on the opposite (east) side, the other in the room behind the bars. If you destroyed the mummies in the trap room, this level will be clear, though you will notice one inactive mummy standing by the east wall.
Turn so the sphinx is on Lara's right and the barred opening is on her left. Then take a carefully angled running jump from the end of the turquoise ledge to the perpendicular ledge on the north side of the room. Hop down and head to the left into the room behind the bars. Or, if you prefer, after pulling up onto the long turquoise ledge, turn left and move counterclockwise around the perimeter of the room to get to the room behind the bars. (screenshots)
SHORTCUT: You can use the corner bug on the taller of the two carved pillars in the northeast corner to jump directly to the upper level. You'll get a lovely view of the cat sphinx and avoid a lot of tedious jumping. However, you'll also miss a kill and a couple of pickups. If you've never used the corner bug or need help, see my useful bugs page at tombraiders.net/stella/goodbugs.html. After bugging to the top of the pillar, pick up the walkthrough below at the section "ON TOP OF THE CAT SPHINX."
CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE CAT SPHINX: The western room, behind the metal bars, contains a gray block staircase. Climb to the top, drop down into the next room, and pick up some Uzi ammo (62) near the barred doorway. Then climb up to the the ledge with the cat faces, turn left, and climb into the small, square opening. Step out onto a ledge overlooking the area. From here, you'll get a nice clear shot at that panther (40) on guard in the cat sphinx's mouth. (screenshots)
Take a running jump onto the gold block to the right of the sphinx's head, then a standing jump to the longer gold walkway beyond. Move to the end and take jump into the alcove on the right. Continue to the other end of the alcove and jump from there to the carved pillar with the small medi pack (63) on top. If you've collected all the other items in the two Egypt levels, you'll unlock the "Gifts of Wonderland" achievement/trophy when you make this pickup. (screenshots)
NOTE: This achievement/trophy was initially bugged but was fixed in the second patch.
Take a running jump from the top of the carved pillar to the next gold walkway. Continue to the end and take a take a running jump to grab the top of the northeast corner pillar. Pull up. Turn left, walk to the edge, and jump straight up to grab the edge of the opening above. Pull up, and ready weapons to kill the mummy (41) that approaches from the northwest over the walkway. Here I like to use Uzis, and as soon as Lara gets a lock on the mummy, backflip over the hole, and keep firing until the mummy explodes. You can also run forward along the walkway to meet it, then backflip away firing. When it's dead, follow the walkway forward and around to the left toward the sphinx. Climb on top of the carved stone pillar. (This is the same pillar described in the corner bug shortcut above.) Jump from the pillar to the flat area in front of the cat sphinx's right eye. (screenshots)
ON TOP OF THE CAT SPHINX: Pull up and take a step forward to draw out the mummy (42) lurking beyond. If you're low on health, or just want to play it safe, you can carefully hop back down to the flat spot in front of the eye. Then kill the mummy by jumping straight up and down while firing. Follow the steps down between the sphinx's ears and pull the switch to extend the cat's tongue. (Again, if you destroyed the 2 mummies in the TRAP ROOM earlier, the tongue will already be extended.) (screenshots)
Slide backwards down the nose and grab the end. Drop to the tongue. Kill that panther (40) now if you didn't earlier. Enter the mouth, minding the gap in the floor, and pull the switch to open the gold door opposite. Jump back across the gap, cross the tongue bridge, move out onto the ledge overlooking the desert, and step off to end the level. The "Miu" achievement/trophy, for finishing the Shadow of the Cat levels, unlocks on the stats screen. Nice work! (screenshots)
†UPDATE HISTORY: 1/18/25 - First major update for the remastered version posted. Updates made prior to the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered release, including credit for tips sent in by other players, are tracked in the original guide.
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 web store.)
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