The following lists basic controls, as well as complex moves involving combinations of keys, and controls for combat, swimming and vehicles. Non-essential acrobatic moves are covered on a separate page. PlayStation 2 controls are in blue, PSP pink, GameCube/Wii purple, and Xbox green. (The GameCube version also runs on the Wii but you'll need to use a GameCube controller. Where regular Xbox differs from Xbox 360, the 360 controls are listed first and the regular Xbox controls are in parentheses.)
Because the controls are quite different from previous Tomb Raider games, there are more notes than usual, including an entire section on the new Camera & Movement Controls.
Whether you are using a mouse and keyboard, a gamepad, or a PlayStation, Xbox or GameCube controller, you can change the controls in the Options Menu to suit your taste. Just go to the Options menu, select Controls, then follow the instructions on screen.
The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance controls are listed at the beginning of the walkthroughs for those games. Follow this link for PDF manuals for all the games.
Information about difficulty levels, saving/loading and checkpoints, weapons and combat modes, etc., is at the bottom of the page. Rewards and unlockable content, including Xbox 360 Achievements, and the heads-up display are covered on a separate pages.
Basic Moves
MOVE |
CONTROLS |
DESCRIPTION/NOTES |
Run Forward/ |
W/A/S/D |
(See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.) |
Walk or Sneak |
Ctrl or Shift + W/A/S/D |
Walk and sneak seem identical except cosmetically: Lara stands upright while walking and crouches slightly while sneaking. Enemies won't notice her while walking or sneaking as long as she doesn't get too close or cross their line of sight. Unlike in past games, Lara will step off edges whether walking or sneaking. |
Pivot |
N/A |
Not available in Legend. |
Sidestep |
N/A |
Not available in Legend. |
Jump |
Space Bar/Right Mouse Button |
Makes Lara jump straight up. Where there is something for her to grab, she'll grab it automatically. More complex jumps are covered under combo moves, below. (NOTE: The right mouse button can be used instead of the Space Bar wherever jumping is required. I have left it out below to save room.) |
Interact |
E |
Similar to 'Action' in previous games except not needed to grab ledges, etc. (Lara grabs automatically.) Used to manipulate switches and levers, grab onto movable objects, pick up objects on the ground, kick objects, etc. Also used in conjunction with movement keys to climb/swim faster and for the saving grab, below. |
Saving Grab |
E |
Same key as Interact, above. In most cases Lara will grab edges automatically when she jumps or falls, but occasionally she'll grab using only one hand. When this happens a warning icon appears (a yellow hand on the PC or the icon corresponding to the particular console button). Quickly press the correct key to grab with both hands; otherwise Lara will fall. |
Duck/Crouch/ |
F |
Used alone, Lara will duck or crouch. (In Legend, she cannot draw weapons while crouching.) Hold Duck and use the direction keys/buttons (left analog stick) to creep forward. Also used to make Lara let go if she is hanging. If there is a handhold below, she'll grab it automatically. Also used in several of the combination moves described below. |
Crawl |
N/A |
Not available in Legend. (Use Roll or Duck instead.) |
Display HUD and Reset Camera/Rotate Camera |
J/Move Mouse |
The first key resets the camera angle behind Lara and shows the heads-up display (HUD). To adjust the camera angle, use the mouse (PC) or right analog stick (PS2, Xbox). On the PSP, hold Square and move the analog stick. The camera moves independently of Lara, so there is no longer a 'Look' function. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.) |
Activate PDA |
Tab |
Opens Lara's Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). This screen has information on level objectives, rewards obtained, progress toward pistol upgrades, etc. (See the Rewards page.) |
Lara's Gear
Use Health Pack |
Home |
There's no inventory screen in Legend. Just press this key when you want to heal. (See the HUD page for details.) |
Personal Light Source (PLS) |
Delete |
Toggles the light on and off. On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons until the PLS is highlighted. Then press Triangle to use it. (See the HUD page for details.) |
Binoculars |
Page Down, mouse wheel or H/G |
Press the first key listed to use binoculars; press again to return to normal view. In binocular view, use the second set of controls listed to zoom in and out. To activate the Remote Analysis Device (RAD), press the Interact key (above). In RAD mode, objects that can be manipulated glow, along with icons indicating whether they are explosive, mechanical, movable or fragile. (On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons until the binoculars are highlighted, then press Triangle to use. Press Select for RAD mode.) |
Flares |
K |
In part of the Peru level, Lara has flares instead of the PLS. Use the same control to light and throw flares that you use for grenades. Lara's supply of flares is unlimited, but only two will stay lit at a time. |
Weapons |
|
(Covered below under Combat.) |
Combination Moves
Push/Pull Object |
E + W/A/S/D |
To grab a movable object, like a boulder or crate, position Lara against it and press Interact to grab and hold on. Then use the direction keys/buttons (or left analog stick) to move the object. Tap Interact again to let go. |
Jump/Running Jump/ |
W/A/S/D + Space Bar |
Press the directional key (or press on the left analog stick) in the direction you want Lara to go and simultaneously press Jump. Or, for a longer jump, start Lara running in the desired direction and then press Jump. Holding Jump keeps Lara in the air a little longer. When Lara has her guns drawn, press any direction key (or nudge the analog stick) and tap Jump, and she'll flip in that direction. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.) |
Safety Grab |
E |
After a jump, Lara automatically grabs if there is a handhold available. Sometimes a jump falls just a bit short and she grabs with only one hand. You'll see the safety-grab icon (a yellow hand on the PC, Triangle on the PS2 and PSP, Y on the Xbox) indicating you must quickly press Interact to make Lara grab more securely. Otherwise, she will let go and fall. |
Safety Drop |
Shift + W/A/S/D |
Walk to an edge (either by holding Walk + direction keys/buttons or pressing lightly on the left stick). When she reaches the edge, Lara will then step off and grab the edge automatically. Most of the time Lara will grab even if you don't hold the Walk key, but there are a few spots (noted in the walkthrough) where it definitely helps. |
Climbing |
W/A/S/D |
When Lara is hanging from a ledge or other handhold, use the direction keys/buttons (or left stick) to move laterally. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.) |
Pull Up/Let Go and Drop |
Space Bar/F |
To vault up onto a ledge from which Lara is hanging, tap Jump. To let go and drop, press Duck. If there's a handhold below, she'll grab it automatically. |
Jump and Grab (while climbing) |
W/A/S/D + Space Bar |
When Lara is climbing, to jump a gap and grab a handhold on the other side, climb as far as possible in the desired direction. Continue pressing the direction key (or stick). Lara will lean out in that direction. Press Jump and she'll leap and automatically grab. To jump straight up and grab a higher handhold, just press Jump. If there's a handhold above, she'll grab it automatically. (See the note on Camera & Movement Controls, below.) |
Climbing Vertical Poles |
W/A/S/D |
Lara will automatically grab a vertical pole, chain, fixed rope, etc., when she runs or jumps toward it. Once she's hanging on, use direction keys/buttons (or left stick) to climb up and down or to pivot left and right. Jumping off or letting go, is the same as for climbing, above. |
Climbing and Swinging on Horizontal Bars |
W/A/S/D...Space Bar |
When Lara is hanging from a horizontal pole, use the direction keys/buttons (or left stick) to move hand-over-hand laterally or to swing around the bar. While swinging, press Jump to leap off or press Duck to let go and fall. |
Climb Faster |
E |
While climbing along a ledge, vertical or horizontal bar, or ladder, tap Interact in time with Lara's movements to make her climb faster. |
Forward Roll/ |
W/A/S/D + F |
While running, tap Duck to do a somersault, or hold Duck to do a series of forward rolls. When Lara has her guns drawn, run in any direction and tap Duck, and she'll perform an evasive roll. |
Handsprings, Somersaults & Other Acrobatic Maneuvers |
(various) |
Along with the basics, Lara can now perform a number of gymnastic feats using different combinations of basic movement keys. These aren't necessary to gameplay, but they're fun to do. For a printable list, see here.) |
Rope Swing |
W...Space Bar |
To grab a dangling rope (vine, etc.), point Lara toward it and take a running jump. She will automatically grab it. While she's hanging, position the camera behind her, press and hold Forward to swing back and forth. The longer you hold the key, the higher she'll swing. Press Jump to leap off or press Duck to let go and fall. |
Climb and Pivot (when hanging from rope) |
E + W/A/S/D |
When Lara is hanging from a rope, cable, etc., hold Interact then press Forward/Back (or left stick) to climb up and down. When using the grapple to climb, up/down actually retracts and extends the cable. To pivot, press Left/Right. |
Grapple |
Q |
Lara's magnetic grapple can attach to certain metal objects in the environment. You'll learn to recognize them by their metallic shine. Press this key to throw the magnetic grapple. Generally, Lara will automatically aim at the nearest viable target. Once the grapple is anchored, you can move as usual using direction keys/buttons (or left stick). Press Interact to pull on the cable. Press Grapple again to release the cable if necessary. On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons until the grapple is highlighted, then Triangle to use it, Square to release it. |
Manual/Accurate Aim with the Grapple |
Z...Q |
(Manual Aim is covered in detail under Combat.) |
Grapple-Swing |
Space Bar + Space Bar |
In certain areas, Lara can use her magnetic grapple to swing across gaps. To do this, jump into the air then quickly press Jump again to throw the grapple. You don't need to press the Grapple key. As long as there is an object above that can be grappled, Lara will do it automatically. On the PSP, select the grapple in the HUD (above), then press X to jump then Triangle to throw the grapple. To swing, climb and pivot while hanging from the cable, use the same controls for ropes (above). (NOTE: In most cases objects that can be used to grapple-swing have a distinctive blue dot icon on them. Exceptions are noted in the walkthrough.) |
Combat
(Some combat controls differ depending on which Combat Mode is selected. See Weapons, Combat Modes & Targeting, below.)
Target Lock and Draw/Holster Weapon |
G |
Used to draw and holster guns, as well as to keep a lock on a specific target. How it works varies depending on the Combat Mode you select. |
Fire Weapon |
Left Mouse Button |
In standard combat mode, this makes Lara draw weapon, target the nearest enemy and fire. |
Switch Weapon |
End |
Press to swap between pistols and secondary weapon. The HUD shows which one is currently selected. On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons to the Switch Weapon icon, then press Triangle. (More on Secondary Weapons below.) |
Change Target |
Mouse |
In Standard combat mode, when fighting multiple enemies, move the mouse or right stick to point the camera toward the desired target, then fire. On the PSP, hold L to maintain a target lock. To switch targets, press Square and use D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through available targets. |
Throw Grenade |
K |
Press to toss a grenade at the targeted enemy. Or, if no target is locked, point the camera where you want the grenade to go, press and hold the grenade button and release to throw. The longer you hold the button, the farther Lara will throw the grenade. To hit a particular target, use Manual or Accurate Aim (below). Lara can carry up to 4 grenades at a time. (On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons to the Grenade icon, then press Triangle to throw. On the GameCube/Wii, you can't use manual aim with grenades.) |
Manual/Accurate Aim |
Z |
On the consoles this involves clicking the right thumb stick (i.e., pressing it inward like a button). Manual aim is comparable to the laser-sight view in previous games. It's used for stationary targets or distant enemies. Press this key to enter manual aim view, center the targeting reticle on the enemy or object. The reticle turns red if the enemy is within range, though you can still hit some of the time when the reticle is gray. It turns blue if the object can be grappled. Press Fire, Grenade or Grapple. Press Manual Aim again to return to normal view. (To use manual aim with grenade or grapple on the PSP, first have the desired HUD icon selected. Press D-Pad Up, aim with the stick, then press Triangle. On the GameCube/Wii, you can't use manual aim with grenades.) |
Environmental Hazards |
E |
Destructible objects are marked in-game with the Environmental Hazard icon (a yellow triangle on the PC, Triangle button on the PS2, Square button on the PSP, Y button on the Xbox). These include crumbling rocks, fuel tanks, etc. Press Interact to target and fire at them automatically. |
Aerial Attack |
Forward...Space Bar + Space Bar |
When an enemy is targeted, run toward him and press Jump twice. The game shifts into slow motion as Lara sails above her opponent's head. Press Fire Weapon to finish off the enemy and/or Interact to land a flying kick. |
Slide Attack |
Forward...F |
When an enemy is targeted, run toward him and press Duck to slide into him, knocking him off balance. (NOTE: Hand-to-hand attacks only work on human enemies.) |
Grapple Attack |
Q |
When an enemy is targeted, press Grapple to hook him with Lara's magnetic grapple and pull him toward her. On the PSP, press D-Pad Left/Right to cycle through the HUD icons until the grapple is highlighted, then Triangle to use/release it. (NOTE: Hand-to-hand attacks only work on human enemies.) |
Kick |
E |
When an enemy is targeted, move in close and press Interact to kick him. (NOTE: Hand-to-hand attacks only work on human enemies.) |
Swimming
Surface |
Space Bar |
When Lara is swimming underwater, press Jump to swim toward the surface. |
Dive |
F |
When Lara is swimming underwater or on the surface, press Duck to dive deeper. |
Swim |
W/A/S/D |
Use direction keys/buttons (or left stick) to swim on the surface or underwater. Or just press Forward and move the camera (with the mouse or right stick) to steer Lara. Combine with Surface/Dive to move up and down underwater. |
Swim Faster |
E |
Tap Interact repeatedly to make Lara swim faster underwater or on the surface. |
Exit Water |
W/A/S/D |
To climb out of the water, swim toward the edge and keep pressing Forward (or whatever direction Lara is facing) and she'll automatically climb out if the edge is low enough. |
Vehicles
Use Vehicle |
E |
To get on/off a motorcycle or forklift, press Interact. |
Accelerate |
W |
|
Brake/Reverse |
S |
|
Steer |
A/D |
While moving forward or backward, use Left/Right keys (or left stick) to steer. |
Forklift Controls |
H/Left Mouse and K/J |
Use these keys to raise and lower the fork. Other driving controls are the same as above. (NOTE: The walkthrough for England includes more info.) |
Change Target |
G |
Since you can't use the mouse for targeting while driving, tap this key to switch targets. Shooting enemies and environmental hazards use the normal controls (Fire Weapon and Interact). |
CAMERA & MOVEMENT CONTROLS
Players who are used to the classic Tomb Raider controls will notice big changes in Legend. Lara now moves relative to the camera. For example, if she is facing left and you press Forward she will turn and run away from you, not to the left (i.e., she moves forward based on where the camera is pointing). Similarly, if Lara is climbing and you want her to jump in a certain direction, you must press the direction key (or stick) in the desired direction on screen plus the Jump key (e.g., Back + Jump makes her jump toward you, regardless of which way she's facing before she jumps).
When walking or running, it may help to "steer" Lara by pointing the camera in the direction you want her to go, using the mouse or right analog stick. Then just press Forward to move her. When jumping or doing grapple maneuvers, it may help to tap the Center Camera key first to move the camera behind Lara. Then the camera's right, left, forward and back are the same as hers. This doesn't work in some tight places, but it usually does the trick.
If you're playing on the PC, you may want to reassign the keyboard controls to make them more comfortable for you, or try a PC-compatible gamepad. I use a regular, wired Xbox 360 console controller, but there are many other types that will work.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Difficulty level is first set at the beginning of the game, but it can be changed during the game just before starting any new level. There are 3 difficulty settings: Explorer (Easy), Adventurer (Medium) and Tomb Raider (Hard). The difficulty setting affects various factors, including time in which to make a safety grab, damage Lara sustains from enemies and environmental hazards, and the number of health packs available.
A fourth setting, Time Trial is available when replaying levels you have completed. (See the Rewards page for details.)
SAVING/LOADING GAMES & CHECKPOINTS
Each level includes numerous checkpoints (indicated in the walkthrough). Every time Lara passes a checkpoint, the game is autosaved. If Lara dies, the game automatically reloads at the previous checkpoint. In-game prompts remind you to save when necessary.
You can also save or reload manually from the Pause menu (accessed by pressing Escape on the PC, Start on the consoles). Select 'Save', then scroll to the bottom of the list of existing saves to where it says 'New saved game'. Then press Enter (X on the PS2, A on the Xbox). To load a previously saved game, select 'Load' from the Pause menu (or from the Load/Save option in the Main Menu), scroll down to the save you want and press Enter (X or A).
Although you can save anywhere, reloading a saved game always places Lara at the previous checkpoint. For PC players, who are accustomed to unlimited saves, this takes some getting used to, but it has the advantage of preventing you from saving as Lara is about to die. I strongly recommend saving manually at least a few times in each level. Then if you miss a reward, decide to do something differently or encounter a bug in the game, you can choose from several saves instead of being stuck with only the autosave. This can prevent you from having to replay the whole level to get one reward or, worse, start way back in a previous level to get past a bug.
When playing the Croft Manor level or replaying any level you have already completed, you cannot save manually. However, the Pause menu lets you save any rewards you have collected, and the game prompts you to do this before quitting. (See the Rewards and Croft Manor pages for more information.)
Note that the checkpoint system can also help conserve health packs. If Lara's health is low, try and make it to the next checkpoint. Once you've passed it and the game autosaves, kill her. When the game reloads, Lara has full health without using a single health pack. This trick is especially useful in levels like London and Nepal where little health is available. (Thanks to K.Z.)
WEAPONS, COMBAT MODES & TARGETING
In Legend you obtain secondary weapons by killing enemies and picking up what they drop. Unlike health packs and ammo, which are added to Lara's inventory when she runs over them, weapons must be picked up manually by pressing Interact (E/Triangle/Y). Lara always keeps her pistols, but she can only carry one secondary weapon at a time. So whenever you pick up a new weapon, she'll drop the other one she was carrying. To switch between pistols and secondary weapon while fighting, press End/D-Pad Down.
The HUD shows the number of rounds in the current clip, as well as available backup ammo for that weapon. Each time Lara runs through a clip for that weapon, she'll pause to reload. You can also reload manually by quickly holstering and then drawing the weapon again. When the secondary weapon runs out of ammunition, Lara will automatically switch back to the her default pistols, which have infinite ammo.
Lara's PDA is updated as you go along to include information about each new weapon, including the maximum number of rounds Lara can carry for that gun. Here's a summary:
WEAPON |
AMMUNITION* |
DESCRIPTION/NOTES |
DUAL PISTOLS |
40/infinite |
Lara has her pistols in all of the main game levels. (In Croft Manor, you find them while exploring.) These guns are not too powerful but they never run out of ammo. It's possible to use them throughout the game, but of course certain fights will take longer. Be sure to switch back to pistols whenever heavy firepower isn't needed (e.g., shooting weak enemies, inanimate objects, etc.) to conserve ammo for the secondary weapon. Note that finding artifacts will upgrade the pistols' magazine size, accuracy and damage as you progress through the game. (See the Rewards page for more info.) |
SUMBMACHINE GUN (SMG) |
40/160 |
Powerful but runs through ammo quickly. Better at close and medium range. |
RC650 ASSAULT RIFLE |
30/150 |
Powerful and proficient. Best long-range weapon. Can shoot single rounds with a gentle tap on the fire button or hold the button for automatic fire. |
SHOTGUN |
5/25 |
Powerful at close range but somewhat unwieldy to aim and slow to reload. Also holds less ammo than most other weapons. |
GRENADE LAUNCHER |
3/15 |
Multi-shot launcher allows you to aim grenades at a target from a distance. Although the ammo counter says it can hold up to 15 grenades, as far as I know, there are no ammo pickups for this weapon. The only way to add more than the 3 grenades it comes with is to hang onto it and pick up the weapon itself from another enemy. The hand grenade pickups (below) cannot be used with the launcher. |
HAND GRENADES |
4 |
Hand grenades are different from the grenades used by the launcher (above). Lara can carry 4 grenades at a time. For details see Throw Grenade under Combat controls, above. |
*AMMUNITION: Listed as maximum number of rounds that can be loaded at one time over the maximum number of rounds that can be carried.
The mechanics of combat in Legend also differs from previous games. First, you have a choice of three different Combat Modes (four on the PC). In the Options Menu under Controls, select Combat Mode, then choose one of the following:
During gameplay, you can also select Manual/Accurate Aim Mode. This is similar to the laser-sight view in previous games. It is covered in the Combat section, above.
Main Controls Page | Legend Walkthrough | Main Page
†UPDATE HISTORY: 5/31/06 - Added alternate binocular and forklift controls plus a few cosmetic changes.
6/8/06 - Refined the section on saving/loading and checkpoints, added flares, various cosmetic changes.
6/17/06 - Added PSP controls. Special thanks to Ablufia for providing this info.
7/13/06 - Updated patch info for enabling Walk in the PC version.
9/27/06 - Fixed a few incorrect PSP controls. Thanks to Dan R. for help with this.
10/15/06 - Added useful savegame glitches section.
12/19/06 - Added GameCube controls, thanks to Treeble.
1/1/07 - Fixed the control for Walk in the PC game. Thanks to Rayne for the heads-up.
1/19/07 - Added saving grab as a separate control.
2/3/07 - Finally added gymnastic moves.
2/5/07 - Added missing PSP controls, thanks to Jason T.
3/25/07 - Added details on walk vs. sneak. Thanks to John W. for help with this.
4/14/07 - Corrected PS2 control for changing targets while riding the motorcycle, thanks to Hanna.
12/26/08 - Made a few minor changes for clarify and consistency with the Anniversary & Underworld pages.
8/5/09 - Minor tweaks made while revising the Legend walkthrough.
10/19/09 - Added headshot tutorial video.
8/10/10 - Fixed typo in PSP controls, thanks to a tip from Judy.
12/18/10 - Added additional weapon info and list.
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