This is the walkthrough and video walkthrough for Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft. Find all the secrets and puzzle solving below. The video walkthrough was extracted from Youtube thanks to Tartancroft and the text walkthrough thanks to Stella.
1. Highland Fling | 2. Willard’s Lair | 3. Shakespeare Cliff | 4. Sleeping with the fishes | 5. It’s a madhouse! | 6. Reunion
1. Highland Fling
GETTING INSIDE:
Grab onto the vine-covered wall with the bars and climb to the top. Safety-drop down on the other side. Climb on top of wooden crate near the small pool, stand at the left corner above the pool and jump forward on a diagonal to grab the vine-covered ceiling above.
(NOTE TO NEW PLAYERS: This is a movable crate. You can make Lara slide it along the floor by standing her against the side of it and pressing Action, then down/up to pull/push, where space permits. If you want, you can move it under the vines and jump straight up to grab them.)
Traverse across the pool and drop onto the small, triangular ledge near the sign that says “Willard’s Well.” Carefully pick up the small medipak then slide down into the pool.
LAKESIDE:
Swim through the underwater opening to the lake. The current will sweep Lara downstream. After a few moments she’ll be able to swim to the surface. Swim between the stone bridge abutments. Ahead on the left is a small, WOODEN DOCK. Pick up the harpoons on the bottom of the lake underneath the dock.
If you like, you can explore the lake area further to find more goodies. I found it easier to make all the pick-ups a bit later on from on top of the bridge. This walkthrough follows that sequence. For now, climb out of the water onto the wooden dock. Walk up the path past the “Do Not Enter” signs.
There are a few different ways to handle this next area. I’ll suggest one, but feel free to experiment. Go through the opening in the stone wall on the left. Before going up the ramp, to the next open area, crawl into the low opening to the left of the ramp. Just inside, in an alcove on the right, you’ll find a box of flares. Rather than continuing into the cave, come back out and go up the ramp.
OPEN AREA WITH WOODEN CRATES:
Allow the guard to run across to the iron gate and open it, letting in a freakish gene-slammed German shepherd. While he’s doing this, run to the right (where the guard came from) and climb into the doorway. Here you’ll be safe from the dog and can focus on killing the guard first. After the fight, go around and pick up all the items: In the area behind the gate, you’ll find a large medipak. The guard drops flares, and there’s a box of shotgun shells on the ground at the top of the ramp.
If you kill the guard before he opens the gate, it will remain locked. You can get the medipak by going back down the ramp to the crawlspace. This time, crawl all the way in to the back, left. Here you’ll find a switch, which opens a nearby trapdoor. Stand underneath and jump straight up to grab the edge. Pull up into the barred cave and kill another red-eyed dog. Then take the medipak and crawl out the way you came. (NOTE: You can go into the cave before confronting the guard. But then you meet two dogs at once.)
ON THE BRIDGE:
From the OPEN AREA WITH WOODEN CRATES, go through the stone doorway. The only exit from the next room is the opening on the right leading to a ledge above the water. Step off onto the ledge and follow it to the end. The camera view will shift to show another guard on the bridge ahead. You may be able to kill him from the ledge. If not, take a diagonal standing jump from the end of the ledge to the bridge and do the deed. The guard drops shotgun shells, and there’s another box of shells on the wide left edge of the bridge.
NESSIE WATCH:
If you look carefully, you can spot the Loch Ness monster off in the distance. From the spot where the second box of shells was, walk out onto the ledge. Use the Look button and angle Lara’s view down a little and you’ll see Nessie swimming from left to right near the tower with the flag on top.
Now continue along the bridge toward the ruins. When you pass the two little buildings and approach the dog statues, a crow flies in from above. Kill it and approach the steam vent between the two gates. After the flock of bats flies out, get the shotgun shells inside the vent.
If you want to, you can make a few side trips to pick up those items you saw from the dock area. If not, skip down to the section titled “ENTERING THE RUINS.”
(NOTE: If Lara falls in the water while getting any of these goodies, either reload a saved game or return to the bridge—using the directions below at the *—and try again.)
THE UZIS:
Return to the side of the BRIDGE that overlooks the open lake and the flag tower. Walk out onto the jutting ledge where you picked up the shotgun shells and looked for Nessie. You should be able to see a glint of silver on the bank below on the left, just beyond the rock outcropping. That’s the guns.
Save your game, as this will probably take more than one try. Position Lara at the left corner of this ledge facing the square “notch” in the water near the left bank. Take a running jump from the left side of the ledge, pressing Action in the air so Lara lands in the water right at that notch. This is a dead spot in the current where it’s difficult to maneuver. Pressing the left/right keys will make Lara pivot in place. Try to point her toward the shore ahead (with the bridge still behind her). Hold the Action key and lightly tap the Jump key so she inches toward the surface. Pressing Jump too hard will cause her to get caught by the current and swept back toward the WOODEN DOCK. If you do it just right, she’ll pop out of the water and land on the shore a few steps away from the UZIS.
[NOTE: It’s also possible to get the Uzis by jumping or diving off the rocks near where you get the harpoon gun (below) and swimming into the same dead spot in the current. I found the method listed above much easier, though.]
After getting the guns, jump into the water and let the current sweep Lara back to the POOL WITH THE WOODEN BREAKWATER below the bridge. Off to the left near the breakwater, you’ll find more harpoons on the lake bottom. (You can’t climb out on the breakwater. It’s too high. You’ll approach it from above later.) Swim across the lake to the other side. You can climb out of the water between the two stone support pillars and pick up 2 bunches of harpoons—one behind each support.
(*) Swim back to the WOODEN DOCK, climb out of the water and return up the path to the bridge. There is a shortcut from the dock to the bridge: Climb on the stone block at the top of the path on the left. From there, take a running jump to grab the long ledge on the side of the bridge, and from there jump onto the bridge as you did before.
THE ROCKET:
Now go after that rocket. Go to the right side of the BRIDGE (the side that overlooks the dock). Take a running jump from the jutting ledge to the triangular flat spot on the greenery-covered rocks below. Take a standing jump from the top corner of the triangle to the rocks ahead. Lara will slide down to another flat spot near the water. Take a standing jump from the inner corner of that triangle up the slope to the flat spot above. Hold down the forward key for just a moment to keep Lara from sliding back down the slope, but don’t hold it too long or she may run too far forward and slip down the next slope. From the top of the rocks you should see the rocket off to the right. Take a standing jump from the edge of the rocks down to the ledge and pick up the rocket.
ROOFTOP:
Return to the BRIDGE. (Use the shortcut described in the note above if you like.) Again go to the right side of the bridge (the side that overlooks the dock). Walk out onto the ledge next to the dog statue on the right and turn to face the vine-covered corner of the building. Take a standing jump from the edge of the ledge to grab the vines. This should trigger the appearance of another bird. Press Jump to back flip onto the ledge where you started and kill the crow before continuing. (You may need to walk back onto the bridge to get a clear shot.) Repeat the jump and climb up the vines. When you near the top, either climb to the left and dismount on the ledge or back flip onto the ledge behind.
Up on the roof you’ll encounter both a crow and a guard lurking behind the wall. Take care of them. Then look for the raised opening with vine-covered rocks below. Climb up to the opening to find secret #1, the loaded SHOTGUN and 2 boxes of shells. Go to the outside corner of the secret room that overlooks the lake. Turn around so the roof area with the grating is on Lara’s right. Slide down the slope backwards and grab the edge. Now climb all the way down the side of the vine-covered building to the rocks below. (On the way down, you’ll pass a small room with a switch. You’ll return here later.)
BREAKWATER AND ROCKY AREA BELOW THE CASTLE:
Cross the rocks to the wooden breakwater. As you explore the area below the bridge, another crow may emerge. (This will happen only if you didn’t already get its attention by climbing up to the rooftop area.) Slide down onto the breakwater and pick up a small medipak. Take a standing jump back up the rocks to the flat area on top. Walk across it to the side facing the open water and the tower with the flag. Set up a running jump from the flat, triangular area a few steps from the castle wall toward the area beyond the corner of the castle. When you take the running jump, you’ll probably need to press the Right arrow key in the air to land on the flat spot beyond the corner. Otherwise, Lara will slide down into the water. Pick up the HARPOON GUN and additional harpoons.
(NOTE: If you didn’t get the Uzis earlier and want to try it from here, save your game. This next bit is extremely tricky and you’ll probably need to try several times. Again, I prefer the first technique, described above. If you don’t manage it at all, don’t worry. You’ll have other opportunities to get them in later levels. First scope out the location of the guns. Take a running jump or swan dive from the right side of the rocks into the water and swim against the current toward the flat area across the lake. It may take several tries to get there, but when you do reach that spot, press Action and Lara will magically pop out onto the shore a few steps from the guns.)
Jump into the lake, ride the current back to calm water, swim to the dock and return to the BRIDGE as you did before. Now you can continue exploring the level.
ENTERING THE RUINS:
At the end of the bridge near the steam vent and the two dog statues are two gates. It doesn’t really matter which gate you choose first, but I found it a bit easier to go to the right side before the left.
If possible, kill the guard in the area to the right of the gates before jumping across the gap into that area. Continue forward and to the right. Jump into the pool and get 2 bunches of harpoons and the CROWBAR from the bottom. Climb out of the water and go up the low steps to the right of the pool. Here you’ll find the switch that opens the right gate near the steam vent. After pulling the switch, you have only a short time to get through the gate before it closes. So pull the switch, press Look to get Lara’s perspective back, turn left and take a standing jump over the sloped wall next to the switch. Run toward the BRIDGE, jumping the gap. Then turn right and run through the open gate.
BEHIND RIGHT GATE/ROOM WITH WOODEN CRATES:
Go down the stairs into this room and kill the guard who runs to hide behind the boxes. Pick up the small medipak he drops. Enter the next room with the dog statue. There’s another guard in here. Allow him to open the gate for you, then quickly run through the gate. Roll and finish off the guard. The gate closes after a moment, so if you don’t get inside before it does, you’ll be unable to get the secret.
Use the CROWBAR to pry open the wooden door. (Position Lara at the center of the door, facing it, and press Action. Select the crowbar and press Action again to use it.) Inside is secret #2, a tomb containing the MP5 SUBMACHINE GUN and 2 sets of clips. Exit through the crawlspace to the left of the gate. As you crawl through, the gate here opens and one of the burners goes out so you can crawl out safely.
GRAVEYARD:
Go through the dog statue room into the GRAVEYARD. As you explore, another guard emerges. He drops shotgun shells when you kill him. There are openings off the graveyard to the left and right. First, go to the right.
MISTY AREA WITH POOL OF MUD:
Another guard lurks inside on the right. Kill him and pick up shotgun shells on the steps and a small medipak in the alcove at the left side of the steps. The pool of mud is too deep to wade through here, so return through the GRAVEYARD and out the opposite side.
MUD POOL WITH STONE BLOCKS AND STELE:
Go through the open area to the right until you come to a ramp leading down to the mud pool. Take a standing jump to the top of the square stone pillar to the right of the ramp. Turn right. Take a running jump to the right side of the next pillar with the purple flowers growing on it. Avoid the left side, which is too slippery to stand on. A crow flies in and tries to knock Lara off the pillar, so kill it quickly.
Look out over the mud pool and notice the coat of arms painted on the right wall. Take a running jump along the right side of the purple flowered pillar to land near the coat of arms. Wade through the mud, aiming for the opening below the coat of arms. Lara’s head will sink below the mud, but if you head through the opening, she’ll be fine. Continue into the dark, mud-filled room beyond. Walk out of the mud and crawl through another low opening at the far left. When the passageway comes to a T, go to the left.
OUTDOOR AREA WITH ROCK HILL AND WOODEN CRATES:
There are various useful items on top of the crates. Have that shotgun ready, though, because when you take the large medipak the 2 dog statues come alive. Pick up MP5 clips, shotgun shells and flares as well. Return to the crawlspace and this time take the other branch (ahead and to the left).
After a short crawl Lara will be able to stand again. But you’ll need to go through another crawlspace to emerge on a ledge above the mud pool. Climb the ledges, pick up a small medipak. Then climb up one more ledge (look for a steam vent) to get the THISTLE STONE. Turn around, jump to grab the vine-covered ceiling and traverse out and to the left across the mud pool. When you reach the far end of the pool, drop onto a ramp and slide down into the hallway below. Slide down another short ramp to land near the pool where you found the crowbar. Return to the steam vent and gates at the end of the BRIDGE.
(NOTE: If you fall into the mud pool, you may be able to make it to the steps on the right before Lara drowns. Either reload a saved game or make the circuit again to reach the exit.)
BEHIND THE LEFT GATE:
Go to the left side of the bridge, beyond the gates and steam vent to the jutting ledge, from which you can see the tower with the flag on top out in the lake. You can take a running jump from this ledge directly into the opening. Or, jump from the ledge to grab the vine-covered wall of the castle, then climb into to the opening. Try not to fall off when the bats fly out. Inside this small room, you’ll find a closed gate and a switch. The switch opens a gate elsewhere—the one to the left of the steam vent on the BRIDGE. This gate is timed to close after a few moments, so you need to hurry to get there.
Here are two possible ways of doing this: Pull the switch, press Look to get Lara’s perspective back, roll and run/slide down to the opening on the left. Slide down the left side of the ramp and jump the gap to land on the bridge. (Or, if you slide at the middle or right of the ramp, jump and press Action to lower Lara’s arc a bit so she lands on the bridge without banging her head on the archway.) Run forward and to the left through the open gate. Kill the guard inside.
Alternately, open the gate, let the guard out onto the bridge and kill him from the opening of the switch room. The gate will close in the mean time, so pull the switch again to open it and run for the gate. This takes a little longer but at least you won’t have to make the timed run under fire.
In the area beyond the gate there are small square openings along the left side. These lead to a ramp with a gate and the switch that opens it. If you need to get back to the bridge for some reason, you can exit here. Otherwise, continue with the walkthrough.
Leave this room through the door in the far left corner (under the triangular barred window). To the right is a wide gate with two snake-shaped receptacles. This is the level exit. You’ll return here when you have both THISTLE STONES. For now, go through the doorway on the left.
STEPPED PATH LEADING TO DEEP PIT:
Walk up the winding path. The dog statue comes to life as you approach. Kill the dog and continue up the steps. At the top of the path, slide down the steep slope. Continue to the next open area. Just inside this area there’s a green slope on the left. Don’t jump over it; there’s a deep pit filled with toxic slime on the other side. Instead, continue up the path to approach the pit from the side.
If you draw weapons and walk slowly through the narrow hallway toward the pit, you will probably be able to kill the guard on the ledge above before climbing up. (The MP5 works quite well here.)
Before crossing the pit, pick up the flares on the far side. (If you look through the bars here, you may be able to catch another glimpse of Nessie swimming past the tower with the flag.) Return to the edge of the pit, jump up to grab the vines on the ceiling and traverse across the pit to the small alcove. A crow begins flapping around above, but you may not be able to kill it right away.
Crawl through the low opening, stand and turn the right. Position Lara on the left side of the hallway facing the low alcove on the right. Run toward it and quickly duck and crawl in to avoid a deadly rolling boulder. When it passes, crawl back out and continue along the hallway to a low ledge with another crawlspace. Go through here to emerge on a ledge above the pit. Now you’ll need to shoot the bird and the guard if you didn’t earlier.
LEDGES ABOVE THE PIT:
Climb the steps and get the small medipak in the alcove on the left. Walk out onto the ledge at the top of the steps. Turn right and take a running jump to grab the next ledge. (Or, turn around, grab the vine-covered wall above the door and use the vines to climb over to the next ledge.) Keep your footing when the bats fly out. Re-enter the building here and turn to face the opening where you just came in. Jump to grab the vines on the wall above the right side of the opening. Climb not quite to the top, then press Jump to back flip onto the ledge behind.
Take a running jump to the jutting stone ledge in the middle of the room. Shoot the crow flies out of the dark alcove. Then go into this alcove for some MP5 clips. Walk back out to the end of the ledge. Turn right and take a running jump to the alcove with the small medipak. Get it and take another running jump back to the middle ledge. Walk to the peak of the ledge, turn to face the alcove where you got the MP5 clips and jump straight up to grab the edge of the square opening above. Pull up onto the roof. Cross to the steam vent, kill the crow that appears when you do, then take the THISTLE STONE. Safety-drop back down through the square opening onto the ledge.
If you’re not interested in getting the third secret, you can now head for the exit: Take a running jump from the end of the jutting stone ledge into the large, green opening below. Slide down to the STEPPED PATH and follow it down to the exit. (Skip to the end of the walkthrough.)
If you do want the secret, safety-drop from the end of the jutting stone ledge nearest the wall to the ledge below. Jump to the walkway spanning the middle of the room. Then turn so the stairs are behind Lara and she’s facing the opening in the left corner. Take a running jump from the walkway into this alcove. Be sure to angle the jump so Lara lands on the right side of the alcove and doesn’t bang her head on the overhang. Pick up the MP5 clips in the alcove. Then save your game. This next bit is tricky.
NESSIE’S SECRET:
Position Lara at the edge of the opening angled a little to the left. Take a standing jump toward the dark opening in the left wall, pressing Action while Lara is in the air to lower her arc a little. If all goes well, she’ll jump through the opening, slide down a short ramp and land on a square pillar above a pool of mud.
Drop down off the back side of the pillar to get a large medipak. Then jump around the right side of the pillar (nearer the big mud pool) to land on the rocks beyond. (If Lara lands in the mud, she’s finished, but you get a nice glimpse of Nessie enjoying her mud bath.)
Enter the cave beyond the pillar and the chimes will ring for secret #3. Splash through the shallow mud until you come to a pool of clear water. Swim down on the right side to get some flares from the bottom. Surface and walk out of the water on the far side of the pool. Keep to the right here, so Lara doesn’t’ get singed when Nessie pops out of the crevice breathing fire. Wait for Nessie to take a breath, then jump into the small square pool under her neck. Swim down, following the underwater passage through several twists and turns. Eventually you’ll come to a pool where you can surface. You can’t climb out of the water onto Nessie’s back; it’s too steep. But there is an opening behind her left front flipper. Swim through to emerge in a control room. Kill the guard at the controls and pick up a large medipak and grenades on the edges of the opening to the pool.**
Note the schematic diagrams of the mechanical monster and the map of the lake on the walls. Perhaps pause to wonder how much Lara will be paid for her article debunking the myth of the Loch Ness monster. Then get back to business.
Use the switch on the right side of the cockpit to open the gate on the other side. Exit this way, killing a red-eyed dog about halfway up the stairs. Continue to the top. Climb the ledges and slide down to the STEPPED PATH. Follow the path down to the hallway with the exit. Place the two THISTLE STONES in the snake receptacles to open the gate. Pick up the flares on the other side of the gate and slide down the ramp to end the level.
(NOTE: If you’re at the exit but are still missing the THISTLE STONE from behind the right gate, you can go there now. Turn so the exit gate is behind Lara. Go to the right end of the hall. Here you’ll see two doorways. Exit through the one on the left to the room where you first entered this area and killed a guard. Go through either of the square openings on the right. Pull the switch to open the gate at the top of the ramp. Exit here, slide down the ramp on the left, jumping at the end to land on the BRIDGE. Now follow the walkthrough above from the section titled “ENTERING THE RUINS.”)
**NOTE: Before getting the grenade launcher, each time you pick up a pair of grenades it only counts as a single item in your inventory. Once you get the launcher, each pick-up counts as two of grenades, including the ones you’ve already collected.