RECON LABS: RETURN FOR SOLDIER

Level by Szymon Cupryn (Emoo)

Walkthrough by Phil Lambeth

Installation Note: Only a few of the essential files are provided with the level download. The other lab2.* files that you'll need in order to play this level are included with the Recon Labs 1 and 2 download.

As you'll soon discover, this level is a breeding ground for headaches in more ways than one. You begin in a devastated lab area with a blaring horn and heroic action music that doesn't stop until you complete the level. Moreover, there are certain spots that trigger blinding light flashes that won't recede until you move away from that spot. Finally, there are some giant enemies with which you'll need to deal early on. With those warnings, let's get started.

Don't just stand there; you've triggered the first light flash. Step forward down the ramp, and you'll emerge in a red-tinged room dotted with wreckage and smoldering fires. Two sprinklers are working actively on either side of the door. Run forward into the room and veer over to the left corner to pick up the flares. Then turn around and note the fuse box mounted high up on the wall in the NE corner.

Being mindful of the flames, jump up onto the wreckage in the SW corner and hop up onto the block in front of the opening. Pull up and walk forward down the west tunnel, past the steam blower, and turn left at the bend. Stop at that point because of the flame blower straight ahead. Pick up the uzi ammo and the uzis, and immediately ready the uzis before picking up the large medi-pack. A giant scorpion comes charging at you from the corridor to the right, so engage it quickly in these close quarters. After you've vanquished it, claim your medi-pack and carefully time a run past the flames toward your right.

Make a U-turn to the right and pick up the laser sight from the corner platform as another blinding light is triggered. (At least you can see up to this point.) Now head down the corridor to the south, past an opening with another flame blower to your left. Continue as the corridor turns, keeping Lara's right shoulder against the wall. You'll soon come to a raised platform with a closed door just beyond it. Remember that for later.

Back up and go east, with the steam blower to your left, toward an intersection bending to the right (south). Be sure to get your bearings here, for as you approach the right bend you'll trigger a light flash that will completely blind you. You need to make a horseshoe turn to the right into a small room, where you'll pick up the crossbow on a raised platform. You're facing west at this point, so reverse roll and make a horseshoe turn to the left to return to your beginning point and to restore your vision.

Now run past the steam blower to the NE corridor and hop down to the room where you began the level. Go into the passage formed by the east wall and the central structure, and face the NE corner. Combine the crossbow and the laser sight, and shoot the six-sided red gizmo above the fuse box. Go into the opposite passage near the west wall and pick up the small medi-pack. You can't help but notice the closed door in the south wall. I never could find a way to open it, but you don't need to in order to complete the level. If anyone knows the trick, please let me know. Then return to the opening in the SW corner and go back inside. Continue all the way back to the SW corner, and you'll find the door beyond the platform is now open. Go inside and lower Lara down through the hole into the room below.

Pick up the much-needed grenade gun nearby and run to the extremities of the ledge for two stashes of grenade gun ammo. Pick a convenient spot to safety drop to the next ledge below, and pause to pick up two quivers of crossbow arrows near the picture window to the west. Locate the stairs leading down into the empty swimming pool, and locate the switch on the side of the stairs near the NE corner. Pull it down, then glance at the nice barbecue grill on the other side of the pool before heading back up the stairs.

The door to the east is now open, so go inside and up the stairs with grenade gun drawn and take care of the giant scorpion that greets you in the next room.
You need to be careful of the flashing blue lightning that occasionally erupts in the walkway surrounding the burning center part, as it will kill Lara upon contact. Go around to the back, or east wall, and locate the key next to one of the flames. Pick it up and head over to the north wall to push in the door there. Pick up the small medi-pack, the grenade gun ammo, and the crossbow arrows, then use the key in the nearby lock. Ready a strong weapon as you return to the previous room, as you'll be attacked by a pair of giant scorpions.

After the danger has been eliminated, go clockwise around the red walkway and enter the now-open south doorway. Turn right into the offices and kill another giant scorpion scuttling about nearby. There's nothing else to do in here, so return to the hallway and splash through the shallow water into the opening on the other side. Use the crawlspace to traverse the tunnel to your right. When you emerge next to another water-filled hallway, fully five giant scorpions are there lying in wait.

Go around to the right and kick in the office door. There's some revolver ammo on a small piece of furniture in the NW corner. Leave this office, turn right into the hallway and then take an immediate left into the side passage to find some stairs. There's some revolver ammo at the bottom of the stairs, but nothing more. Return to the main hallway and turn left (west) to trigger an earthquake and another blinding light flash. Open the door at the end of the hallway. In the next room, locate the opening up in the SW corner of the wall and pull up inside. Shoot the giant flying bug that attacks you, then continue down the west corridor. Turn at the bend and zigzag your way past three steam blowers. Continue until you reach a larger room toward the SE. Shoot two giant scorpions before entering, then slide down into the room and throw the switch on the right-hand sloped block.

Reverse roll and run through the now-open doorway in the NE corner of the room. At the other end of the passage a fixed camera angle shows a giant scorpion waiting for you on the other side of the door. Open the door and hop back immediately while drawing a powerful weapon, and kill the scorpion. Inside the room ahead appears to be a lock to your left (as you enter), for which you don't have a key. (The level is about to end, so unless I missed a secret somewhere the lock apparently has no function. Also, some of the reviews mention a divergent path and a sentry gun, neither of which I ever encountered. Any insights on these points would be appreciated.) The only spot in the room where you regain camera control is in the SW corner. Go there and locate the hole in the ceiling, and pull up into the duct above.

Run past the steam blowers and drop down into the hallway on the other side, where you come face to face with that soldier for whom you've returned, while the ambient music changes to Lara's pleasant closing theme. As you step forward to greet the soldier, the level ends.