Taki (Waterfall) by Nobu

Unauthorised walkthrough by Michael Prager

Starting Area

After the initial flyby drop into the water and make two left turns and find a hole with a ladder in the water that leads you downwards. Find the burning fire in the Egyptian structure and swim up through the ceiling hole and get out. Pick up a blue gem and pull the lever to raise a trapdoor in the starting area. Go back there and kill two crocodiles.

Face the trapdoor from the opposite shore and place Lara close to the left wall and jump up and grab the edge. Pull up and press the jump key and keep it pressed for two jumps to the higher level. Jump across to the trapdoor and higher to the left. Then turn around and jump straight across to the crack, shimmy around and pull up. Make your way around the perimeter towards the bird statue. Kill two ninjas there and note the gem receptacle which is too high for now. Remember it, as you will be back much, much later. Pull the lever on the backside of this pillar. The camera shows you a block lowering down below in the water. So, go back there (it's at the back of the room, past the fire).

Get out at the new opening and shoot the vases for a small medi. Pick up the Passage key. Note the burning chain, which you cannot use now and the receptacle for the pillar. Go back to where you started the level. From that point turn West towards the waterfall and make a running jump across (to the tile right of the waterfall, careful not slip off the slope). Then turn left (South) and make a tricky jump across to the block left of the waterfall. From there pull up, move forward, pick up the flares and use the passage key. This triggers a wraith, so repeat the round trip to the bird statue that you already know.

At the back of the bird statue area (North wall) is an opening. Proceed through there and the grate at the end will open. Jump up (!) with grab and with another jump find the Silver Key. Note the golden rose in a cage which is one of the secrets. Now, drop a long way down into the water.

First Big Water Area

Get out to the right of the top of the waterfall with the zipline above. Make a standing jump and grab the 'bridge' across the waterfall and shimmy all the way to the left. Pull up, slide and then jump with a slight left turn and grab the very bottom of the climbable grey wall (tricky) and climb up. Make a jump with twist and grab the climbable wall behind you, climb around the corner and further up. With another jump with twist you will land on a high ledge. Pull the lever at the end of this to raise a cage near the start of the zipline.

Now is a good time to get secret #1. This is optional so if your prefer to not do that, then skip this whole paragraph. Find a ceiling trapdoor very close to the lever and open it. Jump up and climb the ladder and backflip to a ledge. Go down the stairs and enter the area behind a waterfall. Notice the small medi - you will get that later. Pull up at the sloped block in the center of the room (on the very left side of it) and backflip into the alcove. You will hear spikes. Stand on the left of the alcove with Lara's back to the wall and make a running jump across the sloped block to the other side and grab the edge. You will need to curve that jump to the right in order to die because of the spikes. Pull up and run past the other spikes, turn and climb up the ladder and into the crawlspace. Turn left and enter the path on the right and emerge in the area right below the 'caged in' secret rose. Find a block in th south east corner of the area and make a jump with right turn in south east direction. Now place Lara facig east with her right side on the south wall. This is a bit tricky: Jump forward high onto the slope, keep jump pressed, backflip to the dark green ledge, keep jump pressed and add a left turn, still keep jump pressed and also keep the left turn pressed to not hit the wall and as you land on the slope next to hit let go of left and keep right turn pressed to hit the slope towards the east wall, drob and grab the edge and shimmy all the way to the left (not around the corner). From there pull up, and make a backflip with twist and right turn added. You land on yet another slope, so jump from it and grab the ledge and pull up. You basically just made your way around the perimeter. Now turn slightly to the left and jump grab and pull up on the edge. Slide and jump and immediately jump again from the next dark green slope and grab the edge and pull up to see the rose but still in its cage. Orient towards the north west corner and make a standing jump towards the opening. Pull up on the very right and slide and at the last moment jump to the next slope and jump from there with a right turn added to grab the crack at the opposite wall. Shimmy round the corner to the right and climb into the crawlspace. Jump up and make your way to the opening in the east (camera view there). From there make a running jump diagonally to the left to the top of the two cages. Kill the harpy that appears. Then turn west and jump in the general direction of the ladder there. You can go down the ladder and jump across to collect the small medi you have seen earlier. Then return back up and spot the suspicious crack. Jump to it and shimmy around the corner and to the end and pull up. Pick up some arrows and jump up through the foliage and find a lever. Pull it to lower the cage and raise a block near the rose. Make your way back via shimmy to the right and jump to the higher block, from there to the slope and shimmy right and pull up to be back on top of the cage where you shot the harpy from. You have a couple of options from here. One way is to jump down to the ledge in the North East corner, turn right and jump into the cage, walk inside and find the opening near the back end in the ceiling. Pull up and run along the North wall and drop through the hole at the end. Turn left and left again at the end and reach the block you raised. Climb up and up again and finally pick up the golden rose. Safety drop down and find thee ladder again where all this started and climb down.

Jump across the little grey wall to get towards the raised cage. Jump to the climbing wall and go up to the zipline. Now would be a good time to save your game. Carefully step into the tile with the fire on. You can jump up from the corner and grab the ledge. Up there is a small medi and another lever to pull which opens a cage door and starts a timed sequence. You need to go down, use the zipline, drop onto a ledge, make a running jump across and into the opening where the cage is, then hop around and into the cage before the door closes to get the secret #2 - a golden rose. Then pickup shotgun shells and kill two ninjas.

Go back and drop into the water. Swim to the right and find a block you can stand on in the water (North West). From there jump to a ladder on the left (south) and climb up. Go over the hanging bridge and get rid of two ninjas and a harpy. There are now two ways to proceed:

Option 1 (probably the way the author intended): Jump to the climbing wall to the west at the north end of the bridge. Shimmy around and climb up and then as much to the left as you can. Then do a jump with twist and a slight turn to the right and you will stand on the waterfall facing a climbable wall. Don't go back up to the zipline though. Instead, look down below - you see two grated windows and to the right of them another climbing wall. You need to make tricky running jump with a slight right curve and grab this wall. Then shimmy around the corner through the waterfall. Jump to the middle island, note a closed door behind the waterfall on the West side, and then pull a lever behind the waterfall on the North side. This opens a trapdoor that allows you access to higher up.

Option 2: (found by Jay - thanks!) Instead of jumping to the climbing wall from the hanging bridge you can make a running swan dive from the highest point of the other end of the bridge and thus make it past the currents in the water. Swim around the stone island and pull up into the alcove with the lever and pull it (note this option also applies later in the walkthrough when you need to repeat this passage).

Jump into the water, let the current take you to the other side and swim left and find your block to stand on in the North West corner again. Now standing jump to the next block (East) and turn slightly to the right. Make a running jump to the sloped block and if you curve to the right you can actually stand on the next block, or you slide and jump to the next block and then slide jump to the left and grab the crack. Shimmy around and pull up. Hop to the next higher ledge and climb up through the trapdoor you just opened.

To the right is the key hole for your Silver key but you can't get to it yet. So climb the wall/pillar on the left (make sure you stay on the right side when climbing) and pull up and immediately jump with a curve to the right to not slide/land in fire; very briefly slide down when you land and then quickly hit jump and grab the opposite side. Shimmy to the left and then pull up and backflip to a triangle you can stand on. Now it is an easy jump to 'safety' near the high pillar.

You can now orient towards the south and make a running jump with grab to an upper ledge, shoot a box and pick up a small medi. A harpy will attack. Further along jump to the right. There is a bird statue and a nearby grey trigger tile. This lowers a block nearby at the vases and reveals a switch and also opens up a shortcut to get up and down. Pull the switch to lower a rope high above and shoot the vases. Deal with three ninjas and find your way to the bird statue by goig back across to the pillar and repeating your trip to the upper level to get rid of the wraith. Repeat the trip to the upper level one more time and this time hop back and slide and grab towards the side where the hanging bridge is. Shimmy to the right, pull up, make a standing jump and crawl in to pull a lever that raises a cage outside under the rope.

Drop down into the water and make your way to the rusty metal area again (using the short cut ladder on the South wall). Find a lonely ledge protruding from the east wall and jump onto it. Then you need to make a running jump to the slope ahead and jump and grab the climbing wall and climb all the way up to the raised cage. Use the rope to swing across, but not into the door (you won't make it) but to the ledge on the left of it. Then walk around and pick up the second blue gem. Note the lever behind a closed door for later. Go out on the other side and slide down and reach the 'rusty area' again.

Drop down the north edge and pull another lever to open a trapdoor down in the water where the currents are and shoot another harpy. The nearby fire on a cage in the 'ground' has the knot below but you can't get to it yet. Proceed to the northern edge and make a running jump with grab across towards the next lever, which is protected by spikes and a burner and pull it.

Now make your way to the door you just opened: Go down into the water and back up the familar ladder in the waterfalls nearby. Turn and pull up to the dark green overhanging ledge. From there jump to the dark green slope and into the open door. To the left are a few arrows, to the right is a crawlspace in the ceiling which leads you to use your silver key. This raises another trapdoor in the South East Corner of the water area below and lets you out at the top near the pillar (don't forget the nearby Uzi).

Make your way back to the hanging bridge and walk across. On the left side is a small opening. You need to time a backflip into the opening so that you slide down, grab the edge and shimmy around and pull up. You will hear spikes emerge below. Three more straight jumps now and you are on the trapdoor in the south east corner. Jump to the climbing wall, traverse to the left and find the receptacle for your gem. The door nearby opens and pulling the lever there opens another door underwater.

Jump back into the water and swim to the hole which you opened earlier, fighting some moderate currents. Follow the path along and then take a right and go up when you can. Follow the only possible way and get out of the water. Climb up further into a red room and stand on the trigger tile. This makes the statue shown in the camera view pushable. So make your way back there: Swim down again and turn right. You can swim up a little later, climb a ladder, backflip to a big medi and emerge at the top near the hanging bridge. From the bridge jump the climbing wall, then to the waterfall, then to the other climbing wall and eventually get to the statue.

Pull the statue out and move it into the other alcove to open the door behind it. Go in, use the lever and then climb up in the same room. When a door closes behind you, go right and stand on a trigger tile in a green room - this makes the other statue movable. Then go the other way and meet some nasty teeth spike doors.

Just run through the first set and hit the jump button to jump back and forth across the little lava pit. Then turn to the right so that you land in front of the next spike door. Look up - there is a jump switch high on the wall. Time a jump up through the spike door. You can explore a little further through the water and briefly end up in level 2 to pick up some goodies and see another gem and a torch behind closed doors. You will get those later. Then go back and time a jump to the switch. It opens the door that closed behind you not long ago. Go into the 'jumping across the lava pit'-mode again and turn your jumps to the right onto the slope across from the first spike door. When you hit it ok, you will backflip into where you came from. Find the second statue (now green lighting there) and move it into the opposite alcove to open the door behind it.

Pull the lever inside to change the water level in a place you have been to before, thus revealing another statue that can be pushed. First though, climb the ladder in the room and use the jump switch right there to extinguish the flame in front of the second gem receptacle. Then climb up again and follow along - opening another shortcut back to the waterfall - you eventually will reach the ladder(s) that take you down to the now pushable statue on a ledge. Behind it you will find the first red serpent stone.

Drop into the water and swim all the way through the underwater tunnels back to the main area and then to the right side and climb up the shortcut ladder to the 'rusty area'. You can drop down through a grated trapdoor that you opened when you placed the first gem and place the second gem and pull the lever behind the now open door. A camera shows a door opening behind a window. To get there, retrace your steps through the underwater tunnels this time going all the way to the end (no right turns) and up.

Time the jump across the lava pit and through the teeth spike door, move along and slide into level 2.

Level 2 - Starting Area

Follow the path until the camera angle changes. Turn around and time the burner, so that you can drop down onto the corner of the tile it is emitting from (you won't light up there). Then time a slide down into the spikes and quickly jump up to safely land in the opening. The lever around the right corner opens the door back at the start of level 2. Around the left corner is a hand receptacle - that's for later. You need to go back and slide into the spikes as they retreat and jump up to the burner, then don't climb back up but time a jump and back flip right and then make it through the newly opened door.

You find yourself in front of a teeth spike door. Time a running jump through it, jump off the slope when you land and grab the monkey swing. Carefully make your way past the burners, drop and jump and move forward and be rewarded by a flyby of another grand area to explore.

Second Big Water Area

Drop down and kill two crocodiles (there will be a few more around as you explore further). There are shotgun shells in the water near the three grated trapdoors on the south wall. On the opposite side near the big waterfall you can climb up to a zipline, but do not use it just yet. Instead look towards the North West corner and see a climbing wall. You can jump to it from the pillar tile in the water right in front of it. Climb up and slide and jump at the last moment, keep jump pressed and at the second jump add a left turn to land safely near another ladder, which you should climb now.

Turn around and through a couple of easy jumps clockwise get near the waterfall. Jump up and grab and pull in and use the lever to open the door which you had stood in front of briefly when you were coming here from level 1. Once you get back there you can get the gem and the torch.

Jump back down and across to towards the center. Notice a closed grate on the right and on the left. You can walk around on the cages and will see another closed grate in the North wall to the right of the waterfall and a closed one a little further down directly behind the waterfall. Also note that in the South East corner the cage is open and you can jump back, grab, drop, grab and pull in and then run forward, slide and jump grab the ladder to get back to where you started this area from.

Now, let's get to work. There is a jump switch towards the West side when you drop back and grab from the cage. Pull it and see the grated door that opens and go in there. The grey trigger pad drops a rope. Get down into the water and at the waterfall to the left you can climb out and hop up onto a dark green block and jump to the rope from there. The camera shot of the rope actually also had shown you were to swing to. Towards the center into the alcove. Pull the lever there and notice the music - yep, this is a timed run...

If you manage to do it the following way it is actually not that tight. Flip the switch and hit the look key to get rid of the camera. Roll key and then run (don't jump) slightly to the right and you will land on a pillar tile in the water. Now can run and jump to the next one towards the waterfall and continue running and make a right turn and run jump across, then hit jump to land on the dark green slope and keep jump pressed and add grab to catch the short middle ladder right under the zipline. Pull up, hit forward once, then walk once to the zipline and use it. Let go just before it ends, so that you can immediately make a running jump across to the three raised grated platforms (adding a slight right turn), roll and go up to the ladder on the right side, so that Lara will not get into her climbing mode but only pulls up with her arms. Jump up, pull up and hop across to the trapdoor in front of the lever and pull it.

The door high up to the right of the waterfall opens. But it is actually timed as well. Climb the block the lever is on and make a running jump with grab to the left high pillar and from this pillar jump and grab the cage walk and then make your way directly across and eventually a long running jump into the opening and pass the door before it closes - but stop on the tile right behind it (before the incline) and save. As you step on the next tile a boulder is triggered. All you need to do is duck and it will pass above you and leave you unharmed. Pull the lever to open the door in the waterfall.

Safety drop down and jump to the nearby rope again and use it to get into the opening and then pull the lever to raise a block in the south west corner and pick up the torch. You obviously neeed to get the torch to a fire. So jump down to the right and make your way sort of counter clockwise towards the south east corner by jumpig on the pillar tiles. Then find the dark green slope a little to the left. You might have to jump up once in one-click-deep water so that Lara does the backflip onto the slope, then jump forward to the next slope and time a very tight jump across to the ledge near the raised block. From here continue hopping upwards and then the familar path around the perimeter to the central area and then up on the cage walk and back towards the lever that triggered the second timed door and light your torch at the fire.

Now of course you need to repeat the trip upwards. So drop down and make a running jump towards that dark green sloped blocks again, jump, slide, jump at the last moment and again hop up and around and enter the cage walk on the right and light the two 'lamps' near the grey trigger tile to open the left grate. Pick up some Uzi clips there and pull the lever to lower a block and make the statue accessible. Push the statue towards the other one and battle a few ninjas. Then go back to the lever and raise the block again and climb on it. Jump up and grab the short ladder and pull up onto the high pillar. Turn and jump to the rope and swing to the pillar near the fires.

When you jump to the left tile a fire across goes out, but those are timed, so be quick or you'll burn and the two skeletons that appear don't make it any easier. Always jump to the next tile where the fire went out and eventually land at the chain and pull it to open a grated door in the cage walk below. Simply walk off the ledge with the chain to land on top of the cage walk and enter the door again, walk past the grey trigger tile and around the corner and at the end pick up a precious Golden Key and a few shot gun shells.

Pull the lever nearby. This turns off the fire at the top of the statues, so make your way there and collect another precious artifact: the Pharos Knot. Time to remember where the exit of this area is. Drop to the top of the cage walk and make your way to the South East corner. The cage is open and you can jump back, grab, drop, grab and pull in and then run forward, slide and jump grab the ladder to get back to where you started this area from.

The Lava Room

Just run forward to drop onto the below block and climb down the ladder (the trapdoor that blocked this previously is now out of the way). You are facing a lava room with lots of burners and a few 'interesting' jumps are ahead of you. First make a long running jump slightly to the left (watch the burner). Note the fixed camera, it is actually helpful. Do not jump further across to the next platform, instead make a very tricky long running jump diagonally to the left with a left curve added. You need to land on the corner of the sloped block and immediately jump from there with another left curve added to reach the sloped block on the other side and the slide down and grab the edge and make sure you are hanging all the way to the right (again a burner to watch there, just to make it even more difficult).

Avoidig the burner shimmy to the left side (a little higher) and wait for the right moment to pull up and jump with twist and a little right turn to land on a safe triangular tile. Make a standing jump to the slope, jump to the next and grab the edge. Shimmy fully to the right and pull up and slide and jump at the very last moment with an ever so slight left turn. You need to make it to the top of the next pillar and slide down backwards and grab the edge and hold (adding action key at the last moment might help to get that little bit further that you need). Shimmy to the right to get a little higher and pull up and make a backflip with twist and grab the crack. Shimmy all the way to the right and pull up for a well deserved big medi and some shotgun shells.

Jump down into the north east corner and pull the lever there to open the door high up near where you started in this room. Now for the next tricky bit. Make a running jump towards the block in the west and target the edge to grab on the right to not light up at the fire. Pull up and get into jumping mode between the two slopes. Adjust Lara through turns in mid air and a twist jump, so that she slides (!) down forward on the very right of the west slope and keep the right button pressed to land on the safe tile.

From here make a long running jump across towards the next tile (jumping over the slope in north west direction). Turn and jump and grab across to the crack and shimmy right and pull up. Almost (but not quite) immediately hit the jump button to safely land on the next tile. Jump across to the next slope and immdiately off it to grab the ladder. Don't shimmy right, but down and left around the corner and backflip to a safe tile.

Now make your way upwards twice and when you see the entrance to this room turn left and make a diagonal standing jump across to the next tile (spikes are triggered elsewhere). Face the south wall and perform yet another jump to slope, slide, jump, grab move and shimmy all the way around to the left and into the door you opened before. Pull the lever inside to raise a block in the far south west corner of the lava room.

You have a choice now. You can shimmy back just around the first corner and drop and repeat the trip you already know (including that super tricky jump). Or you can shimmy all the way around, pull up, make a standing jump into the alcove to the left, another standing jump onto the slope to the left, slide, jump, grab and pull up (avoiding another burner). From there, jump straight up towards the spikes and maneuvre Lara through them and drop down at the end. Now make your way again to the climbing ladder and this time shimmy to the right, drop to the next slope and jump across to the next safe tile (watching out for another burner).

Pull up and jump towards the raised block onto the slope and off it to grab the climbable wall. Shimmy to the left, backflip onto the block and jump to the monkey swing and follow it around. Drop from the last but one tile of the monkey swing onto the slope and time it so that you can safely jump past the next burner to a safe tile. Use the two slopes to jump back and forth and make turns in the air to land in the alcove (away from the spikes). From there jump to the next pair of slopes and jump back and forth. This is also very tricky. One way to manage it is to time your left curve so that you jump right into the spikes when they are out, immediately jump across to the side slope and across with another turn to land at the top where you can pick up the Hand of Orion. Of course along the way you need to time this right to avoid the burners. Another option is to actually slide down and grab near the spikes, shimmy around and pull up to the corner of the burning tile and make the jump across from there - good luck!

They way back is slightly easier. Stand on the edge, jump back and add two steps back. Then time a running jump to the spike tile and directly add another running jump to reach the first pair of slopes and then with the respective turn in mid air finally the safe tile you started from. From there repeat the trip upwards, ie jump to the slope on the left and to the ladder from it, shimmy down and to the left around the corner, backflip, jump up twice and then jump straight across to the ladder that brought you down to this lava room. Climb up and jump up to the entrance of the water room. Backflip to the slope and jump up and grab the monkey swing.

Swing back to the other side, drop at the last but one tile and jump to safety. Repeat the trip to the left, passing the burner and the spikes between slopes and find the receptacle for the hand. Place it and walk through and find yourself back in level 1.

First Big Water Area - second time

Use the ladders and slopes to get up into the opening (using backflips and jumps with twist as needed) and face another little lava room with slopes, which is quite easy to pass with back and forth jumps with turn, except of course for the spike blocks which require pixel perfect timing. Once on the other side a door on the right opens. But first use the Golden Key on the left which opens the door behind where you earlier picked up a gem after the rope swing, so make your way there: As you step out two harpies attack, so take care of them. Make your way towards the east wall, jump onto the ledge, then to the slope, grab the climbing wall and climb up the cage to the rope. Swing over to the ledge on the left and walk around and into the now open door and pull the lever. This makes another big statue pushable as the water lowers further.

Time to go swimming again, so find your way into the water and dive into the hole with the small currents near the waterfall and swim downwards, then right and all the way through until you emerge at the statue. Push it to the side, pick up the second red Serpent Stone behind it and pull a lever. As you pick up the Serpent Stone, the pillar on the stone island lowers and reveals an accessible fire. As you pull the lever a block lowers and provides an opening you will need soon.

So, go ahead, climb up the two ladders and emerge at the hanging bridge. Jump to the climbing wall on the right, shimmy round the corner and up and to the very left and back flip onto the waterfall. Turn and make the curved long running jump to the next climbing wall and shimmy to the right and into the opening where you had pushed the very first statue. Inside climb up and find the teeth spike doors again and pass them and go further through the new opening revealed by the lowered block and get back for a short intermission to Level 2 in order to get the third blue gem and the torch, as the door is now open.

Return with your torch to Level 1 and keep to the right. Slide down on the very left and master a tight jump to the lowered edge of the opposite side. Hop upwards and don't forget to pick up the shotgun in an alcove on the left before you jump to the next slide and up near the statue again. Jump to the central island and light your torch. Then jump back to the statues on both sides (watch out to not hit your head) and light the wall mounted 'lamps' to open the door in the third alcove. Make your way there.

Standing briefly on the ornament floor tile in front of the burners turns them off and you can place your two red serpent stones to lower the cage at the Pharos Pillar. Go there via a quick swim to the short cut on the south wall. Climb the ladder to the rusty area and drop on the north edge. As there is fire on top of the pillar, run off the north east corner and land on the ledge below the zipline. Jump to the Pharos Pillar from there and pick it up. The block near the gem receptacle at the very start of the level raises, so time to finally go back there.

Drop into the water, make your way up the ladder in the big waterfall, to the hanging bridge, the climbing wall on the right until you stand on the other waterfall again. This time climb up the ladder there and pull up, jump over to the raised cage in the water, climb up to the zipline, step into the corner of the fire tile and pull up (this is where you had started the timed run for the first secret). Turn to south east and jump up into the opening. Drop down from there still in south east direction and see a waterfall on the right and a climbing wall on the left. Jump to it, climb up high and with a back flip with twist and grab make it back to the starting area of the level where you are welcomed by a bat and a crocodile.

Starting Area - second time

Repeat the trip upwards and around the perimeter to get to the now raised block and place the gem. Two ninjas appear, so take care of them. Pick up the nearby torch and make your way to the fire that was shown to you in the cut scene, i.e. walk around the path and a standing jump up diagonally to the right brings you up there and a long running jump across. Light the torch, long running jump back behind the pillar and run down directly into the opening and back up to where you placed the gem and light the two 'lamps' on the wall. This lowers the second block in the water below (the first one you lowered right at the beginning). Swim down there (a crocodile will keep your company) and emerge into the new opening. Shoot the two vases for a small medi and some arrows. Place the Pharos Knot and enjoy the nice flip effect. Notice the grey trigger tile nearby. This turns off the fire at the chain in the other room but you need to be very quick. First make your way there slowly and place the Pharos Pillar. Then go back to the trigger tile and swim fast this time and pull the chain (if you are too slow you can always take the health hit and drop into the water quickly). Pulling the chain turns off the fire at the other chain, so swim back, pull this chain and the nearby door opens. Pull the lever inside to open the grate in the water in the West wall. Swim through and the level ends.