Floating Islands: Vaguely Intertesting Thing (Spoiler)

[fallenangle]

Floating Islands is one of a few TR2 levels where you can get right back, almost to the start, from any point and therefore collect missed secrets at any time.

Once you're in the final 'fire temple' area, after the long zip wire slide, it seems you can't go back but if you go on until just before the end there is a route back if you've found the 'last' secret.

However I've discovered a problem there (original PC version) but also a solution. I wouldn't be surprised if this is old news but I've not found reference to it so I thought it worth posting.

This is the guide that covers the backtracking:-

https://****************/stella/walks...loating19.html

The problem I found is that when you get back to the long zip line the handle is missing. In short you can't use it.........................................but you can.

What you appear to need to do is get down to the lower bridge and back into the room where you fought the spearmen. Activate the lever there to shut the metal gate to the temple. Then open it again.

Magically now when you get back to the zip line the handle will have reappeared and you're good to continue and go on to finish the level.

AFAIK without the zip wire there's no easy alternative to getting down to the lower bridge. I think this is a known shortcut but there seems to be some collision detection issues unless you jump to it in a particular way.

Either side of the upper bridge you can slide down two roofs and then you'd think a curved left or right jump, depending which side you slide down, would get you onto the lower bridge. But no, at least not when I tried it.

The most reliable solution I've found is to slide down backwards and hang off the lower roof. Shimmy close to the bridge, pull up and quickly press Jump plus Backflip then, very quickly, hold the directional control hard right or left, again depending on which side of the bridge you're on.

LC should land on the bridge but likely not cleanly, she'll can end up partially embedded in the side of it. That may need careful maneuvering to prevent her popping out the wrong way and fall to her death.

Job done.

EDIT 2

I should have read Stella's walkthrough more thoroughly as there is reference to this problem and a solution provided to the missing handle. Basically it is an alternative route back to the lower bridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUVj3JnmX7o

My jump solution is easier and more reliable. Yes/No?

EDIT 3

Been playing around in that area and oddly unlike the YT video whenever I've used the technique shown (in fact a more reliable hang drop variation) when LC jumps to the bridge she always receives a few % points of health loss.

In the video there is no indication of that at all.

My previously described hang drop and jump off the roof is health loss free so for no scratch runs seems superior. The chance of somebody doing it no scratch actually needing to go back is highly unlikely. However I'd still be interested to know if anyone trying the jump shown in the YT video manages to do it without health loss.

NB. I'm talking about the original PC TR2 version.

It might have been set up to be 'kinder' on the PS or perhaps regional PS variations where, at the time, there were claims that the US NTSC version of some PS games were, umm........................less demanding.