Download the patch here.
The following documentation is included in the archive as "trflight-readme.html".
Tomb Raider 2/3/4 flight mode patch, version 0.1
How to use the patch
- Get the latest Tomb Raider update.
The patch won't work with old versions.
- Put trflight.exe in the same directory as the Tomb Raider executable (tombX.exe, where
X is 2, 3, or 4), and run it. When prompted, press a key that you haven't assigned to any
other function in the game.
- Run tombXcheat.exe, which was created in the previous step. To enter the cheat mode,
press the key you chose earlier. To return to normal, press the "walk" key (Shift by
default).
How it works
This patch adds code to the Tomb Raider executable which checks for the press of a certain key,
and when it's detected, modifies some internal variables. Most of these have the effect of
putting the game in "swim mode." One of them causes the game not to notice that it
shouldn't be in this mode. It also causes Lara to become invincible and never run out of
air.
To make room for the patch, I space-optimized some inefficient code in the keyboard
handler, which freed up a remarkable amount of space--much more than I needed for my patch.
Right now the excess is filled with NOP instructions, but if you wanted to add a patch of
your own, you could put it here.
Known bugs
TR2, TR3, and TR4
- The patch may not work with non-English versions of the game.
- If you are in a strange state when you enter the cheat mode (for example, in the middle
of a jump, or being attacked by an animal) you will sometimes remain "frozen" in that state
until you exit the cheat mode again. This can be amusing, and might be reclassified as a
feature.
- You can't pick up objects or manipulate levers while in the cheat mode. You also can't
use weapons, except the harpoon gun in TR3.
TR3 and TR4 only
- Entering the cheat mode restores you to full health.
- If you save a game while in the cheat mode, restart Tomb Raider, reload the game, and
press Walk, you will die. To work around this, press the cheat-mode key before pressing
Walk. This is probably related to the previous problem.
TR4 only
- In Angkor Wat, if you fly into one of the trigger points that starts a von Croy cutscene,
you may end up leaning at an odd angle. You can walk around this way indefinitely. Pressing
Walk will return you to normal. This is another bug-that's-really-a-feature.
- Flight mode doesn't eliminate water currents. You won't be able to "fly" against the
current, and if you fly above water with a current, you may get pulled under.
- Flight mode does not work at all in some levels. (Maybe levels without any water?)
Various strange things will happen if you press the cheat key in these levels.
Distribution conditions
I would prefer that you link to my
page at www.math.berkeley.edu rather than duplicating this patch elsewhere, since this
makes it much easier for me to provide updated versions should the need arise. If you do
propagate the patch, please do not misrepresent my work. This means that if you change this
file or trflight.exe or if you bundle additional files, you should make it very clear that
the changes or additions are yours and not mine.
