Quake II/Guard House

Level objective
The objective for this level is to locate the Pyramid Key, then return with it to the ../Security Complex/.

Strategy
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Walkthrough
Advance along the only available path, dealing with Strogg as you meet them, until you come to an open-air courtyard. All the level secrets are clustered around this point, so if you need help finding them either take a look at the Secrets section now or, since you will be coming back this way, make a note to do this later. There are a number of ways forward from this point, each is considered separately in the sub-sections below.

Let's Just Get the Pyramid Key
Go up the ramp straight ahead of you, across the courtyard and carefully into the building on the other side. After disposing of some Guards, you should be able to hear some galumphing sounds, which are characteristic of the Mutant Strogg. This enemy has no ranged attack, but it's tough, fast, can leap large distances and inflicts serious damage with melee attacks. Equip a weapon that does a lot of damage fast, such as the Chain Gun or HyperBlaster. Advance slowly and as soon as the Mutant appears open fire, running back to avoid its leap. Repeat this tactic until you have flushed them all out. You won't meet many Mutants in the game, but remember the galumphing sound so that you won't be caught flat-footed when you do.

Enter the building, go down some steps and take the first left down more steps. In the large room below go out of the doorway on the left and continue along a walkway until you can see the end. Only Guards will oppose you. You'll want to know where the Mutant's galumphing sound is coming from, so look down below; he can't hurt you from down there. The walkway ends at a second courtyard. This is where the accurate, long-range weapon will come in handy. Pick off the Berserkers first and then the Tank. There is excellent cover for right-handed shooters and the Tank will not leave his post so there's plenty of time to see and dodge his return fire.

Press the button that the Tank was guarding and be ready for three flyers to come over the top of the building. Inside, you will have to deal with a large number of Guards. Take the Pyramid Key and your field computer will update your secondary objective to "Pyramid key acquired. Return to security complex". Now simply retrace your steps all the way to where you entered the level. When you leave the courtyard another wave of Flyers will come over the building. If you want to make all the enemy kills, wait for them and use the cover available at the end of the walkway. If you leave them behind now and come back for them later it can be difficult to find them. If you don't care about kills, just move quickly and they won't catch you. There will also be flyers in the first courtyard. Again, take them out if you wish or just move quickly across to the door and continue to the exit. If you pass by the Flyers on the way out, you will have about 37 of the 56 possible kills. To get down to the lower level at the exit without fall damage crouch and/or drop first to the lintel over one of the prison cell doorways.

I Wish I Had a HyperBlaster
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Secrets
This level has three (3) secrets, all quite close together near the start of the level:
 * 1) You will come to a sunken area containing explosive barrels and crates.  There is a crack in the rear wall.  Either stand clear and shoot the barrels or just shoot the wall to break it open.  Enter the low alcove thus revealed to receive the message "You have found a secret area" and collect a Backpack of ammunition.  Unless you are short of ammunition, consider collecting the Backpack on your way out of the level.
 * 2) As soon as you enter the first open-air courtyard area, there is an upward ramp on your left. At the bottom of the ramp, to the right, a stone projects slightly from the wall.  Press it back to lower the ramp.  Behind the ramp, at the other end, is an Adrenaline.  Consider collecting this on your way out of the level in case you lose health in the fighting.
 * 3) The first open-air courtyard area has a lower level.  Drop down and make your way along the walkway to the left and to a doorway where you will met some Strogg.  Through the doorway you will find two broken doors.  You can't break then down any more, so just crouch and crawl under the right-hand door.  Shoot away some projecting rock and move further inside to receive the message "You have found a secret area".  Explore further inside to find a Grenade Launcher and a MedKit.

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