Quake E4M5: Hell's Atrium Walkthrough (All Secrets)

Youtube Walkthrough: Hell's Atrium (E4M5) Video Walkthrough (All Secrets)
Rumble Walkthrough: Hell's Atrium (E4M5) Video Walkthrough (All Secrets)

So this level is a bit unique, you can exit this level without doing 90% of it and this level is also where you will find the Secret Exit of Episode 4. When the level begins you'll want to do the typical run around and blast away all of the enemies you can find. This means clearing out all four directions in the main room.

One direction has the Gold Key, across from it you'll find the Gold Key Door and the third direction is where you'll find the exit. There is a lava pool between you and the exit along with four wooden pillars that you can jump to that lead across the lava. If you feel more comfortable with a bridge, that's what the Silver Key (can) be used for. The other use for the Silver Key is reaching the Secret Exit, which we'll talk about later.

For now you'll want to start by grabbing the Gold Key and using it to unlock the door. Grab Secret #1 after you open the Gold Key Door since that will give you a Quad Damage, this will help you make quick work of all the enemies in the next area. Watch my video if you'd like to pick up a Ring of Shadows as well, there is a specific window you can shoot on the wall that will reveal it, this doesn't count as a secret though.

You'll also find a Pentagram of Protection in this area, right by a floor button that we need to hit. After you're done here hit the other button on the wall that opens up a trap door below you. Fall down, deal with the enemies and pick up the Quad Damage here too. After your Quad Damage expires you'll want to return to Secret #2 and get it.

Secret #2 is the hardest secret in the original Quake to get because it requires precise jumping to reach it. The only things you get for finding this secret are two packs of Cells, which arguably isn't even worth it. Run towards the portal near this secret and you will spawn some Fiends, press the two buttons and you'll spawn some fish in the water.

Ignore the portal because it will put you back in a previous room we cleared, grab the Quad Damage in the water with the fish if you want. The next area we need to visit on this mission is down the hall and to the left from Secret #2, since it's difficult to explain what you're looking for in text I have included a picture below.

Hit the floor button to remove the stained glass; shoot grenades into the opening above to reveal a secret

What we need to do in this area is step on the button that's pictured on the floor above. This will lower all of the stained glass murals in this area and release a lot of zombies; it also gives us access to a nearby Quad Damage and the Silver Key. You should also collect Secret #3 and Secret #4 in this area. In order to reach Secret #4 you'll have to first get up to the area shown in Secret #3. This is also the area shown above in my picture.

Once you get the Silver Key it's time to return to the original large room at the start of the mission. Remember the four way directional split? One of those four routes had the exit and in order to reach it - we need the Silver Key... or so you think! Like I said at the start of this page, you don't actually need the Silver Key to reach the exit. You are able to jump across the wooden pillars and reach the exit without lowering the bridge with the key.

If you jump across the wood pillars you can reach the end without consuming the Silver Key. This will let you use it on the Silver Key door at the end which is how you access the secret exit. Of course my advice if you're going to attempt jumping across the wood pillars is to Quick Save. Making a mistake this late in the level will force you to restart without a Quick Save and who wants to waste that much time?

Secret/Alternative Exit Portal

 

Secret #1

Secret #1: The first secret that you will find on this level is a rather easy one, right after you go through the Gold Key Door you'll find a large structure above you with a button on the floor. Press the button and you'll activate a nearby elevator, ride that up and then shoot the button on the side of the structure. This will raise a platform you can jump across to the secret area. Inside you'll find a Quad Damage, +100 Health and other goodies.

  

 

Secret #2

Secret #2: Later on in the level you will find a portal on the wall that moves away from you when you approach it - it will also spawn Fiends. The hallway that leads up to this portal will have a small ledge that you can use to jump from the ledge to an arch above. The middle of this arch is where the secret will be unlocked. Out of all the secrets in the original Quake, this one is definitely one of the more difficult ones to complete because it requires precision jumping to reach the arch.

 

Secret #3

Secret #3: In the final portions of this level you will find a section with many stained glass windows, when you step on the button in this area all these stained glass windows will open and zombies will come out. Above where you found this button there will be a gap with a Death Knight enemy that shoots down at you. You'll need to shoot grenades up into this area to open the wall nearby and activate an elevator. Ride the elevator up and then shoot grenades into the acid water pit that's up here. On harder difficults a Spawn enemy is down here. Aside from that enemy you'll find a Pentagram of Protection, armor and ammo down here.

 

Secret #4

Secret #4: You'll reach the final secret via the same area as Secret #3. Surrounding the top of this entire area you'll see a thin block with skulls on it. This design goes around this entire section of the map. Run and jump across these skull blocks to find the final secret area on the mission.