The Witness is full of many different challenges across the varied areas of the island. Each particular area has its own set of rules, and learning what those are will be key in activating the lasers scattered about. One of the lasers that you will need to activate is the Desert Ruins laser. This is found directly past the Symmetry laser, to your left.
The puzzles here are the trickiest you’ll come across up to this point, but there happens to be a clue to how to solve them laying near the ruins. Leaning on a rock is a painting on what appears to be a sheet of metal:
If you examine the painting, you’ll notice that the image only shows clearly in direct light. The solutions to the following puzzles will all require direct light in order to discern the proper path you’ll need to take.
This becomes more difficult as you progress through these ruins, though. The Witness will take you further underground with each level you clear. so let’s get started with the upper level.
Level One
In order to solve these puzzles, you’ll need to stand at an angle where the sun will reveal the proper path etched into each panel. This can be tricky and will require you to move around quite a bit. Also keep in mind that two of the panels have a slide lock that will shift them for you.
Yet, even knowing what to do can still leave you with some difficulty. Here are the solutions for all of the first level panels in the order you need to solve them (click to enlarge):
Once completed, you’ll be able to access the next level down which has you dealing with artificial light. Just activate the green slide lock and you’re ready to head down.
Level Two (Light Switch)
The first level down will be a dark room but there is a light switch to the side that you can activate. On a blue monitor is a fork puzzle that just controls the light bulbs in the room. Adjust the lights and take note of where the burn marks are. You’ll need to piece them together on your own.
The solutions for this area can be seen below (click to enlarge):
This will get you access to the reflection room.
Level Three (Pool of Reflection)
This room uses two puzzle components. The first is the light that you should be used to by now having cleared two floors. The second is the use of reflections from the uncovered pools of water in the ruins. At times you won’t see the light directly on the panel but you’ll be able to clearly see it within the reflections. You’ll have to alter where you stand to locate the pattern, but once you do, you’ll be able to solve the puzzles with ease.
Here are the solutions for the reflection puzzles found on level three (click to enlarge):
You’re almost done with this laser in The Witness. The most challenging room in the ruins approaches.
Level 4 (Reflections, Lights, and Levels)
This is the most challenging floor in the Desert Ruins, and will probably be one of the first times you get seriously stuck in The Witness. You’ll notice that on a couple of pillars are slide-locks going up and down. This raises and lowers the water in the room so that you can catch reflections. The thing is, the water doesn’t just stop when the reflection you’re looking for is in view so you’re going to have to see it, remember it and then put the invverse in the panel above.
If that’s giving you too much of a headache, here are the solutions for this level (click to enlarge):
You are now ready for the final room and one step closer to another trophy (or achievement) for The Witness.
Level 5 (Elevator Room) and Laser
The final room is actually ridiculously easy. You’ll have two standard puzzles, two reflection puzzles, and one other reflections puzzle that you’ll need to memorize (or take a picture of first). This one is blocked by debris so you’ll have to work your way behind it. Clearing these puzzles will allow you to use the elevator at the back of the room that will take you out of the ruins and back into the beautiful sunlight.
The solutions to this level are (click to enlarge):
Now activate the elevator and ride it all the way to the top. The laser is actually sitting on top, so once you reach your final destination, your trophy/achievement will pop and you will have completed another huge challenge in The Witness.
For more The Witness solutions be sure to check out our constantly expanding wiki.
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Published: Jan 29, 2016 10:55 am