Are you ready to embark on a journey to the elusive Black Rock Processing? This isn't your typical office building; it's a vital, and often challenging, location within the Oldest House in the game Control. Getting there requires more than just a map; it demands puzzle-solving, combat readiness, and a keen eye for environmental clues. Let's dive in!
Navigating the Oldest House: Your Path to Black Rock Processing
The Oldest House is a constantly shifting, Escher-esque structure, and Black Rock Processing is one of its more tricky destinations. You'll primarily encounter the need to access Black Rock Processing during the "Threshold" mission. Don't worry, we'll break it down step-by-step.
Step 1: Prepare for the Journey!
- Engage with me! Before we even think about moving, let's talk strategy. Have you leveled up your Launch ability? Do you have a good handle on your Service Weapon's forms? These will be crucial for the challenges ahead. What's your current loadout like, Director? Knowing what you're working with helps us tailor this guide to your needs!
Sub-heading: Understanding the Environment
The Oldest House thrives on alterations and puzzles. Expect environmental manipulation, enemies around every corner, and logic-defying geometry. Black Rock Processing is not a simple walk-in. It's a place designed to test your understanding of the FBC's anomalies.
Step 2: The Initial Approach: To the Maintenance Sector
Your first major objective is to reach the Maintenance Sector, which houses the entrance to Black Rock Processing.
- Best Fast Travel Point: Your most efficient starting point is the Central Executive Control Point. From there, take the service elevator down to the Maintenance Sector.
- Navigating the Maintenance Sector: Once in the Maintenance Sector, you'll need to head towards the Black Rock Processing area. Be mindful of Hiss forces. They'll be present and eager to impede your progress.
Sub-heading: The Turbine Room Conundrum
This is often where many Directors get stuck. The Turbine Room presents a spinning blade obstacle.
- Locate the Entrance: Instead of following the direct signs to Black Rock Processing (which will lead you to a blocked path), look for a door leading to the Turbine Room on your left.
- The First Turbine Puzzle:
- Inside the Turbine Room, you'll see large, rotating turbines. Your goal is to stop them to cross safely.
- Look for a power supply (a yellow battery crate) inserted into a socket on the left wall. Use your Launch ability to remove this crate. This will halt the first set of turbines.
- Crucial Step: Pick up that power supply you just removed. You'll need it shortly.
- Jump across the now-stationary turbines.
- The Second Turbine Puzzle:
- Once across, take the stairs on the right. You'll find another set of turbines and more empty sockets.
- Use the power supply you carried with you, and find another power supply in this area. Use Launch to insert both into the empty sockets. This will power open a door ahead.
- Jump across the next set of turbines, which are now safely stopped.
Step 3: The Oceanview Motel and the Light Switch Puzzle
After successfully navigating the Turbine Room, you'll reach a small balcony with a light switch. This is your gateway to the enigmatic Oceanview Motel, a recurring and mind-bending location in the Oldest House.
- Activate the Light Switch: Walk up to the light switch and pull it three times. This will transport you to the Oceanview Motel.
Sub-heading: Deciphering the Motel's Secrets
The Oceanview Motel segment is a classic Control puzzle, requiring observation and replication.
- Ring the Bell: Upon arriving, head to the front desk and ring the bell. This will open the first room on the left, Room 222.
- Observe Room 222: Carefully observe the arrangement of items in Room 222. Pay attention to:
- The chair (is it pulled out or pushed in?)
- The radio (where is it placed on the shelf?)
- The painting (is it straight or crooked?)
- The plant pot (where is it relative to the books?)
- Replicate in Room 224: Now, the second room on the left, Room 224, will open. Your task is to match the arrangement of items in Room 224 to what you observed in Room 222.
- The correct configuration: The chair should be pulled out, the radio should be on the right, the painting should be straight, and the plant should be to the left of the books.
- Access the Key: Once you've correctly matched the rooms, the third room down the hall will open. Inside, you'll find a key. Grab it!
- Return to the Main Facility: Use the key on the door near the cord on the opposite corridor of the motel. Enter this room and pull the shade three times to return to the Oldest House.
Step 4: Final Approach to Black Rock Processing
You're almost there! Returning from the Oceanview Motel, you'll find a path that was previously blocked is now open.
- Retrace Your Steps (Slightly): Drop back down through the turbines (they should still be stopped if you completed the puzzle correctly).
- Follow the Arrows: You can now follow the arrows and signs directly towards the Atlas Chamber and Black Rock Processing areas.
- Combat Encounter: You'll likely encounter more Hiss forces in an office space before reaching the final destination. Be prepared for a fight!
- Cleanse the Control Point: After the combat, cleanse the Control Point in the area. This will provide a handy fast travel point for future visits.
- Speak with Arish: When facing the Control Point, take the staircase on the left. At the top, go left again and enter the room ahead. You'll find and speak with Arish. He'll provide further objectives related to Black Rock Prisms.
Step 5: Within Black Rock Processing
Once you've spoken with Arish, you're officially "in" the Black Rock Processing area, though your objective might shift to finding a Black Rock Prism or Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab.
- Exploring the Area: Black Rock Processing is a large, industrial-looking zone. Follow the main corridor to the right-hand side and through the double doors at the end.
- Locating Prisms: You'll soon come across a container for Black Rock Prisms, though they'll likely be shattered.
- Hiss Distorted Encounter: Be ready for a fight with a Hiss Distorted. Defeating it is key to progressing.
- Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab: After the fight, you'll be able to access Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab on the left-hand side of the room. Inside, you'll find a presentation and a crucial Clearance Level 5 key on a desk near a TV. This key is essential for accessing the Black Rock Quarry.
Step 6: Heading to the Black Rock Quarry (for Prisms)
While you've reached Black Rock Processing, the overarching mission often involves acquiring Black Rock Prisms, which are found in the Black Rock Quarry.
- Using the Level 5 Clearance: With your new Level 5 key, you can now open previously inaccessible doors and elevators leading to the Black Rock Quarry.
- Navigating the Quarry: The Black Rock Quarry is another combat-heavy area with environmental puzzles, often involving using Launch to insert power supplies into sockets to activate explosives.
And there you have it, Director! A comprehensive guide to getting to, and navigating within, Black Rock Processing. Remember, patience and observation are your greatest tools in the Oldest House.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to get to Black Rock Processing quickly?
The quickest way is to fast travel to the Central Executive Control Point, then take the service elevator down to the Maintenance Sector and follow the steps through the Turbine Room and Oceanview Motel.
How to solve the Turbine Room puzzle in Black Rock Processing?
To solve the Turbine Room puzzle, remove the power block from the first set of turbines and carry it with you. Use it, along with another power block found upstairs, to power the door for the second set of turbines.
How to complete the Oceanview Motel puzzle for Black Rock Processing access?
To complete the Oceanview Motel puzzle, ring the bell, then carefully observe the item arrangement in Room 222 (chair pulled out, radio right, painting straight, plant left of books). Replicate this arrangement in Room 224 to get the key from the third room, then use the key and pull the shade three times to return.
How to find Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab?
After entering Black Rock Processing and dealing with the Hiss Distorted, Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab is located on the left-hand side of the main processing room.
How to get Level 5 Clearance for the Black Rock Quarry?
You obtain the Level 5 Clearance key from a desk inside Dr. Darling's Black Rock Lab, after defeating the Hiss Distorted in the main Black Rock Processing area.
How to defeat the Hiss Distorted in Black Rock Processing?
The Hiss Distorted is a challenging enemy. Use your Service Weapon and abilities like Launch to inflict damage. Keep moving and utilize cover, as it teleports frequently.
How to find the Black Rock Prisms?
Black Rock Prisms are excavated from the Black Rock Quarry. You'll need to solve a puzzle involving inserting power supplies into sockets to activate explosives within the quarry.
How to get past the locked door to Black Rock Processing?
If you encounter a locked door directly labeled "Black Rock Processing," it's likely the incorrect path. You need to take the alternative route through the Turbine Room and Oceanview Motel puzzle to unlock the main access.
How to use Launch to solve puzzles in Black Rock Processing?
Launch is crucial for moving power supplies (yellow battery crates) into their respective sockets to activate machinery and open doors, especially in the Turbine Room and Black Rock Quarry.
How to re-enter Black Rock Processing if I leave?
Once you've cleansed the Control Point near Arish within Black Rock Processing, you can simply fast travel directly back to that Control Point for easy re-entry.
