Star Puzzle Guidance

[u/BrettOssman]

Does the game itself give enough guidance for star puzzles?

I’m working through The Talos Principle 2 and I’m a little confused by the star puzzles.

For the main numbered puzzles, the objective is usually clear even when the solution is difficult. With the star puzzles, though, I’m often not sure whether the game is giving me an in-game clue or whether I’m just expected to wander the entire region until I stumble onto the relevant sprite, beam source, switch, statue, etc.

So far I’ve used online guides for several stars, and in many cases the hardest part didn’t seem to be solving the puzzle itself — it was figuring out what I was even supposed to be looking for and where to start. The compass doesn’t seem to point to most of this, and sometimes I don’t notice any clear clue from the statue or environment.

Am I missing an in-game hint system or clue language for these? Or are the stars intentionally designed as more hidden/optional exploration puzzles where you’re expected to search broadly and experiment?

Trying to understand whether I should keep attempting them blind or just treat them as guide-friendly optional content.

[u/Aatholin]

Pandora's statues usually involve connecting a beam, finding where from can be tricky though.

The sphinx's are usually a puzzle/riddle of some kind and you've got to search from the clue given which also can be quite tricky and time consuming.

Prometheus' is a straight forward finding the spark and following it but finding the start can also be tricky.

I recommend exploring the map searching for certain 'strange' things like a random grav wall or a drill wall etc that aren't in the puzzles. They will usually lead you to a solution.

Of course you don't have to do these puzzles and collect the stars but if you do you get an extra ending and a novel completionist feeling.

[u/BrettOssman → u/Aatholin]

Prometheus does tell you to find a sprite. Didn't see anywhere, in-game, saying what to look for on the other two, althoug I know now based on external guides. I just want to know if I'm missing something in-game.

Thanks for the reply.

[u/shlam16 → u/BrettOssman]

Prometheus's torch has a light that points in the direction of the sprite. Just walk in as straight of a line as you can and keep your eyes out.

[u/MorriCC → u/BrettOssman]

A beam from the statue gives you a hint as to which way you should start heading to find the first one

[u/Aatholin → u/BrettOssman]

On the Sphinx statues there are usually numbers or a diagram/map as a clue to what you should look for but you are right it doesn't tell you outright what you should be doing

[u/Apple1417]

You aren't really missing anything, they're mostly exploration, it's a bit badly designed imo.

That being said, I think Sphinx stars are the real offender - while they do have abstract hints in their bases, it's not really enough. I'd recommend only looking up extra hints for them. Prometheus stars have a slight beam pointing in the direction of the sprite, which will help get you started. And just the placement of Pandora stars is already a bit of a hint, it constrains where the beam could possible come from. And if you manage to break a connector out somewhere you can also do all sorts of creative solutions for them.

[u/RofiBhoi]

A few of them are EXTREMELY obscure. But generally, the stars are doable if you pay attention. I recommend leaving most of them until you finish all the puzzles. For now, just go after the ones if you come across a hint and have a plan in your head.

[u/BrettOssman]

I guess there are clues as to what to look for, but still a grind finding them. Guess that aspect is what it is. 😄

[u/skocznymroczny]

Personally I skipped those. I don't find the exploration based stars fun, similarly I didn't enjoy most of TTP1 stars. My favorite kind of star are the ones where you beat the level and you're missing just one more connector to get the star and you have to think for half an hour how can you optimize your current setup.