Pope's Research Walkthrough

Later on in your playthrough of Control Resonant, you’ll reach the Unknown zone, a disorienting space you can only properly navigate by completing the Pope’s Research side story. The story itself isn’t difficult, but is a bit time consuming. You’ll be releasing and planting probes to unlock traversal between each area in the zone. Here’s how it all works.

• Where to Place the First Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Second Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Third Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Fourth Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Fifth Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Sixth Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Seventh Set of Probes
• Where to Place the Final Set of Probes

How to Complete Pope’s Research

Completing Pope’s Research has you knocking down a box of research probes, then placing them at specific points in each of the Unknown’s smaller zones. Most zones require only two probes, but the last requires three.

You can find probes in boxes hanging from balloons in every zone of the Unknown. Successfully placing each set of probes unlocks a gravity well, a circular, rotating amalgam of cars that allow passage between specific zones.

"Up” and “down” are relative here in the Unknown, so we’ll note east, west, and so based on their orientation on the in-game map. The Oldest House rooftop you just came from would be on the eastern end of the area, for instance.

Then, at the end of the quest, you’ll need to interact with one final location to complete it. Once you do, you’ll have full access to everywhere in the Unknown.

Where to Place the First Set of Probes

To reach your first set of probes is, go to the orientation point on the Oldest House rooftop, then shift at the end to reorient yourself. With the elevator now “under” and “behind” you, look to your left to see the balloons.

Hop on to the platform below the balloons and release the box, then attack it until it breaks to reveal the two probes. You’ll do this for each set of balloons in each zone.

The first probe placement is near the balloons, across from the large set of FBC boxes. Look for the red-painted circle on the ground. Circles like this will always indicate where probes go.

The second probe placement here is across the way from the balloons, near a set of antennas and a large air conditioning unit.

Once both probes are placed, a round, rotating amalgam of taxis will appear in the air above you. Use Reach to land “on top” of it, and then you can jump into the airspace leading to the large, central zone of the Unknown. Note that you’ll need to manually land in the central zone, as if you continue falling, you’ll just end up back at the Oldest House rooftop.

Where to Place the Second Set of Probes

Take a second to activate the map kit pylons here in the central Unknown so you can more easily orient yourself.

The balloon in central Unknown is southwest of the map kit pylon. You’ll be able to see it easily from the central pylon location. Use Reach and Shift to place yourself on the same plane as the balloons, then release and destroy the box to reveal the probes, as usual.

Head north of the balloon and look over the edge to see where to place the first probe.

You’ll place the second probe northwest of the balloon, on a rooftop at the same level as the balloon itself.

The gravity well taxi amalgam should appear near where you place the second probe.

Where to Place the Third Set of Probes

You’ll be able to see the third balloon shortly after jumping from the gravity well you just unlocked. It’s on the western end of the third area. Clear the enemies (and perhaps begin the A New Directive side story), then access the probes as you have been.

Place the first probe a little way southeast of the balloon location, on the street by the backhoe and construction barricades.You’ll need to shift to get on the same plane as the placement area.

The second probe is on the same plane as the balloon. Simply walk a past the gates and turn left to find the placement area at the Patterened end of the street.

The gravity well will appear shortly after you place the second probe.

Where to Place the Fourth Set of Probes

The balloon for this next set of probes is at the eastern end of the area where you first arrive at the end of the gravity well. Clear the enemies and free the probes.

To reach where you place the first probe, turn southeast of the balloon’s location and Shift onto the street in that direction. Continue southeast until you reach a second vertical street. You’ll place the probe next to a taxi and a white van.

You place the second probe very close to where you pick it up. Grab the probe and look directly west, near the orientation point. You’ll see the red circle on the ground.

The gravity well will appear in the air just above the second probe once you place it.

Where to Place the Fifth Set of Probes

Use the gravity well to drop into a Patterned version of the Evacuation Zone. You’ll find the balloon in the south-central area, near the Patterned Verconn building.

Grab the first probe and huck it northeast to the rooftop at the corner of the area, on the path you took as you dropped into this zone.

Return and pick up the second probe, then start heading north. The placement area is on a rooftop just beyond the portable office containers.

The third probe goes at the northeastern end of this area, near the end of the reflecting pool flanked by American flags.

Where to Place the Sixth Set of Probes

To reach the sixth set of probes, you first need to return to the central area of the Unknown. Once there, go to the northwesternmost corner.

There’s no gravity well this time. Instead, you’ll need to traverse across three platforms made up of traffic control barrels, then Reach onto the horizontal rooftop in the distance.

From there, make your way “down” to the northeastern street level at the base of the skyscraper. You’ll find the balloon on the same street as a theater.

Pick up the first probe and head directly west, past a small courtyard with a large patch of Hiss corruption on the vertical street.

Shift to reorient onto the street level with the corruption, then look for an alleyway leading south.

At the end of the alleyway, turn left and you can place the probe.

The second probe in this area is blessedly much easier to place. Simply pick it up and head south to the intersection. You’ll see the probe placement spot near the orientation point.

The gravity well will appear shortly after you place the second probe.

Where to Place the Seventh Set of Probes

Jump off the gravity well and make your way east across the Unknown. Beware that you’ll likely need to adjust your trajectory, as the edges of the well move slightly and you can end up reorienting incorrectly, thus falling into the void.

When you do reach the zone in the northeast of the Unknown, you’ll find the balloon on the center street by a newsstand. Grab the first probe and head further east.

Use shift to reorient yourself at the end of the street with the probes on it, then keep going east to the Patterened edge. You’ll find the probe placement point there.

Return to the second probe, pick it up, then jump onto the nearby Slate and Thread overhang. Continue jump up onto the low rooftops until you reach the level with the sign.

Look south across the street and you’ll see where you can plant the second probe.

Where to Place the Final Set of Probes

Return to the central zone in the Unknown, specifically to the middle of the sun-drenched street. That’s where you’ll find the final balloon.

Take it down to reveal four probes. You won’t need to go far to plant them, but every time you do, a wave of enemies will spawn.

The first probe is to the north, next to a red car.

The second probe goes next to a newsstand south of the intersection and some concrete pipes.

The third probe goes to the west in the middle of the road, near a black SUV.

The fourth and final probe goes to the east, facing the Oldest House rooftop, next to a bus.

After you place the last probe, a strange, swirling nexus of taxis will being to spin above the street. You’ll need to Reach to the inside platform inside, then hold your interact button to, well, interact with whatever entity is connected to it.

Once you do so, the nexus will disappear, you’ll complete the quest, and gain a Resonant Token, which you can use at the Gap to claim a new Combat Ability.