This walkthrough details how to navigate the Patterned Factory and defeat the Central Resonant boss in Control Resonant. The Central Resonant encounter serves as the game's second boss fight, rewarding players with a new ability upon completion. The mission takes place in a fiery industrial locale.
Investigating the Factory
Players should head to the Gap to level up before making their way to the Patterned Factory in northeast Central. Upon arrival, clear out the initial Hiss enemies in the loading bay. To proceed, players must climb to the factory roof by navigating platforms on the right-hand wall, dodging steam hazards. Once on the roof, cross to the other side and break through wooden boards to enter the factory. Descend the stairs to find a resource crate, then continue to the main factory floor for a combat encounter with more Hiss. Enemies near steam jets can be stunned, allowing for executions.
After clearing the room, use the elevator to descend further into the factory.
Turning Off the Steam
On the lower floor, activate the fast travel point. Proceed to the central chamber, where a passage leading to a fire-blocked tunnel will be visible. To clear the fire, three lava globs attached to steel pipes must be destroyed.
The first lava glob is located on a pipe on the wall opposite the top of the stairs in the central hub. From there, take a left and follow the path through an archway. Continue through the corridor, avoiding steam, until reaching a fork. Take the left path to a room with a lit furnace behind a metal gate. Inside this room, a tape player on a table next to the grate contains 'Factory Log #1'.
Ascend to the walkways above and proceed to another combat room. After defeating the Hiss, drop to the ground floor and look right. In a tunnel beyond a set of pipes, a desk against a wall holds a tape player with 'Factory Log #2'. Upon exiting this tunnel, players will find the second lava glob to destroy. Returning to the central hub, take the right path. At a midway point on the walkway, head through a door into a large chamber. After defeating the Hiss here, a tunnel on the right-hand side of the bottom floor contains the second lava glob.
To find the third lava glob, return to the central hub and take the right path. Enter a door midway up the walkway and proceed through the subsequent path into another chamber. After defeating the Hiss, climb to the raised area at the back. At a fork, take the left path to find a makeshift living area. Here, players can find a Health Upgrade Point in a red box, 'Factory Log #3' on a table, and 'An Old Journal' in the back left corner.
Return to the fork and take the right path. At the end of this path is another combat arena. The third lava glob is located on an upper walkway opposite the entrance. Destroy it to clear the path to the factory's center. Return to the central hub.
The Deserter Boss Fight
From the central hub, enter the room opposite the top of the stairs and proceed through the tunnel that was previously blocked by fire. This leads to a boss arena. Interact with the mirror to trigger a cutscene and confront the boss, The Deserter.
To defeat The Deserter, players should stay on the outskirts of the arena and strafe to avoid its fiery projectiles and lava spews. The 'Rush' ability can be used to dodge area-of-effect attacks. A key strategy is to wait for The Deserter to rise and then fall onto its side. At this point, attack the purple orb in its mouth for significant damage.
As the fight progresses, The Deserter will change tactics, running around the arena and dropping to its knees. Maintain distance when it stands to avoid its charge. Continue attacking to eventually create an opening for a finishing blow.
Upon defeating The Deserter, players will be teleported to the Gap and can choose between two combat abilities: Ignite, which adds a flame buff to weapons, or Inferno, which allows for long-range flame projectiles. If the player did not choose a projectile ability earlier in the game, Inferno is recommended.
After selecting an ability, players will return to the boss arena. The final collectible, the 'FBC ID Badge', can be found on the ground near the exit path of the arena.
With The Deserter defeated, players should now be adequately prepared to tackle the Evacuation Zone and complete the Evacuation Procedure mission.