This guide goes over the whole chapter, including all the collectibles, puzzle solutions, and main goals, so you can move on without missing anything important.
Important Tips Before You Start
You should know that it’s easy to miss a lot of collectibles and optional items. If you move too quickly, you might miss out on Scans, Music Tracks, and some upgrades. So take your time and look around before you move on.
Air Conditioning Platforming Section
When you get Reach back, follow the tutorial’s steps to learn how to block attacks. After that, go to the emergency hatch at the back of the train car. To find it, go up the stairs and to the right, where it will be on the ground behind the carriage.
Get on the container to the left of the hatch and use the poles to swing up to the roof. You can now cross the gap in front of you with the air conditioning on.
Emergency Hatch Puzzle Solution
To open the emergency hatch, use the console. Pick up a Battery from nearby and put it in the Generator to turn on the airflow. Move the Generator to the right and use the air boost to jump through the hole in the wall.
Collectibles Location Guide (Scans #51–56)
On the other side, get Scan #51: The Protestor’s Note. Go down, beat the PCPD officers, then go through the train car to the right and out the left to find Scan #52: Cult Leader Arrested.
There is a hidden drop nearby that leads to Genetic Profile #6, which is easy to miss.
To keep going, go back to the main path, move the container, and climb over the broken train cars.
To open a shortcut in the next puzzle area, pull the lever next to the Battery. Put the Battery in the Generator and pull it inside to turn on the air vents. Use the boost to get to the yellow crane, then jump into the room on the right.
After you climb the ladder and go back outside, jump to the left to get Scan #53: Termite’s Regrets. Overdrive will be available after you beat the next group of enemies. Then look under the shelter on the left for Scan #54, which says “Help Those In Need.”
To unlock, talk to the console next to you and use all of your options:
Scan #55: We need more donors.
Scan #56: Notes on the Update
Rooftop Platforming & Puzzle Walkthrough
After you finish the stealth part with the drone, you’ll have to cross a long rooftop. Keep going until you go down some metal stairs and pass a few red flares.
Scan #57 Location Guide
To get to Scan #57: Watergate Scandal, go up the ladder and through the door on the left.
Take the Battery that is close by and put it in the Generator outside. To use the air boost and get to the poles above, push it toward the billboard.
Push the wooden crate off the edge at the top, then move the Generator to make the airflow higher. Use the metal that is exposed to climb up and swing across the poles.
You will eventually fall into a battle arena. Get rid of all the enemies, then go down the ladder to the street.
Office Building Section Walkthrough
After you get into the manhole, go through a platforming section. To get to the office building, push the wooden box to the right.
Use your Pickaxe to move around inside. As you cross the long yellow pole, drop down to a lower platform and move to the right to get Scan #58: Action Figure.
Additional Collectibles (Scans #59–60)
Keep going through the building until you find a Pickaxe hook above the skull symbol.
Climb the ladder outside after you beat more enemies. To find Scan #59: Portable Solar Panel, don’t follow the spotlight path. Instead, go straight to the glowing red window.
Go back to the main road and move on to the next puzzle.
Electrified Crane Puzzle Guide
Move the Generator to the right and use it to get over the stone block that is hanging. To raise the block, turn on the central console. To turn off the vents and the electrified water, use the console on the right.
Put the battery in the generator and move the wooden box under the airflow to lift it. Turn the system back on and get on top of the crate.
To get to the other side, use the raised stone block, the high ground, and the air boost.
Climb the ladder and go through another platforming section to get to a big fighting area. After you clear it, go left to get Scan #60: Rusted Pin.
To unlock, use the console nearby:
Scan #61: Report from the PCPD Troopers
Scan #62: Nixon vs. Phoenix Corporation
Stealth & Escape Sequence Guide
Move across the crane to start a cutscene, which is followed by a fast-paced chase with drones. After you land in a basement, push the box and climb back outside to a stealth area.
Go left right away into a hidden space to find Music Track #7: A View To Die For next to a CD player.
Go forward and jump over a fence to get Kinetic Inductor #3.
Continue through the stealth sequence until you meet up with Tempest again. Talk to him and choose “Ready to Go.”
Service Area Puzzle Solution
You will get to the Level 2 Service Area after falling through the vents. To get to the upper platform, move the Generator to the left. To lower the poles, turn on the console.
Move the Generator back to the right and use the poles and the wind to go higher. Find your way through the ducts to get outside, where a boss fight starts.
Boss Fight Guide – The Commissioner
The Commissioner is a harder opponent who needs careful timing and patience.
Boss Strategy & Tips
Don’t hit the buttons too hard, because he often uses a shockwave attack. Instead, hit him a few times and then move out of the way when he raises his hands. Be on the lookout for attacks from a distance.
He will disappear every time you take away some of his health. To start the next phase, hit the generator on the right that is exposed.
In the second phase, put defense first and use deflects to deal damage quickly.
Before the last phase, a third wave of enemies shows up. The plan is still the same: attack carefully, dodge all the time, and stay away from shockwaves.
Ending & Achievement Unlock
To beat him, you need to destroy the last part of the generator. You will get the achievement “Another Brick in the Wall” after the cutscene where Reach and Tempest say goodbye.