Of all the moments that define Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End—the breathtaking set pieces, the raw emotional confrontations, the quiet, introspective walks—few are as brilliantly designed and thematically resonant as the Library Puzzle in Chapter 16, “The Brothers Drake.” This isn't merely a hurdle to overcome; it's a masterclass in environmental storytelling, a cerebral challenge that perfectly encapsulates the game’s core themes of legacy, obsession, and the complex bond between brothers. This guide will not only walk you through the solution but also explore the profound narrative weight this puzzle carries.
The Setting: A Testament to a Pirate's Obsession
After navigating the treacherous waters of King’s Bay and ascending the cliffs of New Devon, Nathan and Sam Drake finally breach the heart of the pirate colony: Avery’s imposing manor. They are not in a treasure vault, but in a library. This choice of location is the first stroke of genius. For Henry Avery, a man defined not just by greed but by a paranoid intellect, knowledge was the ultimate currency and weapon. This library is his mind made manifest—a place of learning, strategy, and meticulously guarded secrets. The towering shelves, globes, and astronomical instruments speak of a man who looked to the stars for navigation and within books for the wisdom to protect his ill-gotten gains.
The puzzle itself is presented as a final test for any would-be treasure hunter. A massive, intricate orrery (a mechanical model of the solar system) dominates the center of the room, its planets frozen in place. On the wall, a painted mural depicts the same planets, each labeled not with its name but with a cryptic clue from Avery’s journal. The goal is to align the orrery’s planets to match the order implied by the clues, thereby unlocking the mechanism that reveals the next crucial clue: the St. Dismas cross.
The Clues and The Solution: Aligning the Heavens
The journal page Nate consults provides the key. The clues are poetic riddles pointing to the classical planets known in Avery’s time:
- “The Queen of War’s sharp spear”: This refers to Mars, the Roman god of war. The “spear” is its symbol.
- “The King of Gods’ great lightning bolt”: Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods, is famously associated with throwing lightning bolts.
- “The Messenger’s winged boot”: This is Mercury, the messenger god, always depicted with winged sandals or a winged helmet.
- “The Goddess of Love’s enchanted mirror”: Venus, the goddess of love, is often shown with a mirror, a symbol of vanity and beauty.
- “The Old Man’s scythe”: This refers to Saturn, the god of time and harvest, commonly symbolized by a scythe or sickle.
The solution lies in aligning the orrery’s planets in the order these clues are presented in the journal. However, the puzzle has a clever twist. The orrery’s control mechanism only allows you to rotate the arms in sets, not individually. This is where the real puzzle-solving begins.
Step-by-Step Solution:
- Interact with the Orrery Control: Approach the large wheel mechanism on the side of the orrery. This will be your primary interface.
- First Rotation (Innermost Planets): Turn the wheel until the innermost ring of planets is highlighted. You need to align Mercury (The Messenger) and Venus (The Goddess of Love) here. Rotate this inner ring until these two planets are at the front, facing the mural.
- Second Rotation (Middle Planets): Interact with the wheel again to shift the highlight to the middle ring. This ring contains Earth (which is not part of the puzzle) and Mars (The Queen of War). Ignore Earth and rotate the ring until Mars is positioned correctly at the front.
- Third Rotation (Outer Planets): Shift the highlight one more time to the outermost ring. This ring holds Jupiter (The King of Gods) and Saturn (The Old Man). Rotate this large ring until both Jupiter and Saturn are aligned at the front.
- Final Check and Activation: Look at the mural and ensure the planets on the orrery match the order of the clues from left to right. The correct order should be: Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn. Once confirmed, a final prompt will appear to “Activate” the mechanism. Do so.
With a satisfying grind of ancient gears, the orrery will spring to life, the planets beginning to orbit. A section of the library’s floor will slide away, elevating the priceless St. Dismas cross—the final key to Libertalia—into the light.
Beyond the Mechanics: A Puzzle of Brotherhood
What elevates this puzzle from great to legendary is how it is executed not in solitude, but through collaboration. Throughout the process, Sam is not a passive observer. He is an active participant, reading the clues aloud, offering suggestions (“The Messenger… that’s Mercury, right?”), and providing encouragement. This dynamic is the culmination of their entire arc.
The puzzle forces them to work as a team, just as they did in their youth. It’s a callback to their first journal, their first “hunt” together. For a few minutes, the surrounding decay and the weight of their mission fade away, and they are simply the Brothers Drake, solving a mystery together. It’s a poignant reminder of what their relationship could have been without the interference of greed, crime, and prison. The puzzle isn't just testing their wits; it's rebuilding their fractured bond, proving that together, they are smarter and stronger.
Furthermore, the puzzle serves as a direct contrast to the ruthless, violent methods of their pursuers, Nadine Ross and her Shoreline mercenaries. Where Shoreline uses brute force and explosives to bypass obstacles (as seen when they blast through the cave wall later), Nate and Sam use intellect, patience, and historical knowledge. It reinforces the game’s central argument that true treasure hunting isn’t about theft, but about understanding history and solving the puzzles left behind.
In conclusion, the Library Puzzle in Chapter 16 is a flawless fusion of gameplay and narrative. It is a challenging, satisfying brainteaser that respects the player’s intelligence, while simultaneously functioning as a critical character moment for Nathan and Sam Drake. It stands as a testament to Naughty Dog’s unparalleled ability to make every action, even turning a cog, feel deeply meaningful and inextricably woven into the rich tapestry of their storytelling.
