In Remedy Entertainment's supernatural action game Control, players encounter a memorable environmental challenge during the Old Boys Club story chapter. While searching for Dr. Darling's HRA Lab in the Research Sector, Jesse Faden must restart a series of punchcard terminals to power up the Hedron Resonance Amplifier machine. Understanding how the clues on nearby whiteboards map to each numbered terminal is key to progressing through the Oldest House.
Locating the Five Hidden Punchcards
Before attempting to solve the terminal puzzle, you must collect five distinct punchcards scattered across the laboratory. These cards are found on various surfaces around the ground level and upper office space. Look carefully on workbenches, near cardboard boxes, on the floor by the central staircase, and along the upstairs windowsill.
Gathering all five cards upfront prevents any interruption once you start inserting them into the machinery. Each card displays a unique geometric symbol that corresponds to specific slots. Taking a moment to sweep the room ensures you have every required item ready in your inventory before starting.
Reading the Whiteboard Clues
The clues needed to solve the puzzle are written on whiteboards situated around the lab. One board sits on the main floor while another is located in the upper room overlooking the area. These boards illustrate the relationship between the symbols on the cards and the numbered terminals.
Some diagrams explicitly link certain symbols to specific terminal numbers, while others show arrows indicating that two symbols must be swapped. Paying close attention to crossed-out formulas helps narrow down the correct sequence. By cross-referencing the diagrams on the ground floor with the upstairs board, the entire puzzle sequence reveals itself.
Terminal Placement and HRA Machine Activation
Each punchcard terminal in the laboratory features a clearly marked number on its side ranging from one to five. Insert the card with the single resonance frequency curve into Terminal 1. For Terminal 2, select the card featuring two overlapping circles connected by lines.
Terminal 3 requires the card showing a simple square with an internal cross pattern. Moving upstairs, insert the card with five connected geometric nodes into Terminal 4. Finally, place the card displaying a solid filled square symbol into Terminal 5 on the lower floor.
Completing the Mission Objective
Once all five punchcards are successfully placed in their correct terminals, an audio cue confirms the power grid is restored. Return to the main console situated at the top of the room to interact with the central mechanism. Activating the HRA Machine completes this objective and advances your main story progression in the Research Sector.
