Quick Answer
Record your setup, then break all four crystals in one loop. Your phantoms repeat the last two cycles, so use their recorded actions to hold doors and operate controls while you reach the remaining buttons. In We Were Here Tomorrow Ghosts of Our Past, breaking crystals across separate cycles does not finish the puzzle.
How do you get through Ghosts of Our Past?
You finish Ghosts of Our Past by recording the actions your phantoms must repeat, then breaking all four crystals within the same cycle.
Each cycle lasts 60 seconds and returns you to the clock tower. Your actions from the last two cycles replay at their original times. That includes pressure plates, pull controls, tool actions and crystal buttons. Plan each recording around what you need your earlier selves to do while you take another route.
These crystal buttons belong to the clock tower time loop. For the timeline exchanges and fuse repairs in the earlier area, follow the Time Crystal walkthrough.
How do you keep the six-plate door open?
Keep all six pressure plates occupied with phantoms and goop so you and your partner can pass through the door.
- Agree which plates each of you will cover during the recording cycles.
- Reach those plates early and remain there long enough for your later selves to cross.
- In the following cycles, let the recorded actions cover those plates while you cover the remaining ones.
- Pass through when all six are held.
The timing matters as much as reaching the plates. “We did this really late in the time loop.” A recording that opens the door near the end leaves little time to reach the crystal beyond it.
The door closes as soon as any plate becomes free. If you both stay on plates during the crossing cycle, neither of you is free to go through. Record that work for your phantoms instead.
How do you open the remaining crystal routes?
Press the crystal button beyond the six-plate door, then reach the next crystal button to open the remaining routes.
- Get through the first door and press the crystal button beyond it.
- Enter the newly opened section and press its crystal button.
- Use the routes that open to reach the remaining two crystals.
The second button also saves your progress. These initial opening presses do not need to happen in the same cycle. First make the routes accessible; then prepare the recordings for the final attempt.
How do you prepare the elevator route?
Record the door, platform and elevator controls before trying to ride the elevator to its crystal.
- Open the door and unfold the platform needed for access.
- Move to the elevator controls and hold the elevator up for your later self.
- During the next cycle, follow the prepared route, wait for the recorded lift action and ride up to the button.
Give your partner time to reach each crossing before operating the next control. Raising the elevator or changing the platform too early can leave the rider unable to continue. Agree when to move and call out when you are in position.
How do you break all four crystals in one cycle?
Record the button presses you cannot reach during the finishing cycle, then press the remaining buttons while your phantoms replay theirs.
- Work backwards from the final cycle: decide which buttons you and your partner will reach yourselves.
- Use the preceding two cycles to record the other button presses and the controls needed to reach them.
- Include any pressure-plate work your final routes still require.
- On the finishing cycle, split up. Take the elevator route while your partner handles another crystal and waits for the recorded door opening.
- Enter as soon as the door opens and press the remaining button before the cycle ends.
Only the last two cycles replay. An older recording cannot keep a door open or break a crystal for you. All four crystals must break during the finishing cycle, although their buttons do not need to be pressed at exactly the same moment.
How do you reset a failed recording?
Pull the central reset chain all the way together with your partner to clear a recording that went wrong.
A pullable control in the time-loop room.
Shown at 123:00 in Aravien_’s video.Resetting also removes the phantoms that were keeping your earlier route usable. “We need to redo the first one.” Rebuild the plate recordings before expecting that door to open again.
Once the crystals are broken and the cutscene returns you to R&D Headquarters, continue with Norček Proprietary.
FAQ
Arrange for all four crystals to break during one cycle. Record the controls and button presses your phantoms need to handle, then reach the remaining buttons with your partner.
The clock tower repeats a 60-second cycle until you finish the crystal objective. A crystal broken in an earlier cycle does not count toward a later cycle's finish.
You and your partner must fully pull the central reset chain together. Afterwards, record the pressure-plate actions again because the reset clears the phantoms that performed them.