You ever feel like Fontaine is just one giant, soggy conspiracy theory? Honestly, walking through the Liffey Region for the first time, I expected the usual "go here, kill three slimes, get ten Primogems" routine. But then I stumbled into In Search of Lost Time Genshin, and suddenly I’m playing detective in a rusted-out underwater tower. It’s weird. It’s long. It’s basically the epitome of why Genshin Impact's world-building is both brilliant and incredibly frustrating if you're just trying to rush through your Daily Commissions.
Most players treat world quests like a chore. You skip the dialogue, follow the blue diamond, and call it a day. But this specific questline—In Search of Lost Time—actually matters for anyone trying to piece together what the Fontaine Research Institute was actually doing before everything literally blew up. It isn't just one quest; it’s a multi-part headache involving hydrologic monitoring stations, a guy named Broglie who seems perpetually stressed, and some of the most annoying "security" puzzles in the game.
The Messy Reality of In Search of Lost Time Genshin
So, here is the deal. The quest starts when you meet Broglie. He’s a researcher who lost his data. Classic. He needs you to go to three different towers: South, West, and North. If you think you can just stroll in, think again. These towers are packed with Fatui, malfunctioning cameras, and those energy transfer puzzles that make me want to throw my controller into the actual Meropide fortress.
What’s interesting is how the quest reflects the theme of the title. "In Search of Lost Time" isn't just a nod to Marcel Proust—though HoYoverse loves a good literary reference—it’s about the literal loss of data and history. These towers were supposed to monitor the "Prophecy" of Fontaine. Instead, they became derelict shells. When you’re diving into the flooded lower levels of the Western Laboratory, you aren't just looking for tapes; you're seeing the decay of an institution that thought it could outsmart fate.
The pacing of this quest is all over the place. One second you're fighting a group of Fatui Skirmishers who hit like a freight train, and the next, you’re staring at a wall trying to figure out which terminal to activate first. It’s disjointed. It's clunky. And yet, it’s exactly the kind of environmental storytelling that makes Fontaine feel lived-in. You see the leftover research papers. You see the abandoned bunk beds. You realize these researchers weren't just NPCs; they were people terrified of the rising water levels.
Why Everyone Gets Stuck at the North Tower
The North Tower is where most people give up and Google a guide. I get it. The "processing" mechanics are a nightmare. You have to navigate through multiple floors, use the Energy Transfer Terminals to unlock doors, and somehow not get disoriented by the circular architecture. It's a vertical maze.
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The trick isn't the combat. It’s the sequence. You have to grab the energy from a storage cell, move it to the camera, then jump to another camera to open a door on a completely different floor. It feels like a 1990s point-and-click adventure game snuck its way into a high-budget action RPG. If you mess up the order, you have to backtrack, which is the "lost time" the quest title should actually be warning you about.
Honestly, the rewards are decent—around 120 Primogems total if you finish all the sub-quests and the final confrontation—but the real "reward" is the achievement "The Forgotten Ream." It’s one of those hidden checkmarks that completionists crave. But let's be real: we're all here for the pulls.
The Fatui Connection You Might Have Missed
The Fatui aren't just there as filler mobs. In In Search of Lost Time Genshin, they are actively trying to steal the monitoring data. Why? Because the Tsaritsa's subordinates are obsessed with anything that can measure or manipulate elemental ley lines. The North Tower specifically has a boss fight against a "Commander" level Fatui operative.
This brings up a bigger point about Fontaine’s lore. The Research Institute was essentially a failed state within a state. While Neuvillette was trying to keep the peace and Furina was... well, being Furina... the researchers were doing dangerous stuff with "Arkhium" and clockwork technology. The Fatui aren't just villains here; they're scavengers picking over the bones of a dead scientific dream.
When you finally confront the "culprit" at the end of the questline, it’s almost underwhelming compared to the atmosphere of the towers themselves. The resolution happens at the New Fontaine Research Institute, and it feels a bit rushed. You hand over the tapes, Broglie says thanks, and you move on. But the imagery of those lonely towers standing in the middle of a misty lake? That stays with you.
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How to Actually Finish This Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re starting this quest now, don’t try to do it all at once. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
- South Tower First: It’s the easiest and gets you used to the camera mechanic. It’s located near the teleport waypoint on the southern coast of the Liffey Region.
- Watch the Red Lights: In the energy puzzles, if a terminal is red, it’s inactive. If it’s turquoise, it’s got juice. Most people forget you can "store" energy in the portable batteries and move them.
- Bring a Healer: The Fatui in the North Tower don’t play around. There’s a lot of Cryo and Hydro overlap, meaning you will get frozen. Constantly. Bring someone like Bennett or Jean to cleanse those status effects.
- Read the Notes: I know, I know. You want to skip. But the notes in the West Tower explain why the towers were built in the first place. It adds a layer of weight to the quest that makes the "puzzles" feel less like a waste of time.
Is the Quest Worth the Time?
Look, if you hate puzzles, you’re going to hate In Search of Lost Time Genshin. There is no way around that. It is a slow, methodical questline that requires you to pay attention to your surroundings. However, if you care about the "World Exploration" percentage on your map, you literally have to do it. These towers take up a significant chunk of the Liffey Region's completion points.
The quest also bridges the gap between the "Archon Quests" and the world at large. In the main story, you’re dealing with gods and ancient sins. In this quest, you’re dealing with the practical reality of a sinking nation. It’s grounded. It’s gritty. It makes the world feel like it exists even when the Traveler isn't around to save it.
I’ve seen people complain on Reddit that the camera mechanics are "janky." They kind of are. Sometimes the "aim" on the energy transfer doesn't register, and you have to exit the camera view and re-enter. It’s a bit of a polish issue that we’ve seen in a few Fontaine quests. But compared to the "Golden Slumber" questline in Sumeru, this is a walk in the park.
Final Practical Advice for Players
Once you finish the three towers, you have to go to the central processing station. Don't forget to check the basement. There is a "hidden" chest that doesn't show up on most compasses because it's behind a breakable rock wall near the final terminal.
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Also, keep an eye out for "Strange Parts." While they aren't the primary reward here, some of the enemies you encounter in these ruins drop materials needed for the Merusea Village shop. Multitasking is the only way to survive the grind in Genshin 4.1 and beyond.
The final takeaway? In Search of Lost Time Genshin is a mood. It’s quiet, it’s lonely, and it’s a little bit frustrating. But it’s also one of the best examples of how Fontaine uses its environment to tell a story. Just make sure you have a YouTube guide open for that North Tower puzzle. Seriously. Save yourself the headache.
To get the most out of your run, make sure you've cleared the "Chronicles of the Research Institute" quest first. It provides the necessary context for why Broglie is even out there in the first place. Without it, he just seems like some random guy obsessed with water pressure. With it, he's a survivor of a literal explosion that reshaped the map. Context is everything.
Go to the Liffey Region teleport waypoint near the water. Look for the tower with the spotlight. Jump in. It’s time to find that lost data.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough:
- Priority One: Clear the South Tower first to master the "Energy Transfer" mechanic in a low-stress environment before hitting the complex North Tower.
- Team Comp: Use a team with high mobility (like Kazuha or Wanderer) to navigate the verticality of the towers, but keep a heavy hitter for the Fatui ambushes.
- The "Secret" Loot: After the quest ends, return to the North Tower's lowest level. Often, new spawns or overlooked crates contain "Hydroculi" that are only accessible after the water levels are manipulated during the quest.
- Check Your Inventory: Ensure you have enough "Fontaine Specialties" to level up your characters before diving in, as these towers are in remote areas far from easy gathering spots.