Stuck after nearly 20 hours, any experts here?

[Kutan]

So this is my second time attempting La Mulana, and I'm finally ready to ask for help. I was hoping I could finish a playthrough without outside assistance, but no amount of note-taking or backtracking has seemed to unstick me. My notebook has all tablet text and all the puzzles that I was unable to solve, and it's a pretty big list. I'm aware there's a hint guide available, but I'm not sure which puzzle I need hints for. I'm don't know what's actually blocking my progress, and what needs to be solved later in the game. I don't want to look up the solution to every puzzle until I'm unstuck, so can someone tell me which of these I need to focus on? From there, I can use the hint guide as needed.

As far as boss progress goes, I beat Viy, and couldn't figure out what to do with Shiva's Crucifix, so my progress dead-ended there. I'm not sure how to access any new areas. Here's all the puzzles I have unsolved:

The Nebra Sky Disk statues in various places seem really important, but as much as I fiddle with the one in the Mausoleum of the Giants, it doesn't seem to change things in other areas.

The Cross of Light markers are also a mystery to me. I'm wondering if they're some kind of hint added into the remake? It said they were "added at a later date" when you examine them, and I'm not sure if they're meant to be interacted with at all.

I've got the crucifix, and those red and blue orbs are bouncing around various places now, but collecting them doesn't appear to do anything.

There's that statue in the Inferno Cavern, and I'm supposed to "wait for them to present themselves," but I'm not sure what to do other than idle in that room longer than I've already tried.

I never cleared out the poison in the Twin Labyrinth. I beat the minibosses, and got the dark/light witches to appear. They're staying there when I leave and reenter the area, so I figure it's good to leave them spawned, but I can't figure out what to do with them.

There's also the Twin Labyrinth's puzzle that says it can't be solved, but has been "rewritten". Can't figure out what to do there, but coming back with the double jump wasn't the answer (the eye just zaps you if you get up too high)

I've identified the locations for the 4 boxes in the Temple of the Moon, but I have no idea how to activate anything at those locations.

The "womb" puzzle in the same area seems simple (I'm guessing I need to get up to that platform, then pause the game until I fall asleep, per the "sleep within the woman" clue) but I haven't found any way to get up there, or descend from above.

There's a wall in the Temple of the Sun's pyramid that's going "plink plink" like it's breakable, but every weapon and subweapon I've tried is ineffective. There's a tablet in the same room that makes me think it's related to the womb puzzle?

The "power of words" mural still eludes me. I thought it was braille, but it's not; I'm not sure how else I can decode it. (It's unclear to me what even constitutes 1 character)

I got the clues that say I'm supposed to "turn left/right and swing your weapon" and also another one saying "point it to the left/right" but I'm not sure where this is relevant.

"Reveal the light to the grieving twins" seems like I'd need to use the flare gun on one of the Twin Labyrinth statues, but no luck so far. I was thinking "look where the shell in the left hand points" is a clue for this same puzzle, but I haven't noticed any statues holding a shell.

I translated the "untranslatable" tablets by hand, but I don't think there's anything I can do with that information right now. I think the screen in the Mausoleum of the Giants is either indicating my "weight" or giving me the number of a "weight" it's asking for? I feel like I'm way way too early on this puzzle, though.

Thanks for any help! I'd really like to finish the game this time, but I was hoping to use as little outside assistance as possible. Any gentle nudges to get me back on track would be appreciated!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3264014995&

[Kona❤Kona]

Originally posted by Kutan:

I've identified the locations for the 4 boxes in the Temple of the Moon, but I have no idea how to activate anything at those locations.

This is the thing you should focus on. How do you normally take a closer look at things?
Scan the locations. Remember you can scan background objects.

[Kutan]

Thank you so much! I don't know why I didn't try that. I was waiting to get a new usable item or something, I was overthinking it. Finally have a new area to explore!

[Ariesxs]

Be prepared to be stuck for like dezens of hours in the place you will discover after unlocking the four boxes...

[Typhin]

Aw, dang, Steam dropped all the stuff I was typing. Aw well, guess I start over. ^_^;;

The Nebra Sky Disc doesn't affect anything outside of Mausoleum of the Giants. Bear in mind that it can be stopped "between" symbols, which cause none of the giants to be in their activated state, so be sure to rotate twice so there is a single symbol at the top. Each symbol activates one statue, and all three are needed. (Well, you can skip one of them with the Feather, which you have.)

The Cross of Lights are part of a much later puzzle, so don't worry about them now. Do think about their location, however, in both Front Side and Back Side. And remember the tablet that says to keep in mind the location of the Ankhs... When the time comes.

The red and blue balls are "Soul" enemies, and the Crucifix renders them harmless (and destroys them on contact). You aren't "collecting" anything, I'm afraid. Without the Crucifix, they'd damage you and knock you back, especially annoying when riding platforms or climbing ladders. There's a similar item that protects against bats.

Clearing out the poison in the Twin Labyrinths is a good step. It'll open up access to more of the area, as well as stop parts of it from sending you to different rooms every time you climb ladders. Leave the Black Witch alive in her room, then kill the White Witch when she's summoned.

The "Rewritten" puzzle needs a specific weapon. The wall above the top left block can be broken when you have it.
Hint - A weapon famous for destroying walls.
Answer - The Bomb subweapon is required to destroy several wall sections, including this one.
Answer Details - It is found in Graveyard of the Giants, accessed from Tower of the Goddess. You will likely need to kill Viy, as well as obtain a specific item, to reach it.

You're on the right track for the "Womb" puzzle, but you're missing an item. There's a hint in the room, in the upper right.

"Turn left and swing, turn right and swing" is used later, and will need to be combined with a couple other tablets to tell you what you need to do.
Answer - It's used in the Dimensional Corridor to summon a boss.
There is also a similar "Dance of Life" you'll need at one point, as well.

You're on the right track for "Reveal the light to the grieving twins".
Hint - You'll need to light the eyes of both statues. Each one causes something to happen elsewhere.

The Mausoleum of Giants does have a scale that reveals Lemeza's weight. That number can come in handy when dealing with specific weights... If you start seeing weights listed, take note of them. Thankfully, his weight doesn't change, no matter how many items you pick up or stone weights you carry around.

As for general hints, try killing Guardians that you're able to. Back Side doors are blocked until the Guardian of the area shown above it is killed. So killing a Guardian can give you access to new areas. There isn't "one direct path" to follow, so it's always a little hard to say what someone "should be doing next", other than "Just keep chipping away at things you can make progress on all over the ruins."

Best of luck! ^_^