The puzzle was created by Jane Jensen, who also designed the game, and was inspired by the real-world poem of the same name, although she modified parts of it to make it solvable for players.
As Nakimura discovers more information, she finds more layers to the poems, which then reveals new images, text, and clues for players to utilize as part of the puzzle.
[1] Players use a computer designed by Nakimura called SIDNEY, which analyzes the diagrams and maps, translate text, and perform "cryptographic and anagrammatic" functions.
[2] The Le Serpent Rouge puzzle was created by Jane Jensen for the video game Gabriel Knight 3.
[1] Jensen discussed doing puzzles similar to Le Serpent Rouge for a series of adventure games under the label Gray Matter, but split up into "smaller chunk".
[8] In their review of Gabriel Knight 3, Adventure Gamers writer Dan Ravipinto identified the puzzle as one of the best aspects of the game.
[14] Hardcore Gaming 101 writer Kurt Kalata felt that it could be either "intriguing" or "tedious" depending on how much a person enjoys "rote detective work", though he noted that it was better than the "click-happy chapters" from its predecessor.