Rhem 2: The Cave

Posted by Matt Barton.
First posted on 15 December 2011. Last updated on 25 November 2012.
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Rhem 2: The Cave
The painting on the wall is yet another confounding clue.
Rhem 2: The Cave
What do the symbols on the wall signify?
Rhem 2: The Cave
The diagram appears to have a missing segment.
Rhem 2: The Cave
A vital clue can sometimes be well hidden.
Rhem 2: The Cave
The map will undoubtedly come in handy.

This game is part of the Rhem Trilogy re-released in 2010 by Lace Mamba Global.

Rhem Trilogy

The compilation includes 3 games in the Rhem series previously released separately in 2002-2007:

Rhem

Rhem 2: The Cave

Rhem 3: The Secret Library

Rhem 2: The Cave is a game created by Knut Müller, a German artist, musician, and game designer. Like the other games in the Rhem series, Rhem 2: The Cave is set in the mysterious industrial world of Rhem. Resembling a giant, abandoned factory, this world is full of locked doors, secret passages, puzzles, trains and trams, and a seemingly endless supply of baffling puzzles. Of most interest to fans of Myst, Rhem 2: The Cave is a good value for any gamer who prefers clever puzzles over fancy graphics.

The Rhem series has never been known for its narrative, which is usually introduced before each game and then returned to briefly at the end. This time, the story is that the player must enter a hidden cave system and recover a secret artifact. Although the player will eventually encounter a beautiful woman clad in red, the bulk of the game is spent alone, exploring the vast cave system and trying to fit individual clues with the puzzles they concern.

The game's audiovisuals make it look much older than it is. In fact, the game looks dated even when compared to Myst released over a decade earlier. While occasionally intriguing, the ugly catwalks and drab elevators on the Rhem island are a far cry from the scenic landscapes of the Myst islands. Music is sparse and purely ambient, and the sound effects are purely functional.

The game's interface is quite easy—just click on where to go or what part of a machine to tinker with. There is an inventory system, but there are only a few objects to collect. Most of the game's many puzzles are solved by careful observation, meticulous exploration, and deductive reasoning. Unlike many adventure games of this subgenre, this game does not distract the player with red herrings, irrelevant clues, or optional puzzles. As such, the player must take note of everything and take great pains to make sure everything has been seen. While some clues are obvious, other clues are hidden on the opposite side of doors, underneath trams or manhole covers, or fixed in positions visible only at certain vantage points. Adept players will soon realize that almost every screen contains important information and that even the locations and colors of the pipes play a critical role.

The game's puzzles can be quite difficult. Some puzzles involve simple algebra and geometry. Usually, they can only be solved after the player has recognized and collated the many relevant clues scattered all over the cave system. The game is nonlinear in that the player will stumble across many clues and puzzles early on that are only relevant until much later in the game. Aside from the assortment of rotating tunnel and pattern matching puzzles, there is also a rather daunting maze to contend with.

Of all of the games so far in the Rhem series, this game is the most difficult. Some of the clues are hidden so well that only a true master (or obsessive) gamer can find them. The sheer size of the game world is also a challenge—backtracking is often required, and it is made quit tedious by the slow elevators and trams. This can be quite frustrating, especially since many puzzles (including combination locks and so on) must be solved every time the player wants to revisit an area. Further, the award given to the player for solving a particular complicated puzzle is often access to yet another puzzle, thus making the entire progress through the game to be interminably slow. It is simply amazing what lengths the player has to go through just to open a door or uncover a single clue. Although I usually enjoy a good challenge, I often feel overwhelmed and frustrated when playing this game.

I can recommend Rhem 2: The Cave only to diehard adventure game fans. In other words, if you enjoy this game, it will certainly not be because you have been dazzled by the game's graphics or captivated by the game's storyline; instead, it will be because you are enticed by the game's challenging puzzles. Success requires copious notes, an excellent sense of direction, and a good eye (and ear) for detail. Most other adventure game fans will likely find themselves underwhelmed by the game's visuals and overwhelmed by the game's complexity.

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