Posted By: Wincey
RHEM - A discussion - 09/01/12 02:28 AM
There are so many questions about this game which remain unanswered, and instead of being solved they seem to build up more and more after each new RHEM. I thought we might ponder the vast philosophical mysteries that the universe of RHEM holds captive, in hope that we may reach some conclusions and attain some clarity to tide us over until the next installment of the series arrives.
What is RHEM? An abandoned city? A testing ground for initiates into a religious sect based around worship of masochistically difficult puzzles? Or a hallucination that exists only in our minds?
Who is the mysterious woman in red? Is she an enemy or friend? What is her purpose and why is she speaking that strange language? More importantly, is she single?
Zetais and Kales - Is there some sinister purpose behind their requests? Will we ever discover the role of these artifacts or will our trips to RHEM be a series of unending voyages at the behest of these two characters who seem to have the power to give us orders which we, in slavelike fashion carry out willingly?
Where do we go after we "leave" RHEM? Where do we come from upon entering it? Does it matter? Is the unknown 'outside' of RHEM and entry and exit by rail merely symbolic of the void we come from upon booting up our computers and running a game, an entry into a world which has no continuity with what existed before?
Is the game actually, in a way, a parody/critique of 'story' in games? I could certainly understand that view - the voices seem intentionally done badly especially in 2, and everything 'story'-related is treated with total apathy. Maybe it's a subtle commentary on how putting a story in a game is futile since every story is the same (encounter a problem, overcome obstacles and win the game) and a game is, in itself, its own story, because it's you at your computer that has faced the obstacles and overcome them, and you that is the main concern and hero of the game.
What are your thoughts?
What is RHEM? An abandoned city? A testing ground for initiates into a religious sect based around worship of masochistically difficult puzzles? Or a hallucination that exists only in our minds?
Who is the mysterious woman in red? Is she an enemy or friend? What is her purpose and why is she speaking that strange language? More importantly, is she single?
Zetais and Kales - Is there some sinister purpose behind their requests? Will we ever discover the role of these artifacts or will our trips to RHEM be a series of unending voyages at the behest of these two characters who seem to have the power to give us orders which we, in slavelike fashion carry out willingly?
Where do we go after we "leave" RHEM? Where do we come from upon entering it? Does it matter? Is the unknown 'outside' of RHEM and entry and exit by rail merely symbolic of the void we come from upon booting up our computers and running a game, an entry into a world which has no continuity with what existed before?
Is the game actually, in a way, a parody/critique of 'story' in games? I could certainly understand that view - the voices seem intentionally done badly especially in 2, and everything 'story'-related is treated with total apathy. Maybe it's a subtle commentary on how putting a story in a game is futile since every story is the same (encounter a problem, overcome obstacles and win the game) and a game is, in itself, its own story, because it's you at your computer that has faced the obstacles and overcome them, and you that is the main concern and hero of the game.
What are your thoughts?