A reminder of the rules of chess awaits you in Tormented Souls 2 library, but you won’t be leaving this puzzle as a Grandmaster.
With classic and retro-style puzzles full of intricate and satisfying level design, where backtracking and finding shortcuts is inevitable, Tormented Souls 2 throws a chess puzzle your way as a little taster of what’s to come. But, as you know with any Resident Evil-style puzzle, there’s multiple steps you must take to reach that satisfying solution.
Table of contents
Where to find the Chess Mat and Cryptex
This puzzle truly starts when you find the Chess Mat on the table in front of the fireplace in Calefactory. However, you may familiar yourself with chess via the upper floor of the Library, as this is important to solving the Cryptex as soon as you have it in your possession. The puzzle initially presents itself as a game of chess, but it isn’t until you flip around the Chess Mat that you realize this puzzle is all about a code. The Library reminder on how each chess piece moves is helpful if you didn’t already know how this board game worked. Now, the hunt for the Cryptex is on.
Once you have the Chess Mat (which you can refer to in your key item inventory tab), you have to piece together a Handsaw by combining its Frame and Blade. The Handsaw Frame is on the Refectory, where you have to move a trolley to reach a small squeeze-through area, the furthest point south from the Calefactory.
Then, head to Cloister and pull the lever on the elevated cage made of metal and wood. This sends the corpse inside down to the Basement, accessible via the stairwell on the southern side of Cloister (opposite the elevator on the map). Pull the Handsaw Blade out using the Pliers you got at the start of Tormented Souls 2 and combine with the Frame to create the Rusty Handsaw.
Finally, make your way to the Kitchen where multiple spider-like creatures spawn in. It’s best to use the Nailer here to avoid taking unnecessary damage from the persistent monster lurking inside the Kitchen. Open the freezer nearest the Kitchen stairwell. Use the Rusty Handsaw on the frozen corpse inside. Still in the Kitchen, go downstairs and open the stove door, using Caroline’s Lighter to ignite the dry wood inside. Place the Frozen Hand on the stove top to melt it, giving you the Cryptex.
How to solve the Cryptex
The answer to solving the Cryptex is on the back of the Chess Mat. The code shows seven symbols, each corresponding to how a chess piece moves. The Library offers the key, but you can solve this if you already know how each piece moves around the chess board. Rotate the dials and assign each piece relating to the Chess Mat sequence. Here’s the answer:
- L shape – Knight
- Horizontal and vertical – Rook
- Diagonal – Bishop
- Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal – Queen
- Small horizontal, vertical, and diagonal – King
- Forward and diagonal – Pawn
- L shape – Knight
This will give you the Crown Key to unlock the gate in the north side of the Basement.
Tormented Souls 2: All chess puzzle key items, summarized
| Key item | Location |
|---|---|
| Chess Mat | Calefactory |
| Handsaw Frame | Refectory |
| Handsaw Blade | Cloister (requires Pliers) |
| Frozen Hand | Kitchen (requires Rusty Handsaw) |
| Cryptex | Kitchen (requires Lighter) |
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The post How to solve the Tormented Souls 2 chess puzzle appeared first on Destructoid.
