Myst

Myst Review

I heard the buzz about Myst back in the mid-90s, that it was "ground-breaking" and an "entirely new approach" to a video game. For whatever reason, I never played or watched it played until last week (over 15 years later). So going into this game, I had absolutely no concept of the actual art, puzzles, or plot. Zip.

The version I played is the iTunes app, and I played it on the iPhone.

Please note: I didn't play it to test my intelligence, my problem-solving abilities, or to wow myself with the art; my goal was to immerse myself in the game and see how it holds up to a newbie's experience 15 years after first production. I beat the game on my iPhone after about a week and half of immersion, with about 30 hint reveals along the way. So again, my point was not to crack the game and prove my genius, but to immerse myself in the 15-year-old experience, give it a go, and see how it holds up to today's standards. Here's what I found:

GRAPHICS -- The graphics are obviously dated. However, there is an elegance to them that, when pared with the haunting music and soundscapes, is simply timeless. The game has something that no level of graphic rendering can ever accomplish and I'm not sure can ever even be learned, and that is style. And the game's open screen devoid of buttons, icons and controls presents a clean, beautiful interface that many game designers today are still in need to take a hint from!

PUZZLES -- The puzzles are challenging but not impossible, around 3.5 on a scale of 1 (being the game of Memory) to 5 (being figuring out the gnome's name in King's Quest 1...the Old Timers among us will remember) for most of the game. Figuring out how to traverse through the tunnel in the air ship was extra difficult, and figuring out what to do with the rose compass toward the latter part of the game was not easy either. But there are some easy puzzles that keep it balanced, like figuring out the pipe system in Channelwood.

PLOT -- Excellent. At least 4 out 5 when compared with other games I've played. Beginning the game in this lush world with no backstory, instructions, or goal before me sent the intrigue factor through the roof. I've played Myst knock-offs in past years, and even though their graphics might have been better (given that they are newer productions) their stories were dull compared to what unfolds in Myst. The plot developed at just the right pace, and I really liked the multiple ending options as well. My single and minor complaint is that the acting seemed a little bit overdone or cheesy at times but, still better than most in-game acting I've seen. I understand from the Making Of video that accompanies the iPhone app that the Miller brothers performed the parts, which is redeeming and interesting to note.

My experience with Myst was a 5 out of 5, and I am now aware why the game is a living legend. When Riven drops for the iPhone, there's no doubt I'll invest my $$ and time into that adventure as well.

Adam
3-17-10

Myst Overview

Journey now to an island world surrealistically tinged with mystery. Only your wits and imagination will serve to stay the course and unlock the ancient betrayal of ages past.

Myst Specifications

Myst sends you to five fascinating worlds, where only your wits and imagination will unlock the ancient betrayal of Ages Past. Myst, the number-one-selling CD-ROM title of all time, has over 2500 photo-realistic images and hundreds of clever puzzles to challenge any player.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 09, 2010 18:26:19

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