Posted on: June 30, 2024
NerfBludgeon
Verified ownerGames: Reviews: 1
I wanted to love this game
This new version of Riven is a technical triumph, visually stunning and features a more logical placement of puzzle elements than the orginal 1997 version. The re-imagining of the fire marble domes was the first of several jaw-dropping moments where you realize this is an all new game. The puzzles seem easier than the original but this may just be my familiarity with Cyan's puzzle designs. The story has been updated with some plot points from the novels, digging deeper into D'ni lore than the original game. As a Myst/Riven/Uru fan since 1994, this game really tickled the part of my brain where D'ni lore resides. But . . . The 3D NPCs are so bad and cartoonish that they destroy the imersion of the game. I'm trying not to look at this through nostalgia glasses because '90s PC game video was far from perfect. But with video, even grainy video, the people look like people with real faces conveying real emotion. Like the orignial 1997 version, the vast majority of the game is the player exploring Riven alone. The breif encouters with NPCs are what gives the game its emotinal gravitas. 3D Atrus and Catherine seem less distraught than they should be and 3D Gehn just doesn't seem as evil even thought the game uses the audio of John Keston from the original. There was a creepy moment in the orignal game when a woman in the village opens a view portal, sees you and imediatley slams it shut. When this happened in the new version, the 3D NPC looked so silly I actually laughed. That's not good. I bought this game within an hour or two of its release. I've wanted this game since I first saw realMyst back in 2000. While I'm not completly disapointed with it, the 2024 version of Riven did not live up to my expectations.
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