Posted December 17, 2009
You liked Myst? Good, buy this! You like atmosphere and puzzles? Good, buy this!
Myst was an innovative, fresh and unique adventure when it came out, and the sequel needed to live up to its name. Riven is all that Myst was (and still is) and more - the story of Myst continues and a whole new world is at your viewing pleasure. Not to spoil anything; let's just say the story is brilliantly crafted just like in the first installment, and can leave you with alternate endings and there are many secrets to be discovered.
Riven is a change from Myst, not in the way it's played - you're still an unnamed protagonist (well, you yourself) exploring a meticulously crafted and fantastic world by clicking on animated screenshots and solving puzzles. The change itself is in the complexity and sheer trickiness of the puzzles.
While Myst had a relatively separated area and rules for each set of puzzles, Riven is designed differently. If you do not understand the concepts of Riven, the lore and the connections between the puzzles themselves, you're in for a rough time. Even practiced adventure players will (I guarantee it) get hopelessly stuck at least once during their exploration efforts. While Myst is constructed as separate (but wonderfully made) parts, Riven goes even further and manages to unify each and every segment, puzzle piece and location with such ease it makes you go 'Aha!' when you finally figure it out.
I'll say it again, this is not a review in the usual sense - to experience Riven is just that - experience. Riven (along with the whole Myst series) is one of the pinnacles of expression in the video-game medium, and as such needs to be - experienced.
Just be wary - pen and paper are not recommended but *needed*. And your brain will turn into mush at least twice.
Myst was an innovative, fresh and unique adventure when it came out, and the sequel needed to live up to its name. Riven is all that Myst was (and still is) and more - the story of Myst continues and a whole new world is at your viewing pleasure. Not to spoil anything; let's just say the story is brilliantly crafted just like in the first installment, and can leave you with alternate endings and there are many secrets to be discovered.
Riven is a change from Myst, not in the way it's played - you're still an unnamed protagonist (well, you yourself) exploring a meticulously crafted and fantastic world by clicking on animated screenshots and solving puzzles. The change itself is in the complexity and sheer trickiness of the puzzles.
While Myst had a relatively separated area and rules for each set of puzzles, Riven is designed differently. If you do not understand the concepts of Riven, the lore and the connections between the puzzles themselves, you're in for a rough time. Even practiced adventure players will (I guarantee it) get hopelessly stuck at least once during their exploration efforts. While Myst is constructed as separate (but wonderfully made) parts, Riven goes even further and manages to unify each and every segment, puzzle piece and location with such ease it makes you go 'Aha!' when you finally figure it out.
I'll say it again, this is not a review in the usual sense - to experience Riven is just that - experience. Riven (along with the whole Myst series) is one of the pinnacles of expression in the video-game medium, and as such needs to be - experienced.
Just be wary - pen and paper are not recommended but *needed*. And your brain will turn into mush at least twice.