Okay so I get the whole "nostalgic" Myst 1 and 2 thing. Having played all 5 'main' games. Actually liked this more then the rest. Music- Amazing cant and don't need to go into detail there. Puzzles actually intuitive and each pretty unique. For its time graphically beautiful. Surpassed only by 4 visually as the world got better with computer graphics. (as seen by the newest version of Myst 1). Each world/level really shined in its own setting. Actually found puzzles to be the right level of difficulty and not ridiculously tedious as some. There were clues as to what to do in each area and it was good not to have to travel to the other side of the 'map' to get through certain places. Riven looking at you. I'm actually a fan of Riven btw. Still had a choice at the end with a few different variations of ending. I enjoyed 1,2,4 and 5 was alright for what it was... but Exile simply did something for me...to me it just had a charm. I revisited Riven in recent years and actually realised some of the things I missed and the reasons for them at a younger age obviously I wasn't as experienced. A version of Riven actually came with the PC a parent bought at the time. Never could really get into the original Myst it didn't age that well... Recently got the chance to play it again completely remade and was blown away visually but the puzzles were mostly the same (not a bad thing) Just not sure why everyone drools over the first one sooo much when the Riven was far superior to it, in many ways. I think whereas others have stated a decline in Myst games from Exile - I find it the penultimate experience of the 3. And revisit it far more then the rest.
I still own the original fake leather book 4 disc set that still sits on my collection shelf. I have fond memories and horrible ones playing with my mum saving at a pivotal point and stuffing up ended up locking myself in stasis haha and of course at the time I deleted all other saves and had to start again from the beginning. Minus a temper tantrum I played through again with my mother and finished it. I wont lie Nostalgia plays a huge part but hello we are on GOG. Visuals beautiful. gameplay infuriating and obscure but manages to still be worth a play through or many play throughs. I actually preferred this to Myst and was saddened by the companys failure and closure especially when a second installment was shelved... sigh. Music WAS outstanding and the puzzles actually felt more creative then any MYST iteration. The original version I actually managed to get running on even windows 7 64bit. This 'remaster' simply made it easier and I had to purchase it. It has a suspenseful part late- game that none of the Cyan games managed to really achieve. Also the ability to actually fail the 'quest' accidentally late-game was infuriating creative if not suicidal if it happens to you. Dont lock yourself in stasis heheh. Save alot especially when reaching Atlantis. And oh yeah Atlantis... googling the pics is worth it just to see how beautifully crafted an presented it is, indeed the whole game really simply has something special. NO one should regret purchasing this. It has a bit of everything sorry to keep bringing up cyan worlds BUT this sets itself apart by using real history and the rendition of real world places and history. graphically its aged (at higher resolutions) but still beautiful. Colourful, they managed every environment to look vibrant and colorful - not easily done. Anyway running out of (words) here. Please give this game a try its cheap as! for what you get and it will definitely be memorable. A audio/visual masterpiece.
