This game rejects analysis. If you pull out just one component out from it, the whole game will collapse. It is impossible to explain what this game is like if I tell you about each component separately. It's perfectly balanced like a living creature. This game is not a game that absorbs the player with its technology. Technically, it's almost same with Myst. Then how it could be able to absorb the player completely into the game without awesome graphics or realistic physics effect? The answer is: marvelous detail of the world. In Riven, no alien uses english. They uses their own language and characters. Even they have their own numeral system. It makes the world so realistic. However, Riven never explains anything directly to you. It is a good choice, since your absorbed feeling would be broken if a direct explanation is provided. Then how the game makes you figure things out? The way of it is so brilliant. Let's see an explanation of it: how a player learns the numeral system. The player learns it in the place like a school with a simple game device. At first, the player just plays with it. Then, he realizes that it's a gambling device with numerals by its regularity and changing symbols. This device is not an unnatural device that is designed only to explain the numeral system to the player; its design is greatly related to the history and story of Riven. All of the puzzles are like this. At first, you can't know what it is. Then you realize what it is with the least information you have, fiddling with it, or some experience. Once you realizes what it is, then the story follows and it becomes clear that what you have to do. Usually in adventure games, puzzles are just obstacles blocking the progress in story, and what actually makes progress in the story is cutscenes or dialogues with NPCs; the puzzles and the story is separated. However, in Riven, all the puzzles themselves contain story. It means that solving the puzzles is actually same with making progress in the story. It gives you an intensive feeling of actively involved in the story; not just a passive bystander of it. Also, the puzzles containing story not only means that you could know the story with solving the puzzles; the opposite is also possible. Knowing story could be the hint of puzzles. So you have to imagine what the missing piece of the story is. The game constantly stimulates and requires your imagination. I felt like being the main character in a novel or a movie who explores and reveals the mystery of an alien world, rather than playing a game and solving puzzles. I was completely absorbed to Riven during the week I played it. This kind of immersion was possible because there were no single part that could break it. In Myst, puzzles were first, and the world was next. So the world of Myst looked like an unnatural world that only exists for puzzles. However, in Riven, all the puzzles are built in a world with no errors. So the complete immersion was possible. Because of the non-linear gameplay, the story of Riven is really simple. It's a typical 'Save the princess from an evil magician' story, but it's slightly different from that, avoiding being too common. Plus there are mythical, archetypical factors making the scale of the story huge. This kind of story would be no fun if you read a book with it. However, when it became 'my' story, the feeling when I rescued the princess is...indescribable. It wouldn't be possible if there was a single thing that could be able to break my immersion. This game is also truly artistic. The visual design is perfect. At first, you'll be drawn by the mystique of the designs of structures in Riven. However, as you progress with the story, you will realize that they are perfectly probable, perfectly fitting with the game. Also the music perfectly fits with gameplay. It amplifies the emotions that you feel, imprinting the scenes on your mind. The developers meticulously calculated how would a player feel; and the results are perfect. The ending is one of the greatest endings of all time. You can't understand it if you didn't play Myst, so I definitely recommend to play Riven after Myst. Riven is beyond a mere game; it is a true experience from another world. I can't thank enough to the developers who gave me an unforgettable experience.
The quests have several ways to clear them, and the skill points you got depend on how you solve the quests. That's a nice thing. Because your way to solve problems depend on your Feats, making a different kind of character completely changes the gameplay. You need to concentrate on a few attributes and abilities, and that makes the game a lot fun. Also, the dialogue really varies on which clan you are and what sex you are, so the replay value of this game is really high. Talking with NPCs is the real best part in this game. It's fun and absorbing than any other game. I never felt like the character is actually 'talking' to me before playing this game. This game? The facial expressions, gestures are completely synchronized with every emotions the character have. Also the eyes of them reflecting light is so realistic that I always tried to talk with NPCs where their eyes can reflect light. I sometimes felt like just talking with NPCs over and over. It was the first game that made me feel like that. I warn you, you will feel bored when talking with dolls in other games after experiencing it. The scripts of characters(including player's one) are excellent as well as the expression of the characters. Especially the dialogues of Malkavian playable character are extraordinary, something which a gamer must have an experience of. Each NPC's dialogue is completely distinct from every other character. With their own, unique appearance, the dialogue of each character will make you never forget their face and personality. This game made a living world with living characters. The dungeons in this game is awfully designed. There are just hallways, rooms, and enemies. Sometimes there are simple puzzles, but that's all. Moreover, the enemies in a dungeon have exactly same appearance, and that made me really annoying. However, the boss fights in the end of dungeons are really nice. Almost all bosses have their own fight patterns, and the battles with them will blow all your annoyance and dissatisfaction occurred during the fight with miserable enemies. It is not too much to say that the boss fights absolutely relieved the whole game.
Actually I think it desereves 3.5 stars, but it's okay to give 4 stars than 3 stars. First of all, this is a totally new approach on war games. Were there games that deal with civilians in war? With that new concept, the narrative can make people be shocked. The atmosphere is also good; broken houses, people in shelter, looters, snipers, radio(the only way to know what's going on), and much more. However, the game can let you down. Although the atmosphere is really nice, the choices you can make is always limited to somewhat unrealistic ways. There are NO interactions with other survivors. You CAN'T ask for help. There are just aggressive enemies, not aggressive enemies, sellers, and kind people who you can't talk with. You have to steal, fight, or run away. It's like the game says, "War is hell. The only you should care is yourself.(and your small group) Fxxk others regardless what kind of people they are." Also, you have to go dangerous-look like places if you want to survive without doing something bad. It is true that all places in war zone is dangerous, but normally, you wouldn't go to places with flames and gun-firing sounds to scavenge, would you? And because there is no way to talk or ask for help, you must steal from kind people. However, if you do something bad, the survivors will be depressed and murmurs "Why did I..." This is somewhat annoying. Conclusion: It could be a "great game" but it just remains as just a nice game. However, given that it is an indie game, made based on an unique concept, and still have good narrative and shockingly good aspects, I can say it's definitely worth to play. Pros -Really good atmosphere, good narrative -Unique game that deals with civilians in war -Can give you a shocking experience..only if you didn't see walkthroughs and use save cheating Cons -Almost no interactions with other survivors: Don't expect a war simulator, it's a "game" -Lacking replay value -Somewhat unkind-may not know what to do at first.
