Ever since my school days I've enjoyed the Myst series. Oh sure back then I wasn't patient or smart enough to really figure the game out. However now, even if I haven't finished the whole series, I have beaten the first three. Myst has received many remakes in the past, and Riven never did. It got re-released, and that's great, but a full remake using modern tech never seemed to happen. "The Starry Expanse Project" (Which IS credited here), handed everything over to Cyan to help start the official remake. Now the game is out, and what was old is new again. I'll start by saying that the character models, while 3d, are MUCH better than the Myst VR remake. Still not the strong point of the game, but it allowed them to keep the voice of Ghen intact, something I'm thankful for. The models didn't rip me out of the game like Myst VR's did at first. Howevever when there's no characters around or close, the game graphically shines. It's amazing to be able to say that Riven 2024 in real time looks identical fidelity wise (and higher resolution to boot) as the '97 original in all the best ways. This game is unbelievable in terms of visuals, especially considering the budget price tag. Robyn's soundtrack is also here in full effect, and the sound design as like in '97 cannot be topped. Some of the puzzles have been changed (For the better, in my opinion on at least one of them) and the new stuff added gives Riven even more of a sense of having been lived in. I won't spoil in case a newer Myst fan is just getting into this series and plays the classics first, but my face lit up and I was stunned as a dream of a decade for me, and 27 years for people who played the game at launch, finally was realized on the exploration front. There's a few flaws that could use a patch (one character I had movement tearing on their model, but it wasn't screen tearing), but it's still an amazing experience for the price.
I finished Diablo 1 for the first time through this GOG release just as of the year of this review's posting. I had it as a kid but wasn't really patient or smart enough to figure it out really. So now, years later I can finally give my thoughts on this, the legendary Diablo. Please note that this review will not cover the Hellfire expansion, as I didn't play it. I wanted the experience intended by Condor/Blizzard North back in the day. I will say the fact it is included is a very nice touch. This game holds up quite well in my opinion. Given the age of the game it still looks visually nice, with decent human characters, creepy and disturbing monster designs and horrifying area designs, especially later into the game as things get less 'Earth' and more 'Hell.' Sound effects are still punchy and satisfying, and I still say Diablo has the best potion sound ever made. The music helps with the mood just as much as the visuals, from the unsettling safety and looming dread of Tristram's theme to the distant drums and screams as you delve deeper into the 16 floors of the main dungeon. The game is really simple to control. Just point an click. Click an item to pick it up (assuming you have room in your inventory), click an enemy to attack it. Right click to cast a spell. It's really simple. The fun comes from the feedback of killing those enemies, and finding new and better loot to equip to kill the things faster and better. Side quests give the player a reason to keep an eye out while in the dungeon, and not every playthrough is the same since, like the dungeon layout, the quests you get are randomized at the start of the game. With only 16 floors to the dungeon, the game is actually relatively short, but for this game I feel that works to its strength. Many of the features that make Diablo 2 so legendary aren't here. I beat my warrior run in only a few sessions. For those curious about where ARPGs got their start, this is it, and I recommend it.
I grew up never finishing this game though I loved it. Now that it's here on GOG, here's my review. The Setup: You are about to have a horrible night. Your friends have dared you to spend the night in Professor Windlenot's Museum of the Strange and Unusual, a museum that was never opened as the owner and two teens vanished 15 years ago. The museum is reported to be haunted, and unfortunately for you, the reports are true. Once inside, to survive you must gather the 10 pots and matching talismans, and capture the evil Ixupi spirits before they steal your life essence. How it Looks: Personally I feel the game looks pretty good for a game from 1995. The locations of the museum have stuck with me for all these years and the quality is still high to me. This is one of those games where I'd love to see the map done in a recent engine. The only blemish is the Ixupi themselves, by today's standard they are cartoony and not very scary themselves, but this game makes up for that with the atmosphere. How it Sounds: Honestly, the game sounds great to me. The sound effects do their job, and the acting is solid enough. The stand out is the soundtrack through. Every room in the museum has a unique sound and song, and they are memorable. The planetarium is one of my favorites. How it Plays: It's a first person point and click puzzle adventure game. You navigate by clicking around the screen when the arrow changes. Puzzles are also solved like most other games like this. The catch is the Ixupi, as they steal your health and will cause a game over. To catch them, you must match the lid with the pot and then use it on the right Ixupi. You can only carry one pot or lid (unless you have the matching pair combined) at a time, and the locations are random aside from three pieces, so note taking will be helpful. Final Thoughts: I love this game, and always have, I love the setting and mood presented, and is an easy recommendation.
