Myst was the first game that left a real impression on me, and one of the first 2-3 games I ever played period. That was the original PC version in the 90s (not quite the original period, I think it started on Mac?), and I would have been about 8 years old. It's Riven that really hit at the perfect age for it to be burnt forever into my memory and imagination, but still. There aren't many games that will have this kind of resonance for me. I've played all the games. I've read the books. I was an Uru/Myst Online beta tester. I have learned some of the D'ni conlang. The next step is for me to go to some kind of convention I guess. Soooo I'm biased here. I've played all the subsequent Myst re-releases, and they're... fine. RealMyst added the freedom to look around, and I do kind of like Rime. But all versions before this are either using the original geometry with improved textures etc., or at least it seems that way. It's worth trying one of the older releases just to know what wowed us so much in the 90s I guess, but even for me it looks dated now. Maybe if I could see it on a tiny, fuzzy CRT again it'd be different. By contrast I still think Riven looks good 25 years later; just shows you that they had a lot more cash and staff when they made it, I guess. This release though, brings my old Myst experience into the 21st century. I love the graphics, love the sound, love the refinements they've made to the island and ages. It also isn't crippled by the unnecessarily frustrating controls you'll find in RealMyst Masterpiece edition. There are a few tweaks I'd make (e.g., allow us to view photos in-game superimposed on top of the relevant puzzle) but it's all inconsequential stuff. Maybe try an older release eventually, but as a certified Myst nerd I am comfortable saying to start here, and let this be your canonical version. I can't wait until Riven gets this kind of treatment.
