Riven (1997)

Arguably the best of the Myst series. I have been along for the ride ever sinse the first Myst came out for PC. Then we heard there was a possible part II that may continue the story, and boy did it answer and excede all expectations. Capitalizing on more advanced video technology for the time, there were characters and animals and an dramatic story; while still remaining a point-and-click game. Everything that was missing from the original Myst, including devious puzzles!! Riven was and is an amazing game. Another "Surrealalistic Adventure that will become your World".

I really like it really really really

Still a great game after all this time.

The less said the better. This is the inspiration for many of the great puzzle games today. If you haven't played it yet, now is the time.

As a sequel to MYST, it's what you expect- a number of puzzles spread across a few big set pieces with an interesting story and a superb atmosphere. The graphics are a bit dated, but hold up well. It's part of the nostalgia factor. The story builds on MYST very well, but is weighed down a bit by how much is implied. It's great if you catch the nuances, unclear if you miss something. I found the puzzles less enjoyable, but more grand in scope, compare to MYST. Where MYST felt like a variety of smaller puzzles, RIVEN feels like a handful of major puzzles in larger set pieces. I found them to be interesting ideas, but often less memorable than MYST. It felt like less variety. The repetitiveness was more noticeable as well. My biggest gripe is how many set pieces never felt significant or used. Many areas never factored into the game in any significant away. This feels liek a missed opportunities both for the story and for the puzzles. The sound- music, effects, and the use of silence- is spot on. I would like to see more current games use sound this well. Overall, a solid sequel bolstered by fun world building and a definite sense of accomplishment when solving some of the more challenging puzzles. Even with its weak points, it's hard not to recommend at least a few playthroughts, especially given the many different possible endings.