Riven (1997)

Riven is a great game, and a major step up from Myst. It allows pure exploration and does not hold your hand, it simply lets the player be free until it gets stuck. The player can get stuck by the complexity of puzzles, depending of the player's knowledge. To solve the puzzles, the player must not question but investigate and remember. Making a wrong judgement in a decisive move could give you a bad ending, which is not limited to just two endings. Overall, its a unique experience into an alien world. -- GOG Port -- Even with the "Review Guidelines", I have to warn any players to expect issues. I refunded this game a couple of years ago, since it barely came out and the port was abysmal. Now, the port is a bit... better. With some adjustments to CPU affinity, and compatibility checkboxes, you can get it up and running. This works on Windows 10, but not at first launch. Just make sure to reset the compatibility on the .exe, and adjust it until it works. (Also install QT Lite, do not skip this step) You may encounter sound lag, and some random crashes. So save often! If that doesn't work, dig into the forums and ask around. There's always a solution, its just a bit more stressful. -- Final words -- This game can be for anyone, but you will have to give effort in solving puzzles. Its not mind blowing, but not a "walk in the park" type. Eitherway, you can't go wrong with this version or Steam version. Both do suffer issues, and unless you get the CD version which sometimes works, you might rather get this version instead. Still, a legendary game from Cyan.

Played it on an old laptop running windows XP- couldn't save for some reason, but I remembered the important tricks so I was able to make it through in one sitting. Once or twice the audio got janked and I found that opening Atrus' journal easily reset it. No flaws otherwise. I didn't even notice I was peering at 20-year-old graphics in a 7x7 window. I felt like I needed to run my hands over the sun-warmed rocks, and shade my eyes from the glare of the sea. Can't think of another game that continues to live up to its reputation. Long live Cyan!

This was really well made. Graphics, audio, acting, writing, and puzzles are all superb. I liked it much better than the first one because it felt more puzzly yet still immerses me.

With the support of ScummVm, gamers who previously had problems getting Riven to work can finally enjoy this game properly!!! While Riven does not have the confusing 360 degree nodes that are present in Myst 3 and Myst 4, and definitely not the 3D engines that is in Myst 5 and URU, Riven is incredibly immersive with photorealistic scenes, camera angles, lighting, sounds, sparingly used haunting music, background animation and the water effects (not found on the mobile version). The spectacular tram rides that remind some of us of the dreadful CD switching and loading time in the initial 1997 multi-CD release is, today a smooth, uninterrupted, seamless experience as you travel across the islands and into a couple of hidden locations off the island. A good plot, well balanced puzzles - I find the sequels way too complicated - the small handful of the main characters, the NPCs and the wildlife all contribute to the illusion of a living, breathing world. Riven is highly recommended for adventure gamers, non-adventure gamers and people who love books and stories. You NEED to play this game to see what a great multimedia experience truly means.

having been burned by other sites that sold unworkable versions, but was pleasantly surprised when Gogs version worked right from the get go with win 7 64, no tweaking necessary. Worst complaint is there is no way to skip the cut scenes, and as you remember or will find out, this game is all about puzzle solving, and with that comes many repeat attempts to solve, most involving long cut scene animations, should have been a way to tweak this with nowadays. Now onto the game as seen with fresh eyes, the graphics are dated. Static images of oceans and some scenes look blurry and faded, you can see the edges of the Quick Time clips for animations, all can be off putting to new players. Your character moves thru the game via background scenes using the mouse, turn left and the scene changes and so on, the sliding view screen can make one a bit nauseous, or it did me on fastest setting, I chose the mid range level and was fine. You can fast travel of a sort using zip mode which places markers at junctions where you have traveled before but for the most part its nudging ahead via many mouse clicks. no map function, have to draw your own old school style All complaints are quickly forgotten as the story unfolds and you are immersed into this vast, lore rich world with its own created language and numbering system. imagined worlds are beautifully painted while the immersion level deepens with a superb soundscape, you can hear the buzz of insects thru the wind rattling off stumps of trees, or the sharp alarm of some unseen beast, the creak of wood as you step on it. The music shocks in its abrupt arrival, soulful and somewhat despondent, only to fade away leaving the hum of arcane machinery. Npcs are glimpsed fleetingly which only adds to the sense of loneliness and impending doom. The puzzles are excellent, very intricate and frustrating. I have yet to solve one without a guide and am not ashamed of this. One of my favorite games, it still shines today.