[QUOTE="JP_Russell"]Yes, a very good game. By far the best shooter I've ever played, and my second favorite game of all time (bowing down only to the immortal Riven).mfsa
Just how good is Riven?
I don't usually buy games based on random comments, unless I really respect the person making them. I played Myst when I was a kid, but it went over my head. Tonight I ordered (based on your recent preaching) Myst Ultimate Compilation (featuring Myst: Masterpiece, Riven, and Myst 3-5). It was pretty cheap to say there's five games in there.
Hope it was worth it. You owe me if it's not!
How good is Riven? Well, like I've said before, it's the only game I've ever given a 10 here. I only do that when I think there's nothing of any importance that could have improved the game (doesn't mean it's perfect, just pretty much as close as it could have gotten).
Let me put it this way. I consider Riven not just a masterpiece among gaming, but also among all of literature (yeah, I went there). The Myst universe is an incredible one to me, and the way the story is used in Myst games (especially Riven) can only be described as masterful. The way its cleverly hidden and interwoven into everything in the game, yet so very significant to understanding just what in the world is going on, it's just amazing.
Some advice, though. Play the game not as a game, but as real life. Meaning, really put yourself into your nameless character's shoes. Use the logic you would use in real life, go about doing things as you would if it were a real life situation. Don't think about it as a game, don't do something because you think that's the way the game is headed, don't flip that switch just because "it's a game and this must be what it wants me to do next." The below walkthrough is the one you'll definitely want to use if you ever get stuck.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/36592/36207
Here's what the creator of the walkthrough says in the general strategies section, which I highly recommend anyone who wants to play the game reads.
"These are just some ideas to keep in mind as you play Riven which will help you
to do better. This section does not give away the solutions to any specific
puzzles, it just gives you some strategies for how to solve puzzles in general.
Here, arranged in no particular order, are some general strategies for playing
Riven.
o THINK LIKE YOU'RE REALLY THERE. By far the biggest strategy for succeeding in
all the Myst games. Cyan spent a long time creating a detailed, realistic
world, so do them a favor and treat it like one. When you see a building or
a piece of machinery, don't think in terms of, "Here's a puzzle I have to get
past to beat the level," think in terms of, "What is this thing? Why is it
here? How could it work? Why is this important to me?" Try to get out of the
mindset of thinking of Riven as a video game and start thinking of it as a
real world, and you'll do a lot better.
o DON'T GUESS. You will never, ever in Riven have to guess the solution to a
puzzle. If you find yourself resorting to trial and error or brute force,
you're not doing it right; you're missing a clue.
o THINK LOGICALLY. This ties in to the first strategy, to think like you're
really there. This is especially important to understanding the story of
Riven. If you learn something new, stop and think about how this affects
other things you already know. What does it add? Does it change what you
thought previously? Can you deduce anything else from this? You will never
have to think, "Well, it must be this way because it's a video game."
Remember, it's not a video game; YOU'RE REALLY THERE.
o ASK "WHY?". This is somewhat of a corollary to the previous strategy, but it
too is very important. If, for example, you come across a huge building with
gigantic pipes radiating out from its center, don't think, "Wow, that looks
really cool," then move on. It's all right to think that, in fact, you will
probably come across several really cool-looking places on Riven, but your
next thoughts should be "What is this for? Why would this thing be built?
Why should I care about it?"
o EXPLORE EVERYWHERE. This might sound obvious, but it's in your best interests
to try to peer into every nook and cranny. There are several places in Riven
where important clues are hidden off the beaten path, so look for any
oppurtunity to get off the main trail. This will probably lead to many times
when you want to go somewhere and can't, but sometimes you will uncover an
important clue just by poking around everywhere you can. Along the same
lines, don't forget to look up and down, not just side-to-side. You never
know what clues could be above your head or under your feet.
o PAY ATTENTION. Another redundant-sounding tip, but there are a number of
hidden passages, secret rooms, and important objects that you will have to
uncover, and you'll have to keep your eyes peeled to find them. It should be
noted that you will never have to go "pixel-hunting" in Riven, but you will
have to pay attention to details you might otherwise overlook. As you go down
a tunnel, pay attention to the walls, and try turning around a few times: you
might see something you would have missed otherwise. Also, if you see
something that, though you can't quite tell what it is, just looks a little
out of the ordinary, remember it; it's probably important.
o LISTEN CAREFULLY. Sound is just important in Riven as sight. Never play Riven
with the sound off; you will miss an awful lot by playing the game muted.
Plus, the sound and music of Riven really helps to set the mood and draw you
into the experience, so there's no reason not to play with the sound on.
o MAKE MAPS. This is a very important strategy in Riven. Riven is a massive
world with myriad branching and intersecting paths. It's important to make
maps not only to keep from getting lost and to remember how to get somewhere,
but also to help understand where places are in relation to each other and to
gain an understanding of the overall geography of Riven.
o TAKE NOTES. When you encounter a puzzle, write down any ideas you have about
how to solve it immediately, because you will very likely forget them. When
you discover a new building or location, write down your impressions of what
it is and what it's for. When you find an important-looking object with
symbols or designs on it, copy them down. Doing so will not only save you
from having to backtrack because you forgot what that code was, it will also
help you form a clearer picture of how everything links together, instead of
just being a series of disconnected objects. Writing things down is
especially important if there will be significant gaps between when you play,
because you will forget a lot and will have to re-figure everything out if
you don't write it down the first time. Basically, anytime you find something
you think has a chance of being important, write it down!
o SAVE. There are two main reasons to save your game often. The first is that
it would be a real shame if you were to make lots of progress, then have the
game freeze or someone knock the power cord out. The second is that, although
Riven does not play like a video game, it is possible to die or otherwise
lose in Riven, so make sure to save before you make a major decision.
o THINK LIKE YOU'RE REALLY THERE. Yes, it's really that important."
Oh yeah, I'd also like to recommend the Uru series of Myst games if you end up liking what you've bought. I don't think they're as wonderful as the other games, but they're still great games that are a lot of fun.
Also, you very well may not be able to get Myst Masterpiece to work. I have a problem with it where the screen stays black the whole time. I'm not the only one, a look at various threads on tech support forums shows that many others are experiencing the same problem, and no one has been able to fix this problem. It seems the game is no longer on good terms with XP after it's been updated over the years. Anyway, if you have the same problem, consider reading the first game's story on Wikipedia, as it helps a lot to know what happened beforehand when you play Riven.
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