Another outstanding game in the Myst series! Challenging and entertaining.
As you try to recapture the Releeshahn Book, you must once again use your wits to solve the puzzles that Saavedro has placed before you. Though it would seem that Saavedro is clearly your adversary, as you move throughout the Ages linked from J’nanin and explore your surroundings, untangling the various challenges he has constructed, you gradually begin to piece together this tortured man’s story and understand his motives. It’s an unfortunate story that began with Atrus’s malicious sons, Sirrus and Achenar, before Atrus had learned about their treacherous nature. I thought this made for a great plot since it ties in with the previous Myst games and actually makes you sympathize with the “villain.”
Throughout your quest, you’ll travel to four main Ages, each with a unique environment, music, and set of puzzles. In the first three Element Ages, to which you can travel in any order, your essential goal is to find that world’s unique symbol and bring it back to the Lesson Age. Voltaic is the Age of Energy, where you’ll need to harness and channel power to a particular part of the island. Amateria is the Age of Dynamic Forces, in which you will need to finish a circuit of track in order to ultimately find the symbol. The structures and puzzles of this Age make it feel like an amusement park, and it’s a fun world to explore and interact with. Edanna, the Nature Age, was definitely my favorite world. This scenic Age is teeming with life, and your job here is to discover how the plants and animals interact and respond to various stimuli. Once you’ve discovered the three symbols, you will unlock the fourth and final world: Narayan, the Age of Balance, where you will need to solve the glyph puzzle and finally face off with Saavedro.
As before, the controls are simple – you use the mouse to control your movement and interact with your surroundings. The puzzles are still pretty challenging, requiring a good deal of patience and experimentation. In a game that focuses so much on keen observation of the sights and sounds of your surroundings, it’s particularly important to have a game that excels in both its graphic presentation and its soundtrack. And Myst III does not disappoint. The graphics are fantastic, making the worlds really come alive with awe-inspiring splendor. The music and the sounds are likewise amazing. The soundtrack really fits well with the Ages and the story. And the main theme just rocks!
My only real complaint is that I wish the game were longer. Nonetheless, Exile is a remarkable sequel in the Myst series, and if you enjoy a good challenge, you should definitely give this game a try.