revives (at least for the moment) a stale genre - Myst IV continues the legacy
User Rating: 8 | Myst IV Revelation PC
My first games were the King's Quest games from way back, and when Myst arrived in the 90's, that excitement about adventure games was rekindled. Myst IV in no way innovates beyond what was done in the previous games. Better graphics, better integration of live-action video beyond what was done (very badly) in the past. But the gameplay remains the same as over the past decade or so. If you're looking for something to revive the adventure genre, this game won't do it. However, this game does succeed on an artistic and storytelling level in a way that few adventure games do. The Myst story is unique and engaging, and the latest (what we now know is the penultimate) chapter in that series is perhaps the best chapter in that story (I won't give anything away, of course). The game is difficult. Sometimes insanely difficult. It does include a built-in hint system (whose responses are often puzzling in themselves) for those who are looking for a prod in the right direction. The game suffers from occasional bad acting (as the other games have), but is by far the best of the series in this regard. The graphics and sound are both stunning and immersive. Now, this review might sound negative so far, but the game is very high quality and exceedingly fun, and for those who enjoy adventure games, this one will certainly not disappoint (although the puzzles might frustrate!). It is too bad that the creators of Myst could not turn their creativity not only to the excellent story that really draws people to Myst, but also to the genre itself. If Myst V is to be the final game in the series, let us hope that they also reinvigorate the genre as a whole, lest this be not only the penultimate adventure game in this series, but also the penultimate adventure game period. 
