I just finished Riven: The Sequel To Myst after starting it two days ago. I already owned the game prior to purchasing the 10th anniversary collection, I didn't get terribly far. That's why I got to talking about disc swapping in my last entry. While it's true that I've played it some before, however, that didn't really have an impact on how fast I finished it. I never got far and my interest waned fast thanks to the tedious swapping. There's a lot of exploration and re-exploration in a game like this, and that's a real pain when returning to an area involves a swap every time. Anyway, I'm very pleased with the game. This is where the Millers took the game from something that could have simply been a one-off phenomenon and really energized it with an engaging plot. Now, I'm sure most casual gamer-folk who have ever even looked at a game like this is thinking, "Engaging? Are you high?" I stand by it. Perhaps I felt more directly immersed in it, having read the books prior to this. Going into the game, I never had to question who Gehn was and why he was a problem - I already knew. But even if you haven't read the books, I still believe my proposition to be true. Myst had absolutely no impetus - you were completely lost without a clue to your name. Riven, however, starts you off with a concrete objective, which is how a linear (and therefore accessible) plot path is rooted. The game's a lot more pretty than Myst, too. To be honest, I was underwhelmed by the graphics of Myst. Of course, I'm coming at it from having worked at a digital art web site some 7 years ahead of when it was made. Back then, POV-RAY was pretty neat stuff. Riven was more what I'm accustomed to, having been spoiled on the eye candy of the modern age. I am looking forward to starting Myst III - Exile though. I much prefer the 360° look format to the fixed-slides format. It's just a lot easier to maintain spatial relationships that way.
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The hushed sound of a busily scratching pen fills the crumbling library. A grey-haired man in simple clothes looks up at your approach. He greets you with obvious relief, hands you his journal, and charges you with a s... Read Full Review
Whether you've played Myst or not, Riven is a game you should definitely consider playing. With an engaging storyline, multiple endings, and some of the most inspired, involving puzzles, this game will test both your log... Read Full Review
