yst and its sequel Riven are computer games for the masses. It makes no difference if the masses be computer gamers or not. The two titles have combined to sell over 10 million copies, many of which went to folks who had never played a game before. The adventure's mix of photo-realistic graphics, absorbing story and simple interface made games that appealed to hard-core adventure gamers and neophyte computer users alike.
The third edition in the series, Myst II: Exile, opens 10 years after the events of Myst and Riven. Catherine and Atrus, whom gamers will recall from the series' previous games, have re-established contact with the folks of the D'ni age--a species that writes mysterious
books that create links to distant worlds. Much to Catherine and Atrus' chagrin, the D'ni's world is trashed, and Atrus vows to help them rebuild it. Unfortunately, Saavedro (an evil villain type) has other plans. Angered by the destruction of his world by Atrus' sons, Sirrus and Achenar, Saavedro pledges revenge against Atrus. It's up to the player to stop that revenge.
Myst II: Exile plays from a first-person view. Yet, unlike the previous titles, the game uses a 3-D engine that allows gamers to pan their view 360 degrees. Gamers wander through six worlds as the attempt to foil Saavedro's plot. Unlike most adventure games, there is no combat, and the play centers on story-telling and puzzles solving. There is no multiplayer.
An artful and absorbing experience
Myst has a strange hold on many gamers. Folks who normally rave about the latest first-person bloodfest, strategy-heads, action-freaks, people who never, ever play adventure games have succumbed to the simple charm of the Myst experience. This latest edition is no different. Those with the smallest adventure-gaming bone in their bodies will love it; everyone else might also.
Ambiance drips from the game's four CD-ROMs. The voice acting is Matrix-good, with
Academy Award-nominated Brad Dourif playing the dark and eccentric Saavedro. And God help the player left unstunned by Myst II: Exile's beauty, for he or she is certainly sense-challenged. Bottom line, this may be the most beautiful adventure game ever. The full-circle pan creates a greater immersion than the previous two games, and the full 3-D engine coupled with pre-rendered backgrounds creates a visually delicious world.
The game flows in a similar manner to its predecessors. Players must search the worlds for clues to unravel the plot, speak with the characters they find, solve puzzles--some of which are quite frustrating--and move on. Those who revel in a good brainteaser will love it, those who are easily frustrated will not. Nevertheless, Myst III: Exile is an absorbing endeavor--a game that attracts fans from all walks of life, pulls them from their existence, and plunges them into a fantastical universe, refusing to loosen its grip on their imaginations until the last puzzle is solved and Saavedro thwarted.
Those who tire of the latest action thriller may find a serene challenge in this game. Give it a shot.
-- Mark
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