Summary

One of the most disappointing games I've ever played. And I LOVE the Myst series. If you pride yourself on completing a game without getting any help/hints/spoilers, this game is NOT for you. There are several places where the solution is so counter intuitive as to boggle the mind. Like stepping on HOT STEAM vents to blow you up over a wall, or to reach some high place. OR, manuevering a piece of furniture with only your avatar providing the moving power, (you can't pick anything up), into a very PRECISE location. You can spend hours just on this small task, and that's assuming you have figured out that's what you need to do. How about figuring out that running into a door and jumping is the way to 'unstick' it, since the lever operating it doesn't work?????? I'm sorry I spent my money, because this game was promising at first............z

Sound

Great, except there's not much of it........

Gameplay

Insane

Summary

I disagree, somewhat, with the previous post about the new Uru: Ages Beyond Myst game by desantoos. Yes, most of us miss the classic photorealistic look of Myst, Riven, and Exile but being able to go anywhere you want to makes up for that. As to the statement that the puzzles are impossible to solve, I say, "You're not scrutinizing the landscapes." The whole point of the Myst franchise, I believe, is to tell a story in a Sherlock Holmes-ish way with brain racking dilemmas. One point I found over looked by the previous review was that the whole intent of Uru was to allow all of the Myst fans to cooperate and communicate in an online environment. The creators made it so that Uru could be endlessly updated (however due to the closing of UruLive in February this is no longer possible but updates and expansions are available, that is probably why the servers were down). Their visionary idea has even been picked up by the people making The Matrix Online. I agree with desantoos that though there was less music, the sound effects of the player’s character and all of the surroundings were… well…superb. He also did have a valid point about being unable to pick up or store items but I believe that the pushing of objects on the ground allows for tougher game play. Then there’s the issue of the speeches and descriptive books. They were placed there for a reason: to give an elaborate background to those who may not have read the Myst books or played the other games. Yes, they’re long but without them the player will be wondering, “What’s the point?” As for Yeesha not being a daughter of Atrus I say this: 1) Aitrus is the father of Gehn and grandfather of Atrus, 2) Anna a.k.a Ti'ana is the outsider who married Aitrus and is the grandmother of Atrus, 3) they had a son named Gehn who, with an unnamed wife, is the father of Atrus, and 4) Atrus has a wife named Catherine. Atrus and Catherine are the characters referred to in every Myst game. They have THREE offspring. The first two are SIRRUS and ACHENAR who were introduced in the very first Myst game. The third and last (so far) of the offspring is Yeesha, first introduced as a baby in Myst III: Exile and a main character in Uru. So I'm sorry desantoos you are incorrect. You must have gotten the FIRST Aitrus and his WIFE Anna mixed up with the CURRENT Atrus and his wife Catherine. Yeesha is the daughter of Atrus and Catherine. As for Anna being the daughter of Atrus and Catherine that would be one messed up family. (Try playing some of the other games.)

Sound

Great as always. The sound actually intensifies, becomes subtle, or adds emphasis to a particular speaker depending on the direction the source of the sound is in the game.

Gameplay

Great sound effects, lighting, motion, and puzzles allow for a challenging yet interesting game play. Even if you do need outside help there are plenty of forums that can "hint" at clues or others that blatantly give them away. Also in those forums you can get others input about the game like the one you’re reading here. In addition to the forums online, you can download additional maps, patches, and other utilities.