A great adventure game with a noble pedigree. Newcomers to the genre would do well to broaden their horizons by giving it a whirl.

It’s been nearly a decade since the original Myst bowled adventure-crazed gamers over with its maddening puzzles, lush graphics, and immersive world design. While many have considered the adventure genre to be a dying breed, some notable entries in the recent past have revitalized what had become a largely inert and antiquated design.

PC titles like The Longest Journey and the Syberia series (which has since been ported to the Xbox) have reinvigorated the lost art of storytelling and problem solving within electronic entertainment, while removing the threat of sudden death to a character prevalent in many other titles. Myst IV Revelation continues this spate of good fortune by evolving the series incrementally in graphic terms, while leaving intact the magic that fans of the series adore.

Users are left to explore a range of locations through a familiar interface. The mouse pointer reflects the range of actions at the player’s disposal depending on where and when an object is highlighted on the screen. Rather than craft the world in full 3D, the system works on a node-based map where travel from one section to the next is almost instant.

From a fixed point, the user can then examine the world in 360 degrees. Though it’s an aging method of exploration, it still manages to work well within the moody parameters of Myst environments. Twitch junkies and those weaned on first person shooters might get turned off by the sedate and often slow pacing of the gameplay, but as the adage goes, good things come to those who wait.

The puzzles are often difficult to solve, and require some serious logical thinking on the part of the player. Perhaps that is why the feeling of satisfaction is so great when a seemingly insurmountable problem is overcome. It’s moments like these that urge you to press onward to the next challenge, if not for the gorgeous scenery.

Ambient audio and music work well to enforce the mood of the game, and never seem to detract from the task at hand. Again, don’t expect a million thrills a minute, and you won’t be disappointed. Essentially Myst IV delivers what you would expect from the series, with minor improvements.

Ultimately, Myst IV is not a game everyone will love simply because it recalls a time when the PC gaming landscape was vastly different. Playing Revelation is a refreshing experience, and one worth trying if you’ve got the itch to poke around and take in some inspiring imagery, and wrap your brain around some mind-bending puzzles.

It doesn’t have steep system requirements, though you will need a DVD-ROM drive to install the game. You’ll also need between three and eight gigs of free hard disk space. As an added bonus, Myst III Exile comes with it.

Those who are new to the series may want to fire up the bonus game first, though it isn’t necessary to understand Myst IV’s story line. Mac gamers can also rejoice, as the game works on their platform, too. (Think of it as one more reason to consider those new, sexy iMacs for your home office).


Review by Franklin Beans.