Game Review – Myst

This week I have been looking into a different genre of games, Puzzle games. There are many different types of puzzle games out there, box pushing games, physics games like Portal, matching games like Bejeweled and Tetris, but there is one game series that as always had a special place for me, Cyan’s Myst series. Made in the mid 90s, Myst is a point-and-click adventure puzzle game where you move through a mysterious world after finding yourself on an island. As you progress through the story, you find pages that lead to secret messages in two books found in the library, and from there Myst weaves a magical story for the player, travelling between worlds via book portals and trying to solve large mechanical puzzles.

Graphics

In terms of graphics, this game appears to not have much going for it. Everything is flat, textures are bland in some places, and all in all it appears very aged. However, that is because it IS aged. This game was made back in 1992, when these kinds of graphics were beyond outstanding. The practice of overlaying filmed people into the computer generated scenes was beyond anything anyone was doing, adding to the intrigue of the game. Since then, there have been new games made, including remakes of the older titles. Last year, in August 2021, Myst was remade by Cyan with newer graphics, and I personally can not wait to try it.

Soundtrack

One of the main treasures in these games are the soundtracks. The game’s use of music and when to use or not to use music greatly enhances the gameplay and the user experience. The eerie music complimented by the desolate spaces you go through adds to the environment of the game, while not being scary. In all honesty, I have such difficulty trying to explain why the soundtrack is so mystical, and I highly recommend you go play the games yourself. Even listening to the soundtracks themselves, you can’t fully place yourself in the worlds without having the visuals to go along with it.

Gameplay

In the beginning of Myst, you find yourself on the pier of a small island after reading a strange book. A lighthouse, a small library, and other various buildings are present on the island as well. As you explore the buildings and find codes to unlock different doors, the puzzles only get more complex. At one point, you have to go to one building to rotate a model of the lighthouse in order for the real lighthouse to rotate along with it in order to point in a specific direction so you can see through a window in the side. As you progress, you find books in the library that can transport you to other worlds, or Ages as they are referred to in this game. Each puzzle the game has is unique and special, utilizing the environment and the player’s experience to solve them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Myst is a really good gem from the past, and clearly it still holds up to today’s standards, as more releases are coming out to bring it back to the foreground. Myst had several other games in its series, and each one is unique and follows a wonderfully branching story. It has a 10/10 from me when it comes to puzzles and atmosphere, and I highly recommend anyone to play it, especially the new Myst, which even comes with VR compatibility.