Myst review

What was I thinking? The mere thought of reviewing a classic such as Myst should bring out large warning signs. Myst is the game that revolutionized the adventure genre by introducing multimedia content in a manner not seen before. Myst entered our computers back in 1993, and it became one of the best selling games ever.

Can I even review a game such as Myst? Not really, I can only tell you whether it works for the iPhone or not. Is the port good enough, and can such an immersive game be played on a small screen?

When porting Myst to the iPhone developers Cyan Worlds has really done their homework. The game saves whenever you exit, and is quite quick to launch considering the massive size of 727 MB. A game based on interactive still images manages to be really immersive. The locations you visit are all mysterious and beautiful to behold. I really enjoy looking at the machinery that often are used in the puzzles.

This is a true injection of fantasy straight into the cortex of the brain. There are also video clips with some pretty bad acting that I really love as it adds to the personality of this wonderful game.

Audio is also one of the important aspects of Myst, and I truly recommend using earphones while playing. The audio is ambient in nature, and enhances the feeling of isolation and confusion.

Myst can be played in short intervals as long as you are not interrupted. I think that you really need to dedicate your time and focus for longer sessions to really immerse yourself in Myst. It has some really demanding puzzles, and at times you will need help solving them. Sites such as Gamefaqs.com were invented due to games such as Myst.

Myst is as fresh and playable as it was back in 1993, and I am really pleased that it lives on for a younger generation to play as well. At $5.99 it is a true bargain.

Presentation & Graphics

High resolution still images that are as beautiful as art.The story is told in video clips, and in texts found at different locations. It is never hard to read even on a small screen.

Sound

Great ambient sounds creating an environment of wonder and isolation. As mentioned the acting in the video clips is a bit strange but it fits so well in this game.

Gameplay

There are puzzles hidden within the images, and in most cases the hard part is to find out what the actual puzzle is. Once I figured out what the puzzle is the solution is quite easy to understand.

You will get stuck, and feel lost on the island. Strangely enough I never feel frustrated about that. The world of Myst is crafted in such a manner that there is always something else to investigate once stuck.

To some the gameplay of Myst might be too slow, and if you are new to adventure games or have a short attention span you should probably steer away from Myst.

Gamelife

This game will take some time to complete without using any game guides.

But do you want it to end? No not really, this is a game where playing it is more satisfying than completing it.

Finding all information, understanding the plot of Myst, and making choices you can live with will demand days of dedication.

Game Rating

Myst is one of those games you must play during your life time. The most cerebral adventure puzzle out there by far. It is the Super Mario Brothers of adventure games!

Myst $5.99