Myst Trilogy (Myst Masterpiece, Riven, Myst III - Exile) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like a complete nincompoop, I bought this thing without visiting UBI Soft's website first. DO NOT try to run Myst Masterpiece Edition on a Windows XP machine. It will make things very unstable. At least, it did for me. Fortunately, I was able to reboot using the last known good configuration, then uninstalled the miscreant software and performed a System Restore. My machine appears to be fine now.
A visit to the FAQ page on UBI Soft's support site informed me that they do not support Windows 2000 or XP for their "classic" games, nor do they have plans to do so. So why are they selling a brand new boxed set of the most popular game trilogy in the history of the world without a warning? When they say "For Windows 95 or 98", they mean ONLY Windows 95 or 98. They didn't even mention Millennium Edition, that I could see!
Practically all new computers sold in the past six months have come with Windows XP, so I'm guessing there are going to be lots of very unhappy campers, if my experience is any guide.
Need I say more?

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With more than 10 million copies sold throughout the world, the Myst series has become the benchmark for all adventures to come. Now, for the first time, the three volumes of this mythic saga are assembled in one astounding collection. Gather your cunning and summon your imagination--for every enigma you unravel binds you closer to the unforgettable realm of Myst. Myst Trilogy includes Myst Masterpiece, Riven, and Myst III: Exile.
Myst Trilogy includes: Myst Masterpiece The remastered version of Myst. In this acclaimed first adventure, embark on an intrepid journey into a strange world and its mysteries--a world wracked by intrigue, betrayal, and inexplicable distortions of time and space. Join Atrus as you discover the secrets of the D'ni civilization, where books are portals into other worlds, and lessons of the past shape your future. Riven: The Sequel to Myst Riven plunges you deeper into a world cursed by bewildering rifts in time. Every shadow hides a secret, and appearances are never what they seem. Atrus needs you once again; help him free his wife, Catherine, and untangle the daunting mysteries of Riven. Myst III: Exile A decade has transpired since Riven. Now Atrus and Catherine's efforts to rebuild the D'ni civilization are jeopardized by a new enemy. Saavedro, bent on avenging his ruined existence, has emerged from exile to claim vengeance upon Atrus's two sons.

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Myst 3: Exile Review

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(More customer reviews)I realize Ubisoft, not Cyan, made the third Myst game, but they really pulled off an excellent experience for us Myst fans. I got the collector's edition two days after it came out, and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first two, Myst and Riven.
Graphically, the freedom and playability are top-quality. You can actually move around while videos play, and turn 360 degrees plus full up and down at every location. The puzzles easily integrate into the story. Sound and music are superb, and in my opinion, the music tends to make the Myst games a top seller. They put a lot of work into that part of these games.
As for story, without any spoilers, they are utterly faithful to the D'ni history. You face a new (old?) adversary of Atrus, and he brings a new depth to the story. If this has been a concern, rest easy. Exile continues and expands the familiar issues of Atrus and his ages.
I have two small criticisms of the game, but I will only give one so the game won't be spoiled for you. It was way too easy, too fast. This could be because I finally understand how these people think, and nearly walked through most of the game. I don't know for sure. Myst and Riven took me over 9 months with the hint book. Exile took me three weeks without the hint book. Don't be discouraged, that could just be "ME" finally "getting it!"
Overall, Exile is a fine addition to the D'ni universe, and I hope to see future episodes of this amazing world. The puzzles, music, characters, and ease of game play will keep you spellbound right to the end.
I should add that people who were let down by the ending to Myst (including me), and grateful for a much improved ending to Riven, will be in for a great surprise at the end of Exile! The finale makes you feel like a real winner, and certainly leaves the door open for future Myst games. Highly Recommended!

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Building on the surreal style of Myst and Riven Myst III: Exile features newfantastic environments that made its' predecessors immersive mysterious andbeautiful. Exile features five entirely new ages for players to explore andhours of new mysteries to uncover. Myst 3 Exile has new panoramic navigationtechnology to bring the world alive without losing any of the artistic beauty orinteractivity of previous Myst games.Developed by Presto Studios Myst III: Exile features five entirely new agesfor players to explore and hours of new mysteries to uncover. Myst III: Exileuses new navigation technology to bring the world alive without losing any ofthe artistic beauty or interactivity of the previous Myst games. Fans will findmore of what they love about Myst and Riven and a few surprises. By drawing onthe history of the series and new technology Myst III: Exile is a trueevolution of the seriesnot just a continuation.Myst III: Exile introduces a new villain a bitter man whose home world wasruined by Sirrus and Achenar and returns to take revenge against Atrus and hisfamily at their most vulnerable time. Trapped in a mysterious age you mustexplore the environment and navigate the puzzles of the age to gradually uncoverthe mystery of this new adversary.Product FeaturesFree-look movement system allows players to pan a full 360 degrees at anylocation fully immersing them in the world.Five entirely new ages to explore each with their own distinctive visualstyle.Dramatic storyline extends the Myst mythology by focusing on a pivotal newcharacter.Puzzles gradually reveal mystery and intrigue as they are solved.Original soundtrack.Supports optional 3D hardwareSystem RequirementsMyst 3 Exile is a Hybrid Mac/PC CD-ROMWindows 95/98/Me or MAC OS 8.0; Pentium 300 MHz or PowerPC 200 MHz; SVGAGraphics Card; 150 MB; 4X or Faster; 32 MB

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Myst IV: Revelation Review

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(More customer reviews)The latest Myst game is out. With Myst IV Revelation, you have TWO DVDs full of gaming information. This takes up 8 GIG on your hard drive for a full install. It is massive.
Yes, as you can imagine, the graphics are gorgeous. Birds fly over to the birdfeeder as you watch, and then flit off. The water ripples beneath you. The clouds drift by. The art nouveau architecture is simply gorgeous, and each world has its own culture. It is a visual feast.
The sounds are equally immersive. Peter Gabriel did some of the sound. The audio track not only draws you into the world, but also gives you clues, if you listen carefully to what sounds you are hearing in which locations.
But how is the *gameplay*? I am a huge, huge fan of the Myst series so I have to say, if you're patient, the game is really fun. But you can't expect to just zip through the game quickly. The point is to sit with a glass of wine, roaming around, clicking on things, exploring your world. There is a lot of trial and error before you discover what the next puzzle is - and then a lot of twiddling before you get the hang of it.
Unfortunately, the very first puzzle, of lining up audio wave signals, is REALLY annoying. The helper is trying to give you assistance but most of the time his comments strike you as quite intrusive. It's not a puzzle at all that will "make sense" to most people. I am actually an audio buff and my boyfriend is a musician who plays with audio files, and even so we found the controls and setup hard to work with. This would have been find as an end-game puzzle, but it is awful as the way to get people into the game in the first place. The other subsequent puzzles are much more enjoyable and logical.
I wanted to pick up all sorts of things, and got frustrated that I could see books and not read them. You could never tell which pieces of paper were readable and which were mysteriously glued to the table. The amulet that you pick up is fun, giving you visions and sounds to help you move the plot along. However it blinks pretty much ANY time you zoom in on things. Why not just have it show you the video automatically the first time, and let you click on it after that to replay the video? The constant click - zoom - click - amulet got a bit much. Especially when the video was on the meaningless side.
I really would have hoped that by now the game would be "fully motion" enabled. In the first myst, you in essence walked through paintings. You could only look at the screen and then click to go somewhere else. You couldn't turn and rotate. Through Myst II-IV we got more and more video, first as tiny integrations and then as full screens. But while we can "look around us" in Myst IV, you still have to click and wait to move your feet. Maybe Myst V will actually let you walk. It's that clicking that begins to wear on me, the click, wait, click, wait. The quick-hop ability to leap to certain spots does help, but I would rather be able to move seamlessly through my world.
That all being said, Myst IV is definitely a must-have for any puzzle lover. The graphics and sounds are gorgeous, and the puzzles are challenging and fun. I do have a walkthrough online but please do NOT use walkthroughs until you are really stuck. The point of this game is not to race through and be done. The point is to enjoy the world, to immerse yourself and to try, try, try and finally succed at the puzzle in front of you.

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Myst IV: Revelation will challenge you to unravel an intricate mystery, in a world where plants and machinery have combined. Make your way through a labryinthine plot as you save the D'Ni people. Travel through environments that pulse with life, as you unearth a treacherous scheme involving two of Myst's most sinister villains.

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King's Quest 8: Mask of Eternity Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're expecting another King's Quest game in the similar style and method of KQ1-7, you're in for a shock on this one. The object of the game is exploring, which is fun, but also involves a lot of Wolfenstein-style shoot-to-kill. It really has little to do with King's Quest in the true Sierra tradition. It's a modern kill-fest set in Daventry.
If you're a true, die-hard fan of the King's Quest series, like I am, you'll buy it to have it. I found it most helpful to play with cheats on (you can find them on the web at a variety of sites) because I am not a true shoot-and-kill type of game player. It allowed me to explore and enjoy the few adventure-game aspects of this game. For those who enjoyed Quest for Glory, it does mimic that series in some small ways.
Mostly, alas, this is Wolfenstein in Daventry. True adventure games in the style of Sierra's Golden Years in the 1980's-1990's are truly a thing of the past.

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The bestselling adventure series of all time returns! In Roberta Williams's King's Quest: Mask of Eternity, you'll return to Daventry and explore seven exotic worlds as you search for the scattered pieces of the Mask of Eternity to restore peace and order to the kingdom. This all-new adventure features rich, immersive story, the latest 3-D technology, and camera control that lets you switch between first-person views and cinematic third-person views.

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