Others say...

"It's a-ight."
Long version:

*Installs game on to computer running XP, plays for a bit*
Game locks up.
*control-alt-delete*
Computer locks up.
*Hard shutdown*
Repeat about five times.
*sets game down for a few days, deletes several gigs of music files in some attempt to appease the computer gods*
*tries again*
Compter locks up.
*Uninstalls game*
*Uninstalls QuickTime 9*
*Installs game and Quicktime 4*
*beats game*

It lost a star for several reasons:
1. Almost killing my crappy computer.
2. The bad acting (I know they probably couldn't afford the best and Achenar/Atrus weren't that bad, but Sirrus- yeesh!) and weird mid-Atlantic, pseudo-British accents.
3. Installing AOL on my computer.
4. Having a twist that you could see from a thousand miles away. But maybe you are supposed to see it from a thousand miles away.
5. The brothers' endings were really corny and didn't really reflect their personalities. *SPOILER* It seems like Achenar would rip out a page and burn it in front of you before torching the library and Sirrus would say "Thank you. Unfortunately, I have to make sure there's no way that you can threaten me," before taking the books to the furnace.
*END SPOILER*
6. Not a lot of replay value unless you just want to look at the pretty landscapes.
So, except for #1, nitpicks, really.

I liked how technically, you could beat the game in about 5 minutes. Very "Wizard of Oz" and it added that extra touch of realism since you didn't have to explore anything, the gameplay was more like a bonus.

I liked the real ending. It didn't really bother me that it was just a shill for Riven, which is weird for me. I liked that you don't get some kind of reward except the ability to explore the Myst worlds because how hollow would that be? The game has themes of the evils of greed and lust for power. How are you supposed to be rewarded? Money? Power? A high score? Come on. The point of the game is to explore and discover. Having a traditional ending would likewise mess up the game.

I thought the graphics were okay especially when you consider that this game was made what, 15 years ago? But I don't play a lot of software games so I have low standards. It certainly didn't feel like a slideshow.

I liked how the game was kid-safe yet wasn't dumbed down or cutesy. I don't mind violence, swearing, or sex in video games but it's nice to have the anti-Grand Theft Auto. Oh yeah, the hints were good too. They really made the game playable for people not used to this type of game.


Summary:
A good kid-safe game for non-gamers who want a puzzle, but you might have to fiddle with your computer to get the game to work.

"Entertaining, visually splendid, remarkably frustrating"
Playing Myst reminded me of the episode in
"Red Dwarf" (British sci-fi comedy series)
in which the crew discovers that they're actually
ordinary people who have been playing a virtual
reality sim-game in which they play space travelers.
The attendant is stunned to discover that they've
been playing the intro sequence the entire time.

"But didn't you find the microdot that explains
the secret mission?"
"_What_ microdot?"
"On the wall over Rimmer's bunk, the 'i' in his
swimming certificate! The dot over the i is a microdot.
It's a dead giveaway, innit -
Rimmer can't swim, and he's got a swimming certificate?"

That's about as obscure as most of the puzzles, IMHO.
Gorgeous to look at, wondrous to walk through, but if
it weren't for online tips and tricks, I'd never have
left Myst Island.

"It may be hard but it's way cool and atmospheric."
You really do get the feel of absolute abandon and isolation while playing Myst. The graphics may be rather dated now (especially compared to the modern graphics in Uru and Myst IV) but it's easy to get immersed in the quiet, lonely environment and believe your actually there. The sound effects and music are slight and subtle rather than overbearing like in other video games.

Since Myst the franchise has indeed developed and evolved. People still tend to think of them and point and click slide shows. Which isn't very fair. Yes, Myst is this way, though it was made 11 years ago and graphic cards back then were not the frontiers of technology they are today.

A lot of patience and intelligence is needed to solve the puzzles and put the clues together. A lot of reading and note-taking is required and those looking for shoot-em-ups and violence should look elsewhere.

Myst is, indeed, a game for the refined gamer.

"This is a great game"
I've been aware of Myst for around 10 years now, but never got to play it until now, when I bought this 1999 Masterpiece Edition. But for many years I saw pictures of this game like in magazines and I thought the game was worth buying for just the graphics. Well it has much more than just graphics going for it. Never having played the original from 1993, what I do know is Masterpiece Edition has improved graphics and features. It's nice to see a Rated E game that's fun to play. It's the kind of game even recommended to those who think video games have contributed to the downfall of American society. It's also truly a recommended game if you are sick and tired of those slasher or shoot 'em up games. The game is stuffed with puzzles where you have to open up secret passages, look for clues, activate a spaceship, a tree elevator, or whatever, in order to look for missing pages from a book. The only drawback is some of the quests are a bit on the tedious side. But to make things easier, just write down clues on paper, writting some of this stuff on paper would help save time (some of it is crucial). This package also comes with a screensaver with soundtrack CD. If you like the music from the game enough, then you have this CD to hear the music on a regular CD player. As for the game itself, the graphics are wonderful, and in many places are quite realistic (of course there are other scenes that look obviously like computer graphics). I'm glad to to finally get Myst, and I look forward to getting the sequels.

"Classic"
I've been playing the Myst games for years, they never get old. I left a review for the DVD Trilogy Box-set for the Myst series, so I thought I should review each individual game as well.
First off, Myst is a classic. Of course, even with revisions, it is completely outdated. But the intrique and spark is still there. Beautiful scenery and lush sound. I wouldn't recommend this to first person shooter fans. But I'm a big first person shooter fan I still find Myst to be an excellent adventure.

Dig in and enjoy.