"*Shrugs* well, it's REALLY good. but..."

Well. They actually made a sequel to Myst, and I couldn't get it on my old computer (I had a Pentium 133 and it needed a 166...damn!). Now I've got this one, and I bought it, $10 bucks cheap, on DVD-ROM. That gives it a point for not having to change disks every two seconds, a downside for CD owners. =P Overall, I thought Riven was a great game, except...I'll explain.

Gameplay: 10/10

Same as Myst, great idea for an adventure game like this. It can get annoying with that little, tiny hand always right in the center of your screen, but other than that, it's great. Well, for CD owners, like I said, Riven doesn't consist of traveling between Ages, as Myst did. This is one big island age, and if you were to buy it on CD, then as you were walking, the thing will stop you when you have to change the disk. And there are four of them, for God's sake! If you can, get it on DVD, because it's one disk for everything. I found mine at Electronics Boutique =D

Graphics: 10/10

Great graphics, stunning beauty, and all that good stuff. The foresty island is in itself beautiful, and the creatures, vehicles, and Age books add to the greatness. One does get tired of the same type of scenery after a while, though. But I'm also looking at this from a perspective of seeing Myst III's system and graphics...NO! MUST...PUSH...FROM...MIND! =O okay. Great graphics.

Sound: 7/10

The sound seems to have a habit of stopping randomly. And, when it does play, the sound effects sound great, but the music is a bit uninspired. Unlike the original Myst, where the music matches the mood of the Age, and Myst III, where the music is constantly beautiful, but doesn't always match the mood. oh well, can't win every time.

Story line: 10/10

It has the best storyline of all three. It has new developments in story, connections, and hints to the future. It also connects with the history of it all. The history is officially written down in the Myst books (yes, real ones. You can get them at your local library). I highly reccomend you read them, it'll help you understand the story better. I don't even like to read, but the first one was a great book.

Fun Factor: 10/10

Fun in all respects. Except for when you get stuck, where you can only walk back and forth until you find something, which may take up a LARGE amount of time. Well, all is good so far, why does it get a 7? Next category.

Reviewer's Tilt: 7/10

Okay. It is a great game. But it's made more for the graphics than class or style, which is what I liked about the first Myst and Myst III, from the classic whole game in Myst to the classic Amateria Age in Myst III. There is nothing that just...jumps out to be memorable. And it burns into the small things of D'ni, the ancient culture that started it all, such as numbers and letters. too hard to distinguish!

Overall: 7/10

Riven is a good game. I recommend you buy it, if you can find it for cheap or find an especially good Collector's Edition. Otherwise, find Myst III for a good price.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/10/01, Updated 10/10/01