I can clearly remember the PC gaming world in 1994, which consisted of simplistic platformers like Commander Keen and Prince of Persia, as well as basic puzzle and strategy games. A year later, something very important happened... Myst.
Myst undoubtedly changed the face of gaming forever, as well as popularize the growing CD-ROM format for personal computers.
I first experienced Myst in 1996, when it was still the best selling PC game of all time. Due to the complexity of the game, it took me quite a while to finish it. In fact, many of my friends and family made it through months before me, but I know many of them referred to cheat and hint books to help them through many of Myst's complex, and oftentimes convoluted, puzzles. I however, made it through on my own (though I remember often wanting to rip the hair from my head out of frustration).
My original copy of Myst sat on my shelf for nearly 10 years, but I was inspired to pick it up again a week or so ago. Myst was written for Windows 3.1 (takes you back, huh?), but I got it to run on Windows XP fairly easy. With my monitor at 640x480 resolution, and the color depth set to 256 colors, I embarked on my second visit to Myst.
About 4 hours later, I was done. It's not that the puzzles weren't hard... in fact, they're usually quite the opposite. Unfortunately, I was surprised to learn that after 10 long years since my last visit to this mysterious island I remembered nearly everything in the game. Looks like all the solutions to Myst's various puzzles got hard-wired into my brain. Nonetheless, it was great to see the Myst world again, and it inspired me to write about it for everyone here at TechLore.
As a game, there's nothing else like it. The second you start the game you're clouded in confusion; there's really no intro story to help you get your bearings. You enter the game standing on a dock. A few screens up, you discover an odd note to a woman named Catherine that does little to explain your presence on the Myst island, let alone much of a clue as to what you're supposed to do. Seem too hard? It is. But if Myst was real, and you ended up on this island yourself, it's not like there would be a convenient manual to tell you what to do. You have to figure it out on your own.
Myst is seen in a first person view. Travel through Myst and its many Ages, as well as your interaction with objects, are controlled through a simple point and click interface. It takes about 6 seconds to learn to play.
Most of what makes Myst stand out is its stark beauty and attention to detail. Even if you never complete the game, walking through Myst is a experience. Why would you never complete the game? It's tough. The answers to many of the puzzles don't slap you upside the head, but require a great deal of "outside-the-box" thinking to solve. It took me months to get through the game the first time I played it in 1996. Later entries in the series proved even more challenging... if you can believe it.
Hard as it may be, through exploration, deep thought, and a keen eye, the mystery of Myst will unfold before you. If you accept the challenge and bear through it, it will be one of the most rewarding gaming experiences you'll ever have.
If you've never played Myst, there's no better time than now. Though the 256 color world is not up to the standards of newer game visuals, they are still surprisingly good (The newer retail versions have an updated version of the game that offer better graphics than the original version that I have). The sound is fantastic, and the puzzles will certainly be challenging.
If you do end up picking up Myst for the first time, you may be inclined to hit a cheat site the second you get stuck (which will happen more than once). Do yourself a favor and stick it out without cheating. Cheating will get you through the game at breakneck pace, but the overall experience of the game will be destroyed. If you really need a small hint, post your question in the comments area, and I'll be happy to give you a tiny hint to get you back on track.
Since my recent Myst experience, I've decided to finally play through its sequels: Riven, Myst III: Exile, and Myst IV: Revelation. I hope to share my experiences with you on these games in the coming months.
Pick up the Myst 10th Anniversary DVD Edition, which includes Myst Masterpiece, Riven, and Myst III Exile at Buy.com.
Enjoy Myst!
