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Reader Reviews
9 reviews. Average Rating: 7.44
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Publisher:  Genre: Adventure & RPG
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Mac OS X: 10.2.8 Mac OS Classic: Not Supported
CPU: G4 @ 933 MHz RAM: 128 MB DVD-ROM Graphics: 32 MB VRAM |
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Like in previous Myst titles, much of Revelation’s story unfolds via journal entries and hand-written notes, but this fourth installment of Myst also offers a great deal more audio and video elements than its predecessors. For example, in the course of the game, the player acquires an amulet, which has the ability to capture pieces of one’s strongest memories. This amulet rests at the bottom of the screen and flashes when the player has found something important. Sirrus, for instance, passes his time in Spire by carving sculptures from indigenous crystals. Thus, while examining said sculptures, the player gets a peek at Sirrus’ thoughts or actions during their creation. These memory glimpses serve not only to further the story, but also provide vital clues to Myst IV’s enigmatic puzzles.
Speaking of enigmas, this latest flavor of Myst has several new tools to help players dig through the ditches and burn through the witches, so to speak. In order to keep players’ memories refreshed, they have access to a camera. The camera allows players take up to 999 snapshots of anything in the game world. This’s very handy for remember key visual clues. The player also has access to a journal, from which they can type in their own notes and view taken photos. The game also offers a system that provides vague and detailed hints, as well as flat out answers to every puzzle in the game. Just remember, cheating’s for big giant wusses.
Graphics: So Much Beauty in the World
Myst IV: Revelation is by far one of the most beautiful games I’ve seen in quite some time. Most of Revelation’s imagery is pre-rendered, allowing for stunningly detailed and photo-realistic environments. Yet, there are plenty of real-time 3D water, sky and lighting effects for capable video cards. It’s particularly lovely to watch the billowing clouds of Tomahna pass in front of the full moon. The flowing waterways of Serenia are also a thing of beauty. The live action video characters fit into their digital world as well as one can expect, but sometimes they serve to break one’s suspension of disbelief. Though it’s hardly enough to call it a true flaw. Being that everything is pre-rendered, Myst IV’s only true downside is that it runs at a maximum resolution of 1024x768. However, for those with massive displays running at 1920x1200, there is a way to hack Revelation into window mode. For details, just sashay on over to Ubisoft’s . The thread’s a bit technical, so if anyone needs help, feel free to e-mail me directly. Readers should also be aware that this game requires a 32 MB video card, a zippy 867 MHz G4 and DVD-ROM drive, so older iMacs and iBooks need not apply.
Sound: Perfect
Aurally, Myst IV: Revelation is about as perfect as any game gets, period. The game’s score is both orchestral and vocal, but never does it interfere with the purposeful solitude of Myst’s Ages. Furthermore, Revelation’s ambient audio effects are absolutely flawless. Haven’s jungles are a prime example of how ambient audio can bring a game to life.
Conclusion: Family DysFUNction
Myst IV: Revelation is truly a work of art on many levels. With its intriguing story, deviously fun puzzles, breathtaking visuals and flawless aural elements, Myst IV is the first game to make me completely forget about World of Warcraft for more than an hour at a time. That, my friends, is no easy feat. Myst IV: Revelation is far and away one of the finest adventure games ever created.
So, in honor of the Myst series I leave with some not so easy trivia. In this review I’ve alluded to two Alanis Morissette songs, a Rob Zombie song and an Academy Award winning film. The first person to identify each allusion and its source wins their very own copy of Myst IV: Revelation. (Note: We have a winner! The correct answers were: "Are You Still Mad?", "Perfect", "dig through the ditches and burn through the witches" and "So Much Beauty in the World". That's 2 Alanis song titles, 1 Rob Zombie song lyric and a quote from American Beauty, one of the finest films of its decade.)
9 Reader Reviews submitted. Average Rating: 7.44
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