Myst 3: Exile

Rating:
Summary: wish there were more adventure games like this
Review: I just bought the game and am really enjoying it. Beautiful graphics, challenging puzzles, and an "E" rating. I wish there were a lot more games with these three qualities. I also really enjoy the navigation, animations, and the live actors.

Rating:
Summary: What a relief after Riven!
Review: "Riven" came out just after "Zork Nemesis" and its groundbreaking 360 degree rotation was introduced. So the second Myst game as a result came across as a tremendous disappointment after playing the gorgeous and immersive "Nemesis". After completely circular visuals and constantly atmospheric music, "Riven" failed to engage me much in its gameplay because of its primitive-looking snapshot style. Plus, I managed to solve it in its entirety during a single weekend...far too easy...

But THIS game, on the other hand, is something else entirely. I get the impression that the original Myst creators took one look at "Nemesis", silently cursed to themselves, went back to the drawing board...and THIS time came up with a winner. Taking more than its fair share of cues from "Nemesis" and its technological innovation (which is slightly irritating in the way of how the press is currently praising them and acting as though the Myst developers just invented them when this was already done so beautifully years ago! Come on guys, be FAIR!), the result is a gorgeous and immersive adventure which manages to catch up wtih technology.....as it existed five years ago.

I hate to say it, but this game is starting to remind me of "King's Quest", a gaming series that was considered groundbreaking with its first title and then spent the rest of two decades playing technological catch-up.

But that aside, it's a wonderful and challenging game. The only problem I've had with it is some choppy glitches with some of the animation sequences: an opening sequence with Catharine was stable except for the fact that her speech kept fading in and out and I couldn't hear her properly, and some portions of the "casual" action animation (such as when you are in an elevator and you're supposed to be watching a gate spin around it through a window) was equally choppy and unresponsive. The problems persist even after the patch was installed.

The annoying animation errors are the only thing here which keep me from giving this title a full five stars. The moment they can be fixed (hopefully on the upcoming DVD edition due before this Christmas?), I'll edit this into a full five-star review.

**WARNING!!! In closing, I'm about to explain the nature of the puzzles by sharing my reaction to the first one and in doing so am going to give away the solution to it. If you do not want to hear any puzzle solutions, read no further.**

Confusing puzzles in this game are guaranteed to lead even to most steel-bound adventurer astray, as by their sheer nature they can lead you into being tricked that they are far more complicated than they actually are. I've been a veteran of adventure puzzle games for twenty years and even I got stumped by (get this) the first puzzle. It's the one involving the revolving lamps. I had guessed correctly that I had to get a beam of light to shine through them on to a particular door's surface, but could not get any light to appear through them. Turning the crank at the beginning of the setup a couple of times didn't do a thing (I was convinced it was to power up the whole arrangement), so I thought that maybe it would all switch on once I had gotten the lamps all aimed in a proper order. Noticing that each one was a different color, I had thought at first that they needed to be done in the order of the spectrum, but when that obviously didn't work I went berzerk trying to figure out how to get the light to turn on.

I finally broke down and, despite my better nature, looked up the solution on the internet. What did I have to do?

Turn the crank ONE MORE TIME!

Afterwards, I was practically bashing my head against the wall while screaming inwardly, "THAT'S IT???!!..."

Rating:
Summary: Just when you thought it couldnt get any better.
Review: Following in the footsteps of MYST and Riven, Exile, the third release in the MYST series, combines breathtaking graphics, an extensive soundtrack, and 360-degree viewing to create a virtual gaming world unlike any other.

Of course the puzzles have been taken to another level, as they are not only found in man-made objects, but unlike the first two games in the series, they have been incorporated into the environment. This allows players to interact with the environment as they visit each new world and it provides a much more realistic feeling than has previously been experienced. And, as seen in the progression from MYST to Riven, the "ending" keeps getting better and better.

I would be remiss if I did not suggest the previous MYST games, MYST and MYST II: Riven, as well as the novels that provide background into the D'ni civilization.

"Tight Lines!"
~..~..~.. ><((((*>

Rating:
Summary: Myst was Good; Riven was Great; Exile is Fantastic!
Review: "Myst" was a ground-breaking game back in 1993. It was something never heard of before, and gamers of all kinds took to it like no other game before it. To this day, "Myst" is still a phenomenon. Then along came the highly-anticipated sequel, "Riven." This game proved that the sequel could indeed outdo the original with its breathtaking graphics and Ages, engaging storyline and increasingly complicated puzzles. Most people figured the story would end with "Riven."

But then "Myst III: Exile" surfaced, the third game in this highly acclaimed series. And the old adage proved true - some things really do get better with age.

"Exile" is the latest blockbuster to hit the computer-gaming world. It features even more realistic graphics (if that's possible), a 360-degree view of your surroundings, an even more engaging storyline, a terrific guest actor (Brad Dourif playing the role of Saavedro), four more beautifully detailed Ages, and a great background music score. All these things, combined with many other wonderful aspects of the game, make "Exile" the most explosive of the three "Myst" games.

One particular thing I want to add here is the wonderful performance of Brad Dourif. A few people think his portrayal of Saavedro in the game was overdone and, at times, a bit laughable. I don't see that at all - how emotional would you be if you were cut off from your world and your family for 20 years? How stable do you think you'd be with 20 years of isolation? The makers of "Exile" could not have gotten anyone to pull off this role with more gusto than Brad Dourif. The screen crackles with an energy not seen in the two previous games, "Myst" and "Riven." Not even the character Gehn from "Riven" did much for me, although he was well portrayed in his own right. But the man behind Saavedro is better. It's hard to describe his performance, his look, his mannerisms. Let's just say it's unlike anything you seen from this series before.

In short, "Exile" is nothing short of fantastic. I had my apprehensions about the game when I heard Rand and Robyn Miller, the brothers who created the "Myst" and "Riven" worlds, were not the brains behind it. But any worries I had quickly dissolved while engaging myself in "Exile."

Get this game, folks. Even if you've never played a computer game in your life, give it a try. But don't skip out on "Myst" or "Riven" either. Play "Myst", "Riven" and "Exile" in that order to experience the full grandeur of these wonderful games. You will be surprised by the effect they have on you.

Rating:
Summary: Myst 3
Review: This game is as good as its prequels, Myst and Riven. Just like them, it has breathtaking graphics and a beautiful soundtrack.
The Myst series is great for people who like to play "thinking" games. You wander around in a strange (but scenic) world and gather clues to solve puzzles. The format is so realistic that you might not even realize you've found a clue when you stumble on one! Part of the fun is realizing, "Hmm, this looks like a door to somewhere... now where could the key be?"
Myst: Exile is not an action game. It can be a very relaxing experience-- a trip to another, very beautiful world-- but the main part of the action is not in front of you.
The thrill of figuring out a machine and making it work more than makes up for this. It's startling and thrilling to fix a mechanism, push the button, and find out what happens. Then you get the excitement of exploring new territory, and perhaps advancing the plot. It's not the same as a game of reflexes and aim; it's better in a way, and worse in a way.
Unlike some Myst-wannabe games, this series does not require you to buy the book to complete any puzzle. With some games there's no way to solve it without cheating, but with Myst the clues are all there...even if you haven't noticed or pieced them together yet.
At several points in the game, you will encouter human beings. Sometimes you can interact with them, other times you just have to listen. At the climax of the game, you will have to make a choice. One hint to help you deal with the people you will meet in the Myst series: Not all of them will tell you the truth.

Rating:
Summary: "What...?!"
Review: Well, after waiting the better part of three weeks for this game to come because the guy who was shipping it to me had a disease, I can only say "What...?!" That is because of the gameplay, the graphics, the vocalists on the music, the puzzles, and the cool names that the ages are called. I mean, you would have to stay in an age called Voltiac or Edanna for atleast an hour. This is also the first Myst game to encorporate small, cute, fuzzy animals and birds. Also, this is the first myst game to have a sybiotic plant age. A levitating puzzle age, and a volcanic machine age. One of these puzzles is actually quite dumb. I mean, align about 20 prisms so that when light shines through them, they make a rainbow that progects onto a door. I took me hundreds and hundreds of minuets to solve that puzzle and what do I get, NOTHING. All because I didn't align this viewfinder picture to this picture on a door right down to the very pixle on my high resolution monitor. I mean, I've heard of some puzzles, but this is just raising the bar. That and the way that the 3-d running program didn't work on my machine so I had to play the game in 2-d. The simbiotic plant age is still the only one I've gotten to. NOTE: This age is NOT at all like chanelwood from the Myst games. This is a rainforest that had grown into a gigantic chasm in a canyon like thing that juts out of the water. The pathways are either plant or rock. Nothing in between. NOTHING. The puzzles are all plant based and there seems to be no human inluence on the age except for a linking book concealed by some trees and a bird trap. There are no, I repeat no huts, wooden walkways, or other man made things. The only wakways are on leaf or plant. Voltiac is not at all like the mechanical age of Myst. It is red and has no gears and stuff like that. More of an Industrial age with a cool airship that I havn't got to. I can bearly even relate the levetating puzzle age to anything I've ever seen in Myst games. I deserves a class of its own. The way you get to these other ages is by solving puzzles that are related to the age. Edanna, plant, Voltiac, Prism, A-M-A-uhh... I don't know how to spell this one, somthing else.

Rating:
Summary: Though shorter, Exile lives up to its' predecessors
Review: The original Myst was the computer adventure that took the gaming world by storm-- spawning numerous immitations, as well as drawing more people into the world of gaming. I myself was one of those people; after playing Myst I became hooked on adventure and puzzle-solving games. Myst 3: Exile is, in my opinion, a successful and breathtaking continuation of the adventures put forth in Myst and Riven. No prior experience with the series is necessary-- if you have played Myst and Riven you will recognize background music, references to various people and places, etc, but if you haven't, you can safely get through the game and enjoy it, without being lost. As with everything else, the technology of computer graphics continues to improve, and Exile displays the latest of these with stunning scenery and impressive navigation. Everything in Exile seems shockingly real, as if should you touch a finger to your computer screen, your hand would pass right through. The story is well written and interesting,keeping your attention throughout the games. The puzzles, as always are challenging, some more difficult than others-- but all require some mental effort. My only complaint about this game is that I found it to be very short, comparatively speaking. While Myst and Riven provided around 30 hours of game play, I'd estimate that Exile took me half of that. For this reason, I was expecting a drawn out mental battle that would take me weeks to work through, and instead solved it in a week or so. Length aside, however, Myst 3: Exile is an excellent game, well worth the wait!

Rating:
Summary: Best in the series~!
Review: As a fan of Riven and Myst, I must say Exile is definitely the best yet in this series. The problems mentioned by other users here are easy to circumvent. READ THE BOX and the website BEFORE you buy! If you run win2000/NT be prepared for problems as their site warns. I use a Voodoo 3 card, and unfortunately this game does not run in direct3D mode with the voodoo 3 (software mode works fine however), but once again you can read this on their site faq's... before you buy. Other than that the game works fine/looks great with voodoo 3, so I don't know why people are calling these cards a "major problem" with this game. Other issues mentioned here are silly, such as one saying Atrus never shows up in the beginning despite the user reinstalling the game over and over. Well this is simply because the user didn't explore enough, NOT the game's fault. The graphics are fantastic, the levels amazing, water effects etc. are top notch. My number one complaint, and the cause of my less than highest rating, is that the levels are too short lived for *advanced* players as most previous players will be. I have been playing for about ten hours and I'm already almost done with the game!! QUITE a bummer after waiting a year for this release.

Rating:
Summary: They keep topping themselves!
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Works on Win2000 and is Great
Review: While Exile is not officially supported on Windows 2000, it installed and ran without a hitch. I have an overclocked duron, asus MB, Matrox G400 Max (an ancient graphics card), and windows2000. I have had no errors and the game starts flawlessly.

If you liked Myst or Riven this game is a definite must. Remember how Myst and Riven were slide shows? Exile is similar but the slides are now full 360 degree up and down, side to side pannable. You can look anywhere you want at each point and the panning response to the mouse is excellent. There are even two modes to look around in (get the game and you will understand).

This has got to be about the most immersive game I have ever played. The soundtrack is superb! and the detail in the images will not disappoint. The acting is very high quality. This game has overall high production qualities in my opinion. I have seen some of the discenting opinions. If you experience one of the bugs, that's a disaster, but the first patch has already been released. But I simply disagree with some of the statements about image quality and game play.

I buy lots of games. Nearly all don't have this sort of first impression. I was in awe that the smoothness of movement and viewing held true to what I saw in game play demo movies. I just thought they were running on super souped up rigs. Mine is a good machine, but it ain't no screamer.

Try it for yourself. There are a lot of extremely strong opinions being floated about this game. This is expected for any game with this much anticipation. If I think back to when Riven came out, there was similar strong opinions. Some saying the bugs were severe (which they were, and were fixed). Others said it just didn't compare to Myst...it went on and on. There was also equally loud noises from those who loved Riven. I almost didn't buy Riven because of the complaints. I decided I'd at least try it. And I loved it. The same thing happened to me with Exile. I was debating canceling my preorder from Amazon, but decided to give it a try. And I havn't been disappointed.

You never know...you just might like it a lot.