REAL MYST IN SOUTH AFRICA

Real Myst Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me Condition: New Other versions of this game available from us: Platform: Pre-Owned/Used: Very Good Condition copies available Product Information Dynamic, real-time, fully interactive 3-D Myst world Day and night cycles, changing weather, and real-time lighting effects Explore the new Rime Age New engine adds specular and particle system effects Simple interface Product Description Fully complete with paper manual Review RealMYST is a noble attempt by Cyan to update its popular adventure game Myst. The major change is the game's 3-D engine: it lets you walk around the island and the different ages in real time. The game also includes a new epilogue that links it to its sequel, Riven. For the most part, RealMYST is exactly the same game as Myst. The puzzles are the same, and the books are the same. The major difference is the new 3-D engine which not only lets you move through the environments but also allows for the inclusion of animation in the otherwise static surroundings. Windmills turn, birds and butterflies dot the landscape, and the water flows realistically. Visually, the engine is superb. Everything looks great, and the water effects are especially noteworthy. Ripples form around pillars, and boats bob over waves. Probably the biggest problem with RealMYST in general, is that the engine runs slowly. You'll find the game constantly dragging as the engine shudders under the weight of everything it's attempting to render. The problems exist even with the visuals set to the lowest quality. And playing the game at high resolutions is almost impossible, even on a relatively fast system. With some serious updates to the engine, RealMYST would serve as a modern reminder that the original was an impressive game that was equally defined by both its fascinating detail and its original story. In its current form, RealMYST is suitable only as a novelty for fans of the original, who will want to see the new epilogue. You still have to listen to Atrus' speech at the end, but afterward you're given a new age to visit and some new puzzles. The epilogue serves as a more comprehensive link to Riven, though it's still somewhat open-ended and lacks the conclusiveness you want when a game is finished. It may be a novelty, but it's still a mostly worthwhile one for those who fondly remember Myst. -- Ron Dulin,.com