MYST 3

                 Reviewed by Stefan Herber

First things first - no it's not as bad as "Riven" but that would
really have taken some doing. The latest in this amazingly popular
series has more interaction than before and they've even managed
to recruit an Oscar winning actor to play the baddie. Where it
does fail is being unable to recapture the pure fantasy of the
original - and most importantly for an adventure game it
surprisingly lacks any atmosphere, even in some of the really
funny worlds you have to explore to finish this.

By now people will know that the series centres around Atrus who
is a God like character capable of creating worlds and
civilizations in his books. Anyway he screwed up one of these
badly by letting his evil sons loose on it and a refugee from the
world has just stolen his latest Nirvana. You of course have to
find it and return it by visiting several very different worlds.

I think my biggest complaint with this game is the control system.
One still moves from one static screen to another and if there's
more than on exit it's not always obvious. So you can spend a lot
of time just retracing your steps until the scenery becomes so
familiar that you know you're doing something wrong. This is less
of a problem in the first world where at least you're outdoors and
on a beach but proved a really big problem for me in another which
is set in a jungle and swamp.  There's no automap to guide you and
the puzzles are difficult enough without one needing distraction
in this way.

Of course it looks gorgeous and the video cut-scenes are often
breathtaking. PLUS - at the end of one sequence you get to ride a
vicious rollercoaster! Be warned - a full install which is
strongly recommended unless you like changing discs every 5
minutes is over 2 GB.

The puzzles are of course what this game is all about. I didn't
find them as obscure as in "Riven" and to be honest once you've
worked out what you're supposed to be doing they aren't very
difficult. Although my issue came with a hints book I didn't open
it - anyone want it? But be assured they're not easy although a
lot of the frustration with them is matching figures exactly to
pre-drawn boards. One slight slip and nothing happens. This way
well mean a long trek to look at the original and check your
diagram.

Playing time is about 10 hours I would say. And as there doesn't
seem to be any other adventure games being made (unless you call
the Tomb Raider clones as adventure - I don't) we'll have to be
satisfied with these for a while.

At the end though it generates no emotion or personal
satisfaction. And we never get to see the new Nirvana though I
suppose they have to save something for Myst 4 which I suppose is
inevitable.



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