Myst III: Exile

The original Myst created a genre all its own. It's sequel Riven took things to a new level by creating an incredible interconnected set of islands with puzzles weaved through them all. Exile takes the best of both those worlds and mends incredible puzzles with an engaging environment.

This was always one of my favorite installments in the Myst franchise because it really simplified things after the often-agonizing Riven. The environments are still lush and interesting, but this time a bit more contained. No taking a trolley from one island to another over and over again just to pull a single level. Instead, you just solve one puzzle in one basic location and move on to the next one.

The storyline still moves on in this one too, as it focuses on Saavedro, a man looking for revenge on Atrus based on the earlier actions of Sirius & Achenar (Atrus' sons).

Finally, one new addition to the interface is the ability to look 360 degrees around you. It is no longer a true "point-and-click" game, in this aspect, but it allows much more range of motion. No more clicking like a madman trying to find the right angle to solve a puzzle, or missing a key detail because the angle isn't quite right.

Overall, Exile is a great third chapter in the Myst saga. It takes the foundation of the original, mixes it with the landscapes of Riven, and creates the best overall game in the franchise to that date.

I've had Myst III for almost 4 years. Yes, it's taken me that long to finish it. But it sure is a wonderful game. In terms of graphics, Riven was a simple step up from Myst. But Myst III adds a whole new level of realism to the franchise.

The main new feature is that you can look anywhere you want in any direction withing the photo-realistic worlds when before you could only look at a limited amount of certain things. These worlds are empty but beautiful to look at and have an eerie, ghostly atmosphere to them. The graphics are so convincing that the roller-coaster ride in the middle of the game will make you feel like you're really there. Not only do the graphics stand out but sound effects pan across the sound-field when you spin around and wind whistles between the rocks.

The story involves the maniacal sons of Atrus (that would be Sirrus and Achenar) continuing to wreak havoc through-out the ages. They have destroyed a world known as Narayan and left sole-survivor in exile on the island of J'Nanin. This man is Saavedro (Brad Dourif), who ultimately blames Atrus for his sons going off the deep end.

Atrus (played by Rand Miller as always) calls upon you to go to J'Nanin and find Saavedro, who has stolen Atrus new age Raleeshan. Saavedro traps you into going through many different worlds, unlocking secrets, finding clues and seeing for yourself what Sirrus and Achenar did to Narayan. Each world has a different look from the last but still retains that spooky feeling no matter if your in a swamp, caverns, beach or mountaintop.

But still, the most impressive thing about Myst III is Jack Wall's brilliant score, which is simultaneously haunting, beautiful, dark and Gothic. He seamlessly blends magical with choral and gives us a highly thematic score with surpasses that of most big-budget movies. Definitely the best score a video-game has ever known. And that's a pretty big statement.

I got the Limited Collector's Edition of this game which comes with the score CD (now very hard to find and very expensive) a 'making of' CD, the Prima Official Strategy Guide and lots of other inserts. The game (at the time of this certain publishing) was spread over 4 discs and it became very annoying switching between them all. I minor quibble though.

Overall, I highly recommend Myst III, it's not just a game, it's a journey.

This game graphically alone is astounding. While the movement is still point to point, which is somewhat of a trademark of the Myst games, you have complete spherical vision. There is no place you cannot look. And this is at no cost to the graphics which are stunning. I stumbled through the game for about four hours and didn't get anything accomplished just because I couldn't stop looking at everything. That along with the sounds and music make the unreal environments seem real. The puzzles are unique and imaginative. Definitely impressive. I cannot recommend this game enough.

The puzzles are harder and more intertwined, the endings are dramatic, the visual effects and navigation are still the best, and there are several great surprises. I can't wait for MYST IV

Myst III: Exile is the finest game ever, not only are the graphics spectacular and the sound amazing (the soundtrack alone is equal to if not better than most movie soundtracks), but the surreal location actually seems believable. Just like the backgrounds of the Final Fantasy games; the world does look real.

And as if that's not recomendation enough, one of the main characters is played by Brad Dourif. As I'm writing this I am trying to think of a critisism for the game and I can't think of a single one. The advance from Myst to Riven was awesome but the advance from Riven to Exile is far beyond anything I could have imagined.

The game is also suitable for players of any age although even the cleverest of adults will strugle with some of the puzzles.

11 out of 10 and even with that score I'm being mean.