NetWatcher's Guide to Everything

I did a very stupid thing last night. I picked up a game, one of the very select few, that I had put down over a year ago due to being sooooo frustrated with it. The thing about this game was that I had such high hopes for it. Myst IV was supposed to be the best Myst game up to that point. Of course, Myst being one of my 2 favorite franchises (the other being the Final Fantasy saga), I really reaaaally wanted to like this game.

Picking it up again, I remembered why I put it down. As I wrote somewhere else here (check the archives, I'm too lazy to actually post the link), the control on this game is the worst I've ever seen. The controls are sluggish, and everything seems to be happening about 3/4 of a second behind me.

Quite frustrating.

However, it is a Myst game, and I MUST finish it. Luckilly, I'm down to the final puzzle now, so it will all be over soon.

I began this sadomasochistic journey after finishing Myst V: End of Ages. I have to give credit to Cyan, they've been through quite a lot the past couple of months. From nearly shutting down to rising back enough to hire almost everybody back, their perserverence in the face of adversity is admirable.

I just wish there had been more to Myst V. Not necessarily more puzzles, although that wouldn't have hurt, just more substance to the experience. For some reason, this game seemed flatter than the previous installments. The story more linear, not having the illusion of freedom of choice which you get when playing the other titles. Trying to play slowly, I was able to complete the game in just under 7 hours with no outside help.

I also was disappointed in the ending (fair spoiler warning here). I had expcted something that would really have major consequences with the D'ni directly, such as the loss of the ability to write Ages (i.e. the End of Ages). As it was, Myst V tied up the Uru story arc rather nicely, but was pretty much just an "episode" in the life of the family Atrus.

Overall, though, the game play was one of the best the series had to offer. There were several settings the fans have been asking for for years, and although the traditional "end of game paradox" was rather transparent, the options and the temptation in the ending scenario are hard to turn away from. Especially with the possibility of a return to where it all began, Myst island.

I certainly hope we seem more from Cyan (I think we will, they just make too many quality games to disappear). I'm looking forward to the next series they stun the world with.