I have now completed all of the Myst versions for PC that I know of. I played the original way back when. It came on a single CD. I was mesmerized. It was rendered in 256 colours. Then came Myst Masterpiece, rendered in thousands of colours. Eventually, a long time later came RealMyst. The slide show format was gone forever, and though the game ate a lot of computing power back then, I managed to get through it several times without a crash. I still love that version and will replay it many more times, I hope. It introduced the day/night cycle to Myst, and I still love sitting upon Myst Island and watching the sunrise, moonset, sunset and moonrise. It also introduced a new age!
Now we come to Myst 2024, which was originally conceived for VR (someday, perhaps!). I guess they figured that it wouldn't sell many copies, so they also produced a new PC version. Gone is the day/night cycle, and we are stuck with what we get. Now for the good and the bad. First the bad. Out of the six areas one can explore (the island, the original four worlds, and the new world Rime), two are quite disappointing, one is at least equal to the other versions, and three of them hit the jackpot for atmosphere and effect.
Now for the two disappointments. Myst Island is quite a disaster. Usually it's one of my favourite places to hang out, but this game makes me want to get away from it as soon as possible. It is overlit, and even the shadowy areas offer no respite. In an attempt to create atmosphere, everything is overdone. Each scenario has mist upon the water, and sometimes upon the landscape. Even that doesn't help the bright afternoon sunlight we are relentlessly faced with. The less said about this the better. My guess is that with VR a lot of light is needed, at least at first while players get used to the environment. There is very little that is mysterious here on arrival. I will make a general positive comment at this point, however. ALL interiors are very well done throughout the game, including the library, tower, various bedrooms, tunnels etc. A lot of work went into texture and lighting.
Disappointment number two is, unfortunately, often the favourite world for players. Yes, Channelwood is a mess. Again the lighting is too strong, the sound effects are bad and we have a few tiny frogs hopping along the walkways and jumping into the water. The bottom of the trees are rendered okay, I suppose, but the branches with leaves are atrociously done. The windmill looks good, and the interior rooms are beautifully done. Of course these were the two areas I played first, so I nearly gave up at this point. However, I decided to at least have a quick peek at the other worlds before panning the game totally. I'm glad I did. Whereas the most recent version of Riven was perfect from the get-go, Myst already had some serious flaws. I spent very little time in Channelwood, and have no urge to return in this version of the game.
I next went to the Mechanical Age. Finally I felt as if I was playing Myst again! Though there was nothing too surprising here, at least everything looked right and felt right. The mist on the water was peaceful and I felt that I could watch the clouds pass overhead for some time. Throughout the game there were small changes, most of which improved on the original game, and most often with the puzzles. All of the puzzles are essentially the same, however, so that old walkthru you might still have can still be used.
Feeling buoyed by my visits ( went back for each page here) I moved on to the Stoneship Age. Jackpot! While I love the thunderstorm in RealMyst, I never felt like standing around outside very much. The sky here is glowering and stormy looking, but it doesn't rain. The sea looks menacing, and the lighthouse is a welcome retreat. The upper area has been changed, and one can now walk all around once up top. Nearly every viewpoint gives wonderful atmospheric views. There are some fun additions once the underwater lights are turned on, too. I really loved my time spent here, and again went back for both pages.
The Selenitic Age is another marvel of design, colour and atmosphere. While the old sounds have been kept, the age has been given a perfect makeover. It is foggy and quite dark here, and the lights on bridges and pathways enhance the chilly, damp atmosphere. I always liked to hang out up in the forest by the little waterfall, and this area has been done to perfection! The designers have done a perfect job here. Bravo again!
Now we come to Rime, the add-on age from RealMyst days. I always loved it here. but found it rather cramped. Playing with the aurora machine always gave me a rush. The age has been expanded slightly, and still feels as cold as ever. There are several new areas to enjoy a chilly nighttime walk. Best of all, once the aurora have been set in motion, they continue on indefinitely, so that one can walk around again under different coloured lights. Sharp-eyed folk will also spot a whale surfacing! The interior cabin areas have been expanded and enriched, and Rime is now an age on equal footing with the other worlds.
So there you have it. Two dud worlds, one "B" and three "A+s". I will revisit my favourites again before unloading this version and uploading RealMyst for another go. Playing the latest versions of Myst and Riven has been a gaming highlight for me this year!!
In other gaming news I have upgraded to the brand new Train Sim World 6, with three routes. With each edition of the game the routes are longer and more complex. I can still drive classic engines, though I choose not to drive steam (way too complicated). But I love the early diesels, especially the British ones that chug their way through stations hauling classic passenger cars filled with tourists, and belching smoke and fumes as we go, especially uphill. I now have nearly 40 routes to drive, with well over a hundred engines, each with their own timetable.
We just upgraded the main computer as well, to an up to date gaming machine. With a super fast processor and a top notch video card, we are good to go for many years.
In movie news there are three to report. Most recently we finished a brand new (2025) documentary on the brief life of John Candy, the Canadian comedian who won fans wherever he went. We first met him in the SCTV series, still probably our favourite comedy show of all time. Many of his films, especially Planes Trains and Automobiles remains one of the best holiday films ever made. Interviews with John's wife and two children, as well as with virtually every comedian he ever starred with (think Stripes, for one). A must see film for fans. Even if you don't think you are a fan, you will be after seeing I Like Me. It is showing on Prime.
Still Life is a 2006 film from China. It takes place during the building of the three Gorges Dam, when cities were being evacuated and pulled down. Two love stories intertwine in the area, as one man leaves his village after 16 years to finally search for the wife that left him. She took his baby daughter with her, and he wants to see her. The second story is about a woman who comes looking for her husband, who has been out of contact and away from her for two years. The backdrop of the city and some of the remaining people (most of them are employed to demolish the buildings, using sledge hammers) is the main story, however, as we watch a way of life disappear forever. Well worth sitting through, it has some odd moments as well (a ufo sighting, and a large monument taking off into space, to name two). It is leaving Criterion Oct. 31st.
A Chinese Ghost Story is from 1987, and is a kind of wuxia/horror/comedy film. It was made in the same year as The Princess Bride, and seems to share a similar type of humour and overall outlook. While some of the jokes are crude and fall flat, many hit the target. An innocent and child-like man attempts to save a dead princess (yup). Other ghosts have different ideas, but with the help of a martial arts/wizard master, the man helps battle the forces of evil when he not trying to run away. The ending is somewhat unexpected, as guy does not get girl. But wait--there are two more film sequels. Stayed tuned. This was a fun film to watch and I am looking forward to the 2nd one, which was made three years later.
In final news Deb had a couple of invasive medical tests today. One was negative and one turned up something that might help explain many of her symptoms. More later.
In final final news, here is a picture of our front garden. It's sunny today and quite warm, but that should be changing very soon.
Mapman Mike
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