Myst 10th Anniversary DVD Edition

Exile and Riven seem to run fine. Myst has problems though...


It Only Works on Certain Systems   January 3, 2004
 22 out of 54 found this review helpful

I could not have been more thrilled when a DVD version of my three favorite games of all time came out in 2003. Both "Riven" and "Myst III: Exile" were a whopping five disks a piece for play on a personal computer; with the new DVD format, they've been reduced to a single disk.

Much more manageable, methinks.

And then I was even more thrilled when I received this gift set, along with "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst," for Christmas. Santa Claus had indeed checked my name twice under the "nice" heading.

So imagine my disappointment when I discover that this gift set only runs on Windows 98 and Windows XP. What a joke. Why does Windows 2000 constantly get the shaft when it comes to computer games? Nothing works on that system; none of my Windows 98 games install, and Windows XP software is constantly hit-or-miss.

Thinking I could make it work anyway, I installed the "Riven" DVD onto my system. Surprisingly, it worked and everything seemed to be in order! But then it wouldn't boot. The start-up screen would appear, and that was it.

When are computer game-makers going to realize that millions of people have Windows 2000 and that we'd like to play our favorite games on it? I love "Myst" and "Riven" and "Myst III: Exile." They are the only games I have ever really played again and again. I can't say much about "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst" because, even though it is designed for Windows 2000, it still doesn't boot. So now I have two Christmas gifts that are worthless unless I get a whole new system with Windows XP.

Please, please, PLEASE, people! How hard can it be to make a game that runs on all systems? This would include Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, XP, and whatever else I'm forgetting. It is highly annoying when something will work on Windows 98 and Windows XP, but will NOT work on Windows 2000. What, was Windows 2000 just an afterthought in the gaming industry? It's kind of like the middle child - always neglected.

In short, I give this set three stars because I love the games so much. And that is the ONLY reason it gets three stars. The fact that it doesn't work on Windows 2000 is pathetic. With as many versions of these games that have been produced over the years, you'd think the makers of them would finally have gotten it right with an ultra-cool DVD release.

Guess I thought wrong.


Great game, but there are technical issues   December 20, 2003
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

The game is beutiful - especially that it was created some 10 years ago - but sometimes crashes. The support was somewhat helpful - while not being able to resolve actual crash issues, they offered to get me past the troublesome spots.


Great Classics   December 14, 2003
I'm new to the Myst world and bought these games on advice of a friend. I have an XP computer bought just last month so I am usually playing high end games like Command and Conquer Renegade, Star Wars Knights of the Old..., and such so I was skeptical to play an old game with crude graphics. Despite being old the games are a true joy to play. Myst itself is fun and graphics aren't too bad (perhaps because they revamped them), Riven was a little confusing and frustrating but the true champion of the series is Exile which will keep you glued to your screen for ten to twelve hours at a time. Play this game with your brother or a close friend. Trust me you will have a blast. If I haven't emphasized enough, the gameplay is what made the games fun for me as I'm sure it will for you. So don't be scared of buying old games, sometimes they're worth their weight in gold.


Genius, Innovation, Quality   December 10, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The original Myst, Riven: The Sequel To Myst, and somewhat to a lesser degree Myst III: Exile, are gaming masterpieces that stand the test of Time for genius, innovation, and quality. The Myst series is a unique and satisfying experience unlike the banality and repetition found in most video games. I highly recommend the series to anyone who enjoys exploration of the extraordinary, adventure into the unkown, and the solving of challenging, subtle, and well-integrated environmental puzzles. Repolished on a 3-disc DVD set, this series is essential for everyone's gaming library!