Ever since I used to be younger, I’ve been fascinated with each Myst and Riven. I by no means truly performed both, thoughts you; I used to be extra of a console child. However even then, I at all times felt an indescribable draw towards the PC classics. From an out of doors perspective, they appeared so unusual and alluring. In some unspecified time in the future, I nearly didn’t need to play them. I used to be completely satisfied to depart them as an everlasting thriller, puzzles that have been higher left unsolved.
I lastly broke that mindset due to developer Cyan Worlds’ new remake of Riven. The formidable mission takes the 1997 puzzle journey and provides it a contemporary makeover each on PC and VR. That final half was sufficient to make me chew the bullet. If I already felt so engrossed by the Myst collection from afar, I needed my first actual dive into it to be as all-encompassing as doable. After loading it up on my Meta Quest 3, I’m concurrently kicking myself for ready so lengthy to attempt Riven and glad I did. The VR model is an astonishing journey that everybody ought to expertise.
The unique Riven is the sequel to 1993’s Myst. It’s a first-person point-and-click puzzle recreation the place gamers traverse a mysterious set of islands in the hunt for the imprisoned Catherine. Really releasing her is an advanced activity. It requires traversing the islands and fixing typically obtuse puzzles strewn round them. Riven doesn’t clarify a lot; it’s as much as gamers to infer its inside logic by clicking on the whole lot they will. Those that have the brainpower to make it to the top will discover that they’re capable of piece collectively a whole quantity system by way of cautious statement.
Cyan Worlds’ remake retains the unique recreation pretty intact, pumping up its visuals and permitting gamers to freely transfer. It’s a devoted mission — and that’s for the very best. Taking part in Riven in 2024, I’m utterly in awe of it. Even from its opening moments, it feels in contrast to something I’ve ever performed, A number of video games have tried to construct on the concepts of the Myst collection (this yr’s implausible Lorelei and the Laser Eyes involves thoughts) however nothing fairly captures its aura. I really feel a visceral sense of isolation, like I’m actually trapped in some otherworldly universe I don’t perceive. It’s positively elegant; I’m unnerved and awe-struck in the identical breath.
That feeling is barely expanded in VR the place the remake actually shines. The Meta Quest 3 allowed me to really lose myself on this planet of Riven, blocking out the surface world completely. I really feel the claustrophobia once I’m strolling by way of a slender pipe or the sense of unusual scale once I enter a jungle island and see what appears to be like like an infinite pizza cutter lodged right into a wall to my left. I really feel like Alice after tumbling down the rabbit gap; the whole lot is splendidly unfamiliar.
I think about plenty of gamers would possibly wrestle with Riven‘s precise puzzles. Whilst a seasoned fan of the style, I discovered myself scratching my head even when attempting to infer what I might work together with. A few of VR’s shortcomings rear their head right here. Sometimes clumsy movement controls could make it difficult to spin wheels easily. It’s additionally the sort of recreation that you simply actually wish to take notes throughout, however which means continually taking the headset on and off. A screenshot characteristic helps take out that friction, but it surely’s at all times clear that the underlying recreation was constructed for PC first.
What’s so unbelievable about this model of Riven, although, is that you simply don’t really want to play with the intention of beating it to get the expertise. The majority of my enjoyment got here from merely wandering across the odd world and bumping into fixed surprises. I jumped in my seat once I received to the underside of a protracted staircase solely to search out two huge creatures that seemed like a cross between a pelican and seal. VR emphasizes moments like that much more by giving gamers an awesome sense of scale; they’re monumental!
I didn’t care about releasing Catherine a lot. I simply needed to the touch each swap, piecing collectively how its metallic orbs and steam-powered gadgets labored. Tactile VR controls make that extra satisfying than ever, bringing the basic point-and-click style to its logical conclusion a long time later. That is the sort of expertise VR was constructed for.
Whether or not you’re a longtime fan of the Myst collection or a complete newcomer, I urge you to present Riven a attempt. It’s a daring, mystifying tone piece that also feels wholly distinctive a long time later. That’s not nostalgia speaking; that’s coming from a brand new convert who’s nonetheless not performed wandering these islands like a wide-eyed vacationer seeing the Grand Canyon for the primary time.
Riven is out there now on PC, and it’s appropriate with VR headsets.
