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Creative and beautiful, but difficult.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 88 / 89
Date: November 29, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Riven is a visual masterpiece. Set in a beautifully rendered world of still images and animated cut scenes, Riven takes you through an intriguing story and wonderfully creative places. Riven isn't just a pretty game though... it is composed of challenging (and often frustrating) interactive puzzles that must be solved to complete the game.

If you've played games like the 7th Guest, or Myst, you'll find Riven challenging. If you've never played any puzzle-based games before, you'll find Riven insanely hard. If you are not familiar with interactive puzzles, I would highly recommend starting with Myst. Not only is it easier and almost as beautifully rendered as Riven, but it'll do a great job priming you for the more difficult puzzles you'll encounter in this game.

While I cannot praise the creators of Riven enough for the depth of their creativity, I cannot recommend this game to just anyone. Riven is perfect for the avid puzzle solver, but much too difficult for the casual game player. Younger children (and most teens) may lose interest in this game very quickly, as the puzzles will often stop a player dead in their tracks until they can muster up the brainpower to figure them out. If you're looking for action, this isn't the place you'll find it.

On the other hand, Riven contains no violence, and is definitely a game that will make you think. You can't say that about many games these days, which is one of the reasons why this game is perfectly suited for a more cognitive crowd.

Riven gets four out of five stars because I believe that some puzzles may be out of the reach of most people without the use of a hint book. Regardless of this drawback, it's one of the best games in it's class... and I highly recommend it.

Simply the Best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 26 / 28
Date: February 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Pros:

1. Graphics that are fantastically detailed, intricate, and achingly beautiful. Some astonishing joy rides. Sound effects and music approach perfection.

2. Gameplay is wonderfully balanced. You are never bored, and only occasionally frustrated by the harder puzzles. All the puzzles are logical, and give you a great feeling of accomplishment when you solve them. There is a vast area to explore while you are figuring things out. You turn a corner, and startle mysterious creatures who are sunning themselves on a rock. You climb up another path, turn, and the view makes you gasp.

3. Riven creates a fantasy world that is alien; yet it evokes a sense of reality that is, in my experience, unparalleled in computer gaming. I wish I could find a way to live in Riven.

Cons:

1. If you like exploring new worlds by dashing through them and shooting things, you may find that the pace of this particular game is too slow.

2. While the storyline is intriguing, it is possible to nearly finish Riven before discovering the diaries that further explain the plot. I wish I had known more of the background of the story a little sooner in the game.

3. Riven is so immersive that you forget the everyday world. Your children will wonder why you haven't cooked dinner. Your friends will speculate as to why you have stopped answering the phone. Your spouse will become jealous of your relationship with a computer game (easiest solution: play it together).

Bottom Line: IMHO, this game is IT, the Numero Uno, the King. Nobody's made one better.

At first I hated it...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: February 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

... I had no clue what I was doing, was hopelessly stuck, and was in general LOST. But then the other day it started coming together for me. I started figuring out what I needed to do and what the nature of the puzzles were. They're not all in one place as in you have to pass one to get to another.

Yes, the graphics are lovely, the sound effects are dead-on REAL, the music (when it appears) is fitting. But it's how different this is from everything else I've ever played! Though I was sooo lost at first, now I'm having a blast and don't want it to end.

To play Riven you have to be OBSERVANT, patient, and tireless. Don't be in a hurry to finish or you'll just get frustrated like I did and will give up before even getting into it. If that sounds like you then this game is IT. It works on your mind like few other computer games do and you really really have to think to get it.

If you like being around other characters, violence, and fast action, or archade style games, don't even spend a dime on Riven. If you like being able to completely explore a world without barriers save logistic ones, puzzle-solving, using your powers of observation then RUN and get this cuz you'll love it!

For those out there playing it or thinking of playing it, I recommend taking notes (you'll know when) and making several copies of games as you go. As in use your "Save as" command. Not like you'll get stuck irrevocably as in other games but it makes it easier to go back and look at something you missed as you proceed.

Minuses are that I wish there was more constant music in the background since it's lovely music. It seems to come and go when you enter certain area. And that the transitions from screen to screen were a bit smoother in places. But that's it. Reason I didn't give it 5 stars is cuz I'm not done yet :)

No violence, all brains & beauty

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: November 15, 1999
Author: Amazon User

What a truly incredible, fun, graphically gorgeous, complicated, frustrating, rewarding experience. I recommend Riven without hesitation to anyone looking for a challenging & totally non-violent game. The puzzles are clever, the 'story' is intriguing, you will be totally hooked. Good for any age but younger kids (less than 10) will probably get too frustrated (see "The Manhole" for them, aslo by Broderbund I think).

A Worthy Effort

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: January 08, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Riven is a worthy sequel to Myst, and takes the Myst "mystique" to another level with five new worlds and an expanded story line. The brilliantly realized environments and mood-setting soundtrack draw you in immediately and keep you there until the sun comes up. Riven is not for gamers with short attention spans--simply navigating and charting the accessible areas of the Age of Riven take patience and time, and solving what I would characterize as the two major puzzles requires all of the intelligence and tenacity one can muster. As some reviewers have said, having played Myst first is helpful background to have, but this is not because the puzzles of Riven are similar to those of Myst, but because Myst will acquaint you with how the creators conceive puzzles, and heighten your sensitivity to factors in the environment that bear noting and investigating. I gave Riven 4 stars, rather than 5, for two reasons: (a) one of the major puzzles is sound-based, and after some long and frustrating efforts at solving it on my own, I obtained some hints on the internet and found that the solution required matching up particular sounds from the game that, in fact, simply did not match up (at least not in the version that I bought); and (b) one other crucial clue is a tiny, blurry image. In these respects, I felt that the creators did not play fair. Two other points:(i) contrary to what some have said, it is indeed possible to lose this game and meet an untimely end, so be careful out there, and (ii) recognize that the CD-Rom version is on 5 discs, which need to be changed every time you travel from one world to another--if you have a DVD-Rom player, by all means spring for the DVD version, which consists of one disc.

More realistic, better puzzles, but less mystery than Myst

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: December 22, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Riven is, in many ways, what Myst would have been if Cyan (the game's creators) had had this degree of technology and experience the first time around. Not only are the sights very realistic, but the game design shows the wisdom that went into the production. There are puzzles, all right, but none of them sticks out like a sore thumb -- they're smoothly integrated into the environment. The payoffs are greatly satisfying and the solutions all follow a logic that can be deduced from attentive observation (take notes!) of the places around you.

And therein lies the caveat others have brought up: Some of the puzzles are very hard. The world of Riven is not a simple place; some puzzles have interconnections which are not apparent unless you are accustomed to hunting for patterns in the environment. A seasoned puzzle master (or research scientist) may work them out alone -- kudos to the user who solved them all in two days! -- but mere mortals may need at least a tiny hint or two. (My brief advice: When in doubt, click everywhere. And make your screen brighter than the game recommends. Some things are camouflaged, intentionally or not.) The best preparation for playing Riven, though, is to play Myst, which (in addition to telling you how you got to Riven) will attune your awareness to the kinds of patterns that hold true significance.

Sound esoteric? It can be. Solving Myst and Riven requires a level of attention that many people are unaccustomed to exercising -- especially for a computer game. As a previous reviewer said: "Not for the weak of mind." If you love an intellectual challenge, or if you're humble enough not to mind running off for a hint now and then, then your personal "system requirements" are good enough for Riven.

Speaking of system requirements, a note to Mac users: The Mac specs on the box specify a 100 MHz PowerPC and 4X CD-ROM, but I strongly suggest, from personal experience, a faster system. (Also, if you have a Mac and want to look for Myst, I suggest you find the original Mac version, not the flawed and badly misnamed "Masterpiece Edition." I've seen copies of the original on auction sites.)

Whatever your platform, Riven deserves the best speakers or headphones you can get. The audio, like the visuals, is impressively rich.

And by all means -- by ALL means -- go on to Myst III: Exile when you're finished.

Final note: If your computer has a DVD drive and you can get your hands on the DVD-ROM version of Riven (check those auction sites again), by all means do so. It's certainly nicer not to be interrupted by periodic requests to switch the CD in your drive (though the breakpoints are well-chosen and didn't ruin my CD-based playing), and you can watch the interesting "making of" documentary in a video DVD player.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!LOVED IT!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: May 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Everybody sais this game is tricky. I must say this was harder than MYST, but I love there games. The graphics were so amazing. At some point you would feel scared because no one is there to help you. You are deserted in this game. I had the soulutions gide, but I only used the part that just told you what you had to acomplish. If you use to much of the book it will be not much fun because you will rely on the book so much. I liked how Ghen has his own "age". All of the diffrent adventures are difficult. When you first start the game, and you look around, it may seem overwhelming to you, but things will unfold. I thought learning about the Dn'i numbers were pretty neat. What the secret of this game is, is to always take notes and save the game. You never know what will happen. You must also have patience to finish this game because it will get very hard at times. When those times happen, it would be a good idea to look at the hint book. I would recomend the stratagy guide because it will tell you what you will have to do to go on to the next level. MYST did not have the great suspense as RIVEN does, but it sure has the adventure. I would strongly suggest that you compleat MYST before you move on because some of the stuff will not make any sense. I have just ordered MYST 3:EXILE-COLLECTER'S EDITION. If you have an old computer, it probably won't work. Hope you enjoy the world of RIVEN!(it you liked my review, please hit "yes" below, thanks!)

The computer game for people who don't like computer games.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: May 07, 2001
Author: Amazon User

What more can I say that hasn't already been said about this incredible game. I'm not into computer games and only bought this because the store wouldn't give me a refund on a returned item. It sat on the shelf, unopened, for a month - then I opened the box and my life wasn't the same for the next week (or so).

The immediate thing I liked about Riven was its first person perspective - no figure or character to control just an environment to explore as if you were really there. Secondly, there's no instruction or rule book. This game doesn't patronize the user - you are dropped into a strange and exotic world and it's up to you to discover why you're there and what you have to do. It's this journey of discovery that's so addictive. The superior quality of the graphics and sound just add to the effect - you MUST play Riven with the lights turned down and with a decent pair of headphones (I literally jumped out of my chair when my partner tapped me on the shoulder!)

I would also suggest avoiding the online hint sites - the thrill of Riven is solving the puzzles after being stumped for hours - when you crack the solution to entering the Moiety Age (Circle of Stones) it'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

If you read a lot, you'll love this game. It requires thought and concentration and patience - take plenty of notes, examine everything, including the notebooks (there's a lot of reading in Riven). Those with short attention spans will get bored with Riven very quickly, but for me, I lived and breathed its world for hours (much to the annoyance of my partner). The solution to one of the puzzles came to me whilst shopping!

One final note - play Myst first. It's a bit of a letdown after Riven, and it will prime you for this superior sequel.

Next up: Myst III: Exile - I cannot wait!

Thank God for sequels!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: January 09, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Having finished Myst some time ago, I have been desperately searching for something, anything with which to challenge my brain. Luckily Riven, the sequel to Myst, is here! I immediately bought it, but to my utter frustration, the sound card in my computer did not support Riven. I immediately fixed the problem (I bought a new computer) and having been living in the blissful agony that is Riven. The game, as most other reviewers have verified, is not for the weak of mind. You have to thoroughly devote yourself to figuring out all the puzzles. Also, be prepared to have your life entirely consumed by Riven. It gets very addictive, very quickly. I recommend beginning with Myst as that is set up in a more linear fashion (in other words, cause and effect on the island Myst is more obvious than on Riven). I am trying to play Riven as slowly as possible in order to prolong the sweet agony of solving the game. I just hope Cyan comes out with another edition soon so that my addiction can continue.

One big serious problem...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: May 30, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Okay, yes, this game is beautiful. Yes, the story is compelling. Yes, the details are mind-boggling.

But...this game is -needlessly- frustrating. There is often a considerable lag time between when you figure out how to solve a problem and when you can actually do something about it.

Oh, and if you are trying to play this game without headphones, forget it. You'll be beating your head against a wall within a few hours. The game "suggests" that you use headphones. Nay, say I. You -must- have them.

Back to needless frustration. As I experienced in Myst, there were a number of painfully long hours in which I -knew- how to solve a puzzle but the extremely small detail and absolute perfection in every single movement needed to actually -do- the puzzle was beyond my dexterity. Many of the puzzles (like the topographical map/animal sounds/sliding balls etc) were so multi-layered that you actually could forget which piece went to what puzzle and why you were doing it in the first place. They were hard not because of the difficulty in figuring them out, but in actually doing the mechanics to realize the solution. I've played Infocom, I know what -real- difficulty is. Myst and Riven are a not-quite-as-fun kind of difficult.

I lost track of the number of times that I said, out loud, just like when I played Myst (the underground shuttle in Myst, for example) "You've got to be kidding me". I would instantly realize what had to be done and watch in horror, as the long, boring, and frustrating road of actually doing it stretched out before me.

But...some of the puzzles were actually relevant to the story, so you felt a purpose in solving them. At times, you didn't mind the fact that you spent hours on something so gosh-darned silly, because hey, at least the pictures were pretty.

Good story, good pictures, good animation, some good puzzles, but bring a lot of paper and a pen for notes, a really good set of headphones, and about 4 aspirin.

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