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A smaller, yet still impressive, step up from Riven

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

In the least, Myst3 has excellent graphics, sound, and acting. I also loved the 360 panorama viewing. But in the most, that's also what it has... merely those impressive features. I was excited when I heard that Myst3 was going to be developed, for before Rand and Robyn Miller had announced Riven was the end to the series. But I was disappointed when I learned that Cyan Inc wasn't doing it... Presto was. Cyan, I believe, was founded with Myst by the two Millers, and grew to accomplish unimaginable things with the sequel, Riven. Unfortunately, they should have kept the rights to Myst3 instead of selling to Presto, for although the Presto team did marvelous work, it doesn't seem like as big a step from Riven as Riven did from Myst. One can only wonder what Myst3 would have struck the world with had Cyan produced it themselves.

The puzzles in Myst3 certainly do seem a little more mundane... less interesting, less tied in with the storyline, and a few almost a little boring. Although it's still a wonderful game, and I would recommend playing it (but with a copy of the hint guide so you don't get frustrated with the mundane tasks), I was not struck with the awe that I once felt when I set my eyes and ears upon Riven.

It isn't Miller time...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: June 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The Millers are sorely missed (in case you didnt know- the creative masterminds behind Myst and Riven).The game is shorter than Riven and much easier- with the possible exception of that infuriating fan room in the Voltaire Age. (It took me 15 minutes to get the knob to work in the 3 different directions) The puzzles seem seperate from the story line- bummer.The 360 rendering is way cool and the graphics are excellent but not nearly as ethereal as Rivens. I never had that true feeling of awe and fantasy I had in Riven. In Exile, the high points for me where riding in the air balloon and riding through the completed maze on Amateria. The ending lacks climax. The Edana age is needlessly tedious. There are far less, creatures and modes of transportaion than in the previous games.Saavedro, played by Brad Dourif, is mis- directed- his acting is so over the top- you just want to laugh at him instead of fear him. On a much much more admittedly shallow note- Katherine ( who we meet in Riven) and arguably the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in computer game has been replaced by a average looking woman whose character is now boring. It isn't my attention to scare anyone away from playing this game-for if Exile is the first of this series you play you will have a great time. I highly recomend installing the enitre game to your hard rive as to not be bogged down with swapping disks. More importantly, it's essential you hook this up to your stereo or other high end audio system- the music and sound are superb and adds to the whole "experience"

I did encounter a problem with Exile screwing up my desktop every time I quit the game.(G4-500- 9.1) While applaud the Presto team for such an incredible and ambitous effort ( the hard work really shows) it simply doesn't have the enigmatic captivating magic Riven and Myst had.

can't compare to Riven

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 11
Date: September 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I liked Exile but it cannot compare to Riven. Exile has music that was too much like the Middle East and, I'm sorry, I mean no one any harm, BUT I'm just not in the mood for middle eastern stuff right now. The mechanics of the game -Exile- also were just not up to par with Exile's predacessor Riven. It was simply not as mysterious nor as moody as Riven ( especially the music ). While I was in the tree trunk, I did not know where in the heck I was at most of the time and I don't really find that confusion to be fun. Same for the puzzles. Somehow Riven was great and Exile was just O.K.

An Adventure Masterpiece

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Before I say any more, let me just lay down the line: this game is simply amazing. From an aesthetic standpoint, the visuals are stunning from beginning to end. There is hardly an inch of Exile which is not visually captivating. Overall, gameplay is great. Controls are very intuitive and easy to handle. Most puzzles are logical and solvable with one's own mind. However, there are a couple that can reduce you to frustrating trial and error. The panoramic technology provides complete 360o viewing from predefined hubs, which some hard-core gamers may look down their nose at, but this slide show technique allows the environments' beauty to remain entact, not reduced by the burdens of real-time rendering. Exile is not a game to be played. It is meant to be explored, to be experienced. The story is engaging, and the character acting is above par for most computer games. Both Rand Miller and Brad Dourif fit their roles like gloves, and the villain is detestable and tragic at the same time.

Pros:
Good story and convincing characters (especially the villain).
Amazing visuals.
Great sounds and soundtrack.
Logical puzzles and solutions.
Focus on non-violent solutions to problems.
Family suitable.

Cons:
Some frustrating puzzles.
Minor bugs in Mac 1.0 version
Can become a time-consuming obsession.

In conclusion, this is a game almost anyone can enjoy. It is a great product appropriate for the whole family to enjoy, and it is a refreshing breath of air in an industry heavy with the smoke of machine gun fire and bomb explosions. Get this game, and enjoy the experience.

The Game to Buy!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 10
Date: April 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have always loved the Myst games. With so many games out there that seem so rushed and shoved out the door just to make some money or a deadline it's refreshing to see a game done right. By the looks of it, Presto Studios has done a great job of continuing the Myst saga. They took the time to do the job right and spend enough time on the game to make it worth while for all the fans. Presto definitely knows what they are doing and have a lot of experience in the gaming industry. I remember sitting down to play The Journey Project for the first time. It was really an excellent game. I truly enjoyed it and could relate it to Myst because of its good quality. I'm sure we will find that Myst III will also have a high level of quality and will be fun for everyone. The one thing that has drawn me to these types of games is the originality and great storyline. When I play these games is just makes me wonder how someone could come up with such a great idea for a puzzle, story plot, sound, music, or graphic that fits in just so to make the game that much better. Myst and Riven were truly ingenius. And with a new creator, new plot, and awesome graphics, Exile has a lot going for it and is gearing up to be a totally immersive experience. I have always been a fan of the Myst series and can't wait for the newest installment to come out. I am definitely pre-ordering this game and would recommend anyone else to do the same. The story lives on!

Born for Myst

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: May 08, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting years for the next chapter in Myst games to be released, and i'm predicting it will be worth the wait. I definately will be picking up my Exile Collector's Edition on the 8th. I'm very excited to see what Exile is gonna be like. I'm trying not to follow it too much cause i want to be totally surprised, and I don't plan on using that Strategy guide anytime soon. there is a reason this series is the best selling of all time, and I dont think it's just the beautiful scenery, or the challenging puzzles, but it's the story. I'm half way through the third and final book of the Myst novel series, and all I can say is I'm glued. When i actually heard of Exile a few months ago, i instantly started reading to keep me busy till the game was to be released. I encourage any Myst fan to read the books, they're fabulous. I think it would be outragous to see some kind of Myst motion picture in the future. After reading the books, i can definately see how a great movie could be made.

LOVED IT

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

When I heard cyan wasn't making Exile I was a little worried. But as soon as I started playing I knew I had worried for nothing. The 360 view is cool and the music is amazing. Most of the puzzels arn't as hard as Riven but they are still challenging. This is drffiatly a wonderful game. It definatly lives up to the Myst name.

very worthy sequel

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

...The Pro's: Great game, good gameplay, beautiful graphics, 360 degree look feature adds so much depth and immersion, I had no trouble installing or playing (as long as it was in software mode), great puzzles, very logical and integrated, never boring, constant discovery, always surprising. ..The Cons: maybe a bit short,seemingly anticlimatic ending, acting and music were a bit goofy and over the top, overall design not as clever or daring as Myst (Baroque bedrooms and rockets?), Saavedro's murals were out of place with their comic book style- should have been "primitive" like those riven drawings!, Collector's edition isn't that special... Overall, the pro's definately outweigh the cons. I had a great time playing exile and would recommend it to any myst fan. It definately belongs in the series, and i think presto did a great job. I would even go so far as to say that it has the BEST gameplay out of all 3 of the Myst games. As far as how challenging the game is, I would say it is harder than myst, but easier than Riven. Definately worth the money and time.

Collector's Edition: Excellent game, excellent story, but...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Well, here we go again! Another Myst game that may take some flak from hardcore gamers who just don't understand why Myst is so popular.

If interactivity (or lack of) is a concern, the interface of Myst III resembles somewhat that of another Presto Studio game, Journeyman Project III (hum... both are THIRD version games... Coincidence?!?) So it is NOT a slide show!

Graphics are amazing. Details are sharp, even better than Riven, which is still superb, even to this day. And the thing that makes this game bite is that the movies are integrated into the scenery, which makes watching a cutscene or looking at an event while panning around possible! You still have full control over you point of view, even when an event is playing! (Please download a video clip from somewhere like at Gamespot.com for better understanding) And this without any detail degradation! (Of course, some cutscenes inevitably remove "control" of your panning...)

Music and sound effects are, as usual, top notch. However, the music in Myst III suffers from an identity crisis, much like Riven. In the first game, you would be able to hum the opening them, as well as the theme of different places and characters. In Myst III, except for the Main Theme, there is not much in ways of "personalities". It does, however, convey emotion to a scenery very well.

Then, there are the puzzles. Here however, I feel they are more implemented as "prop" then as part of the world. The puzzles seem... out of place, as if puzzles were part of the inhabitants' daily routine... Oh well...

Another thing that may be frustrating is the lack of sense of navigation. The game does not cue the player when it is possible to go in a particular direction. Unless there is a path visible, this may become very challenging, especially in a very organic world (and yes, there is one in this game...)

The box came with a Prima Game Hint book (20$ US value), which should only be used as a last resort, since spoilers will be very apparent! The "making of" movie was cool! And the different trailers were a nice bonus (but they are already available on the Net). The soundtrack is very well done, but as I said before, lack personality. The Bonus Pewter "Squee" (hey! I did not come up with that name!) is cute, but not "Collector" level quality.

Basically, it is a good kit. And you even save money if you intend to use the hint book or listen to the soundtrack!

Oh! And the game is very good. Flawed, but fun!

Wow!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Exile was wonderful, great puzzles and beautiful worlds. The graphics were great and the puzzles were hard but not too difficult.

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