Sound: There really isn't too much sound in this game, only featuring ambient effects. The FMV sequences are nicely done as well. It really makes you feel like you're in the world. Graphics: The artwork in Riven is absolutely gorgeous. Though it is better than it's predecessor, non-fans will probably find no redeeming value or enjoyment from the sequel. And this is coming from someone who likes puzzle games. It is difficult to understand why the Cyan developers feel the need to make these complex puzzles that completely bewilder most gamers and offer no thoughtful solutions. And again, getting through some of the puzzles with a strategy guide proved futile. Most of them are extremely vague and illogical which leads to a very frustrating experience. Much like Myst, the puzzles in Riven usually offer no explanations or any hints as to why you need to do them and what it will do. One thing Cyan should be faulted for is the puzzles. Some of the locations you visit are simply jaw dropping.
But the artwork, it should be mentioned, is absolutely gorgeous. It would have been nice if Riven took place in a 3D world, rather than computer artwork backdrops and screens. Also, screen transitions are much smoother and quicker than in Myst. The new way is much better because you tend to not get disoriented and ask the computer monitor where the heck you are. In Riven, screen advances are taken in much smaller steps, meaning that it might take 3 or 4 clicks to travel the length of a hall, whereas Myst would take you to the end of the hall in one click. This really isn't any different which is a bad thing, but it works slightly better than Myst. You point and click your way with the mouse and you hop from screen to screen. There's no 360 degree movement, like 3D shooters, or screen movement like The 7th Guest. After playing Riven, it isn't as disappointing as expected, though it still isn't great. Needless to say, my expectations of the sequel Riven were pretty low. Sometimes where you jumped to didn't resemble where you thouht you were going and proved to be very frustrating. Also, movement was very disorienting because of the click to jump to a new screen location. What little hints the game presented were so obscure that even people with the sharpest sense of observation could miss them. The puzzles were extremely vague, seemingly impossible, even with a walk through or a strategy guide. Sure, Myst looked nice and I'll credit it for being a fairly original gaming experience, but it lacked substance and made up for it with beautiful artwork.
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