Myst – NDS – Review

How can I begin to explain Myst for
the DS? I guess I should start off by proclaiming my amazement that the entire
game is now playable on a portable system. Back in the 1990’s I would never
imagined being able to play Myst on the go. Yet now here we are with the entire
game stuffed into a single DS cartridge even with some extras not found in the
original version. However putting the technical achievements aside we’re still
playing the same Myst game originally released in 1993.

For those that have never played
Myst, the story is a simple premise that revolves around a mysterious book
entitled Myst. After reading the book you are transported to the same island
depicted in the book where you have to uncover the secrets of the island. The
gameplay is where Myst has become a part of gaming history. The interface was
designed to be simple enough for almost anyone to play. Does the term
“point-and-click adventure game” mean anything to you?

The term really does describe how
you play Myst because you simply point and click. The number one key ingredient
to success in the game is to make sure you look everywhere. You need to search
every crack, corner and far off location in the game to find all of the clues.
These clues are vital in order to solve the numerous puzzles in the game. If you
see an item make sure to click it with the stylus, nothing should be overlooked.
No matter how insignificant you believe an item is to the game, you might need
the information from that item much later.

Cramming this type of gameplay onto
a portable system’s small screen (or screens for the DS) becomes an issue for
Myst. Even with the dual screens I had a very difficult time in finding all of
the clues and items in the game due to the small size of the screens. The bottom
screen is where the majority of the game is played, while the top screen
can provide an up-close view of certain items. Another issue I had with the
visuals was certain locations in the game were just too dark for the DS’ screen
to make out clearly. Combine a small screen with hard to see visuals and you get
a very frustrating experience, especially for a point and click adventure game.

The other issue I have with Myst is
simply the game itself. At first I marveled at how unique and involving the game
was but that was almost 15 years ago. Yet I always found the game way too
difficult simply because the game hangs you out to dry with virtually no help.
You could spend hours and hours trying to solve just one simple puzzle only to
find out you forgot to click on one small object. This object was at the bottom
of the screen that you really didn’t see the first 30 times you explored that
location. However, this is the pitfall of Myst. Some people fall for the trap
while others become completely flustered in the gameplay.

Myst on the DS should be considered
a technical marvel simply because I could have never imagined playing the entire
game on a portable system. But technical achievements are not always high
watermarks for gameplay. At its core, Myst on the DS is still the same game it
was when it was released in 1993. The point-and-click adventure gameplay of Myst
seems like a natural fit for the DS but only for gamers that are determined to
enjoy the game regardless of reviews or the opinions of others. If you really
enjoyed Myst and still have a desire to play the game again then the DS is
probably an option for you. Yet if you’re easily frustrated with point-and-click
adventure games then Myst for the DS is definitely not the game for you.

Gameplay: 5.5
The point-and-click gameplay works with a few hiccups on the DS touch screen.
The majority of the screens and items responded to just one click yet others
required multiple taps. The actual game itself is where you will either love or
hate the game since the entire game is just clicking on items with the stylus to
solve puzzles.

Graphics: 4.8
Sure we get two screens but the visuals are still very difficult to see all of
the clues and items in the game. Either the clues were too small or the graphics
were too dark to make everything out clearly.

Sound: 6.0
The sound in the game is exactly the same as it was years ago; a minimalist
experience of noises to emphasis tension.

Concept: 4.5
What was once an innovative experience feels dull and uninspired years later.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
The game is a true experience in survival of the fittest. The game is still one
of the toughest point-and-click adventure games I’ve played.

Overall: 5.2
Myst for the DS is simply the same game that most of us have already played by
now. The same game is here on the DS just simply shrunk down to the small
screens. Old age just doesn’t fit Myst as well as it does other games from the
same era.