It’s been largely fun engaging with Cyan Worlds’s opaque environments in the latest iteration of Riven, which brings visual upgrades to a formula that honestly nails down the best of what a point and click adventure should be. The follow-up to Myst builds on the original game’s ambition, making it a sequel that’s bigger, but is it better?
I’d say the answer to that question is a bit more nuanced than a binary yes or no, since Riven does have limitations that hold it back from overtaking its predecessor. You’re probably wondering how I dare to say that about a game that’s managed to stay relevant almost three decades after its original release, but stay with me. Let’s begin with what’s good, though.
“Your adventure begins with you being imprisoned on arrival by a stranger who doesn’t speak the same language as you.”
The story in Riven is a captivating journey to the Fifth Age, taking place in the titular Riven, where Catherine, the wife of Atrus from the first game, has been trapped in a decaying Age by Gehn, Atrus’s father. On its own, that’s an interesting twist on Myst’s narrative, where you rescue Atrus from his sons. The man has a messed-up family tree, and it’s up to you to try and restore a semblance of normalcy to it.
That’s easier said than done, though. Gehn is a devious antagonist who’s just waiting for Atrus to set foot in Riven with a Linking Book, allowing him to use it to escape and leave it to its fate. He’s been effecting changes that have resulted in a gradual decay of the Age, and Atrus can only watch from afar, rife with worry for his beloved spouse.
All that changed when you showed up on Myst, and Atrus now pins his hopes firmly on you, sending you to Riven without a Linking Book. That means you have no way out until you find Catherine, restrain Gehn, and send a signal to Atrus to come rescue the two of you. It’s safe to say that things don’t go according to plan. There are several ways that all of this pans out, depending on your actions, and it’s a great way to add narrative depth while also making this one score high on replay value.
Your adventure begins with you being imprisoned on arrival by a stranger who doesn’t speak the same language as you. However, you’re rescued by a mysterious Assassin who promptly falls off a cliff to their death as they make their escape. It’s business as usual from there on, as you’re left to your own devices as you try to navigate Riven’s many islands, each of which comes with complex mechanisms that you need to figure out as you find them. There isn’t a central hub like the library on Myst Island, and you’re going to be flitting between different regions as you uncover more of what makes Riven tick.
“It’s deliciously mysterious, and the visual overhaul does well to bring Riven to life in a way that only current-gen systems can manage.”
Where Myst’s puzzles and environments were hard enough to crack, Riven takes things up a notch, bringing elaborate structures with interconnected rooms and mechanisms that can have you running around in circles for hours on end if this is your first time with the game. I’m no slouch when it comes to puzzles in games, but Riven is a title that reminds me of a time when video games needed you to have a guide or walkthrough handy.
It’s deliciously mysterious, and the visual overhaul does well to bring Riven to life in a way that only current-gen systems can manage. Just like Myst, solutions to the obstacles in your path aren’t made evident, not in the slightest. But, unlike Myst, they’re so elaborate this time around that Riven’s ambitions are there to see in every intricate mechanism you operate.
Those ambitions, however, are a mixed bag. Yes, they make Riven feel like its scale is miles ahead of Myst, giving us a new Age that progresses fairly linearly, although you could double back to previously visited areas to uncover more secrets or lore. But it also makes Riven run the risk of being a title that’s interesting until frustration has players dropping off.
You could say that Myst carried the same risk, but that one’s puzzles seem simple in comparison to what’s on offer here. And with a similar lack of any hand-holding whatsoever, Riven might be asking for more than what an average player could give it. I can see many players hopping in to see what the fuss is all about, and quickly falling back when the island simply refuses to cooperate with their search for Gehn and Catherine.
“Riven continues to be a classic, and this iteration of the game is the definitive way to play it for those of you who are looking for a bit of brain pain.”
However, for those of you who stick with it, you’re soon going to be looking at wonders that light up your imagination, each of which conveys the immense power that Atrus and Genhn command. The adventure does well to hold your attention and pique your curiosity just enough to keep you coming back to bang your head against the walls of whatever structure the island you’re currently on has thrown at you.
Another complaint I’ve had with both Riven and its predecessor is the lack of any sort of challenge outside of the puzzles. I will concede that the point-and-click format may not necessarily work well with a combat system, but I would have appreciated some semblance of danger while I went around the islands. The sight of dangerous-looking creatures lounging around on a beach in the early sections of the game made me get my hopes up, only for them to give me a passing glance before settling back into their cozy nap.
Nevertheless, Riven is still a unique enough experience all these years later, and carries the torch that Myst lit up before it quite well. But is that enough to make this one a must-play in today’s day and age? That depends on what you’re looking for. Are you looking for excitement and danger in a fantasy world? This one isn’t for you.
But if you’re in the market for something that brings a sense of awe and wonder to a fairly simple gameplay loop with some solid replay value? You’re going to have many entertaining hours with this one.
But on the whole, Riven and the Myst franchise in general are a dose of nostalgia that might work for hardcore fans and a bunch of newcomers with rare tastes. But for the rest of the gaming community, there probably isn’t going to be enough meat on this one to make the average player give it the time it needs to unfold into the great title that it is. That’s a pity, but it’s also a sign that times have changed since Riven hit the shelves all those years ago.
Would I recommend picking this one up at its full price? I can honestly say that unless you’re the type of player who likes their games to maintain a stony silence, you’re probably better off waiting for a sale on this one. Make no mistake, it’s still worth checking out and even cheesing with a detailed walkthrough. The only variable is you, and how likely you are to play this one as it is intended, and have a good time doing so.
Riven continues to be a classic, and this iteration of the game is the definitive way to play it for those of you who are looking for a bit of brain pain.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
