Let me begin by saying that Myst, to this day, is one of my favorite games. I played it the year it came out and it defined me almost as much as it defined the genre of gaming it created. In the following years I played every Myst sequel, read all the books, and bought all the remakes and soundtracks. I preface with this to say, RealMyst: Masterpiece is terrible.

I understand that the first neophyte steps I took onto Myst Island, shrouded in mystery and its share of bewildering puzzles, can never be replicated. Nor has the aesthetic ever been so beautiful as it is in my age-gilded memory. But the graphics in this ‘masterpiece’ are indeed terrible. It’s distractingly terrible. But not nearly so distracting as the nauseating movement, unpredictable controls, and constant crashing (you could blame my computer).

If you have never played the Myst series, then it’s hard to say if you will enjoy this game or not because it really is dated. I’m not sure anyone can have that sense of abandonment that the very first strangers to Myst had because we have now become so used to games dropping us into a situation we have no idea how to handle. But the story behind it all is, even now, unique and beautiful, especially if you continue into the sequels.

I have always enjoyed the puzzles of the Myst series because they feel as though they were built by engineers. They feel practical and organic. They build on the experiences you play through. They make reading the stories and carrying your ‘Myst Notebook’ around with you exciting because you feel like you are studying a new culture and journaling your own progress through a world. In fact, if there was one thing that I think makes the Myst games unique, it is their exploration of culture.

If you could go back in time and play the game in its original form, I would suggest doing that exactly. And then I would give this Masterpiece Edition a huge thumbs down and say, don’t even look at it. But since this ‘Masterpiece’ is the only version you are likely to find, I would still say that the game is worth it. It’s challenging and touching and in truth a (poorly aging) masterpiece.

Let me begin by saying that Myst, to this day, is one of my favorite games. I played it the year it came out and it defined me almost as much as it defined the genre of gaming it created. In the following years I played every Myst sequel, read all the books, and bought all the remakes and soundtracks. I preface with this to say, RealMyst: Masterpiece is terrible. I understand that the first neophyte steps I took onto Myst Island, shrouded in mystery and its share of bewildering puzzles, can never be replicated. Nor has the aesthetic ever been so beautiful as it is in my age-gilded memory. But the graphics in this ‘masterpiece’ are indeed terrible. It’s distractingly terrible. But not nearly so distracting as the nauseating movement, unpredictable controls, and constant crashing (you could blame my computer). If you have never played the Myst series, then it’s hard to say if you will enjoy this game or not because it really is dated. I’m not sure anyone can have that sense of abandonment that the very first strangers to Myst had because we have now become so used to games dropping us into a situation we have no idea how to handle. But the story behind it all is, even now, unique and beautiful, especially if you continue into the sequels. I have always enjoyed the puzzles of the Myst series because they feel as though they were built by engineers. They feel practical and organic. They build on the experiences you play through. They make reading the stories and carrying your ‘Myst Notebook’ around with you exciting because you feel like you are studying a new culture and journaling your own progress through a world. In fact, if there was one thing that I think makes the Myst games unique, it is their exploration of culture. If you could go back in time and play the game in its original form, I would suggest doing that exactly. And then I would give this Masterpiece Edition a huge thumbs down and say, don’t even look at it. But since this ‘Masterpiece’ is the only version you are likely to find, I would still say that the game is worth it. It’s challenging and touching and in truth a (poorly aging) masterpiece.