Myst IV: Revelation

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 189 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Myst IV: Revelation Game Cover
In the newest installment of the Myst series, Atrus asks you to check on his exiled evil sons to determine whether they've reformed. As in all Myst games, the puzzles are mind-bending, and one missed clue can mean hours of frustration as you try to advance through the game's exquisitely rendered wor
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"Myst IV: Revelation" is a captivating adventure game that challenges players to solve elusive puzzles and uncover buried family secrets. With its stunning visuals, immersive live-action cut-scenes, and an ambient soundtrack by Jack Wall and Peter Gabriel, players are transported to rich and vibrant worlds. The game offers a helpful guidance system, making it accessible to both new and returning Myst fans. As you journey through the game, you will interact with other characters and unravel a complex and intriguing mystery.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews
story28 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning graphics and beautiful environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • The story is engaging, providing closure to the arcs of Sirrus and Achenar, and the addition of FMV sequences adds a cinematic quality.
  • Some puzzles are challenging and rewarding, offering a sense of accomplishment when solved.
  • The controls are frustrating, with a sluggish cursor and slow transitions between scenes, making navigation tedious.
  • Many puzzles are overly obtuse or rely on pixel hunting, leading to frustration and the need for walkthroughs.
  • The acting quality is inconsistent, with some performances feeling wooden and detracting from the immersion.
  • story91 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging elements and character arcs, particularly the resolution of Sirrus and Achenar's storylines. However, criticisms arise regarding its convoluted plot, inconsistent acting, and disconnection from previous games in the series, leading some to feel that it undermines the original Myst narrative. Overall, while the story captivates some players, others find it lacking coherence and depth, making it a divisive aspect of the game.

    • “I can appreciate the story for what it was; I enjoyed seeing the resolution to Sirrus and Achenar's storylines and was genuinely touched by Achenar's redemption arc.”
    • “The story is very compelling and really draws you in.”
    • “The memory necklace was a great addition and helped to move the story along as well as provide good background information, not to mention it was nice to have the books read to you.”
    • “The whole plot of the game is pretty messy too.”
    • “The story and puzzles are completely disconnected, glitchy, and just too weirdly put together.”
    • “However, the story sometimes gets a little bit lost behind those riddles, which is quite sad.”
  • graphics42 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game receive high praise for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers noting significant improvements over previous titles in the series. While some users mention minor graphical bugs and performance issues, the visuals are generally considered stunning and immersive, even by modern standards. However, there are mixed feelings about the user interface and navigation, which some find cumbersome despite the graphical enhancements.

    • “I'll start with the positives first: the graphics are amazing.”
    • “The visuals in this game are fantastic, even by today's standards.”
    • “The graphics and overall design are gorgeous, even at a slightly lower resolution than we are accustomed to these days.”
    • “The outdated graphics would look so stunning if they remastered these two games Riven style.”
    • “I'm not quite sure, but there are some graphical bugs relating to the water rendering which made some puzzles more challenging than they should be.”
    • “The only good things about this game are the (very dated) artwork.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as exceptional and atmospheric, particularly highlighting Jack Wall's compositions and the inclusion of Peter Gabriel's "Curtains." However, some critics feel the music can be overly bombastic and intrusive, detracting from the emotional depth of the experience. Overall, while the music is often described as a standout feature, its execution sometimes overshadows the gameplay and narrative.

    • “The music is amazing, just from start to finish - even had a throwback to an early 90s/late 80s MTV music video... whether they meant to or not.”
    • “The excellent music score accompanies you throughout the game, capturing the tone of the place you are in, giving an air of mystery to the game.”
    • “Best game in the Myst series when it comes to the music.”
    • “Exile's soundtrack was already a little bombastic compared to Myst and Riven, but Revelation just takes it too far.”
    • “As I mention later in this review, the music played over it is Peter Gabriel's 'Curtains,' which really doesn't fit with the Myst atmosphere.”
    • “The music is a little on the nose, and continues the sweeping, epic tradition of Myst 3: Exile -- but the problem is that it's hard to feel sad, or angry, or scared, or proud when the music is screaming at you to feel sad, or angry, or scared, or proud.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay in Myst IV is a mixed bag, featuring intriguing story elements and immersive environments, but marred by frustrating and imprecise puzzle mechanics that often rely on skill rather than logic. While some players appreciate the evolution of the series and its original concepts, many criticize the dated controls and tedious puzzles that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable yet flawed, with a significant divide in player satisfaction regarding its mechanics and design.

    • “The main story is intriguing enough, the sceneries and various mechanical elements are interesting and often exciting.”
    • “Overall, it has some great original concepts, and I think the gameplay is enjoyable, fulfilling, inspiring, and immersive.”
    • “The mechanics are nicely familiar while the environment around those mechanics is a great example of the evolution of art.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, frustrating, and imprecise in several ways.”
    • “Once again, the person in charge of the puzzles has stopped making the puzzles about logic and started including elements of skill, timed reaction, and hidden object searching, and the mechanics involved are too awkward to be satisfying.”
    • “Certain puzzles require you to have a mechanical mind, others require you to be quite musically gifted and able to rely on your internal metronome...who is this Leonardo da Vinci this game is intended for?”
  • grinding12 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its tedious and poorly designed puzzles, which often feel obscure and frustrating compared to previous entries in the Myst series. Players report that unresponsive controls exacerbate the experience, leading to a slow and laborious gameplay that detracts from enjoyment. Overall, many feel that the game fails to capture the engaging puzzle-solving spirit of its predecessors, resulting in a frustrating experience.

    • “This game misses the mark of previous Myst games, having puzzles that are obscure, frustrating, tedious, illogical, or simply not in line with the style established in previous games (Myst and Riven in particular).”
    • “The puzzles are random, unintuitive, boring, tedious, and laborious busy work.”
    • “Ubisoft Montreal's take on the Myst series is mediocre at best and incredibly tedious at its worst.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the improved graphics while others note significant performance issues, including random lag that disrupts gameplay. Additionally, the quality of voice acting varies, with some performances being criticized as wooden or grating, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game's technical execution appears inconsistent, affecting both puzzle engagement and character immersion.

    • “The other positive I found was Rand Miller's performance as Atrus.”
    • “Yeesha is a literal child, so I'm willing to excuse her middling performance; yes, there are better child actors, but at the end of the day, I think she did her best.”
    • “Between the tediousness of ill-explained puzzles and exploration and the random performance lag that doesn't seem to exist in the other games, it's hard to tell when the game isn't working as intended or if you're messing something up.”
    • “And for where it falls apart: the improved graphics of the nodes comes at a cost of performance.”
    • “Additionally, the live-action performances feel wooden and stilted as compared to some of the other Myst games.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally appreciated for its charm and immersive qualities, though some players find the navigation disorienting and the puzzles frustratingly difficult. While the music choice has been criticized for not fitting the overall vibe, many still feel that the game's captivating environment can shine through if players are willing to endure its challenges.

    • “The atmosphere was nice and the start was a bit fun, but the navigation is disorienting sometimes and certain puzzles are just so infuriating even after consulting a guide. But I still liked the game.”
    • “It's a hard game with an old school difficulty, but if you tolerate its puzzles, you will enjoy it and fall in love with its marvelous atmosphere.”
    • “The music played over it is Peter Gabriel's 'Curtain', which really doesn't fit with the myst atmosphere.”
    • “As I mentioned later in this review, the music played over it is Peter Gabriel's 'Curtain', which really doesn't fit with the mystical atmosphere.”
    • “It's a hard game with an old-school difficulty, but if you tolerate its puzzles, you will enjoy it and fall in love with its marvelous atmosphere.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, including erratic mouse cursor behavior and clunky controls that hinder gameplay, particularly in puzzle scenarios requiring precise inputs. While adjusting sensitivity can mitigate some cursor glitches, it is not a viable long-term solution, leading to frustration among players.

    • “Your mouse cursor glitches all over the place, and there is no real fix for this other than changing your sensitivity to 0, which makes the jumps less severe, but you can't play that way.”
    • “However, with all the new tech, there are more chances for glitches.”
    • “This isn't helped by the clunky and buggy controls, especially since many of the puzzles require rapid, precise inputs.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is noted to be somewhat limited, often relying on basic interactions that evoke minimal feelings. While it surpasses typical emotional engagement in games, it lacks the depth and impact found in more compelling narratives like those in "Myst" or the poignant tale of Saavedro.

    • “The story didn't make an impact on me in the same way as the unfolding family drama of Myst or the heartbreaking story of Saavedro in exile.”
    • “It's still more than we're accustomed to seeing.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from its self-referential plot, which cleverly retcons elements from the original games, adding a comedic twist to the narrative.

    • “The whole plot is centered on a retcon of the original games, which is kind of funny.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
    • “The game’s humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, particularly appealing to dedicated fans of the Myst series, though it may not be compelling enough to attract new players.

    • “The character development in this game is truly exceptional, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
    • “I was amazed at how the characters evolved throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
    • “The depth and complexity of the characters really enhance the overall experience, making every decision feel significant.”
    • “If you are a die-hard Myst fan, you'll want to play it for the story and character development, but otherwise, I would steer clear.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks the depth needed to truly engage with the story.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

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