URU: Complete Chronicles

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In "Uru: Complete Chronicles," explore the wondrous 3D worlds of the lost D'ni civilization and solve puzzles to uncover its mysteries. The addition of "To D'ni" and "The Path of the Shell" expansions delves deeper into D'ni's history and culture, and continues the story of Yeesha, the eccentric daughter of Atrus. This immersive adventure is a must-play for any Myst fan or newcomer to the series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a rich, immersive world that captures the essence of the Myst series.
The puzzles are challenging and rewarding, with some particularly clever designs that engage players' logical thinking.
The soundtrack is excellent, enhancing the atmosphere and experience of exploring the various Ages.

The controls are clunky and frustrating, making navigation and puzzle-solving a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.
Many puzzles are poorly designed, leading to tedious gameplay that often requires excessive backtracking and waiting.
The plot is convoluted and lacks clarity, with excessive reliance on long journals and messages that do not provide meaningful insights.

story
92 mentions
20 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of Uru is described as intriguing yet convoluted, primarily delivered through lengthy journals and messages from Yeesha, which some players found confusing. While the game features a rich backdrop involving the D'ni civilization and exploration themes, many reviewers noted a lack of clarity and direction in the plot, leading to frustration with the gameplay experience. Overall, the narrative is appreciated for its depth and connection to the Myst universe, but its execution may not satisfy those seeking a more straightforward storytelling approach.
- “The plot of Uru takes an interesting twist from other games: a company from the 'real world' has discovered the ages and is restoring them and exploring them for visitors.”
- “The worlds are visually stunning with many fascinating areas to explore, and a compelling storyline that makes you want to continue searching for clues and new discoveries.”
- “What this game lacks in death and action, it more than makes up for in story and endlessly beautiful and original worlds.”
- “The plot is exposed through - often excessively long - journals and recorded messages by Yeesha.”
- “Uru (and its successor Myst V) suffer from what I call 'mysticitis' - the plot is delivered primarily in the form of Yeesha's confusing mystic mumbo-jumbo poetry.”
- “What with the problems I've encountered, the minimal amount of story that I've seen, and the succession of obtuse/inane puzzles that often had me looking at a walkthrough, I can't say that I enjoyed what experience I had of Uru.”
graphics
46 mentions
43 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their impressive visuals, particularly for a title from 2004, showcasing a transition to real-time 3D graphics and free-roaming environments. While many players appreciate the aesthetic quality and immersive art style, some note that the graphics and gameplay have aged poorly, leading to mixed feelings about their relevance in today's gaming landscape. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, though opinions vary on their impact on gameplay and engagement.
- “The graphics are amazing for a game from around 2004.”
- “As with every Myst game, Uru has many spectacular visuals.”
- “You just have to be very observant and thorough... take your time and enjoy the surroundings... graphics are pretty good (for an older game).”
- “Graphics and gameplay have aged terribly.”
- “The fact they used in-game graphics with lousy low polygons and no characters anymore; the story is pretty complex.”
- “Despite Cyan still updating the Uru: Live (free online!) version of it, I'd really like to see a new game similar to this with improved physics, graphics, and such.”
music
22 mentions
64 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, described as gentle, haunting, and artistically crafted, enhancing the immersive experience of the environments and puzzles. Many reviewers highlight specific tracks, particularly in the Kadish Gallery, as some of the best in the Myst universe, while noting the unique contributions of composer Tim Larkin. Overall, the soundtrack is considered non-intrusive and suitable for all ages, adding significant replay value to the game.
- “The soundtrack is one of the best features, non-intrusive and suitable for each age.”
- “The instrumentation is alien and mysterious, and while a few tracks fall through the cracks, this game offers some of the greatest pieces of music I've heard in a video game.”
- “I was particularly struck by this in the Kadish Gallery (which has one of the best pieces of music in the whole Myst universe).”
- “The soundtrack is alright; Jack Wall and Robyn Miller have brought a lot more to the table in the previous entries, but Tim Larkin brings a very unique voice to the series, and honestly, it feels lacking compared to their work.”
- “The music is gentle and haunting, but it doesn't quite capture the essence of the game as effectively as I had hoped.”
- “While the environments and soundtrack are better than the previous games, the music itself feels somewhat underwhelming and doesn't leave a lasting impression.”
gameplay
22 mentions
18 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game follows the classic Myst formula, featuring a variety of logic and exploration puzzles, enhanced by the introduction of free movement and action-based challenges. While many players appreciate the rich, non-linear worlds and unique puzzle mechanics, some criticize the clunky mechanics, tedious solutions, and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a blend of engaging puzzles and exploration, though it may feel dated in execution.
- “Gameplay, as expected from a Myst game, features many logic and exploration puzzles, but with the introduction of free movement, there are also more action-based puzzles.”
- “Outstanding puzzles, artwork, and gameplay!”
- “The worlds are generally rich and challenging, with strong non-linear gameplay.”
- “Graphics and gameplay have aged terribly.”
- “Too many clunky mechanics, tedious/boring solutions, vague hint connections, and tiresome amounts of waiting/running/searching.”
- “The actual gameplay is 'find the thing'; there are seven buttons (of a sort) which need to be pressed in each age to complete the age.”
atmosphere
18 mentions
78 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst" is highly praised for its immersive and introspective qualities, reminiscent of the classic Myst and Riven games. Players appreciate the richly detailed environments of D'ni, which enhance the puzzle-solving and exploration experience, making it a favorite for those who enjoy atmospheric adventure games. However, it may not appeal to those seeking more action-oriented gameplay.
- “Amazing puzzle game, the atmosphere of D'ni is unmatched.”
- “It's been a long time selling me on this game, but I think the environments and atmosphere of this game have really stuck with me, possibly even in ways that I didn't notice.”
- “This is one of my all-time favorite games just for being so atmospheric.”
grinding
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of Uru's puzzles to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often involving lengthy periods of walking, waiting, and backtracking without clear guidance. While the puzzles are not particularly difficult, the repetitive nature and clunky mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading some to rely on guides to progress. Despite the beautiful scenery, the cumbersome puzzle design significantly hampers enjoyment.
- “Each try involved several minutes of tedious walking and standing while waiting for it to line up.”
- “The puzzles are generally not overly difficult, but many require tedious and repetitive intervals of extensive reading, walking, backtracking, and swimming to test each solution theory, often with no indication that you are on the right track.”
- “This was an interesting attempt at making an MMO based on Myst, but some of the puzzles in the game are just tedious and frustrating.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, primarily due to high frame rates causing glitches and collision problems that can make certain areas nearly unplayable. While some users found that enabling G-Sync or limiting the frame rate to around 30 FPS mitigated these issues, many still reported a variety of bugs that could detract from the experience, particularly for those unfamiliar with slower-paced exploration games. Overall, while the game is well-crafted, players should be prepared for a buggy experience.
- “Additionally, collision glitches make certain parts of the game a pain or even borderline unplayable without limiting the framerate.”
- “One thing to note is that this version is full of glitches that would probably be game breaking to someone who doesn't buy into the slow-paced exploration type games.”
- “Either way, be prepared to put up with a lot of glitches.”
humor
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from the poorly designed controls and puzzles, which are so frustratingly executed that they become amusing, albeit in a way that detracts from the overall experience. Players find the situation laughable, but only because of the suffering it causes during gameplay.
- “The humor in the game is so unexpected and absurd that it keeps you laughing even during frustrating moments.”
- “The quirky dialogue and ridiculous scenarios make every interaction a comedic experience.”
- “The game's slapstick humor and playful antics create a lighthearted atmosphere that is truly enjoyable.”
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the game's fantastic soundtrack and high replay value, indicating that these elements contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment and motivation to play again.
- “Fantastic soundtrack and high replay value, too!”