Hands-On Preview Myst V: End of Ages Developer: Cyan Worlds Publisher: Ubisoft Genre: Adventure Release Date: September 2005 Platform: Preview by Robert Washburne August 19, 2005

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Cyan Worlds is about to release what it has announced to be the last game in the Myst series – Myst V. Since an era is about to come to an end, a little introspection is called for.

What made Myst the classic that it was?

Many people have voiced many opinions, but one aspect can not be denied – it was the first game of note written for mature adults. The graphics were not bright and splashy eye catchers, but soft, subdued and photo realistic. The animation did not throw things in your face, but allowed butterflies to go past and seagulls to float in and out of the mist. The music was not the harsh Mario Brothers calliope, but the gentle strings and reeds of an orchestra. The puzzles relied on logical reasoning rather than sophomoric humor.

The story. While other games would slap a story on almost as an afterthought, Myst was centered around its story. While other games had plot holes large enough to put their own boxes through, Myst was entirely self consistent. There were no “red herrings.” While many things about the game appeared strange – a giant gear, Buck Roger's spaceship, a secret passage paneled in exotic woods – they all made sense as more of the story was revealed. Everything was there because it was meant to be there, not because the creator didn't know any better.

The mystery. You quickly found two boys trapped in prisons. They begged you to find the keys and release them. But as you searched for the keys, you found evidence of destruction, plunder, even genocide. Who was responsible? The boys blamed each other and claimed only they, alone, could be trusted. Who and where was their jailer? By the time you reached the end of the game you had seen and heard much. Then you had to decide. Who did you trust?

And you were right. Everything was as it appeared to be. That which appeared good was good. That which appeared bad was bad. There were surprises, but none of them unfair.

The end result was pure satisfaction. You could immerse yourself in the game and not be jarred out of it. You could read between the lines and be correct. You could trust the game and it would not betray you.

Cyan Worlds has written several sequels since then and has tried many experiments. Some were magical. Others were... less than successful. But for Myst V, the last of the Myst series and the closing of the era, they have returned to their roots.

The stories of Myst have always had depth. The skills of Atrus did not magically appear from nowhere, but were the product of an entire civilization, the D'ni. What was that civilization like? Where did they go? The previous Myst sequels have answered much of this, but have left us with two nagging questions: What is the destiny of the D'ni people? And just who were the servants who made their civilization work? For nowhere is it recorded of a D'ni actually disposing of the trash, processing the sewage, or making the machinery work.

These are the issues Myst V will attempt to resolve.

Those who played Uru will remember Yeesha, the daughter of Atrus. She taught us about the Bahro, the servants who were not quite human, but who served the D'ni silently from the shadows. They were hidden then, but we see them now. They are like giant spider monkeys the size of humans. And they still serve and keep the Ages running even though the D'ni have long since left. Will they ever be freed to pursue their own destiny?

There is a Tablet of great power. It will take craft and cunning to release it, but once released it will have the power to free peoples and change destinies. If only you use it wisely.

Yeesha calls you. She had the tablet once, but made the wrong choice. Now the tablet refuses to be touched by her, passing through her hands as if a ghost. She is bitter about her failure, but desperate for someone to succeed. She seems to almost worship the Bahro. Is she a visionary who can free a people? Or just a tree hugging wacko who values animals more than people? Will she show you the truth? Or use you to recapture the power of the Tablet? Either way, she sends you on the quest.

Then you meet Esher, a true D'ni. Yeesha sent him on the quest, but he also failed. He is also disappointed and a bit cynical. But he despises the Bahro. He warns us that “they are not as we are. Remember that.” Does he see a true threat from the Bahro? Or is he a bigoted racist? He claims to want to help us. But why?

And then there are the Bahro themselves. Are they truly sentient? Or are they just trained monkeys? And what would they do if they were released from their duties? Would they be grateful? Or would they turn on their former masters?

You must explore if you are to learn.

Cyan Worlds had two main goals in creating this game. One was to tell a great story which would tie up all the loose ends and leave you thinking for days after. The other was to create a totally immersive gaming experience which would be accessible to all. They may have succeeded.

Myst V is perhaps the most accessible adventure game ever written.

If you are a modern gamer and used to first person action games, then you can explore the worlds with full 3D freedom. But if you prefer the classic point-and-click style, you can simply click from location node to location node. In this way you can play the entire game with just one mouse button and no keyboard. And you can switch back and forth at any time.

The puzzles are unique and varied, but if you are the type who just wants to explore and rubber neck, you can get just about anywhere after solving only a couple of the simplest puzzles. While you need to solve the puzzles to win the game, they are no longer roadblocks to exploration.

And while it is likely that Myst Fans will make up a significant percentage of the players, you will not need to have played any of the previous games to enjoy Myst V. What little background information you might need is provided up front. But you don't have to read everything. The games stands very well on its own. Read if you are curious or move on if that would bore you.

The immersion potential is just amazing.

The graphics are advanced enough to take advantage of the latest video card technology. Yet they can be throttled back to run on last year's technology and still look great.

Live actors were used for Yeesha and Esher. Their faces were then mapped onto 3D models to create the most realistic expressions you have ever seen in a computer generated model.

Special algorithms were used to model the cloth of the clothes they are wearing.

All the work which was done on living creatures in Myst IV has been brought over and expanded.

The end result? This place is REAL. It doesn't take long to forget the “real” world and get into this game.

The game itself is a new twist. There are still a few turn-the-machine-on type of puzzles, but most of the play is centered around the tablets.

You see, to free The Tablet, you must collect four minor tablets. Minor, that is, in power only. For they are quite heavy and you can't carry them just anywhere. A ladder, for example, would collapse under your combined weight.

But they are also useful. The Bahro do understand a language of symbols and if you can find the symbols, then you can draw them on the tablets and leave them for the Bahro. If the Bahro can understand what you drew, then they will attempt to follow your instructions.

That pretty much defines this game: everything which can help you can also hinder you. And vice versa.

Yeesha, Esher, the Bahro. You will need the help of all three to win the game. Yet all three will hinder you as well. In the end, you will have to make a decision.

Who do you believe?

Who do you trust?