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Point-n-Click, 3-D Slide-Show Adventure | |
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October 2004 |
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Ubisoft
Montreal (a.k.a. Team Revelation) |
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Game is available in PC, MAC & DVD-capable XBOX platforms. Ed. Note: This software contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some DVD-RW and virtual drives. For some additional known issues, please see the Media section, below. First
Person "The story is marvelously interwoven with the game...There are no tricks here, no red herrings. Everything can be taken at face value...And it even has a fully developed ending. "The engine is 3D slide show...you jump from specific location to specific location – you can't just go to any pixel you want. [A]t each location you can pan around 360 degrees in all three dimensions...The cursor is a beautifully animated 3D hand that gracefully moves from idle to pointing, to grabbing, to whatever the hotspot would indicate. "What is there to criticize?...First, slide show engines just aren't appropriate for mazes – there is no way to keep your orientation. One of the ages is set in a jungle atmosphere with twisty little paths running through it...The whole age amounts to a maze. "Second, everyone (Okay, two other people) I have spoken with who have played the game found the Grabbing hand to be frustrating...It seems that you have to aim a little low to actually grasp the object. This is counter-intuitive as it looks as if you are going to miss. Now imagine dealing with this quirk in a timed puzzle. "The puzzles lie fully within the Myst tradition. They are all of the Logical variety with no Inventory puzzles to be found. The puzzles are complex and interconnected – you frequently must solve one puzzle before another is activated...I would classify the puzzles as difficult. In many cases too difficult for me to figure out. "This level of difficulty could have been mitigated by an in-game hint system. And Myst IV has one! Too bad it isn't useful...First, it never gave me a hint that would actually nudge me towards the solution...second, the actual solution given was only good if the puzzle was left exactly the way you found it. If you had played with the puzzle at all, then the 'solution' was worthless... And there was no puzzle reset. "Myst IV simply has the best graphics ever seen in an Adventure Game to date...The first thing you will notice is that they have added “Depth of Field.” This says that you can only focus on one thing at a time. [Ed.
Note: Depth-of-Field will not work with certain older graphics
cards and even some newer ones, such as GeForce 6600-6800s. In such cases,
the Depth of Field function must be disabled in the game's Options Panel
for the game to be playable. "The second thing you will notice is that everything is alive and in motion...The water effects are breathtaking...Frogs jump. Insects swarm. There are birds flying way out there in the background...There are monkey-like things...There are large two-legged lizard things which move like nothing you have seen before, but which are totally believable...They are curious and watch you. Sometimes following you. Sometimes running away if you approach. "Voice acting is excellent...Music was excellent. It set the mood. It fit the environment. "The addictability is undeniable. You want to see what is around the corner. You need to find out what is going on. These conflicts must be resolved. If only you could get past these stupid puzzles... "While not creating anything new, per se, Team Revelation has taken the venerable Adventure Game and, once again, raised it to a new height. If you enjoy adventure games, then you will enjoy Myst IV."
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Hints |
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*Supported Video Cards
at Time of Release:
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*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:
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2 DVDs (PC) Ed. Note: Disk #1 is single-layer, but Disk #2 is dual-layer. This has made installing the game impossible on many systems, *including* those with certain dual-layer DVD drives. For some, updating the DVD drive's firmware fixes the problem. Others may be obliged to purchase an installation-compatible DVD drive in order to install and play the game. According to Ubisoft, there is no 100% cause or solution for the installation problem. Unfortunately, there are times when *no* solution is possible. This problem is separate from the copy-protect problem mentioned in the Description area, above. For additional issues, info, and assistance, I suggest exploring Technical Help and Advice in the Myst IV Revelation Forums. If you're considering buying Myst IV, you would be well-advised to visit the Tech Forum before you make your purchase. All Myst IV Forums may be accessed here. |
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Optimized for 1280x1024, 32-Bit Color, MSIE
6.x 
& Netscape 8.x 
or later.
Earlier versions or other browsers
may produce less than perfect results.
PC REQUIREMENTS:
MAC REQUIREMENTS: 