Yes, Myst.

Is there any computer gamer in the world who
has not seen the cover of this box? Is there any computer gamer in the world who
has not loaded Myst onto his or her hard drive at least once? Not only
is Myst the best-selling adventure game of all time, but it has also been
accused of the rebirth of or, according to who you talk to, the demise of the
adventure genre. The term “Myst clone” has become a part of computer
jargon on the same order as all copiers being called Xerox and all video games
Nintendo by the general public. Whether you love Myst or hate it, one cannot
deny the long-lasting impact it has had on the industry.

The Miller brothers,
Robyn and Rand, in creating Myst, are responsible for the greatest metaphysical
experiment thus far in gaming history. Myst has neither instructions nor
rules. There are no other living beings to interact with. There is no reloading
of a game due to your character’s death, no dialogue to provide verbal clues,
though there are some interesting “living” books. You must explore the
environment and the architecture of its unique and varied times and worlds. It
is the ultimate immersive experience. It is an adventure without inventory, a
nonlinear travelogue full of conundrums that are a visual treat for the eyes but
yet will also insist that you use your ears to locate clues to puzzle solutions.

What
exactly is the appeal of Myst? Countless articles have been written and
web sites created in admiration for this game. I have seen women in their sixties
and teenage boys purchasing Myst at local computer chain stores. Cottage
industries have sprung up, and then gone bankrupt, attempting to reproduce the
appeal of Myst. Yet it seems almost as many people have a negative opinion
of Myst and its influence on the adventure genre. Very few understand the
meaning behind it and even fewer play it to completion. So what is the secret?
No one is sure, but any gamer that generates such interesting and varied discussion
among gamers and nongamers alike can’t be all bad.