Publisher: Red Orb Entertainment, a division of Br√∏derbund
Price: $50 MRP
Contact Info: http://www.redorb.com/ or http://www.cyan.com/
Genre: First-Person Adventure
Requirements: System 7.5 or higher; 90 Mhz PowerPC or faster; 9MB RAM
free; minimum 65 MB hard disk space (more for full install);
4X CD-ROM drive; 640 x 480 display, thousands of colors
 
Storyline
Riven nicely ties in with Myst and the two books written about the history of Myst. If you haven't played Myst or read the two books, then you won't get as much out of the game as those who have. This is not to say that you won't enjoy Riven, but you won't understand some of the references that are made. I recommend that everyone play Myst before playing Riven. Not only to get the most out of Riven, but because Myst is a great game in its own right.
Riven begins with you in D'ni with Atrus asking for your help. He gives you a book that he says will tell you most of what you need to know, and another book that looks like a linking book but is actually a prison. He tells you to go to Riven to find Catherine (his wife) and to signal him once you have done so. He will then come and take both you and Catherine back to D'ni. If you read the journal, it explains that he can't go himself because he has to make repairs to the D'ni linking book. Only you can rescue his wife. As a reward, Atrus says that there might be a way for you to return to your home if everything turns out well.
After you have linked to Riven, you are on your own. You have no idea where Catherine is and no idea where to look first. Exploring and keeping good records are your keys to success. You'll never know when that strange button is a solution to a later puzzle or merely decoration. You'll save a lot of backtracking if you make a note of what you see and where you are.
 
Controls
Riven has an easy-to-use interface; simply point and click the hand pointer at where you want to go or what you want to use. The hand pointer will change to reflect what you can do. When it is to the left or right edge of the screen, the hand will point left or right respectively. Sometimes you can look up or down and the hand pointer will reflect that as well. Finally, you can drag some objects and the hand pointer will change to an open hand.
The method of storing and using inventory is very unintrusive. When you click on an object that can be carried, it will automatically be added to your inventory. To gain access to the items, simply move the hand pointer over the black area at the bottom of the screen and they will appear. To use or examine any of the items, click on one and then click to either side of it to put it away.
 
Graphics and Animation
Breathtaking, beautiful, lifelike, gorgeous, stunning. These are the words that can be used to describe the graphics of Riven. The screenshot below can't fully show the amount of detail present or the feeling of being immersed in another world that doesn't end until you stop playing.
 
The amount of animation is incredible. You will see birds and bugs flying, creatures swimming, water lapping up against the shore, people going about their daily routine, and more. Without the animation, Riven would have been a series of realistic pictures, but the animation breathes life and excitement into the age of Riven. While not everything that can be animated is, the animations aren't too taxing on the computer and don't decrease performance noticeably.
 
Sound Effects / Music
Sound effects provide realism while music creates mood and Riven combines these two aspects beautifully. While there are familiar sounds in the age of Riven (such as wind blowing and insects buzzing), there are enough differences to provide a subtle reminder that you are on a different world. As an additional bonus, if you have stereo speakers or headphones then the sound effects will be in stereo.
Music can sometimes tell a better story than words, and that is clearly evident in Riven. For example, very early in the game you will come across a statue carved out of a tree in a forest. This statue could mean many things, but the music immediately identifies it (to me at least) as a religious icon. That is a more elegant way of identifying its purpose than having a sign, which would be out of place and unnecessary. There are also many instances where the music emphasizes what you are seeing. Finally, the music is beautiful and worth listening to again and again.
 
Final Analysis
The folks at Cyan have done another wonderful job, and they have raised the standard of first-person adventure games. You will have hours of enjoyment and exploration in the amazing age of Riven. Myst became your world and with the arrival of Riven, you'll be glad you returned.
