Myst |||: Exile, another great game in the myst series

I recently replayed Myst III, the third in the Myst series of games. If you like Myst and Riven, then Myst III won’t disappoint. It has all the elements of the first two, plus a new feel.

Instead of point and click, you can pan around. It’s a bit disorienting at first but I got used to it quickly. Since Atrus ran out of family members as antagonists, Saavedro bursts into the scene.

He shows up uninvited, sets the place on fire, and steals Atrus linking book to Releeshan. While Atrus deals with the fire, you follow Saavedro to retrieve the linking book.

You follow him through J’nanin until he locks the door behind him at his lab. Then you have to find an alternative way in and solve a few puzzles on the way.

Once in, you discover the keys to the three ages in Myst III:

• Edanna
• Amateria
• Voltaic

Each age is distinct. Edanna is a plant world where you rescue a huge bird. Amateria has a Japanese theme with intricate marble puzzles. ns. Voltaic is like the original Myst with many mechanical puzzles to free an airship.

Finally, there’s Narayan where you confront Saavedro. This world is in the clouds but you only ever move around in one small building. Keeping in line with the series, there are several possible endings to Myst III.

Only one feels like winning, the rest are not satisfying. I found the final age is not forgiving. Make one mistake and Saavedro is quick to end things.

But done right, and he changes. Realizing he’s free to return to his family Saavedro let’s go of his vengeance. Even though you trick him into it. It’s a great ending to a fun game.

The puzzles, plot, and visuals are great. The plant world was awesome. It felt very prehistoric with all the sights and sounds. Although, the huge bird is the only dinosaur you encounter.

The marble puzzles were great. I loved how all three puzzles were interwoven into a grand finally. A minor drawback is the trial and error feel to one of the puzzles. Most puzzles have a clue or follow a pattern which allows you to solve them.

This specific marble puzzle has you placing pieces in an attempt to match the weight of the marble. The clue to the weight is extremely misleading. While the other half of the puzzle is trial and error. Instead of figuring out a solution, much of it is wasting time through guessing.

There’s another puzzle in the mechanical world where you have to set three sets of valves to get the steam to the correct pressure. It theory you can figure out how much each valve moves the gauge. However, there are twelve valves… on three different levels.

Going back and forth between the valves and gauge is incredibly time consuming but workable. Apart from those two puzzles, everything else is fine. The plot from beginning to end is satisfying. The length of the game doesn’t feel short. The graphics and sounds are excellent too. It’s surprising the minimum system requirements aren’t higher. Even for computers from it’s 2001 release date.

Overall, Myst III has more to offer in terms of visuals and puzzles. Yet, I have to admit the original Myst is my favorite, still Myst III is a terrific sequel. In my experience, Riven is still the hardest of the series. The marble puzzle and learning to count past ten being the hardest puzzles. The valves and marble weight from Myst III are runners up.

Myst III really captured the essence of the first game. While Saavedro was obviously the antagonist, there were times that had me second guessing like I did between the brothers in the original game. Many of the puzzles in Myst III reminded me of the key in the chest full of water puzzle from the first game.

Like the other games, the multiple endings were good too. The astonishingly distinct ages in Myst III shows the creative well isn’t running dry. Even though it’s the third in a series.

All of which is to say, if you enjoyed the original Myst, then Myst III is worth checking out.