Uru: Ages Beyond Myst

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What has been difficult to gage is the reaction of someone just stumbling into the Myst Universe for the first time. That I can’t pretend to understand but I would guess the same calling longtime fans have experienced for years is still out there for anyone who loves a good adventure.

The Prime Adventure starts in a place we’ve been reading about for years. Meeting Zandi was a bit unsettling. As a fan a little short of Avid status, I needed a little more back-story on him. It’s an interesting tale and I think important enough not to miss. I was unsure of my mission (and his advice) but hey, what else is new in Myst. The sound and graphics in the first few minutes were so stunning, I knew I was hooked. After wandering through the desert and finding the Cleft-I had a strange sense of “coming home”. The initial solutions were intuitive, although I was a bit surprised that some jumping skills were needed. You might as well take a few minutes to learn good jumping techniques-trust me-you’ll need them!

The next delight came in a holographic message from non other than Atrus’ daughter, Yeesha. Trying to remember when the Exile adventure took place and considering her lineage, questions abounded as to her age and the possibility that she still survives. Getting the hang of –lets say “item”-collection, I was ready to proceed deeper into my adventure.

The ages I linked to were awe inspiring. As with other Myst ages, I was impressed that a guildsman could so aptly write a description of the variety of places created by the Maker. The challenges ranged from out right puzzle solving in a mysterious placed called Kadish, to the more physical demands of Eder Gira.

Nevertheless the payoff here was well worth it with some enriching story detail waiting at the end. Another Kadish favorite was the Gallery. It is a place I still like to visit, if for nothing else than to be mesmerized by the haunting melody there.

Gira on the other hand felt fairly hostile to me. I guess I’m just a bit shaky around lava. But the twin suns made the journey very interesting. I was enthralled with all the various hues created by their rising and setting. The sister age Eder Kemo was as refreshing as Gira was barren. This is certainly another area where I like to linger. The puzzles here were very intuitive if not always easy to accomplish- just the right mix of brainwork, trial and error and of course a few good jumps.

Gahreeson features an in-depth look at one of the D’ni’s more practical ages. A lot can be gleaned regarding their training and tradition. This is another great place to take notes and draw maps to help you navigate the maze-like structures.

Teledahn was one of the first ages open to us in Beta. Now here is a place worthy of repeated exploration. The mechanical puzzles appealed to me, and the information available here- both of old times and of recent- is no doubt a keystone to future journeys.

As one runs and leaps through the ages, the heart of the Adventure begins to be revealed. There are forces here both old and new, just waiting to be discovered. I guess you could explore these worlds without having been to Myst or Riven before, but it certainly does enhance the experience. Although the novels take a small bit of poetic license from true D’ni history, reading them before beginning this journey would also be quite helpful.

Review by mikedcabo