70 years old and still have my original CDs of Myst and Riven. My children bought it for me when it first came out, it was my first PC game. Played for hours and hours, and it gave me so much pleasure and fun.
I'm with you on that. My son, now 28, remembers, as a child, seeing me play it all those year ago, and now I'm watching him play as a grown adult with a passion and deep appreciation for games like this. It is moving.
@@brendanr1525 lmao dude "me and my father" is correct for this sentence because "me" is the indirect object, and "game" is the direct object. you would say "this game brought me" not "this game brought I"
It went the opposite way for me and my mom. We've always had a great relationship and still do don't get me wrong, but when it comes to gaming... sure we had a good time when I was a kid and didn't know English playing Spyro where she had to translate what the freed dragons said, but it is so obvious, today AND looking back, that she detests videogames. I mean apart from the fact that she has openly admitted it.
Can we all take a sec to appreciate the fact that this game was released in 1997, and it still looks photorealistic today? It honestly looks and feels more immersive than plenty of games released even today.
If the resolution was higher it would have been even more mind blowing, very excited for the remake and I hope they will include a point and click mode too
@@henrywalton5967 There are some high resolution original renders floating around, presumably made for magazine prints, and they do look fantastic. It's the magic sauce of the old SGI pipeline, with the classic renderman 3D engine.
Honestly think the original looks better than the remake. Objectively the new models are more detailed, but there's just a different feeling I get looking at those old 90s pre-renders through that gritty resolution. Just breathtaking artistry in defiance of the technical limitations of the day.
I just played Riven again for the first time since the 2000s and the graphics and immersion are still phenomenal. I can really appreciate the level of artistry and detail now that I'm an adult and a designer. Also amazed at how much I remember regarding the puzzles, yet still have the satisfaction of figuring things out again. This game is one of the GOATs!
Update: I played this game last year for the first time since I was a kid when it got released almost 25 years ago. When I finished it, I really broke down into tears and cried for like 15min straight. The emotions that were attached to the game were just overwhelming. It felt like a real place that I suddenly could visit again. Memories with my late dad and friends. Unbelievable - thanks Cyan for making magic real!
they certainly succeeded in their vision of realism and immersiveness, which was unparalleled at the time. when i think back, i remember it like i place i actually visited, rather than a game i played.
Robyn Miller and Richard Vander Wende are really a perfect storm of artistic talent that really make Riven stand out from the other Myst games, and every other game in existence as well. I don't know if we'll ever see a game like this again. Outer Wilds is maybe the closest
"It wouldn't have been as cool, had he not been around" (referring to Richard Vander Wende). You gotta love the honesty of these Miller brothers. Giving credit where credit is due. Add their genius and it is why they and their creations are legendary. Game-changing (pun intended...lol). Just admire this organic life story. A story that continues, and one we want to continue. So glad they are still in the game [pun intended again... :-)]. Much respect.
I really thought back in 1998 Riven would inspire the gaming industry to make similarly unique worlds and storylines, but it turns out, all these years later there is very little advancement in the industry in terms of pushing boundaries.
Just the best. People sat in my living room on my coach and watched me play for hours like support team. Beers got warm, people were silent just watching. Even on a workstation it had issues at times but was mostly a smooth ride. No game ever did that before. Never before.
I love these games, but the dark, slightly off nature of Riven makes it my favorite. I have been introducing my kids to the Myst games and they are loving watching me play Riven.
I also have to say, how impressive is it that the Miller brothers not only made some of the most amazing puzzle games ever, but they also did a bunch of the acting (and as an actor myself, I would say they did a darn good job at it).
As a kid, i absolutely loved the "rollercoaster" rides between the different DVD's. Now as a teenager, i am just absolutely fascinated by the graphics, the audio, the finesse, the whole idea of myst. It was one of the first games but even now in 2019, its still the greatest masterpiece that i have ever seen. I am absolutely amazed by this whole utopia (or dystopia) of riven.
Can you believe this was made about 22 years ago!? Or even longer, it was released in 1997 I remember. I was 17 years old and my father bought this game... the whole family was sitting behind the computer playing this. These guys are artists! That whole game is a piece of art... the graphics, music, atmosphere, everything! Still is my all time favourite game 😍👌
I am so jealous when I hear people like you recall how "the whole family got together". Like, my parents actively despise the medium, so I could never imagine having the whole family together.
9:50 See, this is exactly why I respect Cyan so much. Lesser developers might have cut the gate room puzzle, but they didn't and it ended up being one of the most memorable areas in any game I've played. Knowing how incredibly difficult it was to create, and how uncompromising they were in their determination to create it, only makes me respect them more.
I think you mean BIGGER developers because we all know companies now care more about about a release date and money than a finished and polished product.
I was at a walmart one day and seen this game for the playstation. It was 5 discs and the cover stated "Pack your bags, you're going to be away for along time" It was the most immersive year of gaming in my long history of gaming. 11/10
Games that were multiple disks were always fascinating to me. Most games were on 1, so naturally it made you think "this game is extraordinarily huge!".
Man that garage office looked like a significant fire hazard with all those machines and people crammed together (lots of power draw and risk of creating a fire), or at least power outages due to blowing a fuse
Seriously I would like so much to go back and try to get into the development of this game. Its like..game back then was somewhat of an uncharted territory. No templates, it was just creativity. You were not doing this only for money or as a business decision. You were doing it because you wanted to do it, for the love of the art. I miss that so much
Riven and Exile are still my absolute favorites. The puzzles and the magical worlds were just amazing experiences. Incredible and beautiful. I still play those games on my old machines just to be immersed again. Thank you so much for that.
It has been 15 years since I last played this game. Now I'm reminded how obsessed I was by the world's art and how it sent my imagination alive. Good times
always ahead of their time! biggest fan! playing this till the cracking hours of the morning with my dad in the 90s was just the best! watched all walkthroughs of myst, riven and III this week! ahhha feeling Nostaglic!
Recently finished this game. It is definitely one of the best game worlds ever crafted! However, I was very disappointed that did not get to explore any of the hive world.
This game STILL holds up today, one of the greatest games ever made! I remember the countless hours of playing this as a kid with my dad, so many good memories :)
My dad bought this for me after I completed Myst... multiple disks I met the requirements...system crashes and freezing issues on the train rides..which always demanded a disk change especially the cart heat ring mine ride..would crash more than 75% of the time..I had to give up on it in my childhood...it wouldn't be till many years later I could play this with out a disk change..Riven is the most challenging out of the whole series..answers that have to be discovered out through inginuaty.. continuing a unwritten pattern..not everyone can play these games..it takes a certain mind
Will we ever see ANYTHING as magestic as Riven ever again? I hope so. This game was fantastic. I don't think even the sequels can match it. J'nanin, Edanna, Tomahna, are gorgeous, but Riven... It's on a whole other level. And the music... oh, my god, I could go on about this thing all day!
The attention for textures and the atmosphere and how they made it all in a way so everything in the game would have a reason to be was not the same in Myst 3 and 4. Riven puzzles were not just puzzles but an integral part of the enviroment and the culture, so everything was alive and connected. Presto Studios and Ubisoft didn´t get close to that, and there´s the sound design too. Myst 3 and 4 are great, but the first two games of the series were unmatchable.
This little documentary is seared into my brain after watching it over and over as a kid. Something about listening to these guys discuss something they are so passionate about never gets old. Their insight that in order to make a world feel realistic, you had to show it as used and worn-down was REVOLUTIONARY. It seems obvious now, but CGI in the 90s had not taken that step yet. At the time, there was nothing that even came close to that level of realism; even today the graphics hold up because of that attention to detail even though by technical standards game engines have far surpassed even what pre-rendered games were capable of back then. Goes to show that great design and attention to detail is more important than impressive technical specs. So much of what these guys talk about still holds up today and could teach game designers a thing or two. What a well-made featurette. My dad always thought it was funny that the segment at 2:06 was edited like you were exploring the office as if it was in the game.
I started re-playing it again after so many years... i forgot about the most solutions and puzzles and im stuck already. But i love the game and the soundtrack is AWESOME!
For those looking to play this great game again, it was added recently to SCUMMVM. Go download SCUMMVM v2.0 (or later), copy the files off the CDs/DVD to a folder, and return to Riven.
Thank you, such great memories of exploring the whole series, so long ago! It was clear how much thought and imagination went into its extraordinary continuity. Bravi!!!
eventhough my statement has been written here many times ... I simply have to (!) say by myself that Riven still is the most beautiful / aesthetic game I ever played and that I know of ...
Richard van der Wende also designed the two-headed Eborsisk in Willow. Such a behemoth talent but the humblest dude. He replied to some fan mail I wrote him once.
Yes, and that movie a few years ago John Carter from Mars. Normallly I wouldn't pay it much importance, but I noticed I really liked the feel and art direction of the movie ("wow, this is better than most scifi out there"). Lo and behold....Richard had worked on it :)
Robyn's music was so integral to the game's design, created such a strong mood of emotion and mystery. When i heard he had rejoined Rand for Obduction and would be doing the music for it I was delighted but to my dismay the music had none of the quality of Riven and was not memorable.
And now we can look forward to seeing, within another year or two (hopefully), a complete rebuild of Riven in the Unreal Engine. The development work was already started more than a decade ago, by an outside group, and I understand that Cyan has picked it up, in addition to their current project of Firmament. It's gonna looks more epic than Myst when it's done.
Riven ist bis heute eines der schönsten und packendsten Games überhaupt. Wunderschöne Bilder..wunderschöne Musik...absolut realistische Geräusche...Für mich bis heute unerreicht!
5:22 "''cause you see a lot of computer generated art that looks plasticy, or new, or somehow strange; it doesn't look real" Exactly, this is what bothers me in a lot of new games. The graphics are great but they have that plasticy feel. So whenever I hear that this or that game has great graphics invariably I am less than impressed. Because it is as if the creators forgot how things look in real life. That they are imperfect, weathered, old etc.
This is exactly my problem with modern games set in the future. Take COD black ops or infitite warfare for example, Everywhere looks brand new and clean and just not lived in but if you go back to the games based in present or past days they get the feel dead on. Like World at war or Modernwarfare. It all looks lived in and worn and torn and broken and all that good stuff :P But they seem to forget that in Furtureristic games. They look great but too great. Riven is The greatest game ever released (That I have played :P)
Riven is exceptional in its photo realism. As beautiful and intricate as the designs are in Exile, say, there was a plasticky quality in some areas (ex. Edanna).
yup! the lighting is terrible and most games today look cartoony and characters cutezie. I only buy classics on GOG not indie"not independent" obviously developed. I miss the dark edgy first-person virtual worlds of old. Even "Shadows" of Mordor(Steam underpowered) looks a bit too flashy and bright. the lighting terrible and the character animation ludicrous. and the fighting control is sloppy and the main character is slow.
*This is what happens when you lock a bunch of geniuses who love games in one room, Playing this & Myst now is kind of like reading a book with pictures, in that your imagination can compensate for what the graphics will not do for you visually, I wonder if the developers veiled that intention, being a game about Books.*
***** You shouldn't have problems with Win7. You could try the GOG edition which supposedly was made to run on newer systems. By any means, make sure you have Quicktime 2.x installed. It won't work otherwise.
Just played through this game with my son. I had played as a kid and never finished the game. We sank 30 hours into this thing and finally finished. It's a masterpiece.
It didn't occur to me at all how much effort was required to make the scribe's rotation match with the maglev, it just looked so natural. Cyan is pretty great, I wish my PC had more than a thirtieth of the minimum VRAM to run Obduction
@hemmojito You probably visited Survey Island for the first time, having gotten there from the forest/village island. In order to see him, your first time on Survey Island must be having gotten there from the 'bookmaking' island.
It's kind of crazy in a way how small the internet has made the world. In 1998? Riven was *real*. What do you mean 'game'? Everything back then was so larger than life
the riven game is by far the most beautiful and extraordinary of all the games you have made. I recommend (and I would be happy to buy it) to make a Riven remasterd according to the latest video technologies. You would sell very much, because riven lovers are so many.
I don't know about remastered, but I just re-bought the game on Steam (it's in the Autumn Sale). It has so many good memories for me, and I'm looking forward to dive in once again - weekend, here I come... ;-)
omg that little girl suddenly appearing in the woods just standing there, got us incredible scared. We had to cheat when we got to the ”dome” part...That felt unsolvable....
Riven, the best game, everything after this was just so friggin odd and weird and Hollywoody. Just make one like this again. Dark, gritty, scary, and the music... o boy the music..
The Gamin' Dutchmann Those were made by Ubisoft. They kinda gave them permission. Now they're wanting to get their rights back for rerealsing and legacy.
And Cyan finally got the rights back and re-released them all in one collection in both physical and digital (thanks to Kickstarter). Even the two Myst games (Exile and Revelation) are now available in GOG and Steam after a long time.
What I liked most about the game was how much more unified than MYST it felt. It was not just a jumble of CG elements but rather it felt like it was all of one mind... this video sort of shows why. There was a team, but really one person with a strong initial design aesthetic that permeated the entire project and lifted it to a better level - I love that it came from "some kid" not from Cyan. Also, I believe there are still a few "image state" errors you can find in the original game. There are also a few never used scenes that one can not get to but are still in the code. But, this is still a great game. The end still feels a bit rushed to me.
Riven is the place, I wanna lonely live and die.....so much details of an old factory aera, where we played in my childhood....!!! It's so sad, that it doesn't run on my win 7 / 64bit :...( HELP!!!!
It's available on Steam (right now I bought it in the Autumn Sale for 1,49€), also on GOG Galaxy. So I figure if you buy it on either of those, it should run. I'm going to be so dissapointed this weekend if it doesn't... PS: seems to work via Steam (I also have Win7 64 bit), I just need to figure out the keyboard setup for menu/saving etc.
You can run it! Just need the proper quicktime file and version, and running it as administrator in compatibility mode. I run it in compatibility for win95, deactivating water texture cause otherwise it crashes. You need to download and paste a Quicktime .qts file right into the game's file. And voilá, no problems! Google it, ubisoft forum's where it's at!
Hey! They recently released a kickstarter for Cyan to buy back the rights to all the games and update them to work on Windows 7 and 10! You can get the entire series on steam or GOG. I bought Revelation on GOG for $20 (Canadian) and it worked great!
It's kind of funny - until seeing this video, I never really saw the brotherly resemblance between Rand and Robyn, even while playing Achenar and Sirrus in the first game. I think it's the glasses (and the fact they don't have their "game voices" on).
***** The game runs at 640*480 and the video was probably shot at DVD's standard 576 resolution, so technically the video is "more" of an "HD" than the game. Although, neither is.
The dvd version is so awesomely good. I just have the steam version, it has a lot of issues.. Mostly animations and colors..I wish I could get my hands on those DVD files without torrenting it. They're not selling it anywhere in Europe.
![[Interview] Acting and Character Motion Capture in Riven](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ik9dowUQlxs/mqdefault.jpg)
![[#2024MAMA] G-DRAGON - 무제(Untitled, 2014)+POWER+HOME SWEET HOME+뱅뱅뱅+FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ox29z5Nf1Uk/mqdefault.jpg)
70 years old and still have my original CDs of Myst and Riven. My children bought it for me when it first came out, it was my first PC game. Played for hours and hours, and it gave me so much pleasure and fun.
This game brought me and my father together at a time when we weren’t that close. That is game design.
I'm with you on that. My son, now 28, remembers, as a child, seeing me play it all those year ago, and now I'm watching him play as a grown adult with a passion and deep appreciation for games like this. It is moving.
*"my father and I"
"Me and my father" is horrible primitive English. You never put yourself before the other person.
@@brendanr1525 lmao dude "me and my father" is correct for this sentence because "me" is the indirect object, and "game" is the direct object. you would say "this game brought me" not "this game brought I"
It went the opposite way for me and my mom. We've always had a great relationship and still do don't get me wrong, but when it comes to gaming... sure we had a good time when I was a kid and didn't know English playing Spyro where she had to translate what the freed dragons said, but it is so obvious, today AND looking back, that she detests videogames. I mean apart from the fact that she has openly admitted it.
Can we all take a sec to appreciate the fact that this game was released in 1997, and it still looks photorealistic today? It honestly looks and feels more immersive than plenty of games released even today.
If the resolution was higher it would have been even more mind blowing, very excited for the remake and I hope they will include a point and click mode too
Cyan announced a 3D Riven rebuild 🥳
@@henrywalton5967 There are some high resolution original renders floating around, presumably made for magazine prints, and they do look fantastic. It's the magic sauce of the old SGI pipeline, with the classic renderman 3D engine.
I am in the middle of playing the remake in VR and damn...I don't think there was ever a game that could have translated so well into VR as Riven
Honestly think the original looks better than the remake. Objectively the new models are more detailed, but there's just a different feeling I get looking at those old 90s pre-renders through that gritty resolution. Just breathtaking artistry in defiance of the technical limitations of the day.
One of the greatest video games of all time.
I just played Riven again for the first time since the 2000s and the graphics and immersion are still phenomenal. I can really appreciate the level of artistry and detail now that I'm an adult and a designer. Also amazed at how much I remember regarding the puzzles, yet still have the satisfaction of figuring things out again. This game is one of the GOATs!
Update: I played this game last year for the first time since I was a kid when it got released almost 25 years ago. When I finished it, I really broke down into tears and cried for like 15min straight. The emotions that were attached to the game were just overwhelming. It felt like a real place that I suddenly could visit again. Memories with my late dad and friends. Unbelievable - thanks Cyan for making magic real!
Did you get a good ending first try?
they certainly succeeded in their vision of realism and immersiveness, which was unparalleled at the time. when i think back, i remember it like i place i actually visited, rather than a game i played.
Robyn Miller and Richard Vander Wende are really a perfect storm of artistic talent that really make Riven stand out from the other Myst games, and every other game in existence as well. I don't know if we'll ever see a game like this again. Outer Wilds is maybe the closest
"It wouldn't have been as cool, had he not been around" (referring to Richard Vander Wende).
You gotta love the honesty of these Miller brothers. Giving credit where credit is due. Add their genius and it is why they and their creations are legendary. Game-changing (pun intended...lol). Just admire this organic life story. A story that continues, and one we want to continue. So glad they are still in the game [pun intended again... :-)]. Much respect.
I really thought back in 1998 Riven would inspire the gaming industry to make similarly unique worlds and storylines, but it turns out, all these years later there is very little advancement in the industry in terms of pushing boundaries.
What about zelda breath of the wild and the sequel?
@@dan-star I haven't played those. But actually gifted the original to my nephew because it looked cool.
The atmosphere in riven still gives me goosebumps.. even 20 years later.
Just the best. People sat in my living room on my coach and watched me play for hours like support team. Beers got warm, people were silent just watching. Even on a workstation it had issues at times but was mostly a smooth ride. No game ever did that before. Never before.
I love these games, but the dark, slightly off nature of Riven makes it my favorite. I have been introducing my kids to the Myst games and they are loving watching me play Riven.
I also have to say, how impressive is it that the Miller brothers not only made some of the most amazing puzzle games ever, but they also did a bunch of the acting (and as an actor myself, I would say they did a darn good job at it).
As a kid, i absolutely loved the "rollercoaster" rides between the different DVD's. Now as a teenager, i am just absolutely fascinated by the graphics, the audio, the finesse, the whole idea of myst. It was one of the first games but even now in 2019, its still the greatest masterpiece that i have ever seen. I am absolutely amazed by this whole utopia (or dystopia) of riven.
"We were determined to do something better than what Myst was"
Me: "Oh you did! You most certainly did"
The best game of the series with the most demanding puzzles! My personal favorite game!
This game is legendary. Really unmatched by anything I've ever seen or played since.
This. I wish I could play it again.
@@jochemr.a.bakker8048 it's available on Steam for a few dollars
@@jochemr.a.bakker8048 If you have a pc and a Steam account or even a smartphone, you easily can.
Well, I wish I could play it again as if it was the first time ;)
You are correct. The guys behind MYST are light years ahead of even today's game developers.
This video really brings me back. I loved this game and the tone along with this documentary which I used to watch ALL THE TIME back then.
Can you believe this was made about 22 years ago!? Or even longer, it was released in 1997 I remember. I was 17 years old and my father bought this game... the whole family was sitting behind the computer playing this.
These guys are artists! That whole game is a piece of art... the graphics, music, atmosphere, everything! Still is my all time favourite game 😍👌
I am so jealous when I hear people like you recall how "the whole family got together". Like, my parents actively despise the medium, so I could never imagine having the whole family together.
9:50 See, this is exactly why I respect Cyan so much. Lesser developers might have cut the gate room puzzle, but they didn't and it ended up being one of the most memorable areas in any game I've played. Knowing how incredibly difficult it was to create, and how uncompromising they were in their determination to create it, only makes me respect them more.
I think you mean BIGGER developers because we all know companies now care more about about a release date and money than a finished and polished product.
Look at them beautiful 90s nerds. Those where the real nerds! God bless them!
Fantastic game :D
I love the sinister edge to this game. Myst is like a dream, Riven a bit like a nightmare.
I was at a walmart one day and seen this game for the playstation. It was 5 discs and the cover stated "Pack your bags, you're going to be away for along time" It was the most immersive year of gaming in my long history of gaming. 11/10
Myst 1 was only 1 CD instead of 600 floppy disks.
Games that were multiple disks were always fascinating to me. Most games were on 1, so naturally it made you think "this game is extraordinarily huge!".
Man that garage office looked like a significant fire hazard with all those machines and people crammed together (lots of power draw and risk of creating a fire), or at least power outages due to blowing a fuse
One of the most mindblowing games ever created. What an experience to play it.
Greatest game ever created, hands down. OMG that little girl in the village scared me to death when I was a kid. First time I saw her, epic jumpscare!
Hahaha same here lol, I do love this game, in fact I have a riven tattoo of the little yellow bug
Hammer of God Miniatures I tried replicating Ghen's rifle as a kid.... didn't go so well. Got into bookbinding instead.
@@hammerofgodminiatures Niiiiiice
Is that the girl that pops her head out the door after you knock on it a few times? Glad I’m not alone if so.
Played it as a child when it came out, playing it now on my iPad.
This is the greatest game ever created.
Seriously I would like so much to go back and try to get into the development of this game. Its like..game back then was somewhat of an uncharted territory. No templates, it was just creativity. You were not doing this only for money or as a business decision. You were doing it because you wanted to do it, for the love of the art. I miss that so much
Riven and Exile are still my absolute favorites. The puzzles and the magical worlds were just amazing experiences. Incredible and beautiful. I still play those games on my old machines just to be immersed again. Thank you so much for that.
It has been 15 years since I last played this game. Now I'm reminded how obsessed I was by the world's art and how it sent my imagination alive. Good times
the vibe you get from the rebel base is just incredible... it couldn't have been created more perfectly.
always ahead of their time! biggest fan! playing this till the cracking hours of the morning with my dad in the 90s was just the best! watched all walkthroughs of myst, riven and III this week! ahhha feeling Nostaglic!
Recently finished this game. It is definitely one of the best game worlds ever crafted! However, I was very disappointed that did not get to explore any of the hive world.
I'm envious of these fellas--they got to make of the best things ever created by humans!
Riven is a very unique place, like no other, and will always have a special place in my heart♥️ Thank you Cyan.
This game STILL holds up today, one of the greatest games ever made! I remember the countless hours of playing this as a kid with my dad, so many good memories :)
Making of a timeless masterpiece
My dad bought this for me after I completed Myst... multiple disks I met the requirements...system crashes and freezing issues on the train rides..which always demanded a disk change especially the cart heat ring mine ride..would crash more than 75% of the time..I had to give up on it in my childhood...it wouldn't be till many years later I could play this with out a disk change..Riven is the most challenging out of the whole series..answers that have to be discovered out through inginuaty.. continuing a unwritten pattern..not everyone can play these games..it takes a certain mind
Will we ever see ANYTHING as magestic as Riven ever again? I hope so. This game was fantastic. I don't think even the sequels can match it. J'nanin, Edanna, Tomahna, are gorgeous, but Riven... It's on a whole other level. And the music... oh, my god, I could go on about this thing all day!
The attention for textures and the atmosphere and how they made it all in a way so everything in the game would have a reason to be was not the same in Myst 3 and 4. Riven puzzles were not just puzzles but an integral part of the enviroment and the culture, so everything was alive and connected. Presto Studios and Ubisoft didn´t get close to that, and there´s the sound design too. Myst 3 and 4 are great, but the first two games of the series were unmatchable.
Haven't played since forever but it's still my favorite.
Immersion experience with graphics way ahead of the time
This little documentary is seared into my brain after watching it over and over as a kid. Something about listening to these guys discuss something they are so passionate about never gets old. Their insight that in order to make a world feel realistic, you had to show it as used and worn-down was REVOLUTIONARY. It seems obvious now, but CGI in the 90s had not taken that step yet. At the time, there was nothing that even came close to that level of realism; even today the graphics hold up because of that attention to detail even though by technical standards game engines have far surpassed even what pre-rendered games were capable of back then. Goes to show that great design and attention to detail is more important than impressive technical specs. So much of what these guys talk about still holds up today and could teach game designers a thing or two. What a well-made featurette. My dad always thought it was funny that the segment at 2:06 was edited like you were exploring the office as if it was in the game.
I started re-playing it again after so many years... i forgot about the most solutions and puzzles and im stuck already. But i love the game and the soundtrack is AWESOME!
how? Tell me how you managed to play it again!
@@jochemr.a.bakker8048 Buy it on gog.com. Works like a charm (though I experienced occasional crush so remember to save!)
This is one of the best game ever made, 1998 but still is one of the hardes and best game ever made! thank you so mutch for this!
11:45 This guy also worked on Myst III, Exile, I think he's been a vital part of both games and what made them both such incredible pieces of art.
Exile was also an absolutely brilliant game
Exile is the second best Myst game (after Riven) for me.
This game is genius on every level and you can see its influence in games like the Half-Life, Bioshock, and Subnautica series.
For those looking to play this great game again, it was added recently to SCUMMVM. Go download SCUMMVM v2.0 (or later), copy the files off the CDs/DVD to a folder, and return to Riven.
I completed Riven years ago and am now playing on my phone. Nostalgic journey,though it is like i never played it as i have forgotten all the puzzles😁
Thank you, such great memories of exploring the whole series, so long ago! It was clear how much thought and imagination went into its extraordinary continuity. Bravi!!!
eventhough my statement has been written here many times ... I simply have to (!) say by myself that Riven still is the most beautiful / aesthetic game I ever played and that I know of ...
Riven and the "Riddle of Master Lu"... among the best games ever ...
There were 4 games I played the hell out of and were stunning. Riven, wing commander 4, full throttle and the journeyman project. ❤️
Richard van der Wende also designed the two-headed Eborsisk in Willow. Such a behemoth talent but the humblest dude. He replied to some fan mail I wrote him once.
Yes, and that movie a few years ago John Carter from Mars. Normallly I wouldn't pay it much importance, but I noticed I really liked the feel and art direction of the movie ("wow, this is better than most scifi out there"). Lo and behold....Richard had worked on it :)
Robyn's music was so integral to the game's design, created such a strong mood of emotion and mystery. When
i heard he had rejoined Rand for Obduction and would be doing the music for it I was delighted but to my dismay the music had none of the quality of Riven and was not memorable.
Maybe it needs time to grow on you.
@@PikaLink91 ☹ I'll not play the game again
And now we can look forward to seeing, within another year or two (hopefully), a complete rebuild of Riven in the Unreal Engine. The development work was already started more than a decade ago, by an outside group, and I understand that Cyan has picked it up, in addition to their current project of Firmament. It's gonna looks more epic than Myst when it's done.
World-building at its finest.
Riven ist bis heute eines der schönsten und packendsten Games überhaupt. Wunderschöne Bilder..wunderschöne Musik...absolut realistische Geräusche...Für mich bis heute unerreicht!
The best in the series. PLEEEASEE don’t ruin it in the remake!
Love the point and click style @ 2:07. Legendary! Like the game!
5:22 "''cause you see a lot of computer generated art that looks plasticy, or new, or somehow strange; it doesn't look real"
Exactly, this is what bothers me in a lot of new games. The graphics are great but they have that plasticy feel. So whenever I hear that this or that game has great graphics invariably I am less than impressed. Because it is as if the creators forgot how things look in real life. That they are imperfect, weathered, old etc.
This is exactly my problem with modern games set in the future. Take COD black ops or infitite warfare for example, Everywhere looks brand new and clean and just not lived in but if you go back to the games based in present or past days they get the feel dead on. Like World at war or Modernwarfare. It all looks lived in and worn and torn and broken and all that good stuff :P But they seem to forget that in Furtureristic games. They look great but too great.
Riven is The greatest game ever released (That I have played :P)
Riven is exceptional in its photo realism. As beautiful and intricate as the designs are in Exile, say, there was a plasticky quality in some areas (ex. Edanna).
yup! the lighting is terrible and most games today look cartoony and characters cutezie. I only buy classics on GOG not indie"not independent" obviously developed. I miss the dark edgy first-person virtual worlds of old. Even "Shadows" of Mordor(Steam underpowered) looks a bit too flashy and bright. the lighting terrible and the character animation ludicrous. and the fighting control is sloppy and the main character is slow.
I love this game! spend so many hours beeing amazed...
Soooo glad I found this ❤
*This is what happens when you lock a bunch of geniuses who love games in one room, Playing this & Myst now is kind of like reading a book with pictures, in that your imagination can compensate for what the graphics will not do for you visually, I wonder if the developers veiled that intention, being a game about Books.*
2:06 OK the very Riven-like way the camera moves towards the building is awesome. Nice video production.
Cyan is a religion and Riven is our temple. Can't wait for the refreshed version. Peace.
Thanks for uploading this! Very cool video.
Riven is, hands-down, the greatest game ever made. Can't wait for Obduction.
*****
You shouldn't have problems with Win7. You could try the GOG edition which supposedly was made to run on newer systems. By any means, make sure you have Quicktime 2.x installed. It won't work otherwise.
Glad to hear that. Revelation is long and most difficult of Myst franchise.
finished it yesterday for third time...
Obduction is "hands down" a pail imitation.
@fucheduck So true. Pails and buckets both hold the same amount of water, but a bucket will just never be quite as cool as a pail.
Simply amazing this is! Thank you!
They built a world where I dwell.
Just played through this game with my son. I had played as a kid and never finished the game. We sank 30 hours into this thing and finally finished. It's a masterpiece.
please share how you played it again. what platform, did you rebuy it?
@@jochemr.a.bakker8048 bought on Steam. I think it was like 7 bucks
@@jochemr.a.bakker8048 It's on Steam, Playstation and can easily be emulated
I've never played but I just bought this on ebay for $8. I think it was a good purchase.
It didn't occur to me at all how much effort was required to make the scribe's rotation match with the maglev, it just looked so natural. Cyan is pretty great, I wish my PC had more than a thirtieth of the minimum VRAM to run Obduction
What kind of PC did you have at that time? xD
This should be remade for VR
I never saw that old man in the magnetic cart
@hemmojito You probably visited Survey Island for the first time, having gotten there from the forest/village island. In order to see him, your first time on Survey Island must be having gotten there from the 'bookmaking' island.
Ooh, I have your game and like it! Though I got stuck and never finished it. I should try again :)
Thanks for this video!
Thank you! Yeah, definitely try it again 🙂
They really should remaster this game.
Back in the day when people with passion created a place where they'd like to go to rather than a "product".
It's kind of crazy in a way how small the internet has made the world. In 1998? Riven was *real*. What do you mean 'game'? Everything back then was so larger than life
the riven game is by far the most beautiful and extraordinary of all the games you have made.
I recommend (and I would be happy to buy it) to make a Riven remasterd according to the latest video technologies. You would sell very much, because riven lovers are so many.
EmanuelePietro Buscemi Well, it's already being remade by indie developers. www.starryexpanse.com/ But I'd choose Prerendered anyday.
THANKS SO MUCH
I don't know about remastered, but I just re-bought the game on Steam (it's in the Autumn Sale). It has so many good memories for me, and I'm looking forward to dive in once again - weekend, here I come... ;-)
Awesome video! Best game in the world !
I cannot wait for the remaster/remake
omg that little girl suddenly appearing in the woods just standing there, got us incredible scared. We had to cheat when we got to the ”dome” part...That felt unsolvable....
I always ate while playing this game reminds me of Burger King.. now I want Burger King
Riven, the best game, everything after this was just so friggin odd and weird and Hollywoody.
Just make one like this again. Dark, gritty, scary, and the music... o boy the music..
The Gamin' Dutchmann
Those were made by Ubisoft. They kinda gave them permission. Now they're wanting to get their rights back for rerealsing and legacy.
And Cyan finally got the rights back and re-released them all in one collection in both physical and digital (thanks to Kickstarter). Even the two Myst games (Exile and Revelation) are now available in GOG and Steam after a long time.
realRiven in 3D like realMyst would be awesome!
If only they would do a remake of this game but with free open world movement instead of pre rendered movies.
Ava www.starryexpanse.com/
It’s happening from an indie team for several years now. Unknown ETA but great work so far has been published.
What I liked most about the game was how much more unified than MYST it felt. It was not just a jumble of CG elements but rather it felt like it was all of one mind... this video sort of shows why. There was a team, but really one person with a strong initial design aesthetic that permeated the entire project and lifted it to a better level - I love that it came from "some kid" not from Cyan.
Also, I believe there are still a few "image state" errors you can find in the original game. There are also a few never used scenes that one can not get to but are still in the code. But, this is still a great game. The end still feels a bit rushed to me.
wish this video was as HD as the game
Riven is the place, I wanna lonely live and die.....so much details of an old factory aera, where we played in my childhood....!!! It's so sad, that it doesn't run on my win 7 / 64bit :...( HELP!!!!
It's available on Steam (right now I bought it in the Autumn Sale for 1,49€), also on GOG Galaxy. So I figure if you buy it on either of those, it should run. I'm going to be so dissapointed this weekend if it doesn't...
PS: seems to work via Steam (I also have Win7 64 bit), I just need to figure out the keyboard setup for menu/saving etc.
Easiest way to play today is SCUMMVM. They added the Mohawk engine recently; it supports the original Myst, Riven, and Myst Masterpiece Edition.
You can run it! Just need the proper quicktime file and version, and running it as administrator in compatibility mode. I run it in compatibility for win95, deactivating water texture cause otherwise it crashes. You need to download and paste a Quicktime .qts file right into the game's file. And voilá, no problems! Google it, ubisoft forum's where it's at!
Hey! They recently released a kickstarter for Cyan to buy back the rights to all the games and update them to work on Windows 7 and 10! You can get the entire series on steam or GOG. I bought Revelation on GOG for $20 (Canadian) and it worked great!
That music.
legend game
Modest mouse uses footage from riven for one of their music videos
Link?
8:17 Looking like Oliver Reed there for a brief moment!
2:51 -- There is a stump of a tree that Gehn may have cribbed from Kadish Tolesa...
I’m still waiting for a movie!🥴
If I could imagine what the creators of this game were like in real life, this is pretty much what I imagined, lol.
There's nothing like it!
It's kind of funny - until seeing this video, I never really saw the brotherly resemblance between Rand and Robyn, even while playing Achenar and Sirrus in the first game. I think it's the glasses (and the fact they don't have their "game voices" on).
***** The game runs at 640*480 and the video was probably shot at DVD's standard 576 resolution, so technically the video is "more" of an "HD" than the game. Although, neither is.
jamest6474 Actually, it's a full DVD video disc this was taken from. I know it, because I own it :)
ok :) Cheers!
The dvd version is so awesomely good. I just have the steam version, it has a lot of issues.. Mostly animations and colors..I wish I could get my hands on those DVD files without torrenting it. They're not selling it anywhere in Europe.
come on don't lie, who went to up the resolution?
Poor audio :( Nice video :)