Right!? I was so new to games when I played it, and remember feeling like “this as epic as a movie intro!” when I never knew a game couple be so cinematic. I feel like this one (or at least the demo) loses the momentum and impact of the original intro a bit, but the rest of it is feeling so great
What an absolutely amazing game! I have the original Riven on 5 CD’s (what a pain, but worth the effort), the DVD remaster (finally everything on ONE disk), all three Myst hardcover novels, the “From Myst To Riven” first edition, but I never thought I would ever see a remake of this masterpiece! It’s great to be alive to finally see and experience it - what an honor and privilege to see this demo! Thank you Cyan! I can’t wait for the official release next week!🙏🏾
It would be my dream to someday have developer commentary nodes for this game like Valve did with Half-Life 2+. I would love to hear all about the behind the scenes stories, problem-solving techniques, artwork discussions, narrative and gameplay adaptations and changes, etc. that went into making this beautiful game. Could even have concept art / developer note pop-ups. I would even pay a handful of dollars for that if it were DLC.
I love the passion and ideas that brought Claire and Harrison to improve or make this game what it should be possible! Truly an honor to hear and see what they're thought process is or was. Now I'm stoked to play this again, just can't wait like a kid waiting for Christmas to arrive!
The original Riven was remarkably immersive for just a hypercard click through still images kind of game and now more years later than I care to count I'm just grateful I lived long enough to see the day when I can walk through the world of Riven in VR. Stoked does not describe my excitement; I have to quote Fry from Futurama when I say Shut up and take my money!
@31:34 The thing I like about the old location for that room was when you see the hologram of Ghen in the other room and you realize, Holy crap, Ghen was just right in the other room. I just missed him.
I love how simultaneously this remake is loyal to the original while expanding upon it. Both of your passion for the project was so clear and I loved hearing all that you brought to this. I am so excited to play it tomorrow.
just played the demo myself and I want so much more it was so short! can't wait for the full release next week!. I LOVE that the puzzles weren't exactly the same as the original. I'm not sure if that's because of changes in technology or game design or specifically an intentional decision but it led to basic puzzles having a bit of challenge again! I had to rediscover solutions for simple puzzles that were a total non-issue after playing the original riven many times. so excited to see how the rest of the game has changed
i think the move to VR made it so puzzles and doors had to accomodate for it. biggest example in the demo is the padlocked chained door that you crawl under in the original. but in VR im guessing they didn't want players to have to get down on the ground and literally crawl under the door lol it would be awkward. so this version having you remove the hinge is a clever solution thats just as easy for the player
@@logprb5048 yeahh. I forgot they'd have to accomodate for VR stuff. I think the thing that threw me the most was moving that security chamber from down the tunnel to the big red building to behind the contraption you see at the start
The demo set at ease most of my doubts - which honestly, there weren't many to begin with. There are some differences, but they felt more like refinements than just changes for sake of change. For example, one change I actually quite like is that in the Temple Dome there are now lookout ports with symbols, each pointing to various locations in Riven. Having played Riven before I knew exactly what they were for and I found it elegant. They also still fit the world's mystique which I'd argue is very important. It reminded me of the tower rotation painting in Myst 2021 which has a sort of mechanical feel now with the addition of the knob (bringing some realism to the magic) and hints at its function, but it doesn't beat you over the head. Same with the paintings having handles. Both serving to enhance the world building, but also hints at their functions within the world. Anyway, soon...
I can't believe it's happening, and in VR! I teared up a bit. Kudos to The Starry Expanse Project crew who labored so long before Cyan finally got their heads out of their butts. :) --An Old Fan who still has the Rivenguild T-Shirt.
Oh, I'm glad it took this long to remake Riven, if only because realtime 3D technology caught up. If Cyan had tried to make "RealRiven" right after the first "RealMyst" it would have been terrible.
When Myst came out in VR I thought - Wow, we're so lucky, this is insane. But truly, we'll never get Riven. Now hearing Riven is releasing in VR too has thoroughly blown my mind. Day one purchase for me :)
Thanks for your amazing work! ❤️ Riven feels just like it used to! Really appreciate the added excitement of the new things, mom and I was in shock when we played through the demo and saw the bridge come crashing down 😅
Just want to say awesome work on the journals, Claire!! I noticed pretty quickly that they were actually hand written and weren't just a font. Seriously excellent, so much characterization comes through each character's handwriting and I feel like it's generally overlooked.
Dear Cyan, thanks for all your work bringing Riven back, but please give us the option for the old FMV's! Perhaps by freezing the frame when we encounter people? Can the original footage be enhanced with AI? The world looks BEAUTIFUL but the CGI characters brake the realism. As a huge fan who played Riven back in 97 I just cant see past this, it's so close to being perfect...
In the latest Myst release they added the original FMVs in an update which worked because with the exception of Atrus during the ending all the people you encounter are on screens in books. Riven is different though because you're actually seeing the people in front of you in person. They'd all look like low-res holograms and probably worse than the 3D models. In my opinion they should just reshoot all the live action with new actors and do what the developers did with 7th Guest.
@@Atrus999 Myst 3 and 4 did a great job with FMV 'screen lock' during character encounters, along side the ability to look around 360 degrees. And I'd be more than happy to have re-shoots with look alike actors (apart from Rand maybe:) miming the dialogue like you suggest. A lot of fans are making noise about this so I hope there's a fix down the line, riven deserves it. Anyway bravo Cyan And Starry Expanse for all the rest, it looks superb!
@@kevinthornton8480 They did a good job with the live action scenes in Myst 3 and 4, but they didn't develop those with VR in mind like they did with this Riven remake. If they did you'd see flat hologram people walking around with the world around you being in 3D.
I can't wait for this. The demo was amazing and brought me back. I still remember when I finally beat this game on a New Years night in 98. Turns out I missed one screen because I would always turn right instead of left and that was what had stopped my progress. Being able to walk freely through this game now was amazing. Thank you all so much.
Here in New Zealand I sometimes feel like I'm the only Myst fan. It's nice to pretend I'm hanging out with you all and geeking out to this amazing series.
i do wonder how much of the original team is intact, I love Cyan, and have played these games my whole life. My dad had myst on his macintosh upstairs and I used to spend days up there trying to figure it out, Watching him play over his shoulder marveling at how good he was at it. It is the reason i got into gaming. My lifelong hobby.
Rand Miller has been at the helm since Cyan's inception, but we pulled in some of the original Riven team members for this from-the-ground-up remake! Here's an interview clip with Rand, Richard Vander Wende, and Robyn Miller: th-cam.com/video/V_ylsP4DLeM/w-d-xo.html
I played this on my 486 computer back in 1998 with my 17 year old Son. Sadly, he suddenly passed away at the hospital last year. To see this sure brings back memories! I keep wondering if I should play it again. 🤔
I've been following Claire for years on Tumblr now and it's so cool to see her working on something like this. I know I don't know her personally, but I am super proud to see her getting a dream job like this.
Just played the demo myself before watching this. I LOVE the approach that was taken in this remake. Truly there is a love and respect for the original, but I love how there are those unexpected changes that makes it a totally new experience.... I did NOT expect that bridge to lower ALL THE WAY hahaha! I'm super excited for this!
I didn't think the Golden Dome on Temple island could get any golder, but the job they've done in this version is unbelievable. The subtle weathering on the lettering also works brilliantly
I remember playing my dad's original version of the game (the one with 5 disc's) I was never able to finish it, but I fell in love with the atmosphere of the game. I can't wait to play this game, I've already pre-ordered it.
Really excited for you guys! I wish you all the best with the commercial release of the game and will be more than happy to pay the asking price on day 1. Cheers!
The game is beautiful! My favourite areas are probably the Prison Island with the cut down sequoia tree, and Gehns Age with that added explorable area outside. That is Stunning 🤩 😮
As much as I love Riven, and puzzle games in general, there was always one thing that bothered me in the original. You are on one of the islands, i think it's Jungle Island? You find a door. It's a loosely held together wood door. You can't get through it because there's a lock on it. Then you turn around, and there's an axe in a tree stump. Sure looks like a key to me.
I think you might be getting your wires crossed. There are wooden gates at both entrances to the jungle on Village Island, but they're both unlocked, so you can just walk right through. The locked wooden gate is back on Temple/Dome Island. I guess it's true that you could realistically carry the axe from Village Island back to Temple Island to break down that door. But the two are so far apart that you're not expected to associate one with the other.
After 'several' iterations of Myst, most of which I bought, I never thought I'd see Riven brought into the modern day, and I'm very glad it was. It was great to walk around Riven again, this time in full 3d. Hopefully more Myst games will come down the pipeline, but for now, thanks for this.
Words cannot describe how overwhelmed with excitement i am about this game. I am literally going to spend hours on end playing this when it comes out. I played this game countless times since i was really little. So much so that i often speedrun it for fun. My record time is just a little over 10 minutes. And based on the trailer and this demo, this will not be the same Riven i remember from my childhood. So im going to have to re-learn how to master the Fifth Age. Its going to be so fun to have to figure out these puzzles again! Im so excited!!!
Just found out about the remake and I'm so ready!!! I've been thinking for so many years how I'd love a HD remake, and now it's happening... Truly a dream come true, Riven is probably my favorite game of all time
just played the demo, love it. we got the whole intro island to explore and it felt exactly like the Riven i know and love from my childhood. vibes are on point 👌 can't wait for the full release
THANK YOU FOR THIS. It feels like I'm home again! The only thing that could make this more complete is a Riven that wasn't in decline. An adventure in a Descriptive Book without contradictions.
I can feel in my soul that we are in good hands with the new leadership. I feel that they are people who love and adore Myst and have been waiting their whole careers to jump back in and continue the story! Thank you so much Cyan.
Yeah...i was kinda hoping for a eescaling of the fmvs or something. Its hard to reconcile the photographic backgrounds with the weird uncanny characters
Holy crap! No way! I’m sitting here visiting with my account partner who I did the retail marketing launch for Riven in 97 with! We were JUST talking about Cyan, Red Orb and Brøderbund and I searched google and the freaking relaunch popped up! WTF?! Hi, and congratulations Rand & Ryan!!!😂
This looks great so far 😃 Riven has always been my favourite of the Myst series; the beautiful and intriguing environment juxtaposed with the unsettling, creepy feeling of being watched has only come close to being matched by Myst III. Mostly though, it's the puzzles that feel organic and add to the narrative and world-building that really make it stand out from most adventure puzzle games. I'm so happy to see that this team understands what made the game work so well and have made additions that are really in keeping with the original vision. Looks like we have plenty of new surprises waiting for us while we replay a classic.
Can't wait. Demo was great. Need More. Thank you Cyan and will be getting the Vinyl once released. Myst and Riven were games I played as an 11 year old and somehow I had the patience to beat them both back then.
I love that this is essentially the same demo scope of the original Riven demo disc that came with later copies of Myst. Had a lot of fun playing the demo and have to stop myself from repeating again before the full release 😂😅 Also appreciated the updates to the map and that one little rug pull set piece surprise!
That brought back a lot of happy memories. The new release will give me a good reason to dust off my Quest 2. I first played Myst on the Amiga and I first played Riven on an old PowerPC Mac clone.
I bought the remake of Myst..if this Riven reboot is anything like the rich detail and thoughtful changes I saw with the Myst version, then I'm in for a real treat!
I really like that there's now a palpable sense that the world is decaying. In the original it always felt more like Riven's imminent demise was being told rather than shown, now you're actually seeing the infrastructure falling apart and experiencing seismic activity.
I played this when I was about 5. And with the opening in the cage, my young mind thought the dude was saying, "Listen up, listen up..." Me: "Okay?" Guard takes my prison book. Me: 😧
Will there be an option to toggle linking book sound effects? I never liked the generic swirly linking sound effect from Riven, compared to the really distinctive sound in Myst and the sorta combined sound effect in Exile.
I loved that you used real actors in Obduction and was disappointed that you opted for in-game characters in the Myst remake. Too bad you do the same for the Riven remake... For me the unique charm of the Myst games was always the embedded FMV of real actors...
Yeah. I'd just about come to terms with the last of the Myst FMVs not being patched (not sure why the bad endings never got restored especially). But it's too bad for Riven as well, especially for those of us who don't want it in VR. Oh well, there is plenty about it that looks lovely.
So wait... if Atrus links away in the intro, then how is he also repairing Riven while he is not there with the descriptive book? Hopefully we will get a good explanation for that 😅 Really excited though, the game looks amazing 😁
I just played the demo and the framerate is SUPER crispy smooth. not any issues at all (though my system is a little above average for most people that aren't gamers) I think their stream was just running choppy
@@techchristianmartinez1984 35€, but almost 25% off (26,41€, actually). Should be similar in USD. No clue if they got different regional pricing in Argentine pesos, though. Absolute no-brainer!
I love Riven, and I can't wait for the remake. Will there an option to enable the original FMV in the final released game? I know the Myst remake put those in after launch.
@@AnjektusStudio have you seen AI-assisted upscaling? It's fantastic, and could easily handle the job. The real issue is locking the camera to a fixed viewpoint and angle in order for the FMV to fit the scene. This can't be done in VR.
The mosaics in the gateroom seem like something Gehn would have had made for the purpose of indoctrinating the Rivenese. On the other hand, I wouldn't have thought he would have wanted them wandering around the part of the island beyond the drawbridge.
Just played the demo while my sister watched and we couldn't find the control room. We were far too commited to it being around the temple, lol. Great to see things are different (especially that bridge that falls apart, made my sister surprised when I triggered it). Only complaint is that animations look a bit stiff and that the steam vent on the telescope is bugged, but hopefully that's due to the demo version lagging behind the release version.
We will not be able to have a pre-order option on Steam unfortunately... BUT if you wishlist the game on Steam you will get an alert when it's available and there will be the same discount available on Steam as is available on platforms that offer preorders! Hope that helps!
I really want to play this, but I don't want to see any footage of it. It's been so long since I've played this that I'm hoping I won't remember anything!
I actually found the lookout on the other side of the maglev by my self and felt like an explorer for a bit. And if you zoom in on the steam there, you can catch glimpses of the supports and even of the prison tower. The satellite dish tower as I call it. So I wondered if maybe Gehn destroyed the maglev himself so nobody could get there except with the books...
Riven was the one I thought would never be done considering its size so this is a treat. Now if they can clean up Myst 5 with the same graphical prowess that would be even better.
It hasn't been removed! There is a comfort setting in the options to turn MagLev travel off or on (Options > Controls > Hide Vehicle Transitions)... This can be super helpful for folks playing in VR, 'cause that much fast motion can cause some players to be VERY queasy! Hope that helps! (If this doesn't solve it for you, please shoot our support team an email so they can help get you sorted! support@cyan.com)
@@Cyan-Official Thanks for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. That is great news to hear. I was disappointed when I jumped in the train, looking forward to seeing the animation in VR, only for the screen to go black and then load on the next island. So, I'm glad to know it can be turned back on. I didn't consider that but that is a handy feature to have for people who are effected by motion sickness. I've always wanted to play a free roam remake of Riven ever since playing the latest Myst remake. I didn't think you guys would ever do it. I'm happy you have because everything about the game so far has been awesome. I like how you have remixed some of the old puzzles while adding new ones. It made it feel like you were playing Riven again for the first time and not just experiencing it again, if that makes sense. You've done a great job
I'm not gonna watch this video as I don't want spoilers. But, to everyone complaining about 3D characters, how else do you propose to use video? In Myst, video was ok because the brothers were confined to the books. In Obduction the video was also restricted to flat areas, like a door window, for example. However, in riven, the characters integrate with the environment, and that can't be done with 2D video. Please explain how would you do that work technically, without it looking flat. You can motion capture, you can put video of the faces on the textures (which is not trivial), but you can't just use a 2D video on a 3D game and expect to have it all integrated. Or of you know how, please explain it.
Not toooo happy with the 3D rendered people, but everything else is amazing. Such nostalgia and loved hearing the stories and fun facts from these two.
34:20 I suspected this, but is this the first time that we've ever seen a confirmed garohevtee? Edit: Just saw that Rand revealed this symbol at last year's Mysterium with a large steel sheet prop. The video is on Mysterium's TH-cam page.
Is there a setting to turn off motion blur when you turn the camera? It seem pretty agressive though maybe it's adjusted to framerate. Are there framerate options?
Looks amazing Cyan! Just out of curiosity, will there be more hand cursors that is a bit more modern to choose from in an update? Also can you toggle to have the puzzle solutions to be closer to the original version possibly?
The default cursor is more modern, they just changed the settings to make it the classic cursor for this video. And some of the puzzle solutions had to be changed to accommodate for VR, for example not needing to crawl under the gate at the beginning, but I'm sure most of the puzzles are the same as the original. They might put in an optional randomizer like they did with the latest Myst release.
When I recently saw this for preorder on the Quest Store, I instantly had to hit that buy button, especially with that almost 25% off, such a no-brainer! Can't wait. Never played the originals, but the VR version of Myst was a total blast, so I can't wait for more VR ports like this one :) Hope it's crossbuy just like Myst. Having the PCVR version as well is actually a good reason to buy on Quest if you have one even if you prefer the better graphics of PCVR which you'll get as well. (still have to finish Obdiction and actually play Firmament, though...)
I always felt bad for "Cho". He doesn't seem like a bad guy, just naive and a little bit simple - very likely pressed into Gehns service. He did deserve better!
what this game is going to need is an in-game way to take notes. its passable in Myst but in Riven, where I need to learn an inworld number system this is going to be tough with out some way to take notes
(Edit: First, it's important to mention, I'm so excited and happy for Cyan, inc. getting all the money they deserve to start delivering these amazing worlds to us and a whole new generation after so long. And I'm buying this game when it is released in late June. It's one of my goals to always support this company and studio. That's how much it means to me. I grew up with these games. I just wish they could keep the live action. I know it much be hard or impossible to integrate the old scenes with all the new graphics and things. So while I do complain in the following comments, I do understand why it is the way it is. But still, they could have kept the intro, I think.) Why remove the live action intro? I much prefer that. The live action clips were one of the most compelling things about the games. Also...the game doesn't look very different at all. Just minus the amazing live action scenes. I still love the look and I love the personalities of the players here but, *sigh* it's just the the same without younger Rands beautiful face. At least we still get that warm velvety voice. What? No, I don't have a crush on Atrus, why do you ask.
This game is one of those remake you just never think is going to happen. Thanks for doing this.
This intro was so goosebump inducing when I saw it back when Riven launched in 97
Same. 💯
Right!? I was so new to games when I played it, and remember feeling like “this as epic as a movie intro!” when I never knew a game couple be so cinematic. I feel like this one (or at least the demo) loses the momentum and impact of the original intro a bit, but the rest of it is feeling so great
I played Myst when it came out... And then Riven... For all games.
But Riven still holds a special place in my heart. I can't wait to dive back in!
What an absolutely amazing game! I have the original Riven on 5 CD’s (what a pain, but worth the effort), the DVD remaster (finally everything on ONE disk), all three Myst hardcover novels, the “From Myst To Riven” first edition, but I never thought I would ever see a remake of this masterpiece! It’s great to be alive to finally see and experience it - what an honor and privilege to see this demo! Thank you Cyan! I can’t wait for the official release next week!🙏🏾
It would be my dream to someday have developer commentary nodes for this game like Valve did with Half-Life 2+. I would love to hear all about the behind the scenes stories, problem-solving techniques, artwork discussions, narrative and gameplay adaptations and changes, etc. that went into making this beautiful game. Could even have concept art / developer note pop-ups. I would even pay a handful of dollars for that if it were DLC.
I love the passion and ideas that brought Claire and Harrison to improve or make this game what it should be possible! Truly an honor to hear and see what they're thought process is or was. Now I'm stoked to play this again, just can't wait like a kid waiting for Christmas to arrive!
The original Riven was remarkably immersive for just a hypercard click through still images kind of game and now more years later than I care to count I'm just grateful I lived long enough to see the day when I can walk through the world of Riven in VR. Stoked does not describe my excitement; I have to quote Fry from Futurama when I say Shut up and take my money!
Thank you so much for making this available! I could get glimpses on steam, but it was not an optimal setup for a long watch.
@31:34 The thing I like about the old location for that room was when you see the hologram of Ghen in the other room and you realize, Holy crap, Ghen was just right in the other room. I just missed him.
I love how simultaneously this remake is loyal to the original while expanding upon it. Both of your passion for the project was so clear and I loved hearing all that you brought to this. I am so excited to play it tomorrow.
Shoomlah presenting Riven as Cyan official is the best possible timeline that I never could have imagined 15+ years ago.
just played the demo myself and I want so much more it was so short! can't wait for the full release next week!. I LOVE that the puzzles weren't exactly the same as the original. I'm not sure if that's because of changes in technology or game design or specifically an intentional decision but it led to basic puzzles having a bit of challenge again! I had to rediscover solutions for simple puzzles that were a total non-issue after playing the original riven many times. so excited to see how the rest of the game has changed
i think the move to VR made it so puzzles and doors had to accomodate for it. biggest example in the demo is the padlocked chained door that you crawl under in the original. but in VR im guessing they didn't want players to have to get down on the ground and literally crawl under the door lol it would be awkward. so this version having you remove the hinge is a clever solution thats just as easy for the player
@@logprb5048 yeahh. I forgot they'd have to accomodate for VR stuff. I think the thing that threw me the most was moving that security chamber from down the tunnel to the big red building to behind the contraption you see at the start
The demo set at ease most of my doubts - which honestly, there weren't many to begin with. There are some differences, but they felt more like refinements than just changes for sake of change.
For example, one change I actually quite like is that in the Temple Dome there are now lookout ports with symbols, each pointing to various locations in Riven. Having played Riven before I knew exactly what they were for and I found it elegant. They also still fit the world's mystique which I'd argue is very important. It reminded me of the tower rotation painting in Myst 2021 which has a sort of mechanical feel now with the addition of the knob (bringing some realism to the magic) and hints at its function, but it doesn't beat you over the head. Same with the paintings having handles. Both serving to enhance the world building, but also hints at their functions within the world.
Anyway, soon...
I can't believe it's happening, and in VR! I teared up a bit. Kudos to The Starry Expanse Project crew who labored so long before Cyan finally got their heads out of their butts. :) --An Old Fan who still has the Rivenguild T-Shirt.
Oh, I'm glad it took this long to remake Riven, if only because realtime 3D technology caught up. If Cyan had tried to make "RealRiven" right after the first "RealMyst" it would have been terrible.
This demo made my day!
Thank you for all the hard work on the game. I look forward to it!
Came for the gorgeous visuals, stayed for the Ghen roasting session.
When Myst came out in VR I thought - Wow, we're so lucky, this is insane. But truly, we'll never get Riven. Now hearing Riven is releasing in VR too has thoroughly blown my mind. Day one purchase for me :)
Just finished playing the demo of Riven Remake, even more stoked now of playing the full game. Thanks Cyan for making this happen!
Thanks for your amazing work! ❤️ Riven feels just like it used to! Really appreciate the added excitement of the new things, mom and I was in shock when we played through the demo and saw the bridge come crashing down 😅
Just want to say awesome work on the journals, Claire!! I noticed pretty quickly that they were actually hand written and weren't just a font. Seriously excellent, so much characterization comes through each character's handwriting and I feel like it's generally overlooked.
The demo is available on Steam!
Dear Cyan, thanks for all your work bringing Riven back, but please give us the option for the old FMV's! Perhaps by freezing the frame when we encounter people? Can the original footage be enhanced with AI? The world looks BEAUTIFUL but the CGI characters brake the realism. As a huge fan who played Riven back in 97 I just cant see past this, it's so close to being perfect...
Maybe someone could do a mod to do this? I don't know anything about game mods, but it would be cool.
In the latest Myst release they added the original FMVs in an update which worked because with the exception of Atrus during the ending all the people you encounter are on screens in books. Riven is different though because you're actually seeing the people in front of you in person. They'd all look like low-res holograms and probably worse than the 3D models. In my opinion they should just reshoot all the live action with new actors and do what the developers did with 7th Guest.
@@Atrus999 Myst 3 and 4 did a great job with FMV 'screen lock' during character encounters, along side the ability to look around 360 degrees. And I'd be more than happy to have re-shoots with look alike actors (apart from Rand maybe:) miming the dialogue like you suggest. A lot of fans are making noise about this so I hope there's a fix down the line, riven deserves it. Anyway bravo Cyan And Starry Expanse for all the rest, it looks superb!
@@kevinthornton8480 They did a good job with the live action scenes in Myst 3 and 4, but they didn't develop those with VR in mind like they did with this Riven remake. If they did you'd see flat hologram people walking around with the world around you being in 3D.
@@Atrus999 not really clued up on VR limitations but just looked up your 7th Guest reference, a reshoot akin to this would be ideal
I can't wait for this. The demo was amazing and brought me back. I still remember when I finally beat this game on a New Years night in 98. Turns out I missed one screen because I would always turn right instead of left and that was what had stopped my progress. Being able to walk freely through this game now was amazing. Thank you all so much.
Here in New Zealand I sometimes feel like I'm the only Myst fan.
It's nice to pretend I'm hanging out with you all and geeking out to this amazing series.
Definitely not the only one.
i do wonder how much of the original team is intact, I love Cyan, and have played these games my whole life.
My dad had myst on his macintosh upstairs and I used to spend days up there trying to figure it out,
Watching him play over his shoulder marveling at how good he was at it.
It is the reason i got into gaming.
My lifelong hobby.
Rand Miller has been at the helm since Cyan's inception, but we pulled in some of the original Riven team members for this from-the-ground-up remake!
Here's an interview clip with Rand, Richard Vander Wende, and Robyn Miller: th-cam.com/video/V_ylsP4DLeM/w-d-xo.html
I played this on my 486 computer back in 1998 with my 17 year old Son. Sadly, he suddenly passed away at the hospital last year. To see this sure brings back memories! I keep wondering if I should play it again. 🤔
I love that developers on this game are surprised by things they didn't know were in the game!
I've been following Claire for years on Tumblr now and it's so cool to see her working on something like this. I know I don't know her personally, but I am super proud to see her getting a dream job like this.
Just played the demo myself before watching this. I LOVE the approach that was taken in this remake. Truly there is a love and respect for the original, but I love how there are those unexpected changes that makes it a totally new experience.... I did NOT expect that bridge to lower ALL THE WAY hahaha! I'm super excited for this!
amazing how close Cyan got since all original assets have been lost
... actually Foone Turing managed to figure out how to recover assets for them, got a Special Thanks in the credits too.
They even kept the original pointer! ❤
Just played it, literally had me grinning ear to ear. Absolutely stunning.
I'm playing realMyst to prep for this remake. Can't wait.
I didn't think the Golden Dome on Temple island could get any golder, but the job they've done in this version is unbelievable. The subtle weathering on the lettering also works brilliantly
I remember playing my dad's original version of the game (the one with 5 disc's) I was never able to finish it, but I fell in love with the atmosphere of the game. I can't wait to play this game, I've already pre-ordered it.
the game looks really good but the motion blur gives me a headache, hopefully it can be turned off in the settings.
Yes! You can turn that off. Don't know why they did not do it in the stream.
Really excited for you guys! I wish you all the best with the commercial release of the game and will be more than happy to pay the asking price on day 1. Cheers!
Total nostalgia hit for me too. The original nearly bricked my pc but so looking forward to this update.
The game is beautiful! My favourite areas are probably the Prison Island with the cut down sequoia tree, and Gehns Age with that added explorable area outside. That is Stunning 🤩 😮
As much as I love Riven, and puzzle games in general, there was always one thing that bothered me in the original. You are on one of the islands, i think it's Jungle Island? You find a door. It's a loosely held together wood door. You can't get through it because there's a lock on it. Then you turn around, and there's an axe in a tree stump. Sure looks like a key to me.
I think you might be getting your wires crossed. There are wooden gates at both entrances to the jungle on Village Island, but they're both unlocked, so you can just walk right through. The locked wooden gate is back on Temple/Dome Island.
I guess it's true that you could realistically carry the axe from Village Island back to Temple Island to break down that door. But the two are so far apart that you're not expected to associate one with the other.
Great video! Any chance we can get a playthrough video with Rand when the full game comes out? That would be really cool.
I played through the demo, and so far it looks great! I really does look like the original, rendered, Riven! I can't wait to play this in VR.
After 'several' iterations of Myst, most of which I bought, I never thought I'd see Riven brought into the modern day, and I'm very glad it was. It was great to walk around Riven again, this time in full 3d. Hopefully more Myst games will come down the pipeline, but for now, thanks for this.
Words cannot describe how overwhelmed with excitement i am about this game. I am literally going to spend hours on end playing this when it comes out. I played this game countless times since i was really little. So much so that i often speedrun it for fun. My record time is just a little over 10 minutes. And based on the trailer and this demo, this will not be the same Riven i remember from my childhood. So im going to have to re-learn how to master the Fifth Age. Its going to be so fun to have to figure out these puzzles again! Im so excited!!!
Just found out about the remake and I'm so ready!!! I've been thinking for so many years how I'd love a HD remake, and now it's happening... Truly a dream come true, Riven is probably my favorite game of all time
Okay, 1) I am so sold, 2) I am 12 minutes in this demo and I need to stop because of mild spoilers!... Just can't wait for it.
Can you please add the ability to decouple the cursor from the center of the screen by right clicking? Thank you
just played the demo, love it. we got the whole intro island to explore and it felt exactly like the Riven i know and love from my childhood. vibes are on point 👌 can't wait for the full release
I have been waiting decades for this. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cyan!! ❤❤❤
THANK YOU FOR THIS. It feels like I'm home again!
The only thing that could make this more complete is a Riven that wasn't in decline. An adventure in a Descriptive Book without contradictions.
I can feel in my soul that we are in good hands with the new leadership. I feel that they are people who love and adore Myst and have been waiting their whole careers to jump back in and continue the story! Thank you so much Cyan.
The moment ad 26:32 was so unexpected, I literally did a facepalm and said "oh God this changes EVERYTHING!". So good!
The character models and animations look way better than the Myst remake.
Still not as good as the original FMV, though
Yeah...i was kinda hoping for a eescaling of the fmvs or something. Its hard to reconcile the photographic backgrounds with the weird uncanny characters
Holy crap! No way! I’m sitting here visiting with my account partner who I did the retail marketing launch for Riven in 97 with! We were JUST talking about Cyan, Red Orb and Brøderbund and I searched google and the freaking relaunch popped up! WTF?! Hi, and congratulations Rand & Ryan!!!😂
…and new team!😂
Sorry, I spelled Robyn’s name wrong.
And even more ironic I’m in Spokane. Mind blown.
Damn vtt
This looks great so far 😃 Riven has always been my favourite of the Myst series; the beautiful and intriguing environment juxtaposed with the unsettling, creepy feeling of being watched has only come close to being matched by Myst III. Mostly though, it's the puzzles that feel organic and add to the narrative and world-building that really make it stand out from most adventure puzzle games. I'm so happy to see that this team understands what made the game work so well and have made additions that are really in keeping with the original vision. Looks like we have plenty of new surprises waiting for us while we replay a classic.
Can't wait. Demo was great. Need More. Thank you Cyan and will be getting the Vinyl once released. Myst and Riven were games I played as an 11 year old and somehow I had the patience to beat them both back then.
I love that this is essentially the same demo scope of the original Riven demo disc that came with later copies of Myst. Had a lot of fun playing the demo and have to stop myself from repeating again before the full release 😂😅 Also appreciated the updates to the map and that one little rug pull set piece surprise!
If these are the surprises just in the first few minutes of the game, I just absolutely cannot imagine what's waiting throughout the rest of it 🤯
That brought back a lot of happy memories. The new release will give me a good reason to dust off my Quest 2. I first played Myst on the Amiga and I first played Riven on an old PowerPC Mac clone.
I bought the remake of Myst..if this Riven reboot is anything like the rich detail and thoughtful changes I saw with the Myst version, then I'm in for a real treat!
It's been 84 years...
I think you mean Kf years.
At least, that's my best approximation of D'ni numerals on keyboard.
I really like that there's now a palpable sense that the world is decaying. In the original it always felt more like Riven's imminent demise was being told rather than shown, now you're actually seeing the infrastructure falling apart and experiencing seismic activity.
My favorite game of all time. I am so thankful to be alive for this remake!
you kept the beauty of the game while introducing new things.
I played this when I was about 5. And with the opening in the cage, my young mind thought the dude was saying, "Listen up, listen up..."
Me: "Okay?"
Guard takes my prison book.
Me: 😧
Omg this looks so, so good, I can't wait. Just occurred to me also how gorgeous Uru would look if it were remastered in the same vein.
I hope the VR interactions feel really first class, this might be one of the best VR games out there, really excited 🎉
Will there be an option to toggle linking book sound effects? I never liked the generic swirly linking sound effect from Riven, compared to the really distinctive sound in Myst and the sorta combined sound effect in Exile.
I loved that you used real actors in Obduction and was disappointed that you opted for in-game characters in the Myst remake. Too bad you do the same for the Riven remake... For me the unique charm of the Myst games was always the embedded FMV of real actors...
Yeah. I'd just about come to terms with the last of the Myst FMVs not being patched (not sure why the bad endings never got restored especially). But it's too bad for Riven as well, especially for those of us who don't want it in VR.
Oh well, there is plenty about it that looks lovely.
So wait... if Atrus links away in the intro, then how is he also repairing Riven while he is not there with the descriptive book? Hopefully we will get a good explanation for that 😅
Really excited though, the game looks amazing 😁
I guess he took it with him?
the framerate is very bad or is it just me ?
I just played the demo and the framerate is SUPER crispy smooth. not any issues at all (though my system is a little above average for most people that aren't gamers) I think their stream was just running choppy
The game is not bad at all when you play. I think their system just wasn't up to snuff lol
I pre ordered at Meta Quest. Hurray!
Price?
@@techchristianmartinez1984 $30
@@techchristianmartinez1984 It's normally $34.99, but it's on sale for $30.99 if you preorder before launch day. :)
@@techchristianmartinez1984 35€, but almost 25% off (26,41€, actually). Should be similar in USD. No clue if they got different regional pricing in Argentine pesos, though. Absolute no-brainer!
@@techchristianmartinez1984 I received a discount from pre order and final cost with tax is 33.55
It must be great to work on such a game. Like bringing to life an old memory. And you seem like you had and are having a lot of fun with it.
I love Riven, and I can't wait for the remake. Will there an option to enable the original FMV in the final released game? I know the Myst remake put those in after launch.
Myst and Riven were my childhood.....Cant wait to play Riven again!
Oh wow this looks amazing 😍😍😍
I really hope you give an option to put back the live action scenes in the game. They look so much better than the CGI
Well! If you like to look on wall of pixels then you can ask Cyan to make that for you. The live video are not high resolution to be used. It is 2024.
@@AnjektusStudio have you seen AI-assisted upscaling? It's fantastic, and could easily handle the job.
The real issue is locking the camera to a fixed viewpoint and angle in order for the FMV to fit the scene. This can't be done in VR.
The mosaics in the gateroom seem like something Gehn would have had made for the purpose of indoctrinating the Rivenese. On the other hand, I wouldn't have thought he would have wanted them wandering around the part of the island beyond the drawbridge.
Just played the demo while my sister watched and we couldn't find the control room. We were far too commited to it being around the temple, lol.
Great to see things are different (especially that bridge that falls apart, made my sister surprised when I triggered it).
Only complaint is that animations look a bit stiff and that the steam vent on the telescope is bugged, but hopefully that's due to the demo version lagging behind the release version.
When can i preorder it on Steam? It comes out in a week.
We will not be able to have a pre-order option on Steam unfortunately... BUT if you wishlist the game on Steam you will get an alert when it's available and there will be the same discount available on Steam as is available on platforms that offer preorders! Hope that helps!
I really want to play this, but I don't want to see any footage of it. It's been so long since I've played this that I'm hoping I won't remember anything!
I actually found the lookout on the other side of the maglev by my self and felt like an explorer for a bit. And if you zoom in on the steam there, you can catch glimpses of the supports and even of the prison tower. The satellite dish tower as I call it. So I wondered if maybe Gehn destroyed the maglev himself so nobody could get there except with the books...
Riven was the one I thought would never be done considering its size so this is a treat.
Now if they can clean up Myst 5 with the same graphical prowess that would be even better.
Why was the traveling animation for the rail car in between islands removed?
It hasn't been removed!
There is a comfort setting in the options to turn MagLev travel off or on (Options > Controls > Hide Vehicle Transitions)... This can be super helpful for folks playing in VR, 'cause that much fast motion can cause some players to be VERY queasy! Hope that helps!
(If this doesn't solve it for you, please shoot our support team an email so they can help get you sorted! support@cyan.com)
@@Cyan-Official Thanks for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. That is great news to hear. I was disappointed when I jumped in the train, looking forward to seeing the animation in VR, only for the screen to go black and then load on the next island. So, I'm glad to know it can be turned back on. I didn't consider that but that is a handy feature to have for people who are effected by motion sickness.
I've always wanted to play a free roam remake of Riven ever since playing the latest Myst remake. I didn't think you guys would ever do it. I'm happy you have because everything about the game so far has been awesome. I like how you have remixed some of the old puzzles while adding new ones. It made it feel like you were playing Riven again for the first time and not just experiencing it again, if that makes sense. You've done a great job
Immediately clicked off the video to go download that demo 💨
I'm not gonna watch this video as I don't want spoilers.
But, to everyone complaining about 3D characters, how else do you propose to use video?
In Myst, video was ok because the brothers were confined to the books. In Obduction the video was also restricted to flat areas, like a door window, for example.
However, in riven, the characters integrate with the environment, and that can't be done with 2D video. Please explain how would you do that work technically, without it looking flat. You can motion capture, you can put video of the faces on the textures (which is not trivial), but you can't just use a 2D video on a 3D game and expect to have it all integrated. Or of you know how, please explain it.
Wow 👏 stellar work
i cant believe how good it looks
Not toooo happy with the 3D rendered people, but everything else is amazing.
Such nostalgia and loved hearing the stories and fun facts from these two.
34:20 I suspected this, but is this the first time that we've ever seen a confirmed garohevtee?
Edit: Just saw that Rand revealed this symbol at last year's Mysterium with a large steel sheet prop. The video is on Mysterium's TH-cam page.
Is there a setting to turn off motion blur when you turn the camera? It seem pretty agressive though maybe it's adjusted to framerate. Are there framerate options?
You can yurn of the motion blir and their is at least 2 frame rate options
Looks amazing Cyan! Just out of curiosity, will there be more hand cursors that is a bit more modern to choose from in an update? Also can you toggle to have the puzzle solutions to be closer to the original version possibly?
The default cursor is more modern, they just changed the settings to make it the classic cursor for this video. And some of the puzzle solutions had to be changed to accommodate for VR, for example not needing to crawl under the gate at the beginning, but I'm sure most of the puzzles are the same as the original. They might put in an optional randomizer like they did with the latest Myst release.
I got that book but I think the battery died. Can you tell me how to fix it?
whats up with the frame rate?
7:49 Didn't Ubisoft Montreal do a choice of skintones for the hand cursor in Myst IV too? Though they also did it as a 3D animated hand.
When I recently saw this for preorder on the Quest Store, I instantly had to hit that buy button, especially with that almost 25% off, such a no-brainer! Can't wait. Never played the originals, but the VR version of Myst was a total blast, so I can't wait for more VR ports like this one :)
Hope it's crossbuy just like Myst. Having the PCVR version as well is actually a good reason to buy on Quest if you have one even if you prefer the better graphics of PCVR which you'll get as well.
(still have to finish Obdiction and actually play Firmament, though...)
I always felt bad for "Cho". He doesn't seem like a bad guy, just naive and a little bit simple - very likely pressed into Gehns service. He did deserve better!
It's said that in the canon, he did survive and make it to Tay (the Rebel Age) before Riven collapsed.
what this game is going to need is an in-game way to take notes. its passable in Myst but in Riven, where I need to learn an inworld number system this is going to be tough with out some way to take notes
In the demo you can take both pictures and notes. I'm still bringing out my pen and paper though for that nostalgia vibe.
@@Atrus999 that's cool. I love physical pen and paper but in VR needing to take off the headset your use Pass through is a bit too much
when it releases in full its going to put modern games to shame.
(Edit: First, it's important to mention, I'm so excited and happy for Cyan, inc. getting all the money they deserve to start delivering these amazing worlds to us and a whole new generation after so long. And I'm buying this game when it is released in late June. It's one of my goals to always support this company and studio. That's how much it means to me. I grew up with these games. I just wish they could keep the live action. I know it much be hard or impossible to integrate the old scenes with all the new graphics and things. So while I do complain in the following comments, I do understand why it is the way it is. But still, they could have kept the intro, I think.)
Why remove the live action intro? I much prefer that.
The live action clips were one of the most compelling things about the games.
Also...the game doesn't look very different at all. Just minus the amazing live action scenes. I still love the look and I love the personalities of the players here but, *sigh* it's just the the same without younger Rands beautiful face. At least we still get that warm velvety voice. What? No, I don't have a crush on Atrus, why do you ask.