Riven was a sequel to the critically acclaimed Myst. Released to much anticipation in 1997 it was developed by much of the same team as Myst, although some new designers were brought in to help give it a distinct look to its predecessor. Much like Myst, the protagonist in Riven is not given a name or personality. This lets the player project themselves onto the character and play it as if it were them exploring the world rather than playing the game. Your main task is to rescue a woman who has been imprisoned by a writer who has created a portal to another world with a special writing talent. The gameplay was effortless, allowing players to explore the large world in a first-person view. The scenery and environments can only be described as beautiful. The puzzles were much more difficult than Myst but were hugely satisfying when completed. Rather than being frustrating you felt challenged by the complex puzzles. Unlike other games Riven was an immersive experience that sucked the player into the vast and realistic world. The soundtrack, composed by Robyn Miller, added to te atmosphere of the game rather than dictating it. Everything in Riven seemed to blend together perfectly to create an outstanding game. Riven is considered by many fans to be the best entry in the Myst as well as one of the best examples of a graphic adventure title. With high sales and much critical acclaim Riven cannot be considered anything other than a success. It holds a special place in many gamers hearts and is still loved to this day.
