PC Longplay [224] Riven

[@chrisjaybecker]

I worked for Broderbund as a Tech Support specialist on Riven. I was not a GAME tech, but I was the guy who walked through the game to fix glitches that people had during gameplay. This was in the Windows 98 environment. IN 1998. LOL. This video brings back a lot of good memories.

[@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252]

I bet you have stories.

[@TerpeneProfile1]

thats really cool, man. I was IN LOVE with myst as a kid. It was way ahead of its time. cheers.

[@stoney1742]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mecanicchannel8564]

Respect pour vous 😊

[@nestukiiii]

good work !

[@gregruelas7830]

This game will always be sheer magic. I remember embarking on this adventure 20 years ago.

[@Goland454]

They’re working on the relaunch 🥹.

[@aceilidh]

Same here. In fact, I saw a screen grab from Myst in a doorstopper titled 'Ultimate guide to PC 2003' )

[@janX9]

*20 Years* later and the visuals still impress me!

[@Theloserguy_312]

27 now

[@janX9]

@@Theloserguy_312 I think I'm getting old.

[@alihussain-jg7nf]

​@@janX9it has remake now

[@janX9]

@@alihussain-jg7nf it's awesome! 👍

[@johanneskingma]

Riven is in my memory as a magnificent one year vacation in a world I wanted to be real.

[@kehibbard1312]

I really wish there was a game now that had such great atmosphere and attention to artistry.

[@blacksunapocalypse]

I kinda-sorta got similar vibes from Soma. Oh yea, 7 years ago. How's life now?

[@nickt4200]

@@blacksunapocalypse actual lol

[@jonnyfavors7585]

I agree!! I wish I was there in Riven!! So beautiful...

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

Totally. This was why Obduction didn't tickle my fancy. It lacked that surreal atmosphere.

[@the_crazydane]

Rdr2 is pretty amazing.

[@bla2030]

RIVEN was a unique experience of my childhood that changed me forever. Unique masterpiece, one in a trillion. Simple as that.

[@tln6576]

Agreed

[@jlow532]

Amen to everything you said. I've still never really gotten over Riven. Best game ever made. Masterwork

[@thomasyoung7286]

@P Nis I don't know how you walk around without cutting yourself on that edge

[@thomasweathers7671]

this little interaction is basically the crystalline essence of the youtube comment section lol

[@dans13ify]

bla2030 I have all three. I had Myst on my Saturn as well. Myst 3 is leaps and bounds above the original.

[@retloclive9118]

This game sure liked the gimmick where you: 1) go through a door, 2) turn around and close the door, 3) and then find the passage that the open door was blocking.

[@Inventure751]

Knut Mueller must have learned that when making his Rhem series, because that gimmick is everywhere there

[@Yoctopory]

Right! 😄

[@MacPhantom]

This was one of the main reasons why I never even found Gehn's lab as a little kid. I basically saw an estimated 30% of the game and got even less far. But boy did I enjoy even this little glimpse; I soaked up the mood and graphics over and over again. Even just that opening, with that mysterious music and Atrus calmly speaking to you, is pure magic.

[@__Andrew]

As weird as it sounds my father bought this for me as a kid because a local gas station was selling it. I had a hours of fun with this game and even had a little notebook that i wrote all my notes and diagrams of the game in so i could keep track of all the puzzles. The game made me feel like Indiana Jones lol.

[@zada2423]

We all had our little book. No internet to look up how to solve a puzzle. My siblings and cousins would fire up riven every Christmas and play together

[@thesaneparty4079]

@@zada2423 My friends and I would fire something up and play Riven as well. It was quite a universal game- considering in a way, it's exactly like life itself- except the puzzles are much easier.

[@Patrick_B687-3]

@Andrew. I did too and I’m curious for you as kid playing this. Did you ever figure it all out and finish? I didn’t and was a grown man at the time. Hahah

[@__Andrew]

@@Patrick_B687-3 I do not think i beat it, i think i got about half way to 3/4's max. I was probably 11 or 12 at the time i played it and it was easy to forget what you had already solved and where you had to go next, so i kept back tracking thinking i had missed something earlier when i probably hadn't. If i had a simple game guide just telling me which set pieces was the "next step" in the story i probably would have solved it no problem, but that was the problem with old point and clicks, it was easy to miss something on the screen you were supposed to interact with. I started playing their latest game "Obduction" recently because it was free on Epic but got distracted and stopped. I should pick that back up again, definitely goes a lot easier and faster when you do not have to move between screen shots (funny enough there is an option on that game i think where you CAN play it that way if you wanted to).

[@hevnervals]

My dad got me this game on ps1. I remember it came with multiple discs, I think 4. I was like 7yo and I didn't understand any English so I never figured out how to finish it, but I remember being mesmerized by the soundtrack and the visuals.

[@OfficialDTHQDTC]

"Now I understand... endings and beginnings are within the Fissure, that Riven-cleft of stars that acts as both wall and a bridge. And though I am unable to understand how, the very flow of stars that brought my Myst book into worthy hands, I am sure, served as a safe passage home for my friend. The Age of Riven is closed forever, but the people of Riven are free. And now, I am at rest, understanding that in Books, and Ages, and life... the ending can never truly be written."

[@rmm2370]

This game is pure art. So gorgeous, incredibly immersive, with some of the best narrative/character development/acting that I've ever seen in a game. Seriously, just everything - the quiet, uncanny atmosphere - the music - the otherworldly-yet-familiar design of its objects - the perfect integration of the puzzles, which exist to reveal/conceal elements of the place and its characters, enhancing the storyline - just brilliant. Riven kind of ruined me for other games. I've never found anything quite like it. (Also Gehn's speech is so perfect. Damn he was a great antagonist.)

[@LabTech41]

Riven... one of the best examples of point-and-click adventure games in existence. This would define what that type of game is, if it's predecessor hadn't already done that, and it's a shame for the whole gaming industry and culture that this kind of gaming didn't and hasn't gotten the support and credit it deserves. Admittedly, the difficulty curve for the puzzles in this game was noticeably steeper, and the lack of any real danger, except if you made a wrong choice in a few places, might have left some without a sense of conflict or drama. This was a game for a slower, more explorative player, who could look at something as innocuous as an elevator coming down with a sense of appreciation for the artwork. The fact that you had to manually change disks for every island also didn't help, but later versions such as this were able to put it all on one disk. The LPer may not have shown exactly how he solved all the puzzles, but the basic idea was spelled out: the islands are chock full of clues referring to the islands themselves, such as numbers/colors/sounds/animals/locations/etc. The basic idea is that you wander around, making note of these signs as you go, which as a body of notes helps you solve the smaller puzzles, but ultimately the two big ones: the animal puzzle to get into the Moiety Age, and the marble puzzle to activate the islands power grid for the books. If, however, you got stumped, even then there were guides and the beginnings of online help to guide you, and in some cases just outright tell you the answers to the puzzles, although some codes were random and had to be discovered first before they could be inputted. Still, no matter what the gaming culture may move on to, this game stands as one of a handful of true masterworks of gaming.

[@gregoryvalentino6998]

totally agree. they just don't make games like this anymore.

[@ChadReitsma]

Obsidian was better. The renders in this are beautiful (and I can remember what other games around '97 looked like - lol) but I'm glad I never bought this one.

[@anti0918]

+LabTech As far as danger, on one end of the spectrum you have Myst/Riven, and on the other end you have a game like Return to Zork, where you had every opportunity to die if you didn't do all the nonsensical things the game required.

[@SarignCleric]

I completely agree. I recall how I had a big notebook with notes dedicated to the Myst series.

[@badams9854]

+ LabTech Amen bro! I bought both the day they were released, at the recommendation of a friend. I used to spend hours playing. It took me out of this world to a passive, more tranquil realm. I used to look at is as logic and deductive logic. How much I could read into the tangibles and if I were truly there all alone, could I solve the clues and pass the tests. I was alone on a world somewhere else in the vast universe. Was I smart enough to figure out how to make it to the end and survive? I love the simplicity of the "retro" genera, the details, artistic composition, and talents of the designers. They came up with some very crafty designs and puzzles. Myst & Riven were and always be EPIC in my humble opinion. Their concept and design were far ahead of their time. I believe that there's a HUGE untapped niche for this type of gaming/development, from very young beginners to those with high IQ's. I'd LOVE to have a series/market dedicated to this type of learning and mind development. The learning possibilities are ENDLESS and could be tailored to specific occupations/concepts beginning at a VERY young age. Each person/student could progress at their own rate. General applications could help the individual determine what things they have the most interest and aptitude in. Again, there's an unlimited range of applications for this type of learning (hint, hint, developers, hint, hint!). Not to mention it's fun and holds a person's attention much longer then lecturing and a white board. People can progress as fast or slow as they need. Both forwards and reverse. There's no limit to its application. Keen developers could change the ENTIRE manner, approach, and application of education and entertainment as we know it by using this as their inspiration. Do I need to mention the huge amount of $$ world-wide that's waiting to be cashed in with this type of development? !!!! Someone please...!

[@tynao2029]

As an 8+ year old kid, I was always enamored with the box cover art for Riven and Myst, it really drew attention walking around the game store

[@TheRandomView]

To date, Riven is still my favourite game experience. Immersive, beautiful and delightfully brain-teasing.

[@lukefarrer1616]

Quite apart from being one of the best games ever, there was an almost meditative aspect to Riven that put me into a profound state of relaxation. This game changed my life, got me out of a career in the law, and I now run my own VR company.

[@matthewsmith2298]

I remember trying to play this game when I was around eight or nine. Had no clue what to do most of the time. But I remember being both confused, frustrated and fascinated all at the same time. Think it was the first PC game I had ever played, so it must be the reason the memory of this game stuck with me over the years.

[@jesselynds5411]

i had the same experience with Myst, 8 or 9 years old, never left the terminus, but was fascinated by it still. i just played the VR version at 35 years old, and beat it in 3 days, i guess my brain just wasn't developed enough

[@matthewsmith2298]

@@jesselynds5411 Glad I wasn't the only one who had some trouble with it back then. If I'm honest. I haven't revisted the game to try to complete it. I fear that I could still get stuck on some puzzles. I had a simlar problem with Grim Fandango more recently. I guess me and adventure puzzle games dont mix that well. But I will have to give Myst another go sometime. For nostalgia's sake if anything.

[@jesselynds5411]

@@matthewsmith2298 im playing riven now for the first time, i was using this for a hint, but all in all i think this is a harder game than myst because it's all in one giant area with a few small trips to other ages. so the puzzles are further apart. it's why im here looking for a hint, which i didn't even get because the guy took the puzzles out of order so i stopped watching lol, i wanted a walkthrough not a cheatthrough

[@jesselynds5411]

if you play myst again i recommend the remake on VR, it's so immersive it's unbelievable

[@jesselynds5411]

but yeah, he did the 'circle of animal stones' puzzle without first getting to anything that gave a hint as to how to complete it, he only hit 4 eyeballs out of 5, im assuming there's another one somewhere, maybe he brute forced the answer by trying every combination in his first playthrough

[@vasiab]

Most immersive game ever. THANK YOU to all these people who created Riven, it's a masterpiece..

[@killer6468]

I remember 'helping' my older brother as we experienced this together. This art style stuck in my head and I see it as a kind of uncanny valley perfection. Truely molded my eye forever.

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

WOW....played all MYST and RIVEN! Still my favorites, most that came after did not hold a candle to them, and still nothing I have found to compare and engage in with as much artistry as Broderbund put into the creation of these games. Thanks for sharing, lots of great memories playing these with my kids in the the mid to late 90's!

[@reillygardner273]

When I was a little kid we I was tantalized by this game. Played it on my neighbors dads windows 95 pc. Still gives me the same chills today.

[@achillesb9877]

I used to play this with my father when i was a child!

[@zooropa04]

I like how Atrus at the beginning is all like, "Oh hey, haven't seen you for a while. So listen, I really don't care how you're doing or what you may be up to or anything, I just need to use you again." (I love this game and the whole series, don't get me wrong, I just find that amusing as it relates to the silent protagonist trope, haha.)

[@JCMPRadio]

I know right? It's like "dude, the Dragonborn has more important things to do than run around and get lost in your family drama!"......oh wait

[@lionlyons]

Like this matters after 5 years. And I’m fully aware that strategy guides are neither canon nor 100%. According to the guide, after the end of of the first game, the protagonist quickly (because all puzzles have been solved and all codes are in place) tours the four/five ages linked to the original island one last time (Atrus suggests that you “explore at your leisure” at the end of _Myst_ ) before returning to D’ni. So in game time he hasn’t actually been away all that long. I also suspect that the protagonist probably returns (I would) to Atrus pretty soon, seeing as Atrus is his only chance of a ticket home - and Atrus even hints that this journey back is a secondary objective of your mission in Riven.

[@jesselynds5411]

well, at the end of myst he basically tells you to go continue exploring the ages available to you, so i would have to assume that is what the 'hero' did for a while.

[@jesselynds5411]

he also warned of worse evils and that he may have need of you again in the future.

[@jcarter3238]

I remember being blown away by the scenery on riven. And having to use the book a LOT.

[@AroundIndiana]

I use to rent this game on Playstation over and over so many times I spent more renting it than it would've cost to buy it. I still think about it to this day. It was such an amazing game.

[@ericyoung1478]

Admit it, you've always wanted to ride those overhead tram cars in real life!

[@hatakashi1900]

+Eric Young I really do, I really really do

[@FireTiger941]

And why couldn't they build them in real life? With all the shit that Japan has, America is pretty lame in comparison, it's really a disgrace that we don't already have something like this in the 21st century.

[@funnguy6117]

Eric Young I have alot

[@yurifromddlc]

Disney was thinking of makeing mystland. Too bad they cancelled production on it.

[@thomasyoung7286]

@@yurifromddlc Can you shoot a link my way to prove that claim? I find that a little farfetched

[@Luke18_13]

This and the first myst, where the only games my father and I would seriously look forward to playing when he got home from work, and when I got back from school. When we realized that you had the ability to free look and not just point and go..... We were HOOKED!

[@OlleForsberg]

I fucking love Myst and Riven. The music, the atmosphere, the mystery, the design... Everything is just plain wonderful!

[@DonnaShepherdAuthor]

Thank you for the video. Brought back so many memories and fun times playing the game.

[@NickDeLarge92]

I'm playing this game now. When I will finish it, i will come back here and watch the whole video. It could take me months, maybe years. Goodbye my friends.

[@osseousrex2755]

Nicolas Natalini Haha! I thought it would take me years to finish any game. I've given up on many.

[@tucker8071]

hows the progress coming?

[@JamesManimal]

+Nicolas Natalini So far, its been 11 months. We need a status update.

[@HilarionOfficial]

+Nicolas Natalini Please, someone! Make sure he is still alive! :o

[@tucker8071]

Gee Man haha

[@karlharrelson1091]

I never got very far in this game. I just didn't have the time to devote to it. But there were places where I just stopped playing to listen to the sound of beetles buzzing, crickets chirping and hawks crying for hours. So relaxing and soothing. I am still doing it today, just on KZbin now.

[@magpiestudent9357]

I finished Myst with no hints, but Riven was far more difficult! The animal puzzle and the marble puzzle at the end had me totally stumped. A masterpiece of a game. Beautiful world, incredible soundtrack.

[@TobiAnimados]

Did you know that the TV series Lost was inspired a lot by the Myst games? The first time I saw Lost with the old bunkers and buttons, Myst was the first thing that came to my mind.

[@thomasyoung7286]

Are you just taking a guess that Lost took inspiration from Myst because you noticed similarities or have you read an article mentioning this? If so, could you shoot me a link? I'd love to read it

[@Cowonahill_]

The intro to Lost always reminded me of Myst. :3 I didn’t think it was actually an inspiration though.

[@TobiAnimados]

@@thomasyoung7286A very late response, but you can can go to the article of Myst in Lostpedia.

[@TobiAnimados]

From Lostpedia: Similarities and shared themes The writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have admitted to bringing a lot of the feeling of Myst into Lost. They particularly pointed out exploration of the environment and nonlinear gameplay as major similarities. “Lindelof: (...) For me certainly, the big game-changer was Myst. There's a lot of that feeling in Lost. What made it so compelling was also what made it so challenging. No one told you what the rules were. You just had to walk around and explore these environments and gradually a story was told. And Lost is the same way. The problem on Lost has always been, no one has told the characters what to do.” There are readily observable similarities between the two works, most noticeably the fact that both take place, in large part, on a seemingly deserted island filled with strange mechanical "stations". Both have an expansive background story which is revealed gradually through exploration. Further similarities include: Each of the stations (and accompanying Age) has a pictogram symbol. (DHARMA Logos) At the beginning of the game, the player is not presented with any assignments or directions, leaving exploration as the only option to gain knowledge. There are other people on the Myst island, using their knowledge of the surroundings to their advantage. (The Others) Much of the backstory involves father-son conflicts, and other dysfunctional family problems. (Parent issues) The main character(s) are stranded, and are looking for a way out. (Slavery and imprisonment) Additionally, in a spin-off of the game, URU: Live, it is discovered that corporations and organizations in the real world have discovered a way to access the Ages in Myst and have begun allowing "explorers" in, similar to the Hanso Foundation in Lost. The game's plot features two feuding brothers. In Myst and Myst IV: Revelations, complementary locations for the feuding brothers are routinely visited. Similarly, in Lost Season 6, the complementary Cliffside Cave and Lighthouse are shown to be dwelling places of the opposed Jacob and the Man in Black -- various caves and lighthouses being visited on more than one occasions throughout the Myst series.

[@TobiAnimados]

@d Yes, I totally agree!

[@Nothing-y3n6d]

Omg so many memories with this game 😍

[@HowlingMoonCinemas]

Kyra Ann And there are some really beautiful places in that game. It's still shocking how real it still all feels and looks.

[@NadeUp]

Some guy on the internet suggested me soundtrack from this game. I never heard of it so I looked for some gameplay. I am speechless. This is what , gaming was. I am really at loss of words.

[@Vits2001]

Oh my god... 20 years since this unique masterpiece was released

[@shadowwatcher3957]

OMG! I played this game ONCE when I was a kid back in elementary school! I never knew the name of it, but I remembered bits and pieces. I've looked for it off and on recently and only just now remembered that it was a point and click adventure! YAY! Thanks for the upload. Started watching once I had learned of a potential candidate for the game I've been remembering to confirm this was it, and yup!

[@dirkhoekstra727]

I remember that I actual had to create a map, drawn on piece of paper, as I was exploring that underwater track, in order for me to remember where the heck I'm going to. This enabled me to return and find exactly what I'm looking for without getting confused.

[@janX9]

Dirk Hoekstra same here. I made many notes playing games like this over the years.

[@jcarter3238]

Dirk Hoekstra LOL yes!! Without doing that I was a freaking mess. Then I got that thick gameplay book and it was a lifesaver.

[@RajeevTurlapati]

Yes. And many more such maps and decoded puzzles throughout the game. What an exercise it was!

[@Sleepless2night]

Holy shit sound effects are 100% awesome for something this old

[@takakhan-z3w]

It's 2021, and Cyan has taken Myst as gloriously far as I think it needs to go at this point. WE. NEED. A. RIVEN. REMAKE. YESTERDAY.

[@achillesb9877]

I agree

[@musicman3569]

Agreed. A VR version would also be absolutely amazing. I'll take either one! In the mean time to console yourself, if you love the feeling from these type of games (open exploration and the sense of wonder, mysterious set up, nested puzzles, riding in/on interesting devices) I recommend trying Outer Wilds. It didn't seem like it at first (the first part makes everything seem like everything's going to be breezy), but I was shocked by how it evolves deeper and deeper and by mid-game I had all the same feelings as when I played Riven as a kid, deeply entrenched in other-worldly nested puzzle solving and having epiphanies as the answers slowly came together into larger overarching puzzles. Cheers!

[@tombiby5892]

I’m scared it’ll be a disappointment. RealMYST looked terrible and in many ways I think this original Riven looks better than even Obduction.

[@mjrchapin]

This brought back very fond and frustrating memories--some of those puzzles were so difficult. Without some online cheats we would never have gotten through it. Totally drew us in, the rest of the world ceased to exist when you were engrossed in it.

[@MariKoo11]

Exactly! I couldn't wait to get home from work and get playing. 😂

[@snowdevil86]

Never consulted a strategy guide more often in my life. Classic game tho, best in the series imo. The Gehn "boss fight" is still one of my favorite gaming scenes of all time. Loved all the extra world building in the journal entries, too.

[@steveairport]

Many memories of switching between each of the 5 cd-roms every time you went to a different island. 17:05 "Please insert Riven disc 2"

[@DrHlus1]

And if I recall correctly starting island is on disk 2, so first time you see this is "Please insert disk 2" (although I had localized version, it might be different in original one)

[@caseycat]

Oh my god yes. I can't believe how many times I switched out CDs.

[@TAG77]

Thank you for not being so long winded & making more sequels on how to play the sequel than the actual sequel!

[@weorgegashington9689]

This game used to scare me shitless as a kid. I have a strong urge to replay it now.

[@piotrfer]

One of the games I've never finished. Beautiful and poetic, it takes you on a journey of imagination, but requires perseverance and TIME (which one starts to lack on turning 20). Now I'm 34 for and lacking time to even watch a playthrough. Added to my "watch later" list - hope to make it someday.

[@multiz0rak]

the only game soundtrack i've ever bought

[@McSquiddington]

Me, 57 minutes in: "DUDE, THERE'S A HATCH NEXT TO THAT DOOR! Oh no, he isn't going to crawl his way back through the pipe, is he? Oh, jeeze. Oh - Oh good, he turned around - NO! GO BACK! HATCH! CLICK! OPEN!" Other than that, the game still looks utterly gorgeous. I wonder why we haven't seen more pre-rendered games in recent years. The visual clout pre-rendered stuff could reach today would be staggeringly beautiful.

[@terrandroid]

absolutely amazing game, I had that game and I never got to finish it because it was so difficult. I had reached to disc two but then I completely lost it. I'm just starting to play it again

[@MrDexter337]

Can I ask a question. What made you come to this video today? I'm kinda doing an experiment to determine if people are randomly stumbling on obscure videos like this, or if they were specifically looking for it because they were thinking of it. I've noticed that whenever I search for videos with obscure topics like this, that a lot of the time there is usually a recent comment within the past few days or weeks. It makes me wonder what brings people to them.

[@Flyingtart]

@@MrDexter337 For me it was because of the game "Outer Wilds". Train of thoughts: Mystery > exploration > puzzle > certain "feel" to the game > Myst > Riven.

[@rspallax1138]

It's been 20 years since I played Riven but I distinctly remember an alternate ending that was missed here. I didn't capture Ghen or rescue Catherine but I signaled Atreus anyway and when he appeared and took the linking book he said "The book is empty, I don't understand?" and Ghen appears with one of his men and says "You never did!" and his man shoots and kills Atreus, then Ghen smiles and says "Thank you. After all these years I'm finally free!" Then his man shoots me too and the game ends:(

[@ItsMotoMatt]

This game is SO fun. I got back every 1-2 years and replay it.

[@AchtungBaby77]

What has happened to games like this? Simple & Immersive adventure games to test your logical thinking. Just brilliant.

[@ericyoung1478]

@Achtung Baby Games like this aren't necessarily a thing of the past (yet(?))--Cyan designed & released a game called Obduction in 2016, & they're releasing a game called "Firmament" sometime this year.

[@Popebug]

The CG in this game still holds up, it's crazy.

[@maoravni4203]

This must be the DVD edition as there is no "change to cd#1/2/3/4/5" when you travel between the islands.

[@uthertheking]

The last game my mom played (if you don't count Candy Crush). Got shot by Gehn and was shocked out of playing for twenty years now.

[@r.a.6459]

My mom never played Candy Crush... my sister did, as a mom herself. My brother played Myst though during the Windows 98 era and I watched him play.

[@vagbith]

I remember the first time I finished this game after almost two years. What a feeling!

[@TanyaKatherine]

This was terrifying to me as a kid. I got chills up my spine the entire time.

[@stevenews5910]

Wow! What a cool trip down memory lane!! Thank you for doing this. I was just going thru my filing cabinets today and could not throw this one out. I also have the 10th anniversary edition which just might play under Win7. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to try it out and spend days at a time trying to get thru it. Keep on gaming!

[@Arcturian1111]

I was stuck at around the 34:00 min mark. I'm gonna continue it now after 20 years or so. Lol

[@space_station_shenanigans514]

Incredible world full of landscapes and mechanical mystic majestic a movie or remake of this game would be dope

[@Kragatar]

I hope they make this in VR like the first one.

[@millsykooksy4863]

Such a good idea

[@aceilidh]

Not sure about VR, but 3D is in the making! Just google ‘riven remake news’.

[@fCauneau]

When I was young, I wondered what the public from the time of W. A. Mozart could feel when he gave them a "Zauberflüte". What they could feel upon the birth of a chef d'oeuvre. When Myst, then Riven were released, everybody could see, and feel the same : these will last forever, because this is pure Art.

[@danielball7657]

I like playing myst games while taking my painkiller medication, Anybody else out there as well? Does it give u that feeling of wishing u lived there? That relaxing floating in the warm night sky in an old timely steampunk blimp where you're in a basket feeling the warm ocean night air above the clouds hit u?.............I'm probably the only one that sees it like this......

[@lvsoad22]

How’s your opioid addiction ?

[@RanmaNene]

A longplay of Riven in just under 2 1/4 hours? Who are you kidding, that was Omega jet fast!

[@plugh1]

O loved all the Cyan games - Myst through Riven. Bring out more game with such great play and brilliant cut scenes please.

[@marshall4439]

Came here because I was stuck trying to find the 5th rolling eye ball (number 1) but then I learn so much of the game is locked behind a hidden switch at the fish statue! I had no idea, nor do I know how we were supposed to guess that was there.

[@mystman1210]

Actually you're normally intended to end up coming through that secret door from the other side first (There is another route that doesn't require finding a secret switch). The secret switch is simply a shortcut that allows you to go back through the other way.

[@afranca1825]

This and Myst were such great games. I would love if they would make a new remastered one that you could freely walk in.

[@ericyoung1478]

@A Franca There kinda is a 'free roam' remake of MYST, known as 'Realmyst'. Same thing with Riven, only it's called 'the starry expanse.' Edit: Cyan announced on Oct 31st (Riven's 25th anniversary) that a Riven remake is indeed in the making! 😁No word, though, on when it'll be released. Still exciting, nonetheless!

[@Yoctopory]

They are creating a realtime Riven remake right now!!!!

[@jochemr.a.bakker8048]

does anyone know how to play this again? I have always loved the complexity and immersion of this game. none of the ones after that came to this level of awesomeness.

[@HalfPopcorn]

You can buy it from steam and download it. It costs 6$

[@ambers9210]

Yes! perfect for me to nerd out on! Thanks! I've played so much, watching is like playing, but more relaxing!!!!

[@Joshcoshbagosh]

such an interesting old game. I remember watching my dad play it a super long time ago. Never got around to trying it out myself though. Wouldt mind it diving into it. I always thought it had such intriguing world and story(though I barely remember anything about the story). What a little gem this game is...

[@nathanaustin6625]

I used to spend hours playing this game. Fond memories.

[@akira_atf]

+Nathan Austin oh the best childhood memories, i remember when this first came out ! it was like cutting edge graphics LMAO

[@jcarter3238]

LilJapBoi Whaaat it's still good graphics!!

[@Fredaunaturel]

This "movie" is wonderful. You can even play with! :) Conceptors are genious. Thank you to have put it there.

[@someonezmom]

This and Myst got me hooked on PC games and then console...Riven was my fav. way back when. Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge and the Dragon Quest series is up there too.

[@squamish4244]

I always thought the forest would be a nice place to build a shack and live.

[@VibriBunnie]

+valinor I'd make a tree house. A nice house with great view.

[@squamish4244]

@@VibriBunnie I might - although I also might prefer the twilight depths of the forest to a sea view :)

[@yamahapopsuga-r5790]

one of the hardest games I've ever played. it is old, but it is a classic kind of good.

[@barnabywilde374]

i got stuck on this game a few times. Man, i had sheets and pages of notes and drawings. Had to get cheater notes once, and i felt so dishonest and crooked...

[@MogMovies]

Ohhhh, one of the better PC games of my youth. I'm adding this comment before watching the video, and I'll be watching this one happily :)

[@aramisdiabolic]

It would be an epic game to movie - at least I think so. The soundtrack is awesome!

[@Ewilds]

Riven was the last game I played as a kid. I still have very fond memories of it. Are there any games being made today like Riven?

[@ericyoung1478]

@Ewilds On May 18 2023, Cyan released their newest game, "Firmament". Conversely, it has mixed reviews on Steam, so I'm uncertain as to whether or not it's worth playing. And although they came out all the way back in 2016, games like "The Witness", "Obduction" (also Cyan) & some game called "Quern: Undying Thoughts" are similar to Riven (& MYST).

[@Kragatar]

This is the ultimate game for ASMR lovers. Some of the best sound effects in gaming history.

[@matthewwilliams3827]

The room on the thumbnail looks so so coool

[@Neelo5000]

I loved Riven It was a major step up from Myst and really set the tone for the rest of the series.

[@Rainwatercolor]

Got Myst when it first came out, went through about 3/4 of the way then son messed with my computer gave it a virus... next computer wouldn't play Myst. FFWD 20+ years bought copy of Myst and Riven said it was compatible but not to be. I was stuck again with no system to play it on. Gave up. THIS was pure magic for me to at least experience what I'd wanted to for so long and couldn't! Thanks :D

[@janX9]

I own *ALL the Games* , And all the *Soundtracks*. Heck, I even bought Riven Again for my phone! Biggest game I ever had on a cell, at the time. The adventure company has gotten a lot of my money playing these types games.

[@jonajonanen6458]

if you are looking for the fish its in 1:23:01

[@cyverbunny]

everyone here is playing this because of childhood memories meanwhile I was like: why not start playing a series from the 90s I just heard of in 2021 during lockdown no honestly the game has great atmosphere but it's a pain too I'm completely clueless most of the time thank god there's youtube now

[@IKIGAI96]

look at the shaddow at 21:13. it kind of reveals the main character

[@2461lostworld]

wow this takes me way back seeing as i worked for that company for 13 years. unlike Myst which was released under broderbund riven was released under cyan which had separated from broderbund and created their own company. i had loads free demos that i gave to family members and friends

[@2461lostworld]

***** i helped distribute the game everything was done in house from the conceptual art to the productions and marketing. it was first going to be called Myst 2 but the marketing department decided to go with riven. when Myst was released the entire company shared in the profits.broderbund had a rule whatever idea you come up with employed by the company becomes property of that company. rand and robyn then created their own company called cyan under the division of redorb. which is nothing more than broder spelled backwards.this was the last piece of quality work that was released before.the merger and hostile take over by the learning company. who then proceeded to drive the quality of our product along with the companies good name into the ground. along with letting go 50percent of the staff.

[@2461lostworld]

***** i used to see all those guys i remember when jordan mechner was about to releasing a new version of prince of persia he was this young kid all exited tying to work a deal for a film in the future. i remember brian and lance showing me the pre release screenshots of Myst telling me how it would change the gaming industry. around that same time down the street from us lucasfilm was releasing a new technology they claimed would revolutionize the filming industry called CGI they gave the programers the day off to go watch this film to see what they were up against. i was surrounded by some of the most talented illistrators,programers and IT people in the country. Do i keep intouch? Not really that was a different time the dot.com era. and after 3 mergers and one hostile take over i put behind me.

[@2461lostworld]

***** i moved on to other things. the gaming industry is a lot like the record industry. the entire company relies on that on big game from sales to marketing to distribution . the employees livelihood depends on that one idea. i was fortunate to be apart of Myst and reap the financial rewards. in profit sharing. i also experienced what happens when the well runs dry of ideas. it was definitely a learning experience in how the industry works. I remember on of the guys in the IT department after the merger predicting that in a few years there would be enough bandwidth to stream content and play video games online without having to save it on your hard drive. and everyone laughing at him when he made that statement. oh well who knew .

[@2461lostworld]

***** Cyan became its own separate entity under redorb in 97. redorb became apart of the entertainment division. this allowed them to keep a much larger percent of the profits from the release of Riven. when Myst was released cyan was a direct part of broderbund they shared a large portion of the profits with the company. So here is what happened a few investors from a company called softkey took over a small company called the learning company. they fired the employees. they then puchased a companey called mindscape that was located down the street from us. we had just sued them over the similarities between our printshop and their printmaster no love lost between the two companies. they then purchased broderbund and proceeded to put the people from mindscape in charge . that's when the hostility began. they then fired everyone in the main warehouse along with 50 percent of the broderbund staff. and that was just the first take over. the second happened with Mattel which was even worse. the third one was with a holding company . and that's the one where i was laid off.

[@badams9854]

+ 2461lostworld Please read my comment above regarding education and it's unlimited application to this type of development.

[@DyaMetR]

So many memories of me being unable to finish this game ;_;

[@unconsidered1]

I was unaware there were 4 endings. Even though it annoys me that Aero didn't show how he knew how the puzzles were solved; but then again this is a Longplay, not a Walkthrough. So I say great job, this game is one of my Top 10.

[@douro20]

I wonder if some of the graphics were produced with Lightwave?

[@Kabouter911]

We want a riven remastered!!

[@ericyoung1478]

+Alex de kock Who doesn't?

[@johanneskingma]

Obduction just did not do it justice

[@gregson99]

@@johanneskingma agreed. I mean it looks like a solid game but still missing that gritty realistic atmosphere most of the time. Im sure unreal 4 engine can deliver some awesome photoreal scenery though.

[@MavrikPhotografix]

how did he know the answers to all of the puzzles? This was a beautiful trip down memory lane, but I am still so so confused.

[@Cerulean0987]

I loved Zork: Nemesis. This game is very much like that.

[@clapstix3495]

That spooky violin tune is still in my head!

[@mikecook6104]

Shout out to the note bookers, diagram makers, picture drawers. Working through these games starting, with myst, was a pleasure and a pain 😊

[@Linkinpunk123456]

I have been trying to remember the name of this game for YEARS! I grew up trying to play this game.

[@jakedeane5304]

Damn exactly the same here

[@thomasyoung7286]

That seems to be the case with the majority of people commenting. A swift kick of nostalgia to the nuts

[@RileyAndersen2015]

It's a Sea Monster 1:23:03

[@matthewgardiner1970]

I cannot get past the wall prison puzzle. I click seven times in the dark I get to the water and turn on the light, go to next "Big Light" on left and turn it on then I go forward and i am in darkness no more lights and I can't find the hidden door. Can you help me please? Thanks. Matthew T Gardiner.

[@mongrelchimera]

Me watching this 20-25 years later and realised I maybe only completed 20% of the game lol

[@WyattGoulet]

Happy 20 years!

[@fetlix]

Classic point and click game, Love this

[@DJKawonOfficial]

the graphics so good it look like a movie. how did they manage this back then? is it painted or edited photos?

[@Ieatpeople2]

real actors in front of a green screen i had this game back when it came out and it had a full length dvd with it showing all the behind the scenes stuff about making the game. they showed they actually built one of the cable cars just to film that scene where the woman jumps in and the car rotates away from the camera. It was on par with making an actual movie.

[@mlpman246]

One of my neighbors had this game when I was younger. I never knew what it was called, but I recognized the plesiosaur like creatures! How strange is that?