Myst III: Exile (2001 Video Game) User Reviews

Spend the evening in the great outdoors. It's the journey, not the goal.

[johnk73 · 8/10 · 3 January 2004]

Game sound is very important to me. I wear headphones, so if a game has good stereo sound, I almost feel as if I am there. Good music can also add emotion to a game. This game has all that (as did the original Myst), wonderful raytraced graphics, and seamless Quicktime overlays. For me, it held up very well, even though it was released three years ago.

Effects. Not only are sound effects panned correctly when you turn around, they were recorded well in stereo, so sound great. Wind chimes, wind, ocean water, river water, creaking bridges, clanking machines. Effect sounds are imperceptibly looped. They get muffled when you enter a tunnel. I sometimes leave the windchimes running while I'm reading or doing paperwork; the quality is that good.

Music. Each level/section has its own theme music. Segments are played at random intervals, to add ambiance, without getting tedious. The Options menu has a "Music frequency" control, so you can control how often music is played. When not playing the game, load the M3Data subdirectory into your MP3 player, to hear all the pretty themes again (1.5 hours of mp3's!). Occasional choral accompaniment adds even more emotion. Music themes are often heavily panned -- I suppose to make you feel that the theme is all around, or following you around. And also to spook you. If you really like the music, there is a Jack Wall soundtrack CD, though it is currently out of print.

Graphics. Myst depends heavily on realistic graphics to increase immersion. While 3d graphic cards keep improving, raytracing still looks better. The large storage capacity of CD media allows the Myst games to avoid the downside of raytracing: rendering speed. Exile adds the ability to "turn around" at each location -- the render is for an entire sphere, rather than just the rectangle of the monitor screen. Quicktime movies allow playing back video recordings left by characters in the game. But they also permit animation of gadgets, machines, or even an alien squirrel. The transitions between the raytraced images and the animations are almost imperceptible.

Puzzles. I always have trouble with them, though I can usually solve one or two in an evening. Any harder though, and I would probably have gotten tired of seeing the same level for too long.

Media. The "anniversary" edition of the Myst trilogy is on a DVD-ROM (at about what I paid for Exile alone). This would remove the need to switch between the four CD's, or give up 2 GB of my hard drive space for the "full" install. If I had it to do over, I would have bought the DVD version. I think that all versions require a non-copyable key disk to be in the CD drive, or they refuse to start up. My CD version certainly did.

Crashing during the movies/animations? My marginal laptop CD drive (Samsung 308B) corrupted about two data files per CD, during the "full" install. After spending about 5 hours -- upgrading my video and sound card firmware and drivers, trying multiple versions of DirectX, updating Quicktime, and banging my head, I thought to diff files. It was the CD drive. Fortunately, the "full" install copies the CD's verbatim to the hard drive. To fix, I just copied the CD "Data" directories across the network, from a computer with a better CD drive.

Game trailer / advertisement. Search apple.com for "myst exile".

Summary. I love the Myst games, because I feel like I have spent the evening outside, in beautiful natural settings. Even if you don't like puzzles, this is still a place you should visit. Cheat your way through the game, if needed, just so you can see all the beautiful worlds. Go for the journey, not the goal.

For an even more immersive experience, try RealMyst. It is a remake of Myst, with interactive (ala Quake) graphics. Search apple.com for the Mac demo, and gamesdomain.com for the PC demo. (Many sites have bad links to the PC demo, so keep looking.)

Jan '05 update: Official site (myst3.com) is gone. Use a web search to find trailer: myst3_480.mov

Absolutely Breathtaking

[jsteele1234 · 9/10 · 8 October 2001]

Exile delivers to be an excellent game for any fan. Although it was made by a different company than the original MYST and Riven, it still stays true to the complex MYST storyline. My only problems with it is that the specs for the game are a little high and a bit of the acting could've been better. Brad Dourif played an excellent mad man, but Rand Miller's acting skills seem to have gone down since the original MYST, and the new Catherine actress just didn't seem to fit the role just right. But it's still a challenging puzzle game with outstanding effects. Worth the money.

Amazing

[PhoenixBlade · 8/10 · 8 October 2001]

By far the best Myst game, Myst III: Exile tells the story of a man separated from his Age (Brad Dourif in an amazing acting performance) and how Atrus's (Rand Miller, one of the creators of Myst) sons Sirrus and Achenar corrupted the people of Narayan and twisted the lessons they were to learn in each of the Ages their father designed.

The graphics are superb, the story is told in an interesting way, the sounds and music are incredible and each Age is so different and unique from one another (in puzzles and atmosphere) that you really feel like you're there.

Some odd puzzles of trial-and-error mar what would otherwise be the perfect adventure game.

So real you're almost there.

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 10/10 · 9 October 2005]

I've had Myst III for almost 4 years. Yes, it's taken me that long to finish it. But it sure is a wonderful game. In terms of graphics, Riven was a simple step up from Myst. But Myst III adds a whole new level of realism to the franchise.

The main new feature is that you can look anywhere you want in any direction withing the photo-realistic worlds when before you could only look at a limited amount of certain things. These worlds are empty but beautiful to look at and have an eerie, ghostly atmosphere to them. The graphics are so convincing that the roller-coaster ride in the middle of the game will make you feel like you're really there. Not only do the graphics stand out but sound effects pan across the sound-field when you spin around and wind whistles between the rocks.

The story involves the maniacal sons of Atrus (that would be Sirrus and Achenar) continuing to wreak havoc through-out the ages. They have destroyed a world known as Narayan and left sole-survivor in exile on the island of J'Nanin. This man is Saavedro (Brad Dourif), who ultimately blames Atrus for his sons going off the deep end.

Atrus (played by Rand Miller as always) calls upon you to go to J'Nanin and find Saavedro, who has stolen Atrus new age Raleeshan. Saavedro traps you into going through many different worlds, unlocking secrets, finding clues and seeing for yourself what Sirrus and Achenar did to Narayan. Each world has a different look from the last but still retains that spooky feeling no matter if your in a swamp, caverns, beach or mountaintop.

But still, the most impressive thing about Myst III is Jack Wall's brilliant score, which is simultaneously haunting, beautiful, dark and Gothic. He seamlessly blends magical with choral and gives us a highly thematic score with surpasses that of most big-budget movies. Definitely the best score a video-game has ever known. And that's a pretty big statement.

I got the Limited Collector's Edition of this game which comes with the score CD (now very hard to find and very expensive) a 'making of' CD, the Prima Official Strategy Guide and lots of other inserts. The game (at the time of this certain publishing) was spread over 4 discs and it became very annoying switching between them all. I minor quibble though.

Overall, I highly recommend Myst III, it's not just a game, it's a journey.

Wow.

[sonofagun7 · 10/10 · 6 June 2001]

This game graphically alone is astounding. While the movement is still point to point, which is somewhat of a trademark of the Myst games, you have complete spherical vision. There is no place you cannot look. And this is at no cost to the graphics which are stunning. I stumbled through the game for about four hours and didn't get anything accomplished just because I couldn't stop looking at everything. That along with the sounds and music make the unreal environments seem real. The puzzles are unique and imaginative. Definitely impressive. I cannot recommend this game enough.

The classic game series takes another step.

[JG2001 · 10/10 · 4 September 2001]

Myst III continues the saga of Myst and Riven with a new perspective on things. No longer limited to purely static images with only minimal scenery animation, the game's technical leaps help destroy the fuel that the series' denouncers have used against it.

Taking the first two games' approach to puzzle solving, you'll still be left out in the open, having to search for the proper clues in order to progress, but unlike in Riven, you won't have to do quite as much footwork to go from clue to puzzle or to see the results that the solved puzzle brings.

The quality of acting in Myst III leaves the performances of the majority of games with live actors in the dust. It would be hard to imagine a Myst game without Rand Miller portraying Atrus, but Hollywood actor Brad Dourif also appears in the game as the central antagonist. The direction seems very competent, unlike in a game such as Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun. You know it can't be good directing when even James Earl Jones looks wooden!

With all that said, if you enjoyed Myst and Riven, you will undoubtably find enjoyment in Myst III: Exile. If you're one of the critics that despised the first two installments, give the game a try anyway. You may end up enjoying it.

the best game i've ever seen

[caldicottrichie · 3 September 2002]

Myst III: Exile is the finest game ever, not only are the graphics spectacular and the sound amazing (the soundtrack alone is equal to if not better than most movie soundtracks), but the surreal location actually seems believable. Just like the backgrounds of the Final Fantasy games; the world does look real.

And as if that's not recomendation enough, one of the main characters is played by Brad Dourif. As I'm writing this I am trying to think of a critisism for the game and I can't think of a single one. The advance from Myst to Riven was awesome but the advance from Riven to Exile is far beyond anything I could have imagined.

The game is also suitable for players of any age although even the cleverest of adults will strugle with some of the puzzles.

11 out of 10 and even with that score I'm being mean.

The best keeps getting better

[mordkoff · 10/10 · 12 August 2001]

The puzzles are harder and more intertwined, the endings are dramatic, the visual effects and navigation are still the best, and there are several great surprises. I can't wait for MYST IV

Quite the Experience!

[dkinrys · 10/10 · 5 May 2002]

I just finished Exile about a day ago and I am still impressed just thinking about the game. Everything, including sound, graphics, music, story and acting all came together to create this masterpiece.

I could talk about all the technical aspects of the game, but I'll focus more on the movie aspects, namely story and acting. Like Myst and Riven, you explore predominantly empty worlds, with the occasional actor to keep you company. The story is told by finding messages and journal pages left behind by the villain of the game. The story is not complicated, but it is enough to keep the player motivated until the end of the game.

As for the acting, everybody holds their weight. You see characters only rarely. Atrus, played by Rand Miller, appears mainly at the beginning of the game. He is used to playing Atrus, having done so in Myst and Riven. Maria Galante takes the role of Catherine. Though a small role, she carries her weight as does Miller.

The real star, though, is Academy Award Nominee Brad Dourif (Best known for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). I don't want to give anything away, but he has the power to make the player's heart beat with fear, especially when holding his giant hammer. He does a great job.

Overall, I highly recommend this game! It is not overly difficult, a problem with Riven, and it is extremely rewarding. So go out and buy it!

The best of the three games in the sequel

[lofblad · 10/10 · 14 September 2001]

The graphics are beautiful, the sound is superb and the game play is captivating. With the new 3D interface and the focus on sound design by the producers, this the third game in the Myst sequel tops them all. A tad easier than Riven, much more expansive than Myst, the game is a must-have and many hours of enjoyment. Play alone, with a friend or with your family. Enjoy!

Much better than expected.

[smashattack · 7/10 · 26 November 2001]

At first, I was going to give this game a 6, but since the graphics are so astounding and the gameplay is so easy, my rating for it jumped to 7. I have to say that this game is much better than its predecessors, Myst and Riven. Myst was impossible, and Riven was so much worse. They had practically no story. However, Exile begins with a solid plot that engulfs you the minute you begin playing. The gameplay is very unique and fun. Once again, though, the puzzles begin to go insanely difficult. I needed help with one thing, then something else. It was constantly like that. The music in this game is excellent. The composer really fits the music with the atmosphere, making it all the more tangible. It gives you that feeling yet again that you are alone on some strange island and your only hope is to explore. Myst III: Exile was only a little better than I expected, thanks to graphics, music, and gameplay. Let's hope that if there is ever a Myst IV, it will be solvable.

Go and buy a new computer

[Ru · 10/10 · 23 July 2001]

The previous comment of "wow" hardly covers it. This series just gets better and better. There are very few cast members in this, but those who are there do their job just fine. Picking Brad Dourif to have another go at his familiar nutcase role was a good idea, and as his is the character you see most of, this has payed off excellently. If you don't have a computer with a good enough spec to run it, go and buy a new one.

Simply beautiful!

[smashattack · 7/10 · 17 November 2002]

My last review of this game were, as many of my comments, not suitable in giving enough detail. So I'm at it again.

Let me just say this game is beautiful. Absolutely marvelous. The water is constantly rippling, the sun is shining brightly as the foliage in front of you slowly wavers in the wind. You take a step forward and see a little animal called Squee scamper off, making a chirping kind of noise as it runs. It causes the bushes it passes to enlarge, then fall back to original size. The sky is a deep, dark blue as you make your way through the foliage...

Such is Myst III: Exile. It has some of the most astounding gameplay graphics I have EVER seen. Stunning, really. I can't explain it good enough. You would have to see for yourself the amazing adherence to reality the game establishes. Add in a 3-D viewing system and it's perfect.

The story line is not too complicated, but not really easy, either. Saavedro was obviously trapped by Sirrus and Achenar, the two boys whom Atrus parted with in Myst. He is out for revenge on Atrus, but accidentally takes the revenge out on you, the player.

The puzzles are not too difficult. They are much easier to master than Riven, which makes the game so much more fun. It's a lot more fluid, but gives you enough space to explore everything while solving the puzzles. Unlike Riven, these puzzles are nice, politely asking you to solve them. It's not a dead end whichever way you go. There is always somewhere to go, something to do.

The music, especially the main theme, is amazing. I love the vocals. Simply astounding, and fits the scenery quite well. I love this game; can't you tell?

Besides all that, it really is a short game, having only five different worlds to explore (Tomahna doesn't count). The puzzles and storyline will take up a lot of time, which makes it, in essence, an actual movie. And a lot more entertaining.

I enjoyed this game thoroughly thanks to its excellent design, graphics, score, and gameplay. It truly is a remarkable game.

The Best Of Both Worlds

[zkonedog · 10/10 · 6 March 2017]

The original Myst created a genre all its own. It's sequel Riven took things to a new level by creating an incredible interconnected set of islands with puzzles weaved through them all. Exile takes the best of both those worlds and mends incredible puzzles with an engaging environment.

This was always one of my favorite installments in the Myst franchise because it really simplified things after the often-agonizing Riven. The environments are still lush and interesting, but this time a bit more contained. No taking a trolley from one island to another over and over again just to pull a single level. Instead, you just solve one puzzle in one basic location and move on to the next one.

The storyline still moves on in this one too, as it focuses on Saavedro, a man looking for revenge on Atrus based on the earlier actions of Sirius & Achenar (Atrus' sons).

Finally, one new addition to the interface is the ability to look 360 degrees around you. It is no longer a true "point-and-click" game, in this aspect, but it allows much more range of motion. No more clicking like a madman trying to find the right angle to solve a puzzle, or missing a key detail because the angle isn't quite right.

Overall, Exile is a great third chapter in the Myst saga. It takes the foundation of the original, mixes it with the landscapes of Riven, and creates the best overall game in the franchise to that date.

Stick with it - you may learn about how you learn :)

[LivingDog · 31 July 2004]

I found a few of the puzzles to be very difficult so I cheated and used a "walkthrough." After using so much of the "Riven Walkthrough" I was disappointed and so decided to "tough it out" with Exile.

Recap:

Myst = Part 1

Riven = Part 2

Exile = Part 3

However, there was one part of Exile, the Island world of Edanna, which drove me utterly nuts. So I did use the walkthrough for that. The other puzzles were just tough enough that I could solve them in a reasonable amount of time.

The pleasure of solving them on your own is what you should really strive for. If you stick with it you just may discover how you learn... and how you make mistakes. :)

Enjoy 10/10

-Zafoid

PS: Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God."

-Z

Running Myst III Exile on "core duo" intel Mac

[sissoed · 10/10 · 9 October 2007]

I have the 10th Anniversary DVD edition with Myst, Riven, and Exile, and just played Exile on my intel core duo mac (Myst and Riven would not play). Here's how I did it:

1. On your internal hard drive, within the Applications folder, created a new folder, "Exile"

2. Insert DVD of Exile

3. Open DVD window and manually copy the "M3Data" folder into the Exile folder, and then copy the English folder (or if you want a different language, copy that), and then copy all the other files (except the foreign-language folders you do not need, and DirectX for PC) into the Exile folder you made.

4. If you play Exile as-is, the sound will be choppy. This is because you are running two processors ("core duo"). You can fix the sound problem by turning off one processor. How? Log on to developer.apple.com, and look around for downloads -- the one you want is "CHUD tools" where CHUD is an acronym for Computer Hardware Understanding Development. Download it, then follow the instructions to install it on your hard drive. It includes a number of programs. The one you care about is "processor." When installed you can access it by going to the "apple," and clicking "system preferences" -- it shows up as a green-edged square at the end of the "hardware" items. When it gives you the option to put a "processor" icon in the icon bar, do so -- a gray square will show up, with a 2 in a circle, next to your icons for airport, bluetooth, etc. To turn off a processor, just click on this and choose the option for 1 processor. The 2 in a circle in the icon goes away. You are now running on one processor. You should now be able to play the game fine. When you're done, and exit the game, if you want to run on two processors again, just click on the gray square icon and choose 2 processors.

Now, as to some possible "glitches" you may encounter, see below.

5. You may have been tempted to try to get another Myst game (Myst II Riven) to run by doing for it the kind of process I just described for Exile (copying files from the Riven DVD to a new Riven folder on your hard drive). If you did this, Riven still won't work, and on top of that, it will screw up the sound and other elements of Exile. Drag your new Riven folder to the trash and your Exile experience should work fine.

6. While you are playing Exile, you may find that suddenly the screen blacks out, as if you had triggered a screensaver "hot corner." Guess what -- you did. Underneath the Exile game and its cursor, the computer apparently has an image of the "real," arrow cursor, and it is not always "under" the game "hand" cursor. Sometimes as you are moving the game's "hand" cursor, this invisible (to you) "real" cursor hits a corner of the screen. If you have enabled one or more "hot corners" for your screensaver, this will trigger your screensaver to come on -- blacking out your game screen. You will need to save the game, exit, and change your screensaver preferences to disable all "hot corners."

7. The invisible "real" cursor also, apparently, can sweep over the gray "processor" icon square and, unbeknownst to you, re-activate the second processor. You won't have a clue that this happened, except that suddenly you start experiencing sound problems. Specifically, you lose the actors' voices and certain sound effects such as doors opening and closing, and the sounds of being on various high-speed rides. If you save game, exit, and decide to do other things with your computer, and go to the gray icon box to turn-on both processors, you are surprised to see that both are already active! It is a surprise because the little 2 in a circle is not on the icon, yet when you click on the icon, the check-mark indicates that you have 2 processors running. That is the first time you realize that the sound problems you started experiencing during game play probably were because of inadvertently re-activating the second processor. I don't know why the 2 in the circle didn't pop up when the second processor was activated; perhaps the program for the icon is written in such a way that because the game screen was covering the icon, the 2 in the circle would not be triggered to appear.

8. You need the DVD in the drive to play the game, and it gets hot. I don't know if the heat can cause glitches.

REVIEW: the graphics on the big mac screen are awesome! This is a great game for its immersive 3D full-pan environment, sound, music, and the acting of Brad Dourif as Saavedro.

The Review: Myst III: EXilE

[cjfort · 10/10 · 27 August 2006]

One of my all time favorite games in the world has to be Myst III. Now, I really don't like movies and stuff that make up goofy names to fit with the World, but in this game it seems understandable.

This is one of the hardest, most beautiful, and intelligent game ever. You have to figure puzzles that have answers in different worlds. You find notes that help you learn how to mess with some of the technology, and you slowly grow incredibly close to this game.

There are five worlds in all in this game, not including the first world at the beginning.

Jnanin, the world that's connected to most the others, with buildings made of beautiful tusks

Edanna, which is just a giant tree in the middle of the ocean, and full of so much life

Voltaic, a canyon thing, completely deserted, and very beautifully made, and one of the most complicated of all the places

Ameteria, witch was one of the best looking places in the game, with great music, and the storm in the distance, but also one of the easiest of all the worlds

Narayan, witch is the last world in the game, and doesn't have a lot here, but will make you look over the book of notes you get at the beginning, or you should (wink), and has the great ending where you can lose, win, or lose.

The music in this game is the best music I have ever heard.

I highly recommend it to anyone. Just be wary that you won't finish it anytime soon.

Nice 360 Views, Interesting Puzzles

[manticore57 · 8/10 · 8 January 2002]

The third in the MYST series of puzzle exploring games brings a more user friendly interface and some wonderfully rendered worlds.

A new graphics engine lets you pan in all directions with a move of your mouse. (Sphere wrapped images with you in the centre to be exact.) You still just fade between locations with the usual point and click to move interface but there are many pre-rendered animation sequences to keep you awe-struck.

The puzzles are not the hardest of tasks but they keep you interested without resorting to too much back-and-forth running and no dexterity is required. About 50 puzzles to work out, spread over 5 worlds which each have a unique style.

A great addition to puzzle games but over too soon for serious puzzle fanatics.

Excellent game

[su-ellen · 8 August 2002]

Completed Myst 3 a while ago now, a very good game, thought Brad Dourif, who played Saavedro, was an excellent choice for the part. Have seen a trailer and also read on www.imdb.com about the upcoming 'The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers' movie and discovered that Brad Dourif is to portray Grima Wormtongue - another excellent role!

Great Graphics, great gameplay...

[Nicole_Nico_87 · 3 January 2002]

...heaps of fun and easier than Riven. Gives you a detailed idea of the story and I love the beginning scene with Catherine and the baby. The puzzles are easier than Riven's, but thats not saying they're easy. All I can say is, at least you know where you're going in this game. A definite recommendation if you like mystery and intrigue. 10 out of 10!

Brad Dourif is a God!!!

[luckycat121 · 24 April 2002]

Okay, I was astounded by this game. I am a fan of the first two games, having beaten both Myst and Riven. But I was wary of a third Myst when I learned that a new company had taken over. However, temptation got the better of me (not to mention the trailer) and I had to get it. What I saw was a game slightly easier than Riven, yet more difficult than Myst. The 360 degrees of graphic had me spellbound (and a little sea sick), but what caught my attention the most was the story line. In Riven you barely ever saw Gehn and when you did, you loathed him. I was thrilled to death to defeat him and save Catherine. But with the series' invention of Saavedro, came a whole new level of plot. Not only were gamers faced with the same old challenges, puzzles, and graphical paradises, but they also faced a sympathetic "villain" and a deeply developed history behind him. I found myself so in love with Brad Dourif's performance, that my agenda no longer became helping Atrus, but seeking Saavedro. Presto and Dourif combined to create a character with more depth and thought than many of Hollywoods creations. I'd nominate him for an award if this wasn't just a game.

Realistic... Almost overkill

[zalanmeggyesi · 30 November 2004]

This is a very good game.

The graphics are stunning, almost too realistic. So realistic I nearly threw up on the roller-coaster ride in one of the ages. The water reflects and ripples, and yet, it dosen't take too many resources to run the game.

The sound effects are very well done too. At times I nearly jumped out of my skin when Saavedro shouted suddenly. The beings of the ages have real sounds too(you can hear the bird being captured in the tree age), the only slightly bad thing is the warping sound when you use a Linking Book.

The only problem is that it is short, and at times a bit hard, but it is still worth the money.

Great until . . .

[kris-sandi · 22 March 2002]

While once again logic and deduction rule the day through out most of the game, the story plot thickens. Can't wait for Myst "4" to hit the shelves.

You must solve three ages (levels) to reach the end.

One level requires the ability to sequence events. Another to observe what you see, and a third that needs logic and deduction.

Without giving anything away, be prepared for a major logic let down which is highly unusual for this game series. What is only most recently discovered was incorporated as part of the supposed original past. As a result, the choices that follow at that juncture are made by simply guessing instead of being linked to any previous game function or logical interaction. When you have to just guess at the correct choice you will know what I am talking about. Because if you save your games along the way and go back to what your correct choice is supposed to be, the game fails to change what your supposed to see/observe the first time and will not let you have time to go back and observe a second time before inserting a video transition. You will feel the frustration at that point.

Sorry to be so vague, but I do not like to spoil things for those who like to find out for themselves, great game otherwise.