Myst For iPhone Plays Even Better Than The PC Original

Originally released for desktop machines in 1993, Myst remains one of the most memorable games ever created. When news first broke of the title being ported to the iPhone last year, reactions were mixed, as the disappointing DS version of the game somewhat tarnished its storied heritage. Myst has been out on the iPhone for some time now, but it took me a long while to get around to playing it. The reason? The game is a ridiculously huge download (to the tune of 727MB) and requires even more preposterous free space (1.5GB) on your phone's storage. Suffice to say, downloading this with your handset's data plan is not an option, unless you've got unlimited bandwidth. Once the logistics of finding 1.5GB of extra space (I had 2.3GB before I installed it) has been managed, everything suddenly makes sense. This is a gorgeous game, with a rich storyline, immersive graphics and sublime sounds. The game starts with your character thrust on a seemingly deserted island. Since there are no specified goals to begin with, you have to explore the world on your own, finding clues about what adventure could lay before you. Throughout your travel, you'll find numerous items, face difficult puzzles and solve challenging riddles. If you've been hoping for an action-packed adventure, by the way, Myst is not your game. There are no soldiers to battle and no monsters to subdue. It's a relaxed game of discovery that you pursue at your own pace. There's no fixed ending, no set outcomes - everything that happens next depends on your choices, making it almost infinitely replayable. For some reason, Myst makes a lot of sense played with a touchscreen, with the control making it even more immersive than usual. The iPhone version also stays extremely faithful to the original game and does it one better by actually packing in even better graphics (yes, cell phones have really come a long way). Myst for iPhone from Cyan Worlds is truly a game in a class all its own. If you enjoy puzzle-type adventures, I suggest you get over the huge resources it requires and just download it already - at $5.99, it's a veritable treat.