Gamertell Review: Myst for DS
Title: Myst
Price: $29.99
System(s): Nintendo DS
Release Date: May, 13, 2008
Publisher (Developer): Empire Interactive (Hoplite Research)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Pros: It is a portable version of a beloved, classic PC game.
Cons: The graphics are horrible. The touch screen controls are atrocious. Sometimes the save function doesn’t work right. There are numerous, sometimes game ending, glitches.
Overall Score: Two thumbs down, 20/100, F, No stars
Do not waste your money, or your time, on the DS port of the PC classic Myst. It is an abomination, practically unplayable and the very existence of this version of Myst tarnishes the memory of the original. Go pick up a copy of Real Myst or Myst 10th Anniversary DVD Edition.
Obviously quality control took a vacation
Myst DS has the worst graphics I have ever seen, and I reviewed Flipper Critters. It is just atrocious. Everything is dull, dated and dilapidated, and Hoplite Research clearly was slacking when putting things together. Sometimes switches don’t match up, and text or crucial buttons are minuscule. It’s depressing.
There are screen shot and magnification features built into the game, to supposedly assist players, but both features make things worse. Seriously - draw what you want to remember on a napkin or something, because it’d look better than the screen shot function. Sometimes the screen shot function won’t even capture the exact image you want, and its easy to forget what you wanted to capture. The magnifying glass does make things bigger, but images also get blurrier.
The horrible graphics also mean that some switches or buttons must be pressed only consist of a few pixels. Put on a screen protector, because after tapping 15 times on a single spot to activate a switch, you’ll start boring a hole through the screen.
The audio was supposedly redone as well, but frankly I couldn’t tell any difference. The re-mastering didn’t work. I compared my copy of Real Myst to Myst DS, and I thought the voices and music in Real Myst were superior. The DS voices also ended up muted and unintelligible at times. Since the voice overs provide crucial information, subtitles would have been a nice touch. Especially since portable gamers can’t always have the volume on.
Be prepared to restart
Of course, these failings pale when compared to the game glitches. I don’t know what the Myst series did to deserve such dishonor. Maybe the Stranger stole Princess Peach or smashed a Chaos Emerald.
Let’s start from the beginning. I opened the box, placed the cartridge in my DS, and played for about 10 minutes. At this point, both screens froze. I have no idea why. I had to turn off my DS and start again.
So I restarted. With some luck, I managed to collect the access keys for each of the ages. I headed to the Stoneship Age. I completed the floor compass puzzle, and saved after that. I figured I would decide what color page to take, then return later. When I came back, I needed to redo that puzzle.
I investigated online to see if my problems were unique. Checks at Amazon and Gamefaqs confirmed that my game was not a special snowflake, and everyone had the same issues..
Missed Opportunity
The original Myst was a masterpiece which deserves every accolade it has received and a place of honor in some sort of virtual, video game hall of fame. The DS version of Myst deserves some space in a New Mexico landfill. The only reason Myst DS gets 20/100 is for nostalgia value and box art.
If you don’t believe me, then look at the Myst DS trailer.
Site [GameStop]
Keep up with the latest Gaming news! - 
Subscribe to our feed →
I completely agree with your review. Myst DS could have been a great port from the original PC version of Myst, but this game fails short of its predecessor. The game is unplayable, not only due to the glitches and bugs but also the game play, or lack there of. I am even surprised you gave it a review of 20/100, in my eyes, that is way to generous for such a horrendous game.
At any rate, another great review. You really put into words the true essence of the game. I have pity for those who actually went out and bought this game due to their love of the Myst series.
on May 21, 2008 at 11:00 PM - LINKThanks so much Narin!
Originally I did want to go lower (much much lower), but decided to go a few extra points because that box art is just so fabulous. XD Its mystical, really.
Myst DS is the worst thing I’ve put in my DS. It’s practically unplayable. By my last count I had encountered 5 glitches which required me to restart my DS before I finally just gave up.
My friend is the one who fell for it and bought it. She hated it so much that she gave it to me the day she got it, said to review it so others wouldn’t waste their money as well and then give it back. I think she even traded it in to GameStop today for something else.
on May 21, 2008 at 11:15 PM - LINKBut I thought Myst in and of itself wasn’t great to start with...this is worse than the original?
on May 21, 2008 at 11:25 PM - LINKYes. This is easily a contender for worst DS game - right up there with the glitched Bubble Bobble and Puzzle de Harvest Moon.
on May 21, 2008 at 11:26 PM - LINKIt’s too bad—I really wanted this game to be good. I loved Myst back in the day, but my CD-ROM of it is long gone now. I know I could pick it up for cheap, but I also don’t like playing games on my computer most of the time. The DS port seemed perfect—not only Myst, but Myst on-the-go.
Oh well, chalk this one up to “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Nice review :).
on May 22, 2008 at 01:05 PM - LINKI so passionately feel the need to applaud your review, that I sit here typing a response to this post on my iPhone (a task far less tedious that enduring this latest version of Myst).
To summarize this bumbling, disorienting travesty of a game in a single word - “infuriating.”
Never before has a game pushed my patience to its limits the way this painful game adaption has. Which is a shame, as I fondly remember enjoying the original more than a decade ago as a teenager. It was revolutionary for its time, and this adaptation has done it no favors. In fact, I’m suddenly having images of my future children mocking me—“you actually liked that game when you were my age, mom? That game SUCKS, loser mom!”
Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to my poor DS for nearly impaling it with my stylus on several occasions while playing over the past few days - “No, I didn’t say turn around, or move forward, I said tap the button! TAP THE BUTTON!”
So again, thank you for the precision and saliency of your review - know that you’ve enabled a Connecticut girl to regain a little peace of mind knowing that someone else was compelled to pen her frustrations to digital paper even before she did. :-)
on May 23, 2008 at 01:14 AM - LINKP.S. Even if I tried really really hard (or drank bathtub-brewed moonshine until I couldn’t see straight) I don’t think I could have come up with a worse excuse for a “notepad” feature than the one they miraculously devised for this game. I could go on to describe it, but knowing you’re probably nodding along with me as you read this is enough for me.
on May 23, 2008 at 01:19 AM - LINK@ Candace - Thanks. I really wanted it to be good was well. I was so excited when I heard it was coming out for the PSP and DS in Europe. Then I heard rumors about the DS version being atrocious and figured “It just wasn’t fans reviewing it, that’s why.” Then I tried my friends copy and learned the horrible horrible truth. >.<
@ Kristin - I know exactly the pain you feel, for we are kindred spirits in the Myst DS experience. I seriously pity any poor fan who picked up this game. I can imagine the warmth in their hearts and the teary eyed nostalgia as the game begins… only to have that SNATCHED away moments in due to the absolute worst game port that could ever exist.
I have a feeling that, if there are circles of hell and what not, Myst DS will be used as a form of torment in one of them. Perhaps with people who had short tempers and no patience?
I SO agree with the notepad. I just grabbed napkins and post-its and scribbled information on that instead. I decided I wouldn’t put myself through more, unnecessary misery.
on May 24, 2008 at 01:20 PM - LINKThe more I think about it, the more I feel as though Myst for DS is just the most recent demonstration of hasty computer-to-platform adaptions. Instead of capitalizing on the potential of these games, these lousy conversions make one wonder whether there is actual playtesting going on outside of a vaccuum before release.
Prior to Myst, I experienced similar (but by NO means comparable in severity) issues with the CSI game for DS, and most recently, with the Agatha Christie “And then there were None” game for Wii.
Unfortunately, it appears as though I am, and will always be, a sucker for older plot-driven games, and so I’m probably going to get stuck playing all these lemons while friends and loved ones enjoy their flawless, capital-infused (that always helps) mega-macho first person shooters, etc.
But this forum is a silver lining - it is a great sounding board and I look forward to posting about future flops I have yet to be excited about, purchase, and find myself banging my head against the wall in response to.
I don’t care what anyone says, empathy helps! :-)
on May 24, 2008 at 10:47 PM - LINKP.S. This makes me wonder if you happened to play and review the DS ports of Zoo Tycoon, and Zoo Tycoon 2. If you haven’t - DON’T. Instead, let me spare you the pain and allow me to write the review for you. It woulld start like this…
“...I should have known something was wrong when my dolphins started disappearing and reappearing in the lions den and/or other various exhibits from the African Tundra....Things just went downhill from there.”
on May 24, 2008 at 11:12 PM - LINKOh definitely. When you get stuck with a crappy game (and are determined to finish it due to love of the source material), then the best thing to do is find like minded people to commiserate with. :P
I did briefly play Zoo Tycoon 2 - to write a piece (which is on this site) called Face off: Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles vs. Zoo Tycoon 2. (Hint: Zoo Tycoon 2 won - tells you how “good” Assassin’s Creed DS was.)
on May 27, 2008 at 12:19 PM - LINKI think I found another bug, in the age where the ship is broken in half, the part where you press the button on the compass in the secret passage, when I press it the screen kind-of freezes. I can operate the bottom icons on the touch-screen but I otherwise can’t move anywhere. And if I press any other button, the screen goes black--I mean total midnight black. I hope it’s just me, because then it means it’s just me being an idiot and can’t do this part right. If that’s the case and someone got farther, could they help me out? If not, well I don’t know what to type. :( [I wish the developers would’ve passed this through the devloment line again because specific aspects of the game look like crap]
on June 25, 2008 at 02:01 PM - LINKHi Neo -
Unfortunately (or fortunately), I borrowed a friend’s copy of this game for this review. I didn’t get to that point, so I can’t tell you if its a glitch or something with just your game. Perhaps one of the other readers/commenters can help?
Based on your description, I’d have to say that you are encountering a glitch. I don’t remember encountering that kind of problem in the original PC game.
Yup, you’re right - the developers really messed up on this port.
on June 25, 2008 at 02:11 PM - LINKDo you know of a way around it or know someone that knows?
on June 25, 2008 at 02:58 PM - LINKYou may want to check the Gamefaqs forums. The people there are usually really well informed and helpful. :D
on June 25, 2008 at 02:59 PM - LINKHmmm...don’t you need an account to put your opinion into a thread?
on June 25, 2008 at 09:38 PM - LINKNow that I think about it, should I try to start a new file and go into the Mechanical age?
on June 25, 2008 at 09:40 PM - LINKYes you do, but its free to make a Gamefaqs account and really easy to do so.
You could always try that. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
on June 25, 2008 at 09:42 PM - LINKIt’s ok. Everyone has their element where they are the ‘god’. This just happen to be more-so of your area. (best possable meaning ment)
on June 25, 2008 at 09:49 PM - LINKCheers to Jenni for not squandering her godly element on this particular game!
on June 25, 2008 at 10:59 PM - LINKThanks lol XD
I think my mastering The World Ends with You, Crisis Core, Patapon and Pokemon Diamond eliminated any space that Myst would have taken up. :P
I’d feel bad if someone did take the time to squander godliness on the DS version of Myst. (Now the original Myst would be a different story.)
on June 25, 2008 at 11:01 PM - LINKQuality Control could’ve at least have LOOKED at it before shipping it out to our shores…
on June 26, 2008 at 12:19 PM - LINKAh, but Neo - that would have been work. Imagine how much time and effort would have been required to make Myst DS not suck.
on June 26, 2008 at 01:46 PM - LINKYeah. But think, if it DIDN’T suck, they would’ve been sucking in 10 times amount of money from a product that ruled and was a sufficent preceder to the first Myst instead of barely sipping money from a third-rate game that barely got a grunt of aknowlagement from the big brass in the company and looking like this: -_- instead of this: ($_$)
on June 26, 2008 at 04:46 PM - LINKBy the way, in the Mechanical age, where’s the red page in what-his-name’s throneroom?
on June 26, 2008 at 05:30 PM - LINK