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Riven is the sequel to the highly successful computer game Myst. It was distributed initially on five compact discs, and was later released on a single DVD-ROM, along with a 14 minute long making-of video. The Myst style of gameplay in which the user clicked on objects in prerendered still frames and videos was maintained in this sequel; however, it was enhanced by many animated scenes. It is widely regarded by players of Myst and other adventure games to be the most difficult game in the Myst franchise.
Riven is also the name of the Age in which the majority of the game Riven is spent. In the Myst story line, this Age was the fifth Age written by Gehn, father of Atrus. Gehn coldly refers to it as simply "The Fifth Age."
Hints on D'ni
Although a sequel, Riven expands to and is based on the ultimate past and historical background of Myst, fully described in the three books.
The game contains a great deal of information on the culture and language of D'ni and Riven. The D'ni language was first used in the game Riven, both in written form and (poorly) spoken by Cho, a Rivenese person trained to speak basic D'ni phrases. The system of D'ni numbers is also introduced in the game, and it is necessary for the player to learn and read D'ni numbers to complete the game. There is also a system of symbols used for describing colors that the player must learn and apply to solve a puzzle.
Ages
Unlike Myst, the point of the game is not to travel to Ages, solve puzzles, return to the hub and then go on. Almost all of the action takes place on Riven, and on its five islands. Solving puzzles in order to access all of the islands through bridges and maglevs, covers the main part of the action.
But of course as a Myst series game, the player will find linking books, that will let him/her link to some other worlds.
The game included the following 'Ages':
- D'ni (K'veer), the starting Age. Nothing to do there, only the game's introduction.
- Riven proper, or Gehn's 5th Age, where the main adventure takes place
- Gehn's 233rd Age, Gehn's headquarters
- Tay, or the Moiety Rebel's Age.
See Ages of Riven for descriptions.
Riven in the rest of the Myst franchise
A large part of the novel Myst: The Book of Atrus takes place on Riven. The Book is chronologically set roughly 20 years before the events in Myst. Riven, as a game, could be considered as a sequel to the Book of Atrus in a sense that closure comes to the inhabitants and protagonists.
The Riven Descriptive Book appears in Tomahna at the start of Myst III: Exile, but the Gateway Image is black, suggesting Riven has been completely destroyed by the time of Exile (about ten years after the events in Riven). The Book is labelled with the D'ni numeral 'Five' (this is actually the first time the Book's cover is clearly seen, as Atrus is continually writing in the book during the games of Myst and Riven).
Imagery from Riven reappears in places in realMYST and Uru.
External links
Fan sites
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