Myst V: End of Ages is an action-adventure platform video game that is the fifth installment of the Myst series. This game was published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X in 2005. Gamers can revel in the fact that it takes very little to no experience to solve the mysterious puzzles of D’ni to bring the series to a conclusion. Let’s dive into whether this game is worth the time and money.
New-and-Improved of the Myst Series
This is the end of Myst. With Myst V: End of the Ages we say goodbye to our old haunt but not before having our brains meltdown due to the overheating of excessive pondering and frustration. Players don’t have to have played any previous Myst games to get into the finale.
As usual the environments are barren and lonely. Even the music is minimal with only a hint of ambience. To bring some life into these worlds, a race of creatures called the bahro are ever present and able to appear in any given situation. A stone tablet that you carry around with you will enable you to communicate with the bahro as long as you are able to write the correct symbol on it that they will understand. The addition of the bahro is a good one in that it makes you feel as though you aren’t alone.
Myst V: End of the Ages Features Typical Puzzle Platform Gameplay
Myst is a point and click adventure game with an emphasis on staggering visual landscapes and extraordinary puzzles that no normal person could possibly solve – but before you go hunting for the walkthrough it’s important to know that these puzzles may be a little esoteric but they’re not impossible to solve although it may seem like it. You don’t have to solve them before you go to bed. Clear your head and take another run at it another day. Solving the puzzles on your own results in a level of satisfaction unrivaled by most video games.
You can navigate through the environments by using the “advanced” control scheme. You can also use the mouse to look around in the environments or you can travel from one place to the next using the traditional mode-to-mode system.
Myst V: End of Ages Characters
Yeesha and Esher are the two main characters in this adventure. Yeesha is a panic-stricken woman that knows something that we don’t. Her diary is scattered throughout the Ages which are essentially different worlds that you can travel to. Piecing parts of her diary will give you clues to the mysteries that surround the Ages as will the cutscenes that you unlock. Esher is a ghost-like character that appears out of thin air to assist you in certain situations. There is a marked tension between Yeesha and Esher that you will eventually uncover.
Once again, the graphics are incredible. They are highly imaginative and well rendered. It’s just too bad that they weren’t all interactive. Players are going to need plenty of processing power to see everything the way it was intended. Some chances were taken with the motion captured movement of the characters which looks great in some scenes and just plain creepy in others. The voice acting is excellent and will keep you on your toes for hints and tips.
Parting Words
Unlike the Myst IV, the environments aren’t as interactive. They conform to a more classic Myst format whereby the only items that are accessible are directly related to puzzle solving. It is unfortunate there isn’t a better conclusion to wrap up such a memorable series. But as with most puzzle-oriented games it’s the journey and not the destination that makes it all worthwhile. And it’s been one hell of a good ride. Myst V: End of Ages is worth the shot for both well-seasoned Myst gamers and beginners.