The sequel to the chart-topping Myst. With such an graphically stunning act to follow, how does Riven measure up? Riven is even more beautiful and the game more substantial. The setting is a group of eerie, surreal islands, more accessible than in Myst. The scenery is breathtaking, and it is slightly more populated than it predecessor. There are strange new creatures that cross your path, and other subtle animations that immerse you into this world. The puzzles are still mind-bending, but the game lets you progress to the more hair-pulling ones further on in the game. Riven is a beauty. A sure feast for your computer-graphic eyes. <Moggy> Yes, this "is" the "stunning" sequel to Myst. And if I here someone say that one more time, I'm going to feed her to the Wahrk execution device! Okay, so it is a cool game (and so are you, Cameo my dear. You can put your .45 away now...). There are actually people wandering around the game this time, though they never seem to stick around for long, and they seem to always look like undernourished ghosts from the last century. The game technology has progressed a great deal since Myst (actually, it's progressed an awful lot since I played the Miller's first game - Manhole - on my ancient Mac SE) and consequently, the visuals that accompany the game have too. The artwork really is stunning [he said "stunning"]and, if anything, I got frustrated at not being able to explore it more in depth. However, the game already runs into six CD's (a real pain having to switch between them) so I can see why they stopped where they did. Bring on DVD please so that I only need one disk! <Spamtrix> more whining . . . <Vi-Rex> he's got the hots for Cameo the Babe <Katana> Riven-schmiven. I hear a lot about the stunning graphics and frankly, I've had my fill of them on the net and in magazines. I do think that they are beautiful beyond belief, but who would want to stay there any length of time? I mean, what is wi th this story? This family? First, in Myst, we have the boys behaving badly, and now in Riven, generations of the dysfunctional family are being nasty toward each other. Leave me out of it. Atrus is a depressed and distraught old man but hardly is grateful for your help, and Gehn is a psychopathic nut. Why would I even care about these people? These characters could use some psychotherapy. And another thing, the navigation. It is still moving along at a snail's pace. Point-click-wait, point-click-wait. At times I wish I could break off that little "finger" cursor because its so slow. How 'bout some 360 degree scrolling to keep me from nodding off? This game is irritating. The story is not compelling. I have no motivation to solve the puzzles because I don't care to find out how it all ends! Someone take this game away from me! <Vi-Rex> Sheeesh! tell us how you really feel . . . <Katana> shut . . . <Vi-Rex> Oh! I'm sorry, our time is up. That'll be 150 dollars, see you next week.