I was a huge fan of Myst. How did the sequel compare with the original? While the graphics were slightly better, the puzzles suffered.

The graphics are great, an improvement over the original Myst in that you have rippling water and other moving parts. The soundtrack fits well with the various worlds you explore.

Unfortunately, gameplay is about your interaction in the game, and the puzzles here just weren't as well done as those in Myst or in Myst 3. Yes, it's the same characters, and now you're helping Atrus rescue his wife. The plot moves you along a bit. They do make different 'cultures', each with its own style and architecture. The puzzles are more organic, more a part of the world. But still, the puzzles are either too easy or extremely obtuse. It's as if the designers got so wrapped up in the beauty and complexity of the world that they forgot about the puzzles themselves.

Still, it's a good game to play if you enjoyed Myst or Myst 3: Exile, if only to help you understand the full storyline and enjoy the graphics. And, like all the Myst games, it achieves its end with no gunshots or squirting blood - just lovely graphics, coordinated sounds, and brainpower.

Review of Myst
Review of Myst 3: Exile