Myst: Uru - by Arislyn on 19:40 17 Oct 2004
I bought Myst: Uru as a present for Runt a few days ago. He ended up quitting out of frustration pretty quickly and now I see why, having just given it a whirl myself.
The frustration for both of us stems not from the story or the puzzles, but from the controls. While in first person perspective, it seems that you can't look up and down. If you do try to look up, you walk forward. Trying to look down results in stepping backwards. It works this way with both the mouse and the keyboard controls. I've checked the instructions to see if there is some other key I need to hit to just be able to tilt the view, but nothing is listed.
When in third person view (yes, you get to make an avatar and can see your character in this version of the same), the camera pans about you as you move, making it very disorienting and hard to control your character. For instance, you may be looking at your character from the side, and want them to look at the wall they are facing. Your automatic reaction is to hit the key that is facing the direction of the wall. However, you need to hit "forward" to make them go to the wall, which is "up" on the keyboard.
I'm really disappointed by this. Even though I've only played a little bit, I can tell that the puzzles are going to be just as intriguing as all the ones in the previous games and story will draw you in and make you feel like you are really there. However, if I can't see or navigate the surroundings easily, completing even the simplest puzzle becomes a lesson in frustration. I know what I need to do in the area where I quit playing, but I just can't control my character or see well. And, if you've ever played any of the Myst games, you know that it is imperative that you be able to see everything and be able to move about easily.
I want to play Uru. I really, really do. I want to learn what is happening in this Age. I want to read the journals, discover new places, wonder at the marvelous machines....but I can't make myself fight with the controls for more than a few minutes at a time before I quit in disgust.
I bought Myst: Uru as a present for Runt a few days ago. He ended up quitting out of frustration pretty quickly and now I see why, having just given it a whirl myself.
The frustration for both of us stems not from the story or the puzzles, but from the controls. While in first person perspective, it seems that you can't look up and down. If you do try to look up, you walk forward. Trying to look down results in stepping backwards. It works this way with both the mouse and the keyboard controls. I've checked the instructions to see if there is some other key I need to hit to just be able to tilt the view, but nothing is listed.
When in third person view (yes, you get to make an avatar and can see your character in this version of the same), the camera pans about you as you move, making it very disorienting and hard to control your character. For instance, you may be looking at your character from the side, and want them to look at the wall they are facing. Your automatic reaction is to hit the key that is facing the direction of the wall. However, you need to hit "forward" to make them go to the wall, which is "up" on the keyboard.
I'm really disappointed by this. Even though I've only played a little bit, I can tell that the puzzles are going to be just as intriguing as all the ones in the previous games and story will draw you in and make you feel like you are really there. However, if I can't see or navigate the surroundings easily, completing even the simplest puzzle becomes a lesson in frustration. I know what I need to do in the area where I quit playing, but I just can't control my character or see well. And, if you've ever played any of the Myst games, you know that it is imperative that you be able to see everything and be able to move about easily.
I want to play Uru. I really, really do. I want to learn what is happening in this Age. I want to read the journals, discover new places, wonder at the marvelous machines....but I can't make myself fight with the controls for more than a few minutes at a time before I quit in disgust.
Myst: Uru - by NoonChild on 07:33 19 Oct 2004
You should write to the manufacturers. Especially as a fan of the series with a desire to play - that shows them that this is a BIG problem with their game.
You should write to the manufacturers. Especially as a fan of the series with a desire to play - that shows them that this is a BIG problem with their game.
Myst: Uru - by Arislyn on 11:49 19 Oct 2004
I would write them, but I think they probably already know. I've been poking around the 'net looking for any pages that may tell me that there are actually some obscure controls that let me see over my head and the things at my feet....but alas. It seems that my complaint is the one that everyone else has, too. Everywhere I've looked, people are saying the same thing I am: "Wonderful puzzles, beautiful to look at....horrid, nasty, evil controls."
Heck, I've read about a much worse gameplay item they used that I haven't reached yet. Apparently, there are some puzzles in the game that require you to move objects and place them in a certain pattern on the floor, table, etc. However, you can't pick things up and set them down. You have to kick/nudge them so they roll to where you want them. And, they actually added some physics to the game, so your nudge can cause things to roll wildly and not stop where you want them...but since you have no "hands" and can't pick anything up, you have to just continue to nudge and nudge until the object eventually stops where you want it.
I really wish that I had read these reviews before I bought the game. However, I've always been a Myst fan and trusted that it would be good.
I would write them, but I think they probably already know. I've been poking around the 'net looking for any pages that may tell me that there are actually some obscure controls that let me see over my head and the things at my feet....but alas. It seems that my complaint is the one that everyone else has, too. Everywhere I've looked, people are saying the same thing I am: "Wonderful puzzles, beautiful to look at....horrid, nasty, evil controls."
Heck, I've read about a much worse gameplay item they used that I haven't reached yet. Apparently, there are some puzzles in the game that require you to move objects and place them in a certain pattern on the floor, table, etc. However, you can't pick things up and set them down. You have to kick/nudge them so they roll to where you want them. And, they actually added some physics to the game, so your nudge can cause things to roll wildly and not stop where you want them...but since you have no "hands" and can't pick anything up, you have to just continue to nudge and nudge until the object eventually stops where you want it.
I really wish that I had read these reviews before I bought the game. However, I've always been a Myst fan and trusted that it would be good.