This is the first Age you’ll visit in Myst IV: Revelation, and I’m here to meet with the game’s producer, Genevieve Lord. The elevator at one end of the walkway comes to life and grinds to a halt, the doors opening to reveal my interview subject. Given that you’ll make your way to Tomahna because of an urgent letter from Atrus concerning his long-lost sons, Sirrus and Achenar, the familial aspect of the game seems like a good place to start. (See “Myst for D’ni(s)” for the complete back story.)

Setting the Stage

“We chose to explore themes like betrayal and revenge,” Lord explains. “We really tried to expose a family that is still affected by the dramatic events that took place 20 years ago. Atrus and his wife, Catherine, are torn between their fear of their own sons and the love they have for them.

Relying on the Kindness of Strangers. Atrus beckons you into his lab.

“Should they trust and forgive them after 20 years? Should they hope that their sons have changed and release them [from the prison Atrus trapped them in]?”

While the three previous Myst games focused on Atrus and Catherine’s family in some way, Revelation brings the obviously strained relationship between parents and sons to the forefront. The situation is explosive both figuratively and literally, as Sirrus’ dramatic entrance in the Tomahna Age attests. And like the earlier entries in the series, Revelation also features the kidnapping of a family member, a crime you must solve in addition to repairing the decimation caused by Atrus’ sons.

“We chose to explore themes like betrayal and revenge. We really tried to expose a family that is still affected by the dramatic events that took place 20 years ago. Atrus and his wife, Catherine, are torn between their fear of their own sons and the love they have for them.”

-Genevieve Lord, producer

The Rules of the Game

Myst co-creator Rand Miller reprises the role of Atrus in Revelation, something Lord notes “he had said he would never do again.” When I ask her what prompted his return, she comments: “My guess is that Rand is committed to the worlds he has created and knew that Atrus would just not be as credible if he was played by someone else.”

Sunny Day. Another Myst environment created with shades of real ones.

Miller and others at Cyan, the original developer of the game, set down “a certain number of rules [my] team had to adhere to,” Lord explains, “but within those few limits, we were free to develop our own ideas. It was, however, of the utmost importance for all concerned that we produce a Myst that respects the spirit and lore of the previous games in the series.” Needless to say, Miller was happy with their work.

In the spirit of its predecessors, Myst IV’s interface is point-and-click. As you move from place to place, you simply click in the direction you want to go, or click on the object you want to interact with, and the current image dissolves, replaced by a new one. This decision enabled Lord’s team to create photo-realistic environments that feature running water, moving clouds, animals and insects that come alive around you and other immersive elements.

A Twist on Reality

Of course, the best way to create a fictitious world is to look to the real one, and Lord acknowledges that fact. “We received our inspiration from encyclopedias, museums, trips to foreign countries and even movies like ‘Baraka’,” she notes. “Achenar’s Haven Age and its strange creatures were inspired by documentaries on dinosaurs and books on animals.”

“It was of the utmost importance for all concerned that we produce a Myst that respects the spirit and lore of the previous games in the series.”

-Genevieve Lord

“In addition, the Age called Serenia was based on a trip to Thailand. The concept artist wanted the gamer to get the same feeling of a paradisiacal and peaceful atmosphere while exploring that Age.”

Good Night, Moon. You visit Tomahna once during the day, once in the evening.

Music sets the mood for a Myst adventure. Jack Wall returned for Revelation, composing a gently rolling score that makes for a cinematic feel. Rock artist Peter Gabriel also lent his expertise, creating a song for the verdant Age called Serenia. Lord notes that “[Gabriel’s] first album was called ‘From Genesis to Revelation.’ I guess it was meant to be.”

You’re New Here, Aren’t You? Yeesha has some important information to impart.

The photo-realistic environments, ambient sound effects and tranquil music add up to an experience that places a Myst game in a category of its own. “I have encountered people who tell me that the worlds they visit in Myst feel real to them,” Lord relates. “We’re happy to say that this will be even more the case in Myst IV.”

If you liked this game, check out:

• Myst III: Exile
• realMYST
• Rhem
• Riddle of the Sphinx II: The Omega Stone