Myst: Side-by-side comparison of all versions (2021)
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- Опубликовано: 2 сен 2021
- With the release of Cyan’s “definitive” version of Myst, it’s time to look back at all the major versions over the years, side by side.
No major spoilers here, but this does show most of the places you can visit in the game.
- 1993: Myst Masterpiece Edition (technically, this is the 2018 ScummVM version of the 2000 remaster, which re-encoded the original renders in higher quality)
- 2000: realMyst
- 2014: realMyst Masterpiece Edition (technically, this is the 2015 “Version 2.0”, which updated a lot of models and textures) (Note that this is missing the sky texture in Selenitic Age; it used to have clouds but it was broken in 2015 and never fixed.)
- 2021: Myst (all sound is from this version) - maximum graphics settings but no raytracing
All footage Copyright Cyan, Inc. 1993-2021. Captured by me. 
Игры
1993 was such an original creative idea, and the 2014 version is the most beautiful and colorful.
There's just something about the original 1993 version that none of the others captured. Those early 3D graphics are just so unique. It really creates an entirely different atmosphere from the others.
I agree, the original is more surreal. The newer version are more impressive from a CGI standpoint, but the original has more character.
Well part of that is a combination of Nostalgia, and there just not being anything to compare it to. Remember that these are the early King's Quest and Space Quest days. Very simple one-note stories for the most part. Then Myst comes along, a game that not only looks entirely different, but is different at it's core with an actual air of mystery about it. It's little wonder the original was such a big deal. And we've been spoiled since. I'd go so far as to say the VR remake can give a young/fresh player that same experience. That was my impression when I played it. (It was quite the experience actually standing on the dock far more "believable" terms.) Though I think the 2014 version is visually closer.
P.S. if you play it through in VR, expect a few... jittery moments. Preaching to the crowd, I'm sure. But dear god that's a long way down sometimes! And what the hell possessed Atrus to put a high-voltage cable that close to someone's head?! Because I can hear that thing very clearly (crossing to the rocket) and it sounds like a BAD THING!!
I so loved the original MYST. I would smoke weed and play it for hours and hours on my PC figuring out the puzzles and progressing through the game. I was hooked. I did manage to finish the game. This was before Google and the internet. I'm proud to say I accomplished it with my own smarts and trial and error. No cheating like today's world. My top 5 video games of all time.
@@intertubicular Well I'll skip on the weed thanks, but can't say I did the same. Yes, I did play and beat it back in the day. But I'll admit I used a paperback walkthrough. It was still worth it though, That was one of the more impressive worlds to explore in the day.
I never realised how nicely done the 2014 version was. Now even over the lastest version! Thanks for the well made comparison!!
I just wrote a similar comment. I didn't even know that version existed
Yup. If you have to play one of the modern "remasters", in my opinion realMyst is the best one to play. But the original still has the best and most unique atmosphere that in my opinion has not been recreated by any other version.
Aesthetically, 2014 is definitely the closest. Hell, there's even a Switch version of that one. (With a "usually" good framerate short of Channel Wood.) That definingly says something how far tech has come!
"Lastest"???
They all look great in their own way. I love that the original still looks good.
the original and 2014 version (realmyst masterpiece edition i believe) both look very good in their own way. i like some aspects of the 2021 version but i feel like they strayed too far from the original aesthetic.
@Hubert Jasieniecki i heard they added an option to use the original fmv people in the 2021 version so that might make it a good option for some people
@Hubert Jasieniecki A Riven remake is confirmed to be in progress.
@@Engineer_Who "Unreal Riven" releases in about two weeks :)
the 2021 version looks a bit overdone imo...The 2014 version definitely seems like the one I'd go for
2014 version is absolutely best 🥰
I played the original version 3 years after it came out. I was 32 years old and it became one of my favorite games ever. The graphics at that time were amazing. Somehow, this new 2021version came across to me and I was about ready to go and buy it on my steam. I am glad I seen this and thank you so much for the amazing video. From what I can tell, the remake from 2014 is what I want and I had no idea it even existed. Again, ty
Such a cool video. I think the only 2 things I prefer in earlier versions compared to 2021 are the videos vs CGI people, and the stars. They're more plentiful & crisp compared to 2021. Love the comparison though.
2021 need stars and 'dusk/dawn' and 'stormy' modes on Myst Island and Stoneship.
Thankfully, they updated 2021 with an option to use the original FMVs in all but one part!
Thinking back, I've bought Myst at least four times in various versions. I know I've bought it three times on the PC, and once on the Sega Saturn back in the day. Love that game.
I remember being mesmerized in 1993. Considering the versions are almost twenty years apart, goes to show how awesome the original was for its time.
overall 2014 looks best, 1993 is the second with is equal to 2000, and 2021 just comes in last place due to them deciding to do their own thing in many places killing the art direction that the other 3 are clearly following.
It's interesting how each remake has strayed from the original aesthetic in different areas, for better or worse. Instead of variations on the same sacred geometry and puzzles, I'd like to see a ground-up remake with a larger island.
I'm sure most of you know, but Riven is being remastered! God, I so want to play that one in proper VR! VR Myst was treat enough, but Riven is my absolute favorite from a pure "world" standpoint. I admit some bias, it's the type of surroundings I like the most. But it would be awesome to be truly immerse in the five islands and three ages of said-game.
realMyst Masterpiece is the prettiest. there are too many rocks and walls in the latest one. Though 2021's Selenetic is enchanting
The oldest is the best. I still have it in the basement...AND an old computer that will run it perfectly.
It runs perfectly on modern systems through ScummVM. (This is officially supported - if you buy it through Steam or GOG, you get the ScummVM version.)
I took the required files from the GOG installation on Windows and played it on Android with scummVM. Zero issues.
The original from when I was a kid form 93 is the best one those original 3d renders have this surreal feel I can’t explain that none of the others have. I love it.
I played the original back when I was a kid. '95 or '96 maybe? I **loved** it and it was what got me into gaming, reading, writing, everything. Myst and Quake II defined my interests as a kid, teenager, and even an adult so I just love seeing all these remakes and often wonder "which is best to replay".
I was really looking forward to the unreal engine 2021 remake but dang, they really should have kept to the live action footage than these new 3d models, they just look uncanny! Nice animations in the 2021 version but I think the 2014 realMyst: Masterpiece Edition is my favorite overall.
One thing I do like, at least in concept, for the 2021 remake is that the puzzles can be randomized with new solutions for repeatability. If that could be implemented into the 2014 version, I think it'd become the all time best version of Myst.
Amazing work Matt - that took a very long time I bet! :) very impressed.
The art direction of the original Myst is so unique, the 2014 version is the only one that even comes close to it. That mix of sophisticated real world objects/puzzles and aesthetics with the surrealism of the gameplay hits hard. I wonder if part of it is the fact that Cyan had to pre-render each area, giving them the chance to tweak things to their heart's content. The remakes usually end up too dark, too flamboyant, or too fantasy based (the 2021 version has a World of Warcraft vibe). I would love to see a remaster where the original 1993 models are imported into a modern engine and "spruced up" from there.
I don't know about "tweak things to their heart's content". From what I know about the development of Myst, they were doing it all in wireframe and rendering each frame basically one time at the end. They didn't have time to render a frame more than once because each one would take hours.
By contrast, a real-time game would allow them a lot more freedom to experiment and move things around after seeing what it looks like.
Looks like a new version comes out every multiple of 7 years, so the next version could either be 2028, or 2035.
I think if the 2021 version had more contrast and moodier lighting, it would be perfect. The 256 color palate really gave the original a specific look that’s hard to replicate, but it’s so important to the look of the game.
Great video! Thank you for helping me to decide which Myst to get (the original one for me - the one I remember).
Visually the new Selenitic Age is probably the best version of it. I do miss the storms in Stoneship though. And yes, I prefer the old fmv stuff but I can understand why they tried cgi instead.
2021 remake was great but I think the 2014 version is the best one. captures the atmosphere best, especially on stone ship age. 2021 version disappointed me here as stoneship age didn't feel gloomy and dark like the others.
It's funny because for me, Stoneship isn't meant to feel gloomy. It's always been bathed in an eerie yellow glow. 2014's Stoneship being almost pitch black was the most disappointing thing to me about that release. I loved the giant warm sun in 2021.
Hate to be that guys but the original looks the best to me. As cool as it is to see updated graphics in each of its versions, they don't capture that eerie liminal feel that makes myst so amazing and unique.
That is one of the great mysteries of life. - Grandpa Longneck, The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock (1998)
Hey, thanks so much for putting this together. It's both a trip down memory lane and a fascinating study on how newer versions have either improved the look of the original or not matched the beauty thereof. I thought most of the newest version were a bit too light-colored. The darkness of the original really added to the mystery. Even though it wasn't a game in which you could die (well except for at the end) it always felt like you just might.
I honestly think I like the original realMyst the most. The early 3D look gives it a similar vibe to the original, but it's not pre-rendered and you can move freely. Most seem to either prefer the original or the 2014 Masterpiece Edition, but I think realMyst is the best compromise between the two.
I tend to perfer the 2014 version
playing the HTC vr version now, awesome
just got the Myst 25th anniversary on steam has Myst, real Myst masterpiece plus Riven, exile, revelations, uru and end of ages. finished Myst way back in the 90's played most of Riven years ago and a tiny bit of EOA never played the others, so am on a journey to finish them all.
Love the latest Version, but I prefer the Video inserts with the glitches from the first Myst. That was really creepy.
Yeah you can actually turn those old videos on in the settings. They don't fit quite as well with the environment, especially since the ending can't have a video replaced.
My vision is impaired, so I really like the newest version is brightened up.
Not having the FMV characters is a tragedy.
A few hours after I posted this video, Cyan released a patch with FMV characters, lol.
mobile.twitter.com/hannahgamiel/status/1433957473832955906
@@MattGiuca Thanks for the info; might have to get it now.
I prefere the last for the details and the first one for the colors. Every part have a distinctive color making the picture easy to read where the others are more "unicolor".
Very cool.SIDE BY SIDE!!!!!!😸👍
I prefer the liminality of 2000. That's what makes Myst, Myst
Acquired the 2000 version today and I kinda wish that some modders would give it a little love, just so that it would work well on modern systems. It doesn't have any internal bugs for what I felt, only problems it has are related to compatibility with modern OS's.
In my experience it works basically fine on Windows 10 (haven't tried 11) if you set the compatibility mode to 98 or XP. Some weird lines around the edge of the screen but those have been an issue going back even to the XP days. Did you have any more significant trouble running it?
@@MattGiuca Yea, it runs, I got it working just fine, but it's not perfect. You can't run it beyond FullHD resolution, and the game is little unstable even with those tweaks done to the executable + official patch and noCD fix exe. Good thing is that can fix the Anisotropic Filtering and anti-aliasing with NVidia Profile Inspector, that helps with the visuals too. But I'd wish that some modders would make a proper fix patch for it, that would fix it for good for modern systems. Add modern controller support etc to it too.
The original 93 version looks the most alien. For that I just like it.
The 2000 version has great textures, but it also feels too bright and clashes with the minimalism. You can really see what I mean at 3:00.
The 2014 version looks fantastic, except for channelwood.
The 2021 version was ruined the moment they replaced the FMVs with those fugly 3D models for Sirrus, Achenar and Atrus.
Recently patched versions have brought in the original FMVs for almost every encounter with Atrus and his sons. Now the only parts with the CG characters are the endings.
I am going to vote for the 2014 version.
The newest game lacks the soundtrack which is so good.
I have all versions but, the 1993 version was such an innovative game and to me is still my favourite, the 2014 version is the best of the rest I my opinion.
An interest view of the versions for comparison.
Without a doubt, the 2014 looks to be best.
This video made me realize that the Google Play store version I have on my phone is a port of the original 2000 realMYST, and the one I have on Nintendo Switch is a port of the original 2014 realMYST: Masterpiece edition
Not exactly. The Android/iOS versions are a weird middle between the 2000 and 2014 PC versions.
They were actually built from scratch on Unity (since realMyst's original Plasma engine couldn't run on mobile), using assets from the original game with minimal tweaks. Later, the mobile versions were used as the basis for the Masterpiece Edition but with extensive changes to the modeling, textures and lighting.
That's why the mobile version looks a lot like the 2000 version, but plays almost identically to the 2014 version.
@@MattGiuca That is very interesting, I didn't know the mobile version is its own thing. Thanks for sharing this bit of info
Aren't those books @ 2:20 from 2021 ver. turned to bricks?
Nada se compara à versão de 1993
Something looks "off" with 2021. Brightness and light perhaps? And cgi human models? Really?? Why not polish the original fmv? 2014 looks to have captured the best elements.
1993>2014>2021>2000
I would give first place with respect to the 1993 version, which is still beautiful; the 2021 version feels overdirected.
I wish there were some way to turn off day night in real myst
its a shame they dont have weather options or something in the 2021 ersion looking at stoneship here 2014 looks amazing. i love storms and the whole bioshock kinda theme. not that there is much to any of the worlds but if there was one i would live in it would be the storm stoneship
Wow really, for me the night Stoneship is the single biggest disappointment of 2014. I love the vibes of Stoneship in the original 2000 realMyst (including the storm) and while it feels different, I also loved the big sun in 2021. The perpetual night is just too dark and lifeless for me.
Realmyst is still the best. The 2021 version looks pale.
Haven't played this since it came out.
I'd imagine I'd love the newer ones, but it would probably ruin Riven for me since you'd have to go back to slides.
realMyst seems to get a lot of hate, but having played Myst (1994 Windows port), Myst: Masterpiece Edition, realMyst, and realMyst: Masterpiece Edition, realMyst (2000) remains my favorite version from an atmosphere perspective. They all have trade-offs. I have yet to play Myst 2021.
Huh, I've never seen hate for OG realMyst. I agree it remains my favourite for mood and it's a shame it's the only one of these that's no longer available legally.
part of me wonders what would happen if i could jump in a time machine and travel back to 1993 with the 2021 game
I'd probably be accused of witchcraft type shit and get burned at the stake
1993 and 2014 are true!
Eww. What's wrong with that 2021 version? Was the guy who's supposed to add color out with covid & they had to get an intern to handle color??? Or could the studio not afford color?
Original intro was best but the rest was best 2014
the 2000 version by far the best looking
2021's version is by far the best BUT why did they animate the characters instead of shooting live footage? that definitly was a step back ward. they looked like cartoon characters.
There's a setting to go back to the classic videos and people seem to like it. I can't stand it because it doesn't integrate properly with the world, it's super low res, and the final scene still uses the 3D version so it's totally inconsistent.
Aš apakęs... Šiuo atveju: 5 žingsniai pirmyn, 1 atgal. O, noriu pasakyti: 1 pirmyn, 5 - atgal... Pažiūrėkit patys. Čia ir baigiasi Kalėdinių eglučių konkursai... TIK ČIA: MYST.
I kind of prefer 2014
Honestly to me both 2000 and 2014 look inferior to 1993, all the color blend-ins and atmosphere are washed out in the remasters, also the sense of scale on the main island. The 2021 version at least looks clean and well made without feeling bland and empty. So 1993, 2021 > 2000, 2014
Is the footage from 2021 a part of "Real Myst?"
No, it's the new remake, simply (and rather confusingly) titled "Myst".
@@MattGiuca Greeeat. I'll look into that.
How is the 2021 version the worst?
I feel like the 2021 version would be a must have for original players. Just to replay it again, but in more modern style. Im buying it very soon... And I want to support the devs... They are heroes to me. 😁
2021 looks like a bunch of stock assets
why no new myst game, same old story.
The 2021 version is too bright while also being too dull colored in places(I don't know how). 2014 was the best to me in most cases except for maybe the fog on one of the windmill scenes, underwater and a few random areas. The 93 one still holds up, is more colorful than the 2021 one and that's the only one I have actually played so far (in 93 or around then). 2000 one is meh. Just bought all of them, the sequels and related in a humble bundle.
@1:54 I hated the 2021 version of this scene.
What is wrong with 2021's lighting!!! Insipid. Clearly shadows were considered unecessary...
2021 is the worst IMO, just doesn't feel like Myst. 2014 seems the closest to the 1993 version. Myst: Masterpiece Edition is probably still the best though, as that's original, just in a higher colour bit-depth.
2021 VR-remake seems alien and ugly to me. The 2014 version however has the best balance between the original and realMYST versions.
The original is still the best. That projection in the dimensional imager room in the 2021 version is embarrassing
I generally prefer the original from 1993 and masterpiece from 2014. 2000 is the worst with too much pale lighting, and the CGI in 2021 one is very bad.
I love the vr ver but i got to say why ditch the quick time videos of real people talking for that cgi crap
Yeah I wish they looked better, but the reason is pretty clear: you can't have real stereoscopic 3D characters as needed for VR with videos, especially those ancient ones.
In fact they've since added those old videos back in as an option, but I don't think they work very well due to the above.
I really hope some day they hook up Epic's MetaHuman thing and make those 3D models look really good and authentic. They would be so much better than just trying to reuse the old videos.
Most of the time original looks better because uses harsh light. 2021 version looks like comlpletely different game with one sepia color (just bad). 2014 version close, but again... bad light. I dont understan why they cant just made remake with harh light and deep black shadows.
2000 RealMYST is the best remake as it doesn't fuck up the original look. Cyan really changed too much and made too many changes to suit VR, I'm really afraid they're going to fuck up Riven.
I sort of disagree in that 2000 realMyst did make drastic changes to the original look, particularly the lighting in Myst, Stoneship and Selenitic. It looks great but rather different, and each remake has followed that suit. Myst 2021 wasn't much more drastic of a change than realMyst. But I do agree that some of the changes they made to suit VR are almost comical in how contrived they are (the sunken chest in Stoneship is the goofiest).
It looks like Riven will have exactly spot on atmosphere, but they are making some drastic changes for VR again which I think is a mistake. (Accessibility for people who are unable to bend over should be an option, not forced on everyone so you never get to experience real motion in VR.)
Why does the 2021 look absolutely ATROCIOUS?
2014 is still the best. The 2021 version they took all the life out of it and tried to make it into an anime. Sad. What's with all the pastel images? maybe it looks better in VR
The 2014 version has far better lighting design. Looks to me like the 2021 crew just said "meh, raytrace, done". even though it's not REALY raytracing...
I think the 2014 version has generally the worst lighting. Indoor environments are pretty good, but the outdoor environments are done so much justice in 2021 by the fog alone. Selenitic and Stoneship look pretty bad in 2014 IMO - Stoneship is always dark, and Selenitic is missing its beautiful sky texture due to a bug that was introduced in 2015 and never fixed, sadly.
2021 looks kinda dull and the color look way too off. Looks toned down color wise.
hate to say it, but 2021 was a step back and even a downgrade in more than a few scenes. that's VERY disappointing and turns me off from a purchase
Aside from the character art (which has been discussed at length and they've already released a patch to put back the old videos), what do you think are the downgrades? From my perspective this game is an amazing achievement in modernizing the existing environments and interfaces. I hope this video didn't do it an injustice.
Did the 2021 Chanel wood age forget what wood looked like? Some of the 2021 stuff is nice, large parts of it feel like they had the budget for the main island and establishing shots and environment of the ages and not much else, losing the important environmental storytelling of the puzzles and details. Also, 2021's holograms are terrible, they should have just stuck to old. There is no reason to upgrade the holograms, the story of the capture and replay of these videos is that they were made on the islands with what they had and ingenuity. There is no reason to have high resolution holograms coming out of steam punk machines. And the character models in those high resolution holograms are ass too.
2014 best!
2021 version looks TERRIBLE. it's funny but the best looking one is the original 1993.