URU: Ages Beyond Myst Demo

Myst was one of the most popular adventure series ever released, with millions of copies sold worldwide and a massive fan base supporting the development team. The story constituted the main attraction of the series, because evolved from one episode to the other and it spanned over multiple worlds, each one of which was unique.

URU: Ages Beyond Myst is part of the same series and it was developed by the same studio, yet it features some very different concepts when it comes to gameplay. Hence, the game now comes with a third-person point of view and a character customization component, while the writers boldly integrated some modern-day elements into the story as well. As intriguing as it may sound, dropping most of what made the franchise so popular in one shot is a bold move, regardless of what studio does it and for whatever reason.

Speaking of which, the plot revolves around the same mystical worlds called Ages, although the explanation for them is now a tad more modern. As it happens, archeologists find the ruins of an ancient civilization near a volcano in New Mexico. This civilization was highly advanced and they discovered a way to travel between different worlds, a way that allows modern-day humans to do it as well.

In essence, the game plays out more or less like a classic adventure game, except for the fact that it is not point and click. Although the third-person perspective might seem weird, you have the ability to switch to a first-person one whenever you need to, in order to get a better view of the objects you are looking at. Not only that, but there is no inventory either, so you do not have to carry items around with you.

Visually, it must be said that the graphics engine was ahead of its time at the time back then and it still looks wonderful today. The environments are dreamy and unforgettable in most cases, especially since they depict strange worlds from different universes. The music is sublime and it completes the atmosphere, together with the solid sound effects.

Although it may not be as good as the previous episodes in the series, URU: Ages Beyond Myst is still a fine adventure game, with plenty to offer to those who seek a something exciting. The technical department is almost spotless, especially when it comes to graphics and the soundtrack.