Video Games

Myst

FFor Nintendo DS. Rated for all ages. $29

WHAT WERE WE THINKING?: I come not to bury Myst, but to praise it. Wait, no, Myst stinks, and this new squinty, headache- inducing, touch-screen tap-athon version for the DS is just the final proof that we were all hypnotized during the early '90s, when Myst first floated into the pop culture like a cloud of smelly, inescapable gas.

I TRIED TO HAVE FUN: But the original Myst sold 12 million or so copies because it was one of the most beautiful games of its era. The gameplay stunk, the puzzles were boring and frustrating, and the slide-show-style animation was a sop to the limited computational power of 1990s desktops. Now, siphon away nearly all of that eye candy, and you've got Myst for the DS.

EYESTRAIN: Most of the gameplay in Myst involves reading notes and clues and books to adjust and flip tiny switches. Almost all of that material is so tiny as to be invisible on the small DS screen, so the gamemakers include a clunky magnifying glass function. Too bad no one considered actually upgrading the gameplay to fit the hardware.

BOTTOM LINE: Sometimes, indulging your nostalgia just makes you realize what an idiot you were when you were young. Spend 30 bucks on Myst for the DS and you'll feel like an idiot all over again.

Victor Godinez

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