o---------------------------------------------------------------------------o | MYST | | | | FAQ/WALKTHROUGH | | Version 1.3 (December 22, 2003) | | | | By The Admiral | | Email: Admiral1018 yahoo com | o---------------------------------------------------------------------------o
INTRODUCTION ============ Even many years after its release, Myst still reigns as one of the most innovative and revolutionary video games of all time. While its graphics and interface have long since been bettered by other games, nothing has yet come close to redefining a genre of gaming the way it has. Anyone seeking an incredible playing experience or wanting to share in a piece of gaming history would be well minded to give Myst a shot.
That being said, Myst, in many gamers' minds, is one of the most challenging and frustrating games ever created. The puzzles require some deep thinking and a true creativity in many cases. The game is not simply a matter of "do this, then do that," it's more a case of "figure out how this works, then learn to master and control it." For everyone who has ever gotten stuck while playing this game, or who completed it but isn't sure if they got the fullest from their experience, this guide should help you.
Before proceeding, note that Myst does require a basic level of academic intelligence to understand. You must know simple geometric concepts, like how many degrees are in a circle and how angle measures work. You must also be able to do simple arithmetic computations and understand the basic cardinal direction system (North, South, East, West). Just be mindful of these basic requirements before proceeding.
As a final note, this guide uses two extended ASCII characters: the bullet (•) and the over-score (¯). If you cannot see both of these symbols clearly, it is probably due to your browser settings. In that case, try switching browsers or opening this document in a text editor. That should correct the problem.
============================================================================= D I S C L A I M E R MYS01 =============================================================================
This FAQ is meant for personal use only and cannot be reproduced for commercial use under any circumstances. No portions of this guide may be reproduced, in part or in entirety, without the consent of the author. If you would like to use any part of this guide in your FAQ or website, I will probably give you permission if you ask, but you must ask first (Email: Admiral1018 yahoo com). The Myst title and all contents within are copyright of Cyan, Inc.
============================================================================= G A M E E D I T I O N S MYS02 =============================================================================
Over the years, Myst has been ported and re-released across many different platforms and gaming systems. While all versions are basically the same, there are subtle differences that may affect the playing experience of particular releases. This guide has been written for and fully tested on the following versions of this game:
• PC Classic Edition • PC Masterpiece Edition • PC DVD Edition • 10th Anniversary Edition
The strategies found in the FAQ and Walkthrough sections have been verified to work on all game versions listed below. The main exception is when instructions involve pressing or holding a mouse key; simply replace this command with the appropriate action button used in the particular game.
• Playstation • Sega Saturn • 3DO • Jaguar CD
============================================================================= T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S MYS03 =============================================================================
To jump to any section of this guide quickly, click the Edit option on the toolbar, then go to Find and type in the index number listed in the right column. You can also press Crtl+F to bring up the search box in most browsers and text editors.
DISCLAIMER..............................................................MYS01 GAME EDITIONS...........................................................MYS02 TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................MYS03
PC EDITION DIFFERENCES..................................................MYS04 GAME SETUP..............................................................MYS05 TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.....................................................MYS06
MENU....................................................................MYS07 CONTROLS................................................................MYS08 BACKGROUND STORY........................................................MYS09
SECTION I – GENERAL TIPS................................................MYS10
SECTION II – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)...........................MYS11 • Island of Myst • Getting to the Other Ages • Mechanical Age • Stoneship Age • Channelwood Age • Selenitic Age • Ending • Other Questions
SECTION III – WALKTHROUGH...............................................MYS12
PART I – ISLAND OF MYST.................................................MYS13 • Exploring the Island • Island of Myst Map • Getting Started • Library • Books • Tower Rotation • Access Keys • The Ages OF Myst • Final Note about the Pages
PART II – MECHANICAL AGE................................................MYS14 • Accessing the Mechanical Age • Arriving in the Mechanical Age • Entering the Fortress • Exploring the Fortress • Rotation the Fortress • Exiting the Mechanical Age
PART III – STONESHIP AGE................................................MYS15 • Accessing the Stoneship Age • Arriving in the Stoneship Age • Exploring the Stoneship Age • Draining Away the Water • Restoring the Power • Finding the Pages • Lighting the Ship and Exiting the Age
PART IV – CHANNELWOOD AGE...............................................MYS16 • Accessing the Channelwood Age • Arriving in the Channelwood Age • Pumping the Water • Using the Elevators • Navigating the Tree Level • Finding the Pages
PART V – SELENITIC AGE..................................................MYS17 • Accessing the Selenitic Age • Arriving in the Selenitic Age • Finding the Sounds • Using the Transceiver • Opening the Shed • Navigating the Tunnel
PART VI – ENDING........................................................MYS18 • The Final Pages • The End Game • Other Endings
SECTION IV – SOLUTIONS..................................................MYS19
CONTACT INFORMATION.....................................................MYS20 REVISION HISTORY........................................................MYS21 CREDITS.................................................................MYS22
============================================================================= * * * R E A D T H I S * * * =============================================================================
Solving the puzzles and mysteries scattered through Myst are the most challenging and enjoying elements of the game. Relying on a guide or extensive information during your first play through will completely ruin your experience, in all likelihood. PLEASE keep this in mind before going any further. The game is possible to beat in 10 minutes if you have all the solutions, but this will totally ruin the game for you. This guide is set up in different sections to give you gradually increasing help while spoiling your experience as little as possible. Here are the different sections of this guide and how to best make use of them:
• Section I – General Tips: This section contains a list of 10 tips that will help you start off strong and show you what types of things to look for. There are NO spoilers or specific hints given in this section, so it is safe for anyone to read. If you are struggling or if this is your first time through a puzzle game, it is encouraged that you read this section.
• Section II – FAQ: The FAQ section contains a Question and Answer listing for many of the more difficult areas in the game. If you are truly stuck and none of the tips in the first section will help you, odds are the puzzle giving you trouble can be found in one of the questions there. The answers to each question do not flat out tell you the solutions, but they give instructions on what to look for and how to find the answers you need. Each question is categorized by area in the game to make them easier to look up.
• Section III – Walkthrough: This section has a fully detailed walkthrough and graphical solutions for the entire game. It contains complete spoilers for the specific sections that are being described. It advised that, if this is your first time through the game, you DO NOT use this section unless you have unsuccessfully searched both the general tips and FAQ sections for the answers you need. This section is also intended for veteran Myst players who are going through the game again and want to explore/understand everything. There should be some new information and explanations that should benefit nearly any player, no matter how many times you have gone through this game. Keeping this in mind, the Walkthrough is still written so as not to spoil any solutions in areas other than the current one.
• Section IV – Solutions: This final section is an appendix of the solutions to puzzles in the various Ages. It is meant to provide a quick look up if you only want a number or combination at some point. This section contains full spoilers and is not intended for anyone playing through the game for the first time.
Hopefully, the information laid out in this guide will provide the maximum level of help while still maintaining the full experience of playing through Myst.
============================================================================= P C E D I T I O N D I F F E R E N C E S MYS04 =============================================================================
This guide is written for both the Classic and Masterpiece editions of Myst. While both games have identical gameplay, controls, puzzles, and solutions, there are several differences between them. The Masterpiece edition is essentially a re-release with improved graphics and compatibility.
There is nothing significantly different, so if you own the original, it doesn't make much sense to purchase this version as well. On the other hand, if you do not own a copy of Myst yet, you should definitely go for the Masterpiece edition if you can. Beware that both still have technical problems on newer machines and operating systems, and some of these problems are addressed in the "Technical Questions" later on.
The major changes made in the Masterpiece version are as follows:
• Graphics have been improved. Original Myst was limited to 256 colors, but Masterpiece was redone in 24-bit color with noticeably greater resolution. • Digitally remixed sound. All the original sounds are the same, but they have been remixed at higher bit rates. • Improved FMV resolution. All the Full Motion Videos remain the same, but the clarity and coloration are much better.
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