Post-Tutorial Research (Myst, Phantasmagoria, Tomb raiders)

15/10/23 

I was recommended to look at the game "Myst" which is a puzzle game. 

I found this video about the game Is MYST Still Good... 30 Years Later? - YouTube and from what Is shown it is a click-and-point puzzle game with very few (if any) instructions. For some players, this would be very frustrating, however, it also makes it more challenging and you feel more accomplished by being able to figure it out and solve it. The game is set on a mysterious island with multiple switches & buttons in various locations. 

It was made on HyperCard and involved pre-rendered images. It also included some video elements. One of the main flaws highlighted in this video is that some of the interactive elements were hard to see or not perceived as being interactive. The game has been through many adaptations including a VR version (Released in 2021 I believe): Myst on Steam (steampowered.com) / Myst » Cyan

There is also the online version of the game: Myst Online: Uru Live - Play

I also found this video of a speedrun of the game which gives a quick overview of everything that happens. Myst Speed Run in 0:51 (World Record) - YouTube (<WARNING SPOILERS if you want to try the game)

I also watched this video about Phantasmagoria: Phantasmagoria (PC) - Retro Gaming Review - YouTube The game was made in 1995 and includes some gore cut scenes. According to the video review, the gameplay is not the most exciting and some of the cutscenes are unnecessarily long. I don't think I would play this game but it was interesting to look at. 

This game seemed quite nostalgic (the style) even though I have never seen it before. For some reason (Nothing to do with the way it looked or the theme), it reminded me of a game that I had as a child which was a learning game it was on a CD and I couldn't put my finger on what it was called and it really annoyed me. 

Another thing mentioned in the tutorial was Tomb Raider 

I briefly watched this video Evolution of Tomb Raider Games 1996-2023 - YouTube The majority of the footage shown in this video from the earlier games is mostly just the character shooting animals, which I find quite questionable. However, it could be a good reference for puzzles, and traps. 

Some of the games shown in the video (Including 2014 Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris) remind me a bit of a game I had for the Wii, when I was younger, called Lego Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures (2008), which has quite a few puzzles to progress in the game. If I remember correctly there were areas that only short characters could access so you needed to switch characters, there were also levels where you used the whip to get across and to activate things. There was also obviously the iconic rolling boulder. 

All of these games can be good references for if I plan to include any more puzzles.