Riven Review

Riven.  The name is short and simple.  However, the game behind the name is anything but.  This 2024 remake of the 1997 game of the same name sees you explore a captivating, stunning, massively immersive world that is full of mind-bending puzzles.  The biggest difference between the original and this remake is that you can now explore the world fully in 3D.  Will this Riven remake add a new dimension to the experience, or will it leave you feeling utterly puzzled?  Read on to find out!

A World of Untamed Beauty and Enigmatic Challenges

Riven throws you into the shoes of Atrus’s son, trapped on the mysterious Riven Island.  A series of cryptic messages from your father guide you as you navigate the island’s diverse landscapes, from lush jungles to stark, mechanical structures, some of them seemingly centuries old.

The core gameplay revolved around exploration and solving puzzles.  The number of puzzles is colossal, and there is precisely zero hand-holding throughout.  Some puzzles are relatively clear, but the majority are total head-scratchers.

This retelling of the 1997 original functions in much the same way as the original: point and click.  The main difference between the two versions is that there is now a literal extra dimension to explore, meaning that the puzzles have become more complex.  However, that isn’t to say that the puzzles are tiresome or tedious – far from it!

Classic Puzzles, Modern Twist

Gone are the static, pre-rendered backdrops of the original Riven.  In their place is a fully-explorable 3D world that throws you headfirst into a first-person experience.  No longer are you clicking through disconnected scenes.  Instead, you’re free to roam Riven‘s mysterious island, examining intricate details and uncovering puzzles organically as you explore.

This newfound freedom comes with a twist, however.  The puzzles themselves are cleverly interwoven into the environment.  While this fosters a sense of discovery, it can also make them delightfully obscure!  Finding them can be tricky, and even solving them might not provide immediate feedback on their role in the larger game.  This might lead to frustration for some players, but for others, it enhances the feeling of unravelling a forgotten world’s secrets.

This open-world immersion allows you to truly appreciate the scale and detail of the environments, while the core puzzle mechanics remain faithful to the original.  You’ll still rotate gears, adjust levers, and manipulate intricate mechanisms to progress.  However, while some puzzles might feel obtuse to modern players, the sense of satisfaction upon cracking a particularly challenging one is unparalleled!

Each puzzle is utterly unique and probably unlike anything you’ve likely seen before.  Most are based on vast, mechanical structures, requiring you to discover how each machine works.  As mentioned before, there are no spoon-fed clues.  A large part of the gameplay revolves around deciphering any hidden meanings or guidance offered in your father’s notes, but that’s your only starting point.  Everything else is down to your exploration and deduction.

Some might find this complex, maybe even harsh.  But the lack of instructions actually emphasizes the feeling of being stranded and alone, which ultimately strengthens the experience all-round.  What truly improves it is the tidal wave of relief and sheer pride when you hear the satisfying whir of machinery whenever you solve a puzzle, a testament to your ability to solve something entirely on your own!

A Solitary Journey Awaits

Riven is a single-player experience, which happens to perfectly complement the game’s atmosphere.  The isolation of Riven Island is a core element of the narrative, pushing you to rely on your own skills and observations to unravel its mysteries.  However, for those seeking a social experience, Riven might not be the ideal choice!

A World Waiting to be Rediscovered

Riven offers a high degree of replay value for those who appreciate the thrill of untangling mysteries.  The intricate puzzles and cryptic clues demand multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the narrative’s depth.  Additionally, this remake introduces subtle hints and environmental details that weren’t present in the original, offering a fresh perspective even for returning players.

A Feast for the Senses

The visual transformation of Riven is nothing short of breath-taking!  Built on Unreal Engine 5, the environments are stunningly detailed, with lush vegetation swaying in the breeze, intricate machinery gleaming in the sunlight and the vastness of the island inspiring awe.  The developers have masterfully captured the otherworldly beauty of Riven while retaining the distinct artistic style of the original, and that’s no easy task!

A noteworthy mention is the water in Riven.  It looks truly exquisite and is up there with some of the best water animations you are likely to find in any game to date!

The audio design further enhances the immersion.  Ambient sounds like trickling water, creaking machinery and the cries of unseen creatures create a believable ecosystem.  The soundtrack is subtle yet evocative, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of exploration and mystery, and the overall auditory experience is always pleasant.  The island sounds exactly as you would expect an island to sound, with a few additional elements thrown in to add yet further detail and it is these little touches that really make Riven pop.

Conclusion

Riven is a masterful remake that honours the legacy of the original while offering a modern experience.  The stunning visuals, immersive environments and meticulously crafted puzzles create a truly captivating adventure.  While the lack of multiplayer and potentially frustrating puzzles might deter some players, Riven remains a landmark achievement in the adventure game genre.  It’s a testament to the enduring power of a well-crafted world and a timeless story.  If you crave the thrill of untangling cryptic puzzles, piecing together rich narratives and exploring truly breath-taking environments, then Riven will quench your thirst for adventure!

Grade: 9/10