Summary
- Release Year: 1996
- Genres: Adventure, Fighting, Point-and-click, Puzzle
- Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Peter Bergman
- Publishers: Palladium Interactive, Parroty Interactive
Pyst: The Hilarious Myst Parody You Never Knew You Needed
Myst, the groundbreaking 1993 adventure game, is known for its beautiful pre-rendered graphics, its immersive world, and its challenging puzzles. But what if Myst was a parody of itself? What if it was full of dark humor, absurd characters, and over-the-top puzzles?
That’s the premise of Pyst, a 1996 adventure game that is both a loving homage to Myst and a hilarious send-up of its conventions.
A Parody of Myst
From the moment you start Pyst, it’s clear that you’re not in Kansas anymore. The opening cutscene features a man named King Mattruss, who is clearly a parody of Myst’s narrator, Atrus. Mattruss is a bumbling, forgetful fool who is constantly getting himself into trouble.
The world of Pyst is just as strange and wonderful as Myst’s, but it’s also full of dark humor. The once-pristine island is now littered with trash, the windows are smashed in, and the wildlife is dead. It’s clear that something has gone terribly wrong in Pyst.
Absurd Characters
The characters in Pyst are just as absurd as the world they inhabit. King Mattruss is joined by a cast of strange and wonderful characters, including:
- Chuck the Plant Guy: A talking plant who is constantly trying to eat Mattruss.
- The Evil Tree: A giant tree that is trying to take over the island.
- The Annoying Orange: A talking orange that is constantly making puns.
- The Crazy Monkey: A monkey that is constantly throwing things at Mattruss.
Over-the-Top Puzzles
The puzzles in Pyst are just as challenging as the puzzles in Myst, but they’re also a lot more absurd. For example, one puzzle requires you to use a giant magnifying glass to focus the sun’s rays on a piece of ice. Another puzzle requires you to use a boomerang to knock a key out of a tree.
A Hilarious Adventure
Pyst is a hilarious adventure game that is sure to make you laugh. It’s a loving homage to Myst, but it’s also a unique and original game in its own right. If you’re a fan of Myst or adventure games in general, then you need to check out Pyst.
Behind the Scenes
Pyst was developed by Cyan Worlds, the same company that developed Myst. The game was originally conceived as a joke, but it quickly grew into a full-fledged project. Pyst was released in 1996 to critical acclaim.
The game’s graphics are a mix of pre-rendered and real-time 3D. The pre-rendered backgrounds are beautifully detailed, and the real-time 3D characters are expressive and well-animated.
The game’s soundtrack is composed by Tim Follin, who is known for his work on the soundtracks for the Ecco the Dolphin games. The soundtrack is a mix of ambient and electronic music, and it perfectly captures the game’s strange and wonderful atmosphere.
Legacy
Pyst has been praised for its humor, its originality, and its challenging puzzles. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the PC, the Mac, and the PlayStation.
Pyst has also been the inspiration for a number of fan-made games and mods. These games and mods have kept the spirit of Pyst alive for over two decades.
Conclusion
Pyst is a hilarious and absurd adventure game that is sure to entertain you for hours on end. It’s a loving homage to Myst, but it’s also a unique and original game in its own right. If you’re a fan of Myst or adventure games in general, then you need to check out Pyst.
Review Score
7/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
