Riven

The main pros of the game

• Visuals and World Design: The remake features stunning graphics and a fully realized 3D world that enhances the original's atmosphere, allowing players to explore and appreciate details that were not visible in the original 2D format.
• Engaging Puzzles: The game includes new puzzles and variations on existing ones, offering fresh challenges that keep the gameplay interesting and rewarding.
• Nostalgia and Faithfulness: Many players appreciate the balance between maintaining the spirit of the original game while updating it for modern gaming standards. The involvement of the original developers adds authenticity to the remake.
• Replayability: Randomized puzzles increase replay value, making it feel like a new experience even for those familiar with the original.
• Immersive Experience: The game successfully creates a captivating atmosphere with strong environmental storytelling and an engaging narrative.

The main cons of the game

• Character Animation Quality: The 3D models of characters lack the emotional depth and expressiveness of the original full-motion video (FMV) scenes, which detracts from key narrative moments.
• Performance Issues: Some players reported framerate drops and issues with long, uneventful animations that hindered gameplay fluidity.
• Complexity of Puzzles: While many enjoy the challenge, some players found the puzzles overly complicated, requiring significant documentation and backtracking, which can disrupt game flow.
• Limited Interaction: In VR mode, players expressed frustration over the inability to interact with certain elements in the environment, making the experience feel less immersive.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Improved Character Models: There is a desire for better-quality character animations and expressions to match the high standards of the rest of the game.
• Enhanced Interaction Mechanics: Players want more opportunities to interact with the environment, feeling that the current system does not allow for enough engagement with the world.
• Better Performance Optimization: Users hope for future updates that address performance issues, particularly in VR, to enhance the overall gaming experience.
• More Narrative Depth in Character Scenes: Some players wish for a more compelling representation of character interactions to enhance the story's emotional impact.

Summary

• Overall, while Riven's remake has been received positively for its visuals and puzzle design, it faces criticism regarding character animation, performance, and the complexity of gameplay mechanics.

Summary generated on: October 9, 2025