Search - Robyn Miller :: Myst (Video Game Soundtrack)

Truly Memorable, but Not For Everybody

06/03/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally, MYST was to be a game without any music at all. On a whim, Robyn Miller composed a single song, and it ultimately inspired him to create an entire soundtrack. The result is a wonderfully crafted work of art which reflects the truly unique nature of the game. The music presented over the one disc is entertaining, but it lacks the melodic power which can be found elsewhere. In other words, it's background music. Despite this, the music of MYST has a definitive emotional quality to it. From the ominous melody of Sirrus' Theme to the eerie sounds of Fortress Ambience, this CD will give you chills. While much of the music sounds desolate and lonely, many tracks are uplifting, in their soft benign melodies. The Finale is a very soothing piece which is certainly up to par with the best of ambient orchestrated fare. The sound quality, while I cannot think of anything to compare it to, is excellent. It was all done on a synthesizer, but the sounds are neither tinny nor overexaggerated. Miller selected a perfect spectrum of synthesized instruments to carry the music. Like the game, every track will evoke a mood, making for an interesting listen. To fans of the game, this CD should not be missed. From a more objective perspective, however, I would not recommend this CD to those in search of a powerful symphony or some wailing drums and distorted guitars. The neutral, soft style of the music makes MYST an extremely absorbing experience. All in all, MYST is the epitome of mood music, and is well worth the price."

Music to chill out by

Michele L. Worley | Kingdom of the Mouse, United States | 10/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herein, I'll describe each track more in relation to the game rather than from a musical point of view, to let readers decide for themselves if this CD has what they want. Only music tracks are provided (no dialogue or FX). The tracks are grouped by Ages, with 3 bonus tracks. Those that appear in the game have not been changed, as far as I can detect; what one hears in the game is what's on the CD. The music makes a very soothing background, in general.The first 6 tracks are the Myst Island group. "Myst Theme" is the opening title theme, without Atrus' accompanying dialogue, followed by the music that plays during the Myst book's overview of the island. (The little string passage that accompanies the Cyan logo at the beginning of the game isn't included.) "Treegate" is the passage played as the player enters the chamber on Myst Island containing the Channelwood linking book, and which continues during the book's overview of that Age. "Planetarium" is played while the player is in the planetarium (of course). "Shipgate" is the played once the player enters the chamber containing the link book for the Stoneship Age. "The Tower" is the music played when the player is in the chamber at the top of the tower attached to the library on Myst Island. "The Last Message (Forechamber Theme)" is played while the player is in the imaging chamber near the dock.Tracks 7 - 13 are the Mechanical Age group (that is, they occur while the player is in that Age). "Fortress Ambience Part I", "Fortress Ambience Part II" are what the titles indicate. "Mechanical Mystgate" is the background accompanying the linking book back to Myst Island. The remaining tracks from this Age, "Sirrus' Cache". "Sirrus' Theme - Mechanical Age", "Achenar's Cache", "Achenar's Theme - Mechanical Age" are played as the player explores the brothers' respective chambers and caches.Tracks 14 - 17 are the Stoneship Age group. "Compass Rose" is played when the player activates the compass rose in the underwater room overlooking the stoneship hull. "Above Stoneship (Telescope Theme)" is played while the player is on the stairway leading up to the telescope platform. "Sirrus' Theme - Stoneship Age", and "Achenar's Theme - Stoneship Age", are the themes played in each of their respective Stoneship Age chambers.Track 18, "Selenitic Mystgate", is the track played once the player FINALLY reaches the Myst linking book in that Age. (All the other contrivances in that Age are counted as FX rather than music.)Tracks 19 - 21 are the Channelwood Age. "The Temple of Achenar" is the background for Achenar's little playroom. "Sirrus' Theme - Channelwood Age", "Achenar's Theme - Channelwood Age" are the themes played in the characters' respective rooms in that Age."Un-Finale" ensues once the player completes either the red or blue linking books, while "Finale" accompanies Atrus' final speech.Finally, consider the 3 bonus tracks. "Fireplace Theme" would be best suited to an action sequence; if included, it would have disrupted the established tone of the game to that point. " Early Selenitic Mystgate" is much livelier than "Selenetic Mystgate", enough so that it wouldn't work as background music unless coupled with an action sequence. "Original Un-Finale" has some relationship to "Planetarium"."

I loved the 3 bonus tracks!

Michele L. Worley | 09/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This soundtrack was very fun to listen to; the tracks don't repeat like they do in the game and they are longer. I especially liked the three bonus tracks, Fireplace Theme, Early Selentic Mystgate, and Early Un-finale. As good as they were I can see why they weren't used in the game. Fireplace Theme is a climatic piece of music that perfectly sets the mood for that point in the game; it wouldn't have gone over well in the game because the fireplace puzzle is complicated and requires the player's full concentration, music would have been distracting. Early Selentic Mystgate, my favorite track on this cd, is a sort-of mixture of Sirrus' and Achenar's themes; it is elegant (like Sirrus' themes),but somewhat ominous (like Achenar's themes). This piece doesn't fit the mood for the scene in the game like the version they ended up using, at least it didn't for me. The final track, Early Un-finale, is beautiful, but what they ended up using fit the mood of losing the game much, much better.So, all in all, I think Mister Miller did the right thing by leaving those tracks out of the game, but I am greatful that he included them in the soundtrack. Believe me, this one is a winner."