Hoplite Research’s port of the classic Cyan World game ‘Myst’ from the PC way back in the early 1990s has only just been released in Europe on the Nintendo DS following a successul stint on the PlayStation Portable. Manny Granillo, the Executive Producer of the project recently spoke out on various details related to the game, also mentioning its future on other formats.

After garnering a strong cult following since its PC début and numerous sequels, Myst was eventually announced as coming to the PSP. However, many cried out that it would be more suited to the Nintendo DS thanks to the system’s touch-screen capabilities being more akin to a PC’s mouse input device. Now that wish has come true and European gamers can pick up the title right now, whilst the US audience only have a couple of months left to wait for their enhanced edition. Speaking with UK website Cubed³, Manny Granillo stated that since Myst is by far one of the most recognised brand names in the gaming world, it seemed a logical move to bring it to a platform like the DS to take advantage of the potential userbase out there and introduce a whole new market to the mysterious world within. As for how the DS version is different to previous editions, Granillo stated:

“The project received a complete top to bottom review. We wanted to bring the MYST adventure once again to long time faithful followers of the Myst Universe as well as the millions of new players discovering the game for the first time. We had to find a balance between conveying the experience within the DS framework that is both fun and functional. We decided early on to redesign the way in which the player interacted with the Myst experience. With the innovative Nintendo DS interface, we created a mechanism that integrated many of the tasks which players would normally do on a sheet a paper or with a hint book. Let’s just say that it was not a simple ‘move.’

“The DS version of MYST is a natural extension of CYAN’s original vision. The use of the stylus, the method of interaction, the level of mental acumen to challenge players and eventually master the game are all part and parcel on the DS version. If there ever was a game that was designed for the DS Mass Market Puzzle/Adventure crowd, it is MYST DS. The Magic of Myst is timeless because its design focused on the mind and the puzzles within.

“Myst DS summons every ounce of brain power to master and eventually complete. Those looking for a quick fix need to look elsewhere. Myst derives its allure from the connection between the player, the story, he world and how the puzzles act as a character themselves. Always taunting and challenging the player to solve them if they can. Nothing is as it seems, yet all is what it seems. Myst will challenge even the best Brain Game or adventure player. Myst has NEVER been about any one part of a game, but simply the game itself. It will continue to be the game to master for years to come by the ever-growing amount of new gamers that see it for the first time.”

The DS edition makes good use of the system’s features as well, with the stylus being the “key method of interaction” and the dual-screen set-up allowing the development team to “make the game even more challenging”. On the whole, this build is very similar to that of the PSP version, yet obviously the interaction in the DS version is greatly enhanced by ‘touching’ and how the numerous in-game tools are used.

Granillo then goes on to talk about the future of Myst and whether or not his company will be looking at bringing other PC puzzle titles back or even convert Myst to Wii:

“As mentioned earlier, the Myst adventure is independent of technology. That is why it lives on in many forms. Myst is not tied to any one technology or experience. Its design “lives” apart from the way a gamer will experience it. It is very unique to Myst itself. Very few, if many others, have that ability. I was involved with another masterpiece with a similar dynamic called Sim City almost 18 years ago.

“The direction that my group is heading is taking us to create new franchises as well as bringing other gamer favourites back into circulation that I feel are part of a gamer’s legacy that must be passed on to the next generation such as Myst will be. My impetus to bring the Myst legend to the DS was that it needed to be. I am sure there are many other developers now jumping on to bring other games to the DS. If I determine that a project is worth pursuing, we will look into it. But, that project must be something that will be a watershed and not simply another project on the wall.

“[ As for Myst on Wii ] we cannot comment on this, but we are looking into it.”

Make sure you check out the full interview over at Cubed³ for further information.

So have any of Nintendic’s readers played the new DS edition? If so, be sure to share your thoughts on it below and let us know your opinion on the possibility of Myst also coming to Wii. Stick around for further updates…