Compared to the DVD version – Riven (iPhone version) Review

Pros: 1. You have RIVEN in your pocket in a more or less intact form. 2. The soundtrack is stellar & is almost as rich an experience as the DVD version. 3. The price is a bargain for a piece of nostalgia that represents one of the formative experiences of my childhood. Cons: 1. The fluidity of transitions between shots is not as subtle, resulting in a jerkier, less-immersive experience. 2. The animations for many of the finer mechanisms (Gehn's throne room & the topside elevator on Map Island - the one behind the sandstone fissure) are quite rushed in comparison, having what seems like a lower frame-rate. This is all compounded by a poor rendering between still & animated states. 3. The audio, although perfect in most ambient states is asynchronous from the on-screen animations in many spots, perhaps due to the reduced frame-rate. It was nice to experience the novelty of Riven in my pocket but I think I will stick with the DVD version I have, as it offers a more rewarding & captivating experience, especially since most of the images for this app are of such low resolution. UPDATED January 9th, 2017. Original rating 2 stars, new rating 4 stars. The experience has definitely been improved, the animation transitions are much smoother and are less intrusive to the experience and it is heartening to know that there is still dev support for this app. Still not a replacement for the DVD version...but rewarding in consideration that this is a pre-HD masterpiece, ported to an iPhone.
Review by brantonsaurus on Riven (iPhone version).