The sequel to Myst finally walks serenely onto the iPad, looks around with a confused look on its face, and gets ready to party like it’s 1997. But does this slow-burn classic still have a place on a platform more associated with instant gratification?

Never has a game series split its audience down the middle as Myst and its sequel Riven. Back when Riven was initially released on PC you either got it or you didn’t. You loved it or you found it the dullest, most frustrating experience around.

Now, 15 years later on a new platform, nothing has changed.

Actually, that’s a lie. Plenty has changed. User interfaces have gotten much better, graphics have improved immeasurably, and gamers’ attention spans have shriveled to the size of a peanut. It leaves Riven looking decidedly dated.

The game is a series of static, pre-drawn scenes, with the occasional piece of animation or FMV denoting changes in the world or plot. You progress between points by touching where you want to go or look. If you’ve ever moved along a road in Google Maps, you’ll know how this works.

It’s a stop-start way to move through Riven’s world, and for those brought up on games released after the turn of the millennium, it’s pretty awkward.

The game retains a zen-like feeling of calm and even awe in some of its strange vistas, though time and an unforgiving compression process have been unforgiving to the fidelity of its scenes. The audio work remains top notch, though, so a set of headphones is essential.

Then there are the puzzles, which are often amazingly obtuse. If you have a real attention to detail and deep reserves of patience, you may well be able to persevere without the aid of an online walkthrough – even with the game’s new hint system installed.

Needless to say, fans of the original game – or of the iOS Myst conversion – will also love this new take on the game.

For the rest of us, Riven is relic of a bygone era, and one that hasn’t become any easier to love with time.