"MYST V: END OF AGES," UBISOFT

If you believe the developers at Cyan Worlds, this is the last "Myst" game that will ever be created. And "Myst V" is a fitting end to an amazing journey.

The "Myst" series had already taken tentative steps toward more modern technology, such as the ability to explore the various worlds in a three-dimensional shooter style. You can do the same here or use a classic point-and-click interface, and switching from mode to mode can be done on the fly.

Of course, the beauty of the various worlds you visit goes beyond description, from a snowy glacial prison to a giant, spaceobservatory planet drifting in perpetual night between two nebulae and a giant, illuminated ring world.

You can even communicate with the worlds' creatures. There are large antlike workers on the worlds and, if you learn the right symbols, you can command them to do things for you. Simply scratch your command on a tablet, drop it and step away. The creatures will appear, try to read the tablet and follow your command. Learning how to speak with the workers will help you throughout the game.

Of course "Myst" is all about puzzles, and "Myst V" does not disappoint. The puzzles here are like the ones in the original game (and less like the first sequel, "Riven") in that it does not take a team from MIT to solve them. Working alone, I was able to complete the game in about 16 hours, without looking up too many hints.

Ending the "Myst" series is a bit like saying goodbye, or "Shorah," to an old friend, but wrapping up all the unanswered questions and letting the series retire on such a high note makes it all worthwhile.

For Windows 2000 or XP.