Sometimes, at the end of a game, I feel as though I've been "shredded" if the puzzles have been particularly challenging - and my reaction to that feeling varies from a huge sense of enjoyment and achievement to a huge sense of relief that I got through.

Depending, of course, on how much I liked the game as a whole !!

How do YOU feel ??

[I know "challenging" puzzles will represent different puzzles to different people so I'm not asking which particular puzzle might be a challenge, only for your end of game reactions.]

Hi, Mad

I think "Limbo Of The Lost" was a challenged to me at the end..Where I had to play around with crystals..

I really don't like a challenged in a game to over power me..I know every game has a solve...

Mostly these challenges comes from the developer, some can be over powering to a point where I give in. Some are above, and beyond my brain power....

I really don't like games to play where you need a degree in Math or Science or a PHD in physics.

Its not Fun at all...

I like to feel challenged enough to feel as if I accomplished something by finishing, but not like my brain has melted and not like the game defeated me. Course, I really just like to play to see what is going to happen next.

I love the challenge if I've got enough time to really engage it. If I don't, I play something that is more mindless than challenging. But yes, I prefer I good mental workout whenever I can do it.

A challange at the end of a game is fun as long as it is not an impossible timed event. I can usually do okay, but sometime timed puzzles can take me days to complete and end with very sore fingers!

The reason I got into gaming in the first place was because of my love for spacial and logic based puzzles. I want a game that gets me thinking. I like to take notes and work out codes, maths, mazes, mechanics, etc. I'll even go to the internet for refreshers in things like alternate base math or geometric principles. If I'm not working on some challenge in a game, I get bored. Sometimes a good story can keep me going, but mostly I'm eager to get to explore a new environment or the next puzzle.

My end of game reaction depends on whether I've been enjoying the game or not. If it's been full of the type of "challenge" which is more a challenge to my patience than anything else, I am usually just glad the game is over, even if it had a good story. (I've also probaby cheated a good bit to get past the boring parts as quickly as possible.) If I've been enjoying the challenges/puzzles, I'm usually a little sorry the game is over.

jenny,that's exactly my thought. well said.

I like to be challenged but not overwhelmed. And it has to make sense to me. I really liked Rhem - but I did not like Realms of Illusion I thought Rhem made sense-- and made me work hard going from one place to another with logical puzzles. But if it is just puzzles- that I just don't quite get.... it is not fun. I also like taking my time figuring thins out-- so if I have a line or clock that is running out of time -it takes away from the enjoyment.

I'd echo Winfrey's "challenged but not overwhelmed". That's the ideal for me. Story is the sugar that helps the puzzles go down (for me.)

Hi Mad, I think my number one area of enjoyment in a game is the puzzles, I love good ones, not just inventory, and the more the better,
I do like them to make sense though, and the ones that seem to make the most sense is the ones that are either scientific, or the coding type, of the historian or language expert, not sure if this is making sense, I think that is why I like Egyptian type games so much, there is alot of the picture languages, and code type puzzles available.

Mathematical or Scientific types are good for this too, but, the ones that are best is, ones that really do, have you thinking, and looking as the story unfolds, that naturally will come to mind,
sometimes, the puzzle clues are a little far fetched, and frustrating, because they dont make sense if there are alot of those, I do look for the end then, and don't have the same satisfaction.
So I suppose, the next most important feature besides a game with GREAT puzzles is a good supporting story, that drives the puzzles in a sense and gives me clues, that keep me thinking as I am solving them,
I find timed puzzles frustrating , I like to take my time, and really think of the ingredients,
I think I probably take 2 to 3 times as long to play most games as others, just guessing, by what I hear on the boards, how long games are for others
sometimes, if there is alot of repetition, and
too much inventory type puzzles, that have little to do with the story, but more to do with
getting into this door and that area, I get to thinking, I wish this game was over!!
anyway, I do try to limit the Walk through help, but these are the times, I will use them,
I like to be Challenged, beyond just adding inventory Items to hotspots though, I love the
riddle, word and code, and even slide puzzles, the more the better for me, :), I liked the game safecracker, but it would of been much better, had it a better story and clues, think games like Shivers,are some of the best for challenging me...
by the way, of the recent games coming out, which ones have the stand along type puzzles in them?

Marcia

Games with mostly mechanical or pattern puzzles (not inventory based puzzles) are becoming somewhat rare. From 2009, you might want to check out Heaven and Yoomurjak's Ring and Machinarium.

Adventure-lite games like Drawn: The Painted Tower and the Dream Chronicles games might also fit what you're looking for, if you haven't ventured into the casual realm yet.

Thanks becky, I have noticed that, about them becoming more rare, and one reason I do look for the older games, come to think of it though, I havent played Dream Chronicles 2 , Machinarium, or heaven, will have to check these out :),
Marcia

Maybe others will chime in with more games that are suitable -- I haven't played everything from 2009, as much as I'd like to!

Well, perhaps it is the actress and writer in me, but my main attraction to any game is its story. For that reason, I actually really enjoy dialogue puzzles and can't understand other people's aversion to them.

I also like really unusual puzzles, such as Le Serpent Rouge. Sure I needed a nudge now and then, but I consider that puzzle ingenious. For the most part, with the exception of and a few action sequences, the Gabriel Knight games represent my ideal as far as puzzles are concerned. I also really loved many of the technical puzzles in Culpa Innata, as they complimented the story perfectly for me.

I am a gamer that like puzzles: all types and the more difficult the better. I understand completely, however, the comments about puzzles that tax us too much and hurt our enjoyment of the game.

In particular, I have noticed that when an impossible puzzle comes my way in a game (almost always one where I must consult a walkthrough), that I get "brain tired" to the entire game, even after I have taken a break from it. Especially for games that have multiple difficult puzzles I think I become conditioned to this "impossible" schematic and I find myself less able to approach the next puzzle well.

I do, however, prefer that a game have a difficult puzzle within the story/genre of adventure game, THAN to have an easier puzzle simply because the creators fear it will sell more games if the puzzles are easier.

Anyone else have the same experience and feelings?

Hi orchgamer, I am with you, I love hard puzzles,
I like the ones, that give you little tidbits
that you can work on in your mind, as you are away
from the game, or in another part of the game,
I loved GK also, I actually like playing the girl
best, because she got to do all this research, and
puzzles,
they definitely are on my top ten,
I would rather play a game 10 to 20 years old,
that has really good puzzles, and story than some of the new ones...
have you played the Dig?
that is one I played and enjoyed recently,

a good challenge, is one that really integrates game
ingredients with the pace of the game,

giving me time to think about it...
so ya, I have the same feelings about games..:)