Puzzles, what are they good for?

**Thomas** · 02-21-2013, 08:22 AM

Some thoughts on puzzles in games that try to tell a story.

http://frictionalgames.blogspot.se/2013/...d-for.html

**PutraenusAlivius** · 02-21-2013, 10:50 AM

I kind of agree. And the puzzles were actually to heighten the player's sense of presence? I thought they make the game a bit more challenging. And thank you for the CoC Big Grin

COTE spoilers.
EDIT: AND YOU HAVE TO DELETE PUZZLES IN THE SUPER SECRET PROJECT?! WHY?! I have a feeling that it isn't horror....

**Rapture** · 02-21-2013, 03:30 PM

People should concentrate on the "The whole is greater than the sum".

**Brosive** · 02-21-2013, 04:32 PM

(02-21-2013, 10:50 AM)JustAnotherPlayer Wrote: I kind of agree. And the puzzles were actually to heighten the player's sense of presence? I thought they make the game a bit more challenging. And thank you for the CoCCOTE spoilers.
EDIT: AND YOU HAVE TO DELETE PUZZLES IN THE SUPER SECRET PROJECT?! WHY?! I have a feeling that it isn't horror....

Well, in Frictionals Penumbra: Requiem...

Spoiler below!

**rtjhbfvsrry** · 02-21-2013, 05:51 PM

I enjoyed the puzzles in Amnesia immensely because they gave me a reason to go forward. Whenever I didn't have a clear objective I'd question whether or not I should go forward and just get terrified again.

I also liked the puzzle design because they were either based on logic and observation or common sense. First time I played it I actually got stuck several times because I was thinking far too "gamey". I'd go What item do I need to find so I can actually set this explosive mixture off? and then proceed to run around for half an hour in the dark, wasting all my oil, then throwing a rock at the thing in frustration and get blown up because I was absolutely flabberghasted at how simple the solution was.

HUGE improvement over old school adventure game puzzle design. "The only way to open this door is to put a fish on the hinges! Why? Because we say so!"

**Diz** · 02-21-2013, 08:02 PM

I also enjoyed the puzzles in The Dark Descent. I became stuck on some of them, but other than that, I felt they added a nice touch to the game. Even if some puzzles are considered easy, they still force you to use your mind a little and not merely try to conquer your fear.

As long as puzzles are not too hard, I think it is both fun and interesting trying to solve them while being scared and anticipating that something might happen underway. Puzzles in Amnesia add interaction so that you actually get to do something other than walking around. As Funderbunk mentioned, the solution to something appeared quite simple in the end, and at the same time, thinking like that is not always easy when terrified, which makes it even more interesting and fun to try, in my opinion. =)

**the dark side** · 02-21-2013, 08:27 PM

why do i have a REALLY bad feeling about super secret project?

**rtjhbfvsrry** · 02-21-2013, 08:32 PM

Because you're a huge pessimist?

**the dark side** · 02-21-2013, 08:45 PM

probably,. im worried its going to be a very easy game... im not so happy about that, i dont like easy games, i like to Work for my ending cutscene! if i wanted to just experience a "story"... id watch Robocop.. if you know what i mean Smile

**Nice** · 02-21-2013, 10:40 PM

@the dark side, thomas already explained why they don't make their games hard. Main focus of their games is immersion and experiencing the story. If a player keeps dying on 1 same location and is forced to repeat the same sequence all over again 15 times it 1. breaks immersion 2. annoys the player

FG games are not something that you say "I managed to complete it", its more of a "i managed to experience it"