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