Adventure games are based on a linear narrative and framework, which works by advancement through logic-based obstacles. The best adventure games disguise the puzzles and mix them up into sections where you progress through them - sic. Riven, Monkey Island - based on the narrative. Typically the narrative in these games is of a high quality, even if the story's are simple, and implementation and integration are very carefully thought through to sustain immersion.
The worst adventure games, imho, use the puzzles as straight, barely-disguised blockages where you can't do much outside of having to solve them straight-out to progress. Or when the narrative is a framework for a poorly integrated game... and when the puzzles complement a poor narrative.
I've said it before - Adventures have very tight requirements which need to be done right in all areas to truly succeed as a game. They're very simple.
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