Most Frustrating Puzzle in an Adventure Game?

Deshrill · 08-04-2004, 05:55 PM

As any Adventure Gamer knows, some games are just full of puzzles that are either illogical, frustrating, or both! What are some of the most frustrating puzzles you have encountered in an adventure game?

I am going to toss in one of the more common ones: the part in GK 3 where you must make a disguise to make Gabriel Knight look like Mosely. Cat hair, syrup, and hats do not a disguise make!

Captain Blondebeard · 08-04-2004, 07:21 PM

The puzzle in Monkey Island 4 where you have the clock on the boat and you go through the time warp and have to talk to yourself in the future drove me absolutely crazy. That was the only puzzle I have ever cheated.

Ripley · 08-04-2004, 07:36 PM

Since I'm a Tex Murphy fan, here are 2 puzzles that made me crazy.

Elijah Witt's Puzzle Box in Pandora Directive. It's a timed puzzle that'll drive you crazy.

The Alcatraz Bricks puzzle in Overseer. That one is like a blind person trying to put together a 100,000 piece jigsaw puzzle together.

Another strategy in Overseer that took me almost a month to complete is in the Gideon's Gallery. It's not really a puzzle....it's more strategy where you have to time yourself to get out of the Gallery before being zapped.

Jony · 08-04-2004, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Blondebeard

The puzzle in Monkey Island 4 where you have the clock on the boat and you go through the time warp and have to talk to yourself in the future drove me absolutely crazy. That was the only puzzle I have ever cheated.

Strange, that was maybe the only puzzle that I was able to beat in MK4. I would say trying to get a perfume that smells like Peghose Pete was the most rediculous puzzle ever created by a human being.

Jakek · 08-04-2004, 08:05 PM

I think I've mentioned it before, but using the clamp and rubber duck with a bandaid from a pair of gloves to get a key in a subway always seemed silly. That's from The Longest Journey, by the way.

Krazy · 08-04-2004, 11:01 PM

Runaway. Maybe not quite illogical but I have got to say TO many pixel hunts

It kept pissing me off that I had to resort to hints all because I didn't notice a 5 pixel item that looked like part of the background

Eddy · 08-05-2004, 12:59 AM

Black dahlia with that crystal thing.

LeisureSuitedLooney · 08-05-2004, 04:15 AM

re-assembling the broken coffee mug in Ripper ....that one was annoying to manipulate onscreen.

Ninth · 08-05-2004, 04:51 AM

I said it already, but... the puzzles involving dogs in MI2 and Simon the Sorcerer 2.

Spoiler:
Taking the dog in MI2. And using it (without anything, just using it) in STS2.

Tabula Rasa · 08-05-2004, 05:29 AM

From recent memory it was Uru where you had to push those buckets around to step over the water. Made me so frustrated, I was shouting at the damn computer "JUST PICK THE DAMN THING UP!!" Seriously, who kicks stuff around attempting to place it in just the right spot? Drove me nuts...

Cellardoor · 08-05-2004, 05:52 AM

I still don't see what people find illogical about the disguise puzzle in GK3. To me, the objective and resources were very clear in that part of the game.

Now, that cuckoo clock puzzle in GK2... I still don't know what that one's all about. :eek:

adfegg · 08-05-2004, 06:17 AM

One of the many annoying puzzles in Black Mirror:
You're in this room, the only way out is the wire frame door. You try to use wire cutters on it, but it isn't interactive. So, you do some other stuff until you notice a key on the other side of the door. You think, 'Well, they can't be expecting me to use the wire cutters because I already tried that.' Wrong!

rtrooney · 08-05-2004, 06:45 AM

Two that come to mind are the 3D maze in Space Quest 5, because none of the standard maze-solving rules applied. And the tile puzzle at the end of Rhea. I recall the solution required over 160 moves, and would have been impossible without a WT.

Tim

Captain Blondebeard · 08-05-2004, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jony

Strange, that was maybe the only puzzle that I was able to beat in MK4. I would say trying to get a perfume that smells like Peghose Pete was the most rediculous puzzle ever created by a human being.

That games puzzles were rediculously hard but the game had a brilliant story bested only by its beautiful 3d graffics.

bysmitty · 08-05-2004, 01:46 PM

The rotating peg door puzzle on the Lyra ship in Mysterious Journey 2. The objectives where so simple and at first glance it looked like it would take 5 minutes. 4 hours later I was seething in fury. Finally looked at a damn walkthrough. And after all that, the room that it opened triggered short cutscene. That's it. No other reason for the room what-so-ever. And the cutscene had nothing to do with the room either. After that I went right back out the door to continue the story elsewhere. My headache is coming back just thinking about it. Am loving the rest of the game though. ...bysmitty

SoccerDude28 · 08-05-2004, 01:48 PM

Lately Runaway peaked the most ridiculous puzzles in my opinion. The wrench (or was it a screw driver?) that you desperately need falls in a trough full of mud. So can you go down to the trough and just pick it up? OH HELL NO. Your hands would get dirty. So instead you go to the top of the balcony, throw a pot into the trough and then the splash throws the wrench out of the trough. All that while you are running out of time trying to save the day. Now that is ridiculous. Just pick up the goddamn wrench and wash your hands.

Krazy · 08-05-2004, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerDude28

Lately Runaway peaked the most ridiculous puzzles in my opinion. The wrench (or was it a screw driver?) that you desperately need falls in a trough full of mud. So can you go down to the trough and just pick it up? OH HELL NO. Your hands would get dirty. So instead you go to the top of the balcony, throw a pot into the trough and then the splash throws the wrench out of the trough. All that while you are running out of time trying to save the day. Now that is ridiculous. Just pick up the goddamn wrench and wash your hands.

AGREED!

Royal Fool · 08-05-2004, 02:14 PM

Yes, I hate it when puzzles expect you to do something you would not usually do in real life. Of course everyone would just go grab the wrench if they were in a real hurry. It's not like you can't just wipe off the mud on something else later, like your shirt? But the designers didn't realize that and instead thought up some silly method of getting the wrench while still managing to 'lengthen' the game.

morriss · 08-05-2004, 02:21 PM

Working out the day, race and track no. in Grim Fandango to make the bet to get the picture

Grey · 08-05-2004, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jony

Strange, that was maybe the only puzzle that I was able to beat in MK4. I would say trying to get a perfume that smells like Peghose Pete was the most rediculous puzzle ever created by a human being.

It took some time, but I was able to figure out the Mystes O' Tyme and the Perfume puzzles.

The diving contest is where the game ended for me (I don't do walkthroughs). I never could figure out how to impress one of those three judges. The game is still on my hard drive, but I'm about to uninstall it since I'm all out of ideas. It's been over two weeks since I've touched it. It'll be the first adventure game I've left unfinished.

08-04-2004, 05:55 PM	#1
Deshrill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 260	Most Frustrating Puzzle in an Adventure Game? As any Adventure Gamer knows, some games are just full of puzzles that are either illogical, frustrating, or both! What are some of the most frustrating puzzles you have encountered in an adventure game? I am going to toss in one of the more common ones: the part in GK 3 where you must make a disguise to make Gabriel Knight look like Mosely. Cat hair, syrup, and hats do not a disguise make! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "How many good books suffer neglect through the inefficiency of their beginnings!" --Edgar Alan Poe

08-04-2004, 07:21 PM	#2
Captain Blondebeard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tornado Alley Posts: 1,541	The puzzle in Monkey Island 4 where you have the clock on the boat and you go through the time warp and have to talk to yourself in the future drove me absolutely crazy. That was the only puzzle I have ever cheated. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2004, 07:36 PM	#3
Ripley Alien Hunter Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nevada, U.S.A. Posts: 54	Since I'm a Tex Murphy fan, here are 2 puzzles that made me crazy. Elijah Witt's Puzzle Box in Pandora Directive. It's a timed puzzle that'll drive you crazy. The Alcatraz Bricks puzzle in Overseer. That one is like a blind person trying to put together a 100,000 piece jigsaw puzzle together. Another strategy in Overseer that took me almost a month to complete is in the Gideon's Gallery. It's not really a puzzle....it's more strategy where you have to time yourself to get out of the Gallery before being zapped. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo....signing off. Paranormal Place Central Paranormal Place

08-04-2004, 08:05 PM	#5
Jakek Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 57	I think I've mentioned it before, but using the clamp and rubber duck with a bandaid from a pair of gloves to get a key in a subway always seemed silly. That's from The Longest Journey, by the way. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2004, 11:01 PM	#6
Krazy Junior Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 303	Runaway. Maybe not quite illogical but I have got to say TO many pixel hunts It kept pissing me off that I had to resort to hints all because I didn't notice a 5 pixel item that looked like part of the background Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Deviantart Youtube

08-05-2004, 12:59 AM	#7
Eddy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 169	Black dahlia with that crystal thing. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-05-2004, 04:15 AM	#8
LeisureSuitedLooney Rabid Tasmanian Devil Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,158	re-assembling the broken coffee mug in Ripper ....that one was annoying to manipulate onscreen. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-05-2004, 04:51 AM	#9
Ninth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paris, France Posts: 6,409	I said it already, but... the puzzles involving dogs in MI2 and Simon the Sorcerer 2. Spoiler: Taking the dog in MI2. And using it (without anything, just using it) in STS2. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ ...It's down there somewhere. Let me have another look.

08-05-2004, 05:29 AM	#10
Tabula Rasa Jack of all Trades Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 6	From recent memory it was Uru where you had to push those buckets around to step over the water. Made me so frustrated, I was shouting at the damn computer "JUST PICK THE DAMN THING UP!!" Seriously, who kicks stuff around attempting to place it in just the right spot? Drove me nuts... Share Share this post on Twitter

08-05-2004, 05:52 AM	#11
Cellardoor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 413	I still don't see what people find illogical about the disguise puzzle in GK3. To me, the objective and resources were very clear in that part of the game. Now, that cuckoo clock puzzle in GK2... I still don't know what that one's all about. :eek: Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ ...life under Calico Skies...

08-05-2004, 06:17 AM	#12
adfegg Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 70	One of the many annoying puzzles in Black Mirror: You're in this room, the only way out is the wire frame door. You try to use wire cutters on it, but it isn't interactive. So, you do some other stuff until you notice a key on the other side of the door. You think, 'Well, they can't be expecting me to use the wire cutters because I already tried that.' Wrong! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion." "There are people who would disagree with that." "Sod what they think!"

08-05-2004, 06:45 AM	#13
rtrooney Codger Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,080	Two that come to mind are the 3D maze in Space Quest 5, because none of the standard maze-solving rules applied. And the tile puzzle at the end of Rhea. I recall the solution required over 160 moves, and would have been impossible without a WT. Tim Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ For whom the games toll... They toll for thee

08-05-2004, 01:46 PM	#15
bysmitty Bad command or file name Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 932	The rotating peg door puzzle on the Lyra ship in Mysterious Journey 2. The objectives where so simple and at first glance it looked like it would take 5 minutes. 4 hours later I was seething in fury. Finally looked at a damn walkthrough. And after all that, the room that it opened triggered short cutscene. That's it. No other reason for the room what-so-ever. And the cutscene had nothing to do with the room either. After that I went right back out the door to continue the story elsewhere. My headache is coming back just thinking about it. Am loving the rest of the game though. ...bysmitty Share Share this post on Twitter

08-05-2004, 01:48 PM	#16
SoccerDude28 Homer of Kittens Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Francisco, Bay Area Posts: 4,374	Lately Runaway peaked the most ridiculous puzzles in my opinion. The wrench (or was it a screw driver?) that you desperately need falls in a trough full of mud. So can you go down to the trough and just pick it up? OH HELL NO. Your hands would get dirty. So instead you go to the top of the balcony, throw a pot into the trough and then the splash throws the wrench out of the trough. All that while you are running out of time trying to save the day. Now that is ridiculous. Just pick up the goddamn wrench and wash your hands. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ -------------------------------------------------- Games I am playing: Jeanne D'Ark (PSP) Firefox rules

08-05-2004, 02:14 PM	#18
Royal Fool Statement: Not a meatbag. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Iceland Posts: 813	Yes, I hate it when puzzles expect you to do something you would not usually do in real life. Of course everyone would just go grab the wrench if they were in a real hurry. It's not like you can't just wipe off the mud on something else later, like your shirt? But the designers didn't realize that and instead thought up some silly method of getting the wrench while still managing to 'lengthen' the game. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ .::Royal Fool::.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

08-05-2004, 02:21 PM	#19
morriss Gold Elite Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 119	Working out the day, race and track no. in Grim Fandango to make the bet to get the picture Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Gider I alle sammen godt, lad være???!!!