The puzzles in Riven were just insane, with no explanation of what the hell you’re supposed to do- Every puzzle was 40% figure out what what to do and 60% do it.
I tried looking on the web whenever I got stuck, but that didn’t work, so I bought the Strategy guide. Which, in effect, destroyed the game. Because once you have the guide, it’s near impossible to hold yourself from reading it cover to back.
That’s why whenever I’m stuck in a game I peer online to a walkthrough, where they give you the answers one by one.
I think we got through Myst ok-- you could think about something for a while and usually have some sort of epiphany. But, yeah, Riven had us stuck for DAYS on some puzzles. If you want something even more frustrating (as if), try Starship Titanic, Douglas Adams’ project. I would say it would be entirely impossible to do that game without a walkthorugh (which is included with the game). Hilarious, fun, and clever, but completely outside any rules of common sense, intuition, or cognates with the outside world.
I hear there’s Myst III, now. . .
Sorry you folks had so much trouble with the games… I had a blast. The only trouble I had with Myst was getting into the Selenic Age, and that was because I had trouble playing the right pitches on that damn keyboard, not because I didn’t know what to do.
I found Riven a little more challenging, but not overwhelming.