Looking for a worthwhile puzzle/problem-solving game (details inside)

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Okay, this is what I'm aiming for...
System -
Either a recent console system like Playstation 1 or 2, or a PC game that's compatible with Windows XP. Gameboy Color would also work.

Genre -
Adventure is preferred. Minimal (if any) action/combat involved.

Features -
1) Required:
-Needs to have puzzles that require player's smarts and items in-game to solve. I'd love to find out not only which key may go where, but what item can do stuff like open passageways, slay deadly monsters in my way, etc.
- Also needs to have some sort of challenge, like risk of defeat/death/game over if something isn't done right.
- Relatively solid gameplay.
- Decent plot/story, especially if it leave some surprises.

2) Optional:
- Point-and-click interface.
- Narration/written logs explaining actions, story, etc.


Overall, I'm looking for something reminescent of one of my favorite games from back in the day, Shadowgate for the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Any ideas?

[TheAmazingOopah]

I'm not sure if you include SNES games in your search as well, from your post I would guess no, but in case that you do: you might want to check out Lufia 2, a typical manga SNES adventure RPG, comparable to games like Chrono Trigger and Terranigma (especially Chrono Trigger). The main character is Maxim, a bounty hunter who fights monsters for a living. When more and more, and stronger monsters keep showing up, he starts to travel through the land to find out if anything is wrong, and what could be the source. Along the way, he meets a bunch of different NPC's who join his group, all with different personalities, and characteristically spells or fighting abilities. There is quite some fighting in the game, but it's turn-based with a different menu for the fighting, so that you maintain quite a clear view over the dungeons; it's not just a fighting fest of hack 'n slashing everything that comes your way. Also, many fights are avoidable (though you basicly do need the experience for the tough fights that you can't avoid).
The reason why I mention this game is that there are quite some puzzles in it, which get harder as you proceed. Some of them are quite nifty, but also a lot of fun. The hardest puzzle is a puzzle that you can skip, but where you get 4 neat items if you do solve it. You can check it out on Youtube where someone managed to do what I never accomplished. They are not all that hard, but there are quite some that stand on a considerable level, and most of them are definitely more interesting than this.
There is also a dungeon in Lufia 2 which is basicly a price winning game. At the beginning of this magical dungeon, you have to part of all your weapons and items, and you start back at level 1. The dungeon consists of 99 floors, and you get stronger and obtain better weapons while going deeper. The first 10 floors have enemies that are quite easy, but the dungeon gets pretty tough as you advance, also because you can't save and barily heal, and because the dungeon is never the same as the previous time you played. If you die or quit, everything turns back to normal with regular levels and items, and you even get to keep special certain items you find in the cave. The dungeon isn't really a puzzle, but requires definitely a lot of tactical thinking, and also it gives of course a very rewarding feeling if you actually beat it since it is quite the challenge.

From all the adventure RPG's that I played for the SNES, Lufia 2 definitely makes my top three. It has a nice gameplay, funny dialogues, fun puzzles and a good story I think. A story that isn't as great as say, Baldur's Gate, but for such a SNES RPG it has some nice plottwists and is interesting and fun enough. I don't know if this is excactly the kind of game that you are looking for, but I can nonetheless recommend it to you as a side thing (if you have a Super Nintendo). For anyone who is into these kind of 90's manga SNES adventure RPG's, and especially for everyone who liked Chrono Trigger, I can very much recommend Lufia 2.

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by Galuf the Dwarf

System -
Either a recent console system like Playstation 1 or 2, or a PC game that's compatible with Windows XP. Gameboy Color would also work.

Genre -
Adventure is preferred. Minimal (if any) action/combat involved.

Features -
1) Required:
-Needs to have puzzles that require player's smarts and items in-game to solve. I'd love to find out not only which key may go where, but what item can do stuff like open passageways, slay deadly monsters in my way, etc.
- Also needs to have some sort of challenge, like risk of defeat/death/game over if something isn't done right.
- Relatively solid gameplay.
- Decent plot/story, especially if it leave some surprises.

2) Optional:
- Point-and-click interface.
- Narration/written logs explaining actions, story, etc.

Judging by your description, I highly recommend The Longest Journey. Rather good adventure game with pretty good puzzles, interesting story, setting and characters. Not to mention that it also a point-and-click game. No fighting in the game, though.

As for Shadowgate, I have never heard of it so I apologise if I didn't take that into consideration when I wrote this post.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Unfortunately, TheAmazingOopah, my SNES disappeared years ago, so what systems I mentioned are the ONLY ones I'm gonna use, unless they suddenly (and legally) appeared on my doorstep, and I had the amount of plugs & what-not to allow for more than one console to be plugged in, no joking around. I only have so much money and space in my room.

@DesR85: Hmmmmm.... that sounds interesting. I'll check that out.

[Monolith]

I can recommend Realms of the Haunting. It's an action-adventure, many puzzles, many creatures to kill, very atmospheric, good story and it's abandonware by now. I wouldn't go with the underdogs version though. The original comes on 4 CDs while the underdogs CD-rip version has only about 32 MB. Something must be missing there and if it's the cinematics then forget it, as that's how the story is told through many videos.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Monolith, I'm afraid I'll have to repeat my requirements.

Genre -
Adventure is preferred. Minimal (if any) action/combat involved.

-Needs to have puzzles that require player's smarts and items in-game to solve. I'd love to find out not only which key may go where, but what item can do stuff like open passageways, slay deadly monsters in my way, etc.
- Also needs to have some sort of challenge, like risk of defeat/death/game over if something isn't done right.
- Relatively solid gameplay.
- Decent plot/story, especially if it leave some surprises.

2) Optional:
- Point-and-click interface.
- Narration/written logs explaining actions, story, etc.

[Monolith]

Sorry, missed the minimal combat part.

[dragon wench]

I don't know if this fits all of your requirements Galuf.. but if you haven't played it already there is always the oft-copied Myst series..
You'll get almost nothing but puzzles and no combat whatsoever. It has been a long time since I played them, so I can't recall anything about the challenge/risk of death aspect.

It is entirely first-person, and you aren't corporeal, it's just assumed. Also, you have no inventory, and thus no nifty items or anything.

Here's the Wikipedia link, if you don't already know of the series:
Myst - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (does contain spoilers)

You may also like The Seventh Guest (again, spoiler alert, so don't scroll too far down )

Or, there's Atlantis: The Lost Tales

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Oh yes, Myst! Never played that myself, but somebody in my family played the original in the series.

I wonder if any games in that series are XP-compatible...

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Galuf the Dwarf

I wonder if any games in that series are XP-compatible...

Well, I can't speak for Myst since it was so long ago, but pretty much any game I've played that was designed for Win 95 or Win 98 seems to work fine with XP. There's also a way to select a different compatibility mode in XP, but I can't remember exactly where it is located, maybe somebody else here knows how to locate it. I did however find this in the help menu of my own computer (I have XP):

Getting older programs to run on Windows XPMost programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows XP, try the following:

Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. As an alternative, you can set the compatibility properties manually.
Update your program, drivers, or hardware.
These options are covered in detail below.

The Program Compatibility Wizard
This wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes (environments) and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95 and try running your program again. If successful, the program will start in that mode each time. The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels.

If compatibility problems prevent you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file might be called Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program.

To run the Program Compatibility Wizard
Start the Program Compatibility Wizard.
Follow the instructions in the wizard.
Note

To start the Program Compatibility Wizard, click Start, click Help and Support, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP, and then, under See Also in the navigation pane, click Program Compatibility Wizard.
Set the compatibility properties manually
As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the compatibility properties for a program manually. The settings are the same as the options in the Program Compatibility Wizard.

To set the compatibility properties for a program manually
Right-click the program icon on your desktop or the shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your program.
Notes

The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive. Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program.
For more information about an option on the Compatibility tab, right-click the option and then click What's This.
Update your program or drivers
If your program does not run correctly after testing it with the Program Compatibility Wizard, check the Web for updates or other fixes, as follows:

Check the Web site of the program's manufacturer to see if an update is available.
Check Windows Update to see if a fix is available for the program. Click Home on the menu bar of Help and Support Center, then click Windows Update in the right pane.
If the program is a game that uses DirectX, ensure that you are using the latest version of DirectX. In addition, check the Web site of the manufacturer of your video card or sound card to see if newer drivers are available for either of them.

[DesR85]

I almost forgot about Syberia (Wikipedia link). Also another adventure game with heavy emphasis on puzzles. No combat present as well. Another game(s) I had in mind are the older Lucasarts adventure games such as Full Throttle (Wikipedia link) and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (Wikipedia link). Not sure if they can run on Windows XP as they were released somewhere in the early to mid 90s.

[Gilliatt]

Originally Posted by Galuf the Dwarf

Oh yes, Myst! Never played that myself, but somebody in my family played the original in the series.

I wonder if any games in that series are XP-compatible...

I have the Myst 10th Anniversary DVD Edition (which includes Myst I, II and III). I have not installed it, but it reads Windows 98/XP on the box, so it should work.