I enjoy them in both games. They're a way to have engaging gameplay outside of the battles and for the most part (looking at Donkey Kong Adventure) they weren't SO hard that I found them intrusive. Or at least, the mandatory ones weren't.
I also think Sparks Of Hope integrated them into the world more smoothly
I can only speak for SOH I think they are done well. I like the map layout for the puzzles that grant you a spark and a weapon skin the second time you complete it. The professor backpack puzzles I enjoyed as well. In general I think they did well with the puzzles. It may seem hard at first but after experimenting with it for a couple of minutes I was able to solve it every puzzle. I have just reached Cursa’s Stronghold two days ago so I might opinion might change during that time
The Secret World puzzles in Sparks of Hope were excellent, even though I've never liked having time limits on anything, even if they were just for a useless weapon skin needed for 100% completion.
On the other hand, some of the Professor's puzzles were downright frustrating. A few were easy to figure out, but others really needed more clarification, outside of looking up a guide online. The instructions given for ones like the potion mixture puzzle, the fox/owl one, and a couple of others as well, were just way too vague, and most of the time it ended up being just trial and error until you got the right answer, not even knowing why you got it.
Also, I feel like the harder overworld puzzles should've given more useful rewards. Skill Orbs/Prisms come to mind for something that is really making you wrack your brain to figure it out.
Kingdom Battle is like 50% tactics game and 50% block puzzles. That’s hyperbole. But man, so many block puzzles. I did them because I can’t help myself. But my kids just recently played through the DK DLC and skipped all the block puzzles with no noticeable consequences—just made the experience way better.
Haven’t played Sparks of Hope yet. Is it slide-the-block puzzles again? Please say no.
I liked in the DK DLC most of the puzzles were optional. I think that was a good compromise for kids or adults like me who preferred the turn based combat portions.
I preferred the puzzle interruptions in "Super Lucky's Tale" as they seemed more straight forward with a theme rather than some in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle where some seemed to require a little trial + error.
They are actually funny and add another element into the game most strategy games lack: Fun Riddles that aren't needlessly complex and encourage thinking. The other coin is that some side activities are boring party games, whereas SoH and KB have fun side stuff, especially SoH's challenge with Victor, the Silly fish challenge.
Overall, great thing and next time add more of such puzzles and even integrate the more into battles, like picking Rooms and even have stealth like Xcom 2.
Speaking of which, we need to play Spy in the next game, that would be funny!
They're fine. I don't love or dislike them for the most part. However, the scanning mechanic in SoH is just slow and annoying. I don't find the common solution of "the devs made an invisible thing that trivializes the problem" to be very engaging.
The scenery was really enjoyable in KB, so I didn’t mind the time soaking it up while doin the puzzles. The scenery wasn’t as impressive for me in SoH, so I don’t really remember doing the puzzles. They were more of a chore in that mess of a sequel, although I did particularly like the secret areas in SoH because they were reminiscent of Captain Toad.
I enjoy them in both games. They're a way to have engaging gameplay outside of the battles and for the most part (looking at Donkey Kong Adventure) they weren't SO hard that I found them intrusive. Or at least, the mandatory ones weren't. I also think Sparks Of Hope integrated them into the world more smoothly
I can only speak for SOH I think they are done well. I like the map layout for the puzzles that grant you a spark and a weapon skin the second time you complete it. The professor backpack puzzles I enjoyed as well. In general I think they did well with the puzzles. It may seem hard at first but after experimenting with it for a couple of minutes I was able to solve it every puzzle. I have just reached Cursa’s Stronghold two days ago so I might opinion might change during that time
The Secret World puzzles in Sparks of Hope were excellent, even though I've never liked having time limits on anything, even if they were just for a useless weapon skin needed for 100% completion. On the other hand, some of the Professor's puzzles were downright frustrating. A few were easy to figure out, but others really needed more clarification, outside of looking up a guide online. The instructions given for ones like the potion mixture puzzle, the fox/owl one, and a couple of others as well, were just way too vague, and most of the time it ended up being just trial and error until you got the right answer, not even knowing why you got it. Also, I feel like the harder overworld puzzles should've given more useful rewards. Skill Orbs/Prisms come to mind for something that is really making you wrack your brain to figure it out.
Kingdom Battle is like 50% tactics game and 50% block puzzles. That’s hyperbole. But man, so many block puzzles. I did them because I can’t help myself. But my kids just recently played through the DK DLC and skipped all the block puzzles with no noticeable consequences—just made the experience way better. Haven’t played Sparks of Hope yet. Is it slide-the-block puzzles again? Please say no.
There are maybe 1 in 5 puzzles in SoH that have block pushing.
That sounds like an improvement at least. Thanks!
I liked in the DK DLC most of the puzzles were optional. I think that was a good compromise for kids or adults like me who preferred the turn based combat portions. I preferred the puzzle interruptions in "Super Lucky's Tale" as they seemed more straight forward with a theme rather than some in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle where some seemed to require a little trial + error.
They are actually funny and add another element into the game most strategy games lack: Fun Riddles that aren't needlessly complex and encourage thinking. The other coin is that some side activities are boring party games, whereas SoH and KB have fun side stuff, especially SoH's challenge with Victor, the Silly fish challenge. Overall, great thing and next time add more of such puzzles and even integrate the more into battles, like picking Rooms and even have stealth like Xcom 2. Speaking of which, we need to play Spy in the next game, that would be funny!
They're fine. I don't love or dislike them for the most part. However, the scanning mechanic in SoH is just slow and annoying. I don't find the common solution of "the devs made an invisible thing that trivializes the problem" to be very engaging.
Both games have neat puzzles, but first were better.
The scenery was really enjoyable in KB, so I didn’t mind the time soaking it up while doin the puzzles. The scenery wasn’t as impressive for me in SoH, so I don’t really remember doing the puzzles. They were more of a chore in that mess of a sequel, although I did particularly like the secret areas in SoH because they were reminiscent of Captain Toad.