So I've been playing The Longest Journey for a bit, and right now I'm stuck in chapter seven on the pillar puzzle. It's the second puzzle now that I had to look up because the solution made no sense to me, and each time it completely killed the flow of the game.

Of course it's an adventure game, so puzzles are to be expected, as is not being able to figure them out right away. However, I hate when it boils to trial and error and even with the solution in hand I cannot understand how one would would be supposed to figure them out.

The first one was the alchemy puzzle, where you find a bunch of ingredients, only one of them - while completely indistinguishable from the others - is a catalyst. As far as I can see there is no way that indicates that the only hint you have about this hint -- a finger with a ring on it -- points to the Ice-ingredient.. that just doesn't make any sense..?

The solution for the pillar puzzle, which I'm facing right now, also has no logic to it. I looked up the solution, and you are supposed to match symbols of items with the symbols on a pedestal. No problem. However, for two of the for items, you have to match not with the symbols where you put them down, but the OPPOSITE ones.. what? And: how are you supposed to know this, if it is not consistent with the rest of the puzzle..?

This just drives me nuts, and while I like the game otherwise, this just kills it for me. Are there more puzzles like this in the game? Because then I'll just move on to something else, I can't stand it.

Also, some of you probably know these puzzles, and have played the game a bunch of times.. can you explain how those puzzles are supposed to be solved, other than trial and error? I would have no problem accepting these if I just couldn't figure it out, and there's some kind of logic to them that I just can't see - that would be fine. But so far, I don't see how you would figure these out, since their solution is so incoherent with the tools the game provides you with to solve them :(

I think those puzzles you mentioned actually have some logic to them..

I dont remember so good but I think April mentions one of them is a catalyst.. Also the book tells wich one of the elements you are supposed to use and in witch order and they are pretty easy to guess/tell when you use all the senses possible on the bottle. I think the finger is an magicians finger that does the spell (like a magic catalysator) as compared to the other elements that are more natural.

The underwater altar puzzle I think you are talking about also has a logic:
http://www.uhs-hints.com/uhsweb/hints/tlj/1875-2.php
The symbol on the back of the stones doesn't matter, you have to arrange the stones so the two other sides' symbols match the direction they are facing. The rings have to be moved so the symbols on them match the other symbols (on each sides) they belong together with.

But you'r right in that it's a very hard game sometimes and there are some puzzles that are hard or even without logic.

On the other hand many people play it for the story and atmosphere and in that way it's very much a game worth playing.. I think you are pretty far in the game already and have played most of the worst puzzles, I think the end is a bit more about the story..

I would say don't feel bad about looking at a walkthrough, use them as often as you need to. There are other sides of the game to explore. You could try having both the game and a walkthrough open at the same time and minimizing the game when you run into a problem? But it's of course unfortunate if you feel that disturbs your playing experience..

No, not really. Some people had a little trouble with an island communications system later on, but on the whole, you've definitely seen the most difficult puzzles.

Carry on, please... TLJ is an amazing game after all! ;)

Thanks, I really appreciate(d) the positive response. I finished it and was glad I did. I still maintain that those two puzzles make no sense at all (I found the island communication system to be rather forward), but who cares.

No problem, at all. :)