1. "QFG2: The WIT Trials" vs. "Rama: The Octospider Puzzle"
QFG2 easily. I never really liked playing the magic user class in QFG, but only comparatively speaking- it was damned fun! RAMA's puzzles in contrast were very chore-y, although I do like the game. But it's from the late 90's era where Sierra just wasn't producing "fun" games like the ones that hold a special place in my heart.
2. "Island of Dr. Brain: Liquid Weights" vs. "GK3: Le Serpent Rouge"
Still haven't played GK3. Yeah, I know. Island of Dr Brain is one I played as a kid and I really enjoyed most of the puzzles in the game, although I missed the Coles' influence. The liquid weights puzzle is a good one though. Quite a difference between difficulty settings too.
3. "GK2: Retrieving the Lost Opera" vs. "GK2: Splicing the Tape"
Haven't played GK2 either! Lynch mob time.
4. "Shivers: Chinese Checkers" vs. "Shivers: The Pinball Puzzle"
Evil puzzles. My wife's favourite game of all time, and how we met online, so I guessI should be nice, but I hated these puzzles. I'll vote Pinball since it's slightly less evil than the Checkers one.
5. "LSL7: Vicky Gone Wild" vs. "KQ6: The Cliffs of Logic"
Vicky, one of the few fun and logically-driven moments (IMO) from Larry 7. Both puzzle, narrative and graphics. KQ6 logic cliffs are a classic example of puzzles done wrong; it's a chore, it's nitpicky, you'll die a lot, the music is annoying, you guys know all this already anyway.
6. "KQ6: The Five Gnomes" vs. "GK1: The Message on Laveau's Tomb"
Tough one. Two Jensen classics. I honestly don't remember how the GK1 one works though, so I'll not vote.
7. "QFG1: Storming the Brigand Fortress" vs. "GK1: 12 and 3 and Turn the Key"
QFG1. The Coles were so clever in not making it identical for each class to accomplish a goal, but also not stopping them from doing it the other classes' ways.
8. "PQ2: The Time Bomb" vs. "PQ1: Arresting Hoffman"
I think most of us died (more than) a few times in the PQ2 puzzle, because it's very confusing to know what do *precisely* from beginning to end. I've never finished the PQ1 AGI version, but in the VGA remake, the Hoffman sequence is a standout that has excellent punchiness, suspense, danger and music. Neat locale also. PQ1 for me.
9. "QFG2: Helping Julanar" vs. "Shivers 2: The Egg Puzzle"
So many puzzles I don't remember, and I've played Shivers 2 and liked it. I'm fairly sure I would vote QFG2 anyway though. The Julanar sequence is one of the more logical quests in QFG2, a lot of them aren't (IMHO). Very rewarding too. Plus, there's that death sequence with the broken monitor!
10. "KQ6: The Catacombs" vs. "GK2: Wolves in the Basement"
Never played GK2, so won't vote. Loved the catacombs though.
11. "Camelot: The Riddle Stones" vs. "KQ6: Death's Challenge"
Camelot. A lot of neat puzzles, I wish the game flowed a bit better. One of those games that could *actually* use a VGA remake. KQ6 Death sequence was a bit formulaic and easy, although it's a legendary sequence. but we're talking puzzles here.
12. "Rama: The Numerical Puzzle" vs. "SQ5: Roger vs. WD-40"
Any RAMA puzzle loses by default for me. But the SQ5 Roger/WD-40 sequence would win a lot for me too. Excellent sequence, and the Kiz Urazgubi chase (not to mention planet name) and ultimate victory for Roger, going all the way back to the game beginning with the foreshadowing of sticking a banana in the tailpipe, just genius. And the planet itself is perfectly drawn and animated.
13. "LSL3: Undressing Patti" vs. "KQ3: Defeating Manannan"
Larry 3. Although I originally liked that puzzle for the perversion of it when I was a younger guy, I appreciate it on both that level and that it was simply good adventure game design (even if I prefer the Larry half of the game). Even though it's tricky it all makes sense in context (however tongue-in-cheek-y) and you have to make use of your surroundings to great effect. The original KQ3 was an exercise in pain and frustration and the Manannan side of things is arguably the worst part of KQ games, with the spellbook being a partial exception. I really need to play the remakes and see how the first 15 minutes is.
14. "SQ2: HOLD BREATH" vs. "SQ2: PUT GEM IN MOUTH"
Yikes, another bad game (again, IMHO). I vote neither, is that an option?
15. "SQ3: Roger vs. Arnoid" vs. "QFG2: The Trial by Fire"
Wow, tough one here. I have to say QFG2. When it wasn't random puzzle hunting like "find creature in desert", or "talk to Rakeesh on day 13" (I know that's not right, BTW!), the game had great locales and puzzles. Plus, it's one of the best Sierra games for forward momentum, starting at the beginning and continuing to the end.
SQ3 gets props for having 2 endings to the puzzle, and I wonder who was clever enough to use the pods and the orat-on-a-stick.
16. "QFG4: The Rites of Avoozl" vs. "GK1: The Schattenjager Ritual"
Ai ai ai! another toughie. I would love to say both if that was an option. Depends if you mean finding the rituals, or the part inside the Avoozl cave.
If you mean the rituals, I would say QFG4. I love that QFG4 was an open world but unlike QFG2, it didn't sprawl on forever. It was just big enough to have a lot of things and not feel 100% comfortable knowing where everything was. Plus, at nighttime it becomes a whole different ballgame! This ties back to the rituals because you get them from all over. in the town, and outside, from various places and people. GK1 is an awesome one too though. Almost every puzzle in that game rocks.
Sorry for the tl;dr folks! i get serious about my Sierra
