4. Lack of information does not make a game challenging. Some games, such as FF, thinks to by leaving out information about spells and etc and let the players find out by trial and error makes the game 'challenging'. I don't agree. Sure, the manual describes the spells. But what about Alchemly and Charms?
Oh, Rana, finding out about alchemy and charms was a great deal of fun for me - it was so exciting: First I started to hunt for flasks in good ol' Div manner (grmpf) - then I thought: Ok, stand in a mushroom patch and try it with your alchemy char (double grmpf) and then I came upon the idea to use right click on those "weeds". Ouch, why are not all active? Etc. it was real fun for me - I WANTED to find it out => and then the pride.
Same for charms - I reloaded countless times to find out their values/effects. (They had been different in the earlier versions).
I can't say it's challenging - but I am the kind of gamer, who likes to experiment and spent endless time in this. This approach was exactly the way how I like to play my chars => inquisitive. (And this is probably the cause, why I won't play multiplayer. Guess, I'd drive any companion to sheer madness, if she/he has to wait for me all the time).
Kiya
