Difficulty is fun lol
Discussion
I agree with the OP. I play for fun and entertainment. I usually complete every game I start on 'normal' difficulty. (Aside from bloodborne as I simply couldn't get past one of the boss fights so sacked it off).
Some games I'll start again on the highest difficulty if I'm going for the platinum trophy (witcher 3 - that was great fun on the death march level tbf).
Some games I'll start again on the highest difficulty if I'm going for the platinum trophy (witcher 3 - that was great fun on the death march level tbf).
siovey said:
I agree with the OP. I play for fun and entertainment. I usually complete every game I start on 'normal' difficulty. (Aside from bloodborne as I simply couldn't get past one of the boss fights so sacked it off).
Some games I'll start again on the highest difficulty if I'm going for the platinum trophy (witcher 3 - that was great fun on the death march level tbf).
I've just started Witcher 3 on normal and I'm finding it blooming hard...Some games I'll start again on the highest difficulty if I'm going for the platinum trophy (witcher 3 - that was great fun on the death march level tbf).
Not the difficulty, it's more that I haven't got a clue what I am doing. Currently wandering about trying to talk to people in an attempt to find something to do.
I think it might be a bit too "in-depth" for a casual gamer just looking for a way to kill a few hours.
I tend to go for open world games; the Assassins Creed series, Witcher 3, GTA, RDR2 - that kind of thing, and invariably if there is a difficulty slider, it will get put to the hardest level from the outset, simply because I don't mind a bit of punishment early on in a game - the first boss in AC Valhalla is a case in point.
I find personally that I get more enjoyment out of being made to feel like I've beaten the game, rather than just walking through it as some OP character, one-hitting everyone I come across.
FPS games are the same, but only in single player - I'm useless playing online these days, and find I get less enjoyment out of being sniped from the edge of the map or losing out to some 50/50 hitbox issue than I do by being battered by a troupe of AI baddies set to "extreme".
I've recently been playing some of the older X360 games - Far Cry 2, BFBC etc. and the difference between the hardest difficulty there, vs the hardest difficulty in say FC6 or BF5 these days is marked, with the older games giving a far greater challenge than the new ones do.
Roll on next month and Dead Island 2 though... difficulty to maximum, big heavy clubs, smashing zombie heads...
I find personally that I get more enjoyment out of being made to feel like I've beaten the game, rather than just walking through it as some OP character, one-hitting everyone I come across.
FPS games are the same, but only in single player - I'm useless playing online these days, and find I get less enjoyment out of being sniped from the edge of the map or losing out to some 50/50 hitbox issue than I do by being battered by a troupe of AI baddies set to "extreme".
I've recently been playing some of the older X360 games - Far Cry 2, BFBC etc. and the difference between the hardest difficulty there, vs the hardest difficulty in say FC6 or BF5 these days is marked, with the older games giving a far greater challenge than the new ones do.
Roll on next month and Dead Island 2 though... difficulty to maximum, big heavy clubs, smashing zombie heads...
Agreed.
50 year old, can't be arsed to learn new stuff, want a 'Dad Mode' which is basically all the guns, no death, 30 minutes shooting everything and done!
Aren't paying £50 to put in loads of hours learning, only to f
king die time and time again!
I just go back to playing old stuff!
Starquake rulez okay
50 year old, can't be arsed to learn new stuff, want a 'Dad Mode' which is basically all the guns, no death, 30 minutes shooting everything and done!
Aren't paying £50 to put in loads of hours learning, only to f
king die time and time again!I just go back to playing old stuff!
Starquake rulez okay
Isn't it the case that most triple-A games (on default/normal difficulty) are pretty piss easy? Yes you might die a few times here and there, but you'll hardly be delayed much at all.
I recently completed Elden Ring, and as a new player to Souls games I did find it difficult for the first 50-100 hours, but I think that's primarily due to the piss poor or non existent explanation of things to new players. Overall I very much enjoyed it, and I might try the NG+ (higher) difficulty at some point.
Regarding 'easy' modes - I've always found them a bit of an embarrassment, you could put a 5 year old or chimp on the controller and they would struggle to die.
I recently completed Elden Ring, and as a new player to Souls games I did find it difficult for the first 50-100 hours, but I think that's primarily due to the piss poor or non existent explanation of things to new players. Overall I very much enjoyed it, and I might try the NG+ (higher) difficulty at some point.
Regarding 'easy' modes - I've always found them a bit of an embarrassment, you could put a 5 year old or chimp on the controller and they would struggle to die.
Olivera said:
Isn't it the case that most triple-A games (on default/normal difficulty) are pretty piss easy? Yes you might die a few times here and there, but you'll hardly be delayed much at all.
Yeah, with the advent of games as a service devs don't want to give people a reason to stop playing so they keep it pretty easy. That's why I like a tighter single player game that allows you to build a proper difficulty curve as well.Just reminiscing there about games from the 8/16 bit days - weren't many of them actually quite hard? You were dead in platformers back then if you were a millimeter out when jumping, and entire genres such as horizontal/vertical shoot-em-ups were just flat out hard.
If anything I think games have often got easier, there's no real skill, and instead it's just wandering through a time sink until the end of the game.
If anything I think games have often got easier, there's no real skill, and instead it's just wandering through a time sink until the end of the game.
Real Death of the Author stuff 
If an auteur wants to make their game have a certain level of difficulty, and won't compromise on that (accessibility options are a grey area) then that's up to them.
I find most of the Souls games gruelling, but also supremely rewarding once you crack something. That's not for everyone, nor should it be.
I find the whole "Dad mode" idea really reductive.
I suspect some of these OG gamers were never particularly "good" at games.
If an auteur wants to make their game have a certain level of difficulty, and won't compromise on that (accessibility options are a grey area) then that's up to them.
I find most of the Souls games gruelling, but also supremely rewarding once you crack something. That's not for everyone, nor should it be.
I find the whole "Dad mode" idea really reductive.
Olivera said:
Just reminiscing there about games from the 8/16 bit days - weren't many of them actually quite hard? You were dead in platformers back then if you were a millimeter out when jumping, and entire genres such as horizontal/vertical shoot-em-ups were just flat out hard.
If anything I think games have often got easier, there's no real skill, and instead it's just wandering through a time sink until the end of the game.
Yup, they were - e.g. Contra, Ninja Gaiden, etc spring to mind.If anything I think games have often got easier, there's no real skill, and instead it's just wandering through a time sink until the end of the game.
I suspect some of these OG gamers were never particularly "good" at games.
If you are on PC you can normally get mods to make the game as easy or as difficult as you like.
I did despair a bit when a friend played through Witcher 3 on easy and fast attack spammed though the game in about 10 hours, while missing huge chunks of it. Defeats the point of the game in my view.
I did despair a bit when a friend played through Witcher 3 on easy and fast attack spammed though the game in about 10 hours, while missing huge chunks of it. Defeats the point of the game in my view.
There's a middle ground between making games inaccessible and making them idiot proof. Having a lower difficulty level in a soulslike wouldn't hurt people who wanted to play it the original way but it would let people who can't keep up with the combat explore these amazing worlds.
Fans who moan about adding difficulty levels to fromsoft games are the textbook definition of gatekeepers.
Fans who moan about adding difficulty levels to fromsoft games are the textbook definition of gatekeepers.
I completed Ghosts 'n Goblins back in my younger days, which is something I'm pretty confident very few people ever managed (doing it once doesn't count - you have to kill the big boss using the golden weapon you win on the first completion!), but I no longer have the inclination to put hundreds of or even many tens of hours into a game, so for me I want to play games to be entertained, not particularly challenged.
For that reason it's story/easy mode for me all the way and I'm very happy with that.
For that reason it's story/easy mode for me all the way and I'm very happy with that.
Interesting to hear this from self professed 'old school' gamers.
I don't play many modern games so have little in the way of reference points but I went on a bit of an emulation spree and fired up some old games I used to play a lot and they were bloody solid!
The following sprung to mind immediately!
-Anticipal on the C64
-Mike Tyson's Punchout and Castlevania on NES
-Battletoads & Ecco the dolphin on the megadrive.
Not only difficult but extremely unforgiving in terms of having to start all the way from the beginning after using your 3 lives.
I don't play many modern games so have little in the way of reference points but I went on a bit of an emulation spree and fired up some old games I used to play a lot and they were bloody solid!
The following sprung to mind immediately!
-Anticipal on the C64
-Mike Tyson's Punchout and Castlevania on NES
-Battletoads & Ecco the dolphin on the megadrive.
Not only difficult but extremely unforgiving in terms of having to start all the way from the beginning after using your 3 lives.
Baldchap said:
I completed Ghosts 'n Goblins back in my younger days, which is something I'm pretty confident very few people ever managed (doing it once doesn't count - you have to kill the big boss using the golden weapon you win on the first completion!), but I no longer have the inclination to put hundreds of or even many tens of hours into a game, so for me I want to play games to be entertained, not particularly challenged.
For that reason it's story/easy mode for me all the way and I'm very happy with that.
Seriously impressive that! I played it recently and didn't even get to the end of level 1 without a LOT of continues! For that reason it's story/easy mode for me all the way and I'm very happy with that.
Even back in the day when I still had reflexes, I didn't get near the end! Like you said , I doubt many people did!
boyse7en said:
I've just started Witcher 3 on normal and I'm finding it blooming hard...
Not the difficulty, it's more that I haven't got a clue what I am doing. Currently wandering about trying to talk to people in an attempt to find something to do.
I think it might be a bit too "in-depth" for a casual gamer just looking for a way to kill a few hours.
To be fair, the first few hours are a bit of a slog. Your character is pretty weak and there are lots of no go areas unless you want a quick death!Not the difficulty, it's more that I haven't got a clue what I am doing. Currently wandering about trying to talk to people in an attempt to find something to do.
I think it might be a bit too "in-depth" for a casual gamer just looking for a way to kill a few hours.
Getting the xp up is essential, so you get levelled up by doing the menial stuff initially. Have a look on the map for what look like villages and check out the notice boards. Also learn to play Gwent, it's awesome!
A lot of players give up in the early stages but miss out on a great experience!
I love it personally. I've completed it twice for the platinum trophy on ps4 with 350 hours + on it, and have just started it again on ps5.
Last game I played was Skyrim. I chose an Orc with a mace and shield, even with a follower it was easy to get overwhelmed by multiple enemies and die so I turned the dificulty down. To me it felt like I was the main charater in a film and didn't want to keep replaying sections. I did die a lot as I am not that good a games but it was't constant. I actually skipped the early quest to kill the dragon at the watchtower, just by luck and didn't have dragons killing me early on.
I kept getting killed when entering a room with a boss and multiple enemys so took out a bow and stealth killed them. To me archery was broken. You shoot an NPC and aggro them, hide until they reset then shoot them again, it wasn't realistic to me.
Also I was constantly getting overwhelmed by mages until I got Spellbreaker. Then I could block spells and smack them with the mace
I kept getting killed when entering a room with a boss and multiple enemys so took out a bow and stealth killed them. To me archery was broken. You shoot an NPC and aggro them, hide until they reset then shoot them again, it wasn't realistic to me.
Also I was constantly getting overwhelmed by mages until I got Spellbreaker. Then I could block spells and smack them with the mace
Edited by Cotty on Thursday 23 March 19:50
I have zero interest in games like Elden Ring, I'm not a fan of 'fighting' games and the whole 'it's really hard' thing puts me off.
Usually I play on 'normal' skill level, I like a challenge but not to frustrating level.
A game should guide you, give me some feedback that I'm shooting the right bit of the boss, I don't need a big glowing red sign but give me something. I also think there is a misconception that long is good. Your threshold will differ but after about 30hours I'm starting to want to move on.
Early games were hardcore. I think we were willing to stick with them a lot longer as they were relatively expensive and there was a much smaller choice. The first game I remember completing was Tomb Raider, that needed mm perfect jumps. And that T-Rex, yowser.
Usually I play on 'normal' skill level, I like a challenge but not to frustrating level.
A game should guide you, give me some feedback that I'm shooting the right bit of the boss, I don't need a big glowing red sign but give me something. I also think there is a misconception that long is good. Your threshold will differ but after about 30hours I'm starting to want to move on.
Early games were hardcore. I think we were willing to stick with them a lot longer as they were relatively expensive and there was a much smaller choice. The first game I remember completing was Tomb Raider, that needed mm perfect jumps. And that T-Rex, yowser.
The perception of souls games is (mostly) innaccurate on this chat.
The effort put in is directly relative to the enjoyment/pleasure taken out.
It isn't mindless and what it is is the difference between reading a comic vs a book. There is more to it and requires more effort but the return is greater.
Once you have played a souls game and managed to get through it and work it out, nearly every other game and every other genre no longer meets your expectations.
The effort put in is directly relative to the enjoyment/pleasure taken out.
It isn't mindless and what it is is the difference between reading a comic vs a book. There is more to it and requires more effort but the return is greater.
Once you have played a souls game and managed to get through it and work it out, nearly every other game and every other genre no longer meets your expectations.
Bullett said:
Early games were hardcore. I think we were willing to stick with them a lot longer as they were relatively expensive and there was a much smaller choice. The first game I remember completing was Tomb Raider, that needed mm perfect jumps. And that T-Rex, yowser.
Steven_RW said:
The perception of souls games is (mostly) innaccurate on this chat.
The effort put in is directly relative to the enjoyment/pleasure taken out.
It isn't mindless and what it is is the difference between reading a comic vs a book. There is more to it and requires more effort but the return is greater.
Once you have played a souls game and managed to get through it and work it out, nearly every other game and every other genre no longer meets your expectations.
You love Souls games. We get it. Just because you like them doesn’t mean they are they the best games ever and everything else not as good. It just means they float your particular boat and they might be the pinnacle of gaming - to you.The effort put in is directly relative to the enjoyment/pleasure taken out.
It isn't mindless and what it is is the difference between reading a comic vs a book. There is more to it and requires more effort but the return is greater.
Once you have played a souls game and managed to get through it and work it out, nearly every other game and every other genre no longer meets your expectations.
I’ve not played a Souls game but I’ve read about them quite a bit. I hate boss fights in any game; I think it’s purely lazy programming to put you up against a thing where you have to learn the precise set of visual/audio cues to dodge it’s attack and then learn the one technique to defeat it. And then sustain that error-feee over a long period with relative instadeath for any mistake. And if the boss respawns with more health on death; or has a new near-death attack, or generates constant minor greeblies as well, the game can just FRO in my opinion.
I’ve read about a Souls game that unless you went to one specific easily missable area in the game early on then you miss out on a critical reincarnation capability. I’ve seen videos about an earlier Souls game where the was a gatekeeper boss to the entire rest of the game and to defeat him you had to fight through his castle against a horde of deadly enemies while on narrow platforms. And then if you died in the boss fight you had to do it all over. And I’ve read about how you simply have to get the balance of some player attributes just right to get your weapon to be any use at all.
Those are precise game mechanics that don’t float my particular boat. I feel like I’m being punished for not knowing something I had no way of knowing, and the only way to progress is to learn by long and bitter experience and “git gud”. I don’t enjoy that. Which is fine, we don’t have to enjoy the same things.
Open world games are my favourite genre; if I get on with it I’ll usually get 100% out of the game. I don’t mind RPG elements either; I recently finished both AC
rigins and AC:Odyssey with every side quest done.It was interesting to me that the least enjoyable element for me in AC:Odyssey was taking on some big Cyclops bosses x3, but at least they were relatively incidental and easy. Elden Ring sounds like constantly bumping into big bosses that unless you’ve got the right artefact, or the right weapon, or go online to read about when and how to take them down, are simply unbeatable.
You might enjoy that; I don’t. That’s the kind of mechanic that I had in mind when I read about the OP’s issue. For me, feeling like I’m being punished isn’t an emotion I want to experience when I’m gaming. Challenged, no problem.
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