AngryLittleAlchemist said:
I can't help but feel this is very disingenuous, because it isn't in line with the enjoyment of entertainment as a whole. Entertainment by it's very nature is getting something out of something that holds no real objective value. Just because you don't graduate from school for finishing Dark Souls doesn't mean that feeling of accomplishment can't exist. Just because an option doesn't affect certain people doesn't mean it isn't an important part of the game's point. In fact it's not even a good argument when used by your own standards. If games have no real importance, then why even go to the lengths of buying a game you know you probably won't enjoy? And if they aren't important than what's the point of arguing about whether there should be a difficulty mode on an obscure gaming forum? Of course you didn't say that games aren't important - but you did make a comparison to objective benchmarks that somehow trivialize those of video games. Even though that would fly in the face of the point of entertainment as a whole. Souls games are mostly about learning. And one of those methods of teaching in a Souls game is the difficulty. If you don't want to learn the game, then why play it? Because that's the thing about most easy modes. They are mostly there so that players don't have to learn anything about the game. People act like difficulty isn't a mechanic of a game, but of course it is. It has as much importance as any other - and that is proved by both people who dislike the difficulty in a game or by those who like it. I've seen your posts around this forum and honestly I don't think the Souls games are for your demographic. Most people who get into them have a lot of free time on their hands. Most people who get into them like a challenge. That doesn't mean they should change, it just means it isn't for you. And that's fine. Anyways, this is my last post in this thread. I don't want to keep repeating what I've repeated a million times before. Other people are free to disagree or talk. It is obnoxious for me to take up most of the thread. Plus I just remembered that I think one of my first moderations had to do with difficulty in games. So yeah ... not going to get trapped into that again |
As for your second point (I'm racing in between, got a few minutes between sport races)
People have different abilities, different reaction times, which also slow down with age. A fixed difficulty level ignores all that. Difficulty can be changed in many ways. Timing windows can be more generous instead of more health. Check points can be more generous. Information and tips can be more forth coming instead of reaching for a wiki.
you say Souls games are mostly about learning. Yet every education system has levels. The starting point should be configurable. I did complete Dark Souls aboput 2.5 times. I quit on NG++ when getting to Ornstein and Smough again, couldn't bear doing that again. I would have continued on if I could skip that fight. Dark souls 2 was a lot easier thanks to knowing the systems already plus it allowed you to repeat areas to get ahead and I finished that game very overpowered. I was dying tons at the start though, hence I resorted to leveling up magic to have a more enjoyable time for the rest of the game. In essence, the early difficulty spike lessened the later part of the game. Balance is key and being able to change difficulty on the fly is the best imo. I changed it up and down a lot during GoW.
