Difficulty settings

Nowadays many games have the option to change difficulty at any given time which I belive destroy the mesning of playing hard mode (since you will have always the option to reduce difficulty at any second) and I hate it...

I love skyrim (just an example) and played hundreads of hours always on max/legendary difficulty but having the option to change difficulty is really bad... also no achievements for playing the entire game on hardest difficulty is wrong... you should reward somehow the hardcore gamer for being up to the challenge!

Now my question: what games do you know that allow you to choose difficulty mode but not change it later? also what games you know that reward playing on hard?

thanks

How does having the ability to change the difficulty of a game during the game affect you? It's one of those quality of life things that helps people who want to use it and has no impact on those who don't.

I have lower the challenge of games because I just want it over. There is a bit of a taint one the game that can impact you. A little voice saying you can just lower the challenge for one part of the game which does impact the game enjoyment for me since there a easy option to get around the game play of a section. It also makes it hard to see or less willing to try different plans out.

I think there should be something to reward the players that choose to go with the harder challenges even if it just a little nod. The first Mass Effect gave player icons for completing the game on hard levels.

I really don't get you... You don't want to change the diffuculity setting in mid game so... Don't do it. Problem solved.

Why you need something in the game that won't let you do it with your own actions. This is ridiculous.

Archangel first of all no achievements or rewards at all for playing on hardest difficulty is just wrong. If I play a game on max difficulty settings I expect a unique tshirt for my avatar so other players know Im a badass xD or simply an achievement so my friends dont accuse me of playing on easy haha

Second if you can change at any second from hardcore to super easy it feels like cheating. Anything you cant do you just easy it out and that ruins the game experience for me.

But just adding some reward at the end of a game at max difficulty 100% of time (achievement wont be received if you change difficulty even once ) thaymt would be enough for me.

Now back on topic.

Any modern games without this 'ability' to change difficulty at any time? I need games that have different difficulties but without the ability to change your mind later xD thanks

Can't remember a game that don't let you or let you change the difficulty mid-game.

The only game ( in recent memory ) that give a trophy/acheivement for going through in hard mode is DOOM. FFXV has a trophy/acheivement for killing the second-to-last boss on at least Normal difficulty.

I think The Last Of Us had trophies for finishing the games for all difficulty and all New Games + difficulties and I think you can't change it later too.

I think that if you really need a challenge to not feel like a wuss ( ah teen male ... ) then play Dark Souls or Bloodborne or Nioh or dust out a NES and play Ninja Gaiden

But how does someone else having the ability to change it affect you? Just dont change it?

Literally any game matches your requirements as long as you have self control.

@atomolog: Talk about the world revolves around you!

Modern Bethesda games are intended for a more casual market, hence the change of difficulty on the fly. However expecting every game to cater to your needs and player-base is obtuse.

I like hard games because it's a thrill (rush/ stirs my blood) and frankly I think it's great many developers reward gamers to play the games on the higher difficulty, they're designed for a more committed player-base.

So; not to single you out, but your demand for what should be achieved for yourself over anyone else's enjoyment in gaming is considered inequity. You've got enough easy games that allow over accessibility, and they're 80% of the modern market. Asking for 100% is unreasonable to people who play games like Nioh, Monster Hunter, Ninja Gaiden, Super Meat Boy, and Ghost n' Goblins.

Now on a lighter note. I recommend Uncharted games, they save every 10 seconds (pretty much) so you can play on any difficulty setting and feel like a Pro. Now leave the ones that like a challenge alone.

I actually do prefer a set difficulty with no options. I feel like it forces the dev to balance the game more.

I don't know of any games that lock you in. I think I heard Fallout 4's Survival mode difficulty can't be changed back. I haven't tried switching it back.

I think in most cases you just have to use self-control. You know you'll end up feeling lousy if you switch to easy mode for a sec to pass a tough spot, so fight the urge.

@atomolog: They already do this though. All the games that I've played that have achievements for beating a game on the highest difficulties require you to play the game on that difficulty for the entirety of the game. You seem to be addressing a problem that isn't there.

think resident evil 7 says at the start when it asks what difficulty you want to play on that you can't change it once the game starts

Achievements/trophies are one of the top 5 worst things to ever happen to gaming. All they did was to ensure most players would only complete sidequests and challenges in the game if they were linked to an achievement, and at the same time allowed game developers to avoid providing worthwile rewards (extra costumes, weapons, secret levels) for completing those activities, freeing those assets to be sold as DLC instead.

There are inherent problems with the difficulty systems. Let's say I start a new game with no prior knowledge. How do I know which difficulty setting is right for me? If it's too hard it will be frustrating. If it's too easy it will be boring.

If I'm allowed to change the difficulty in game then at least I can adjust a bit without having to restart, or I can make a difficulty spike smoother. It does damage my sense of accomplishment. I feel like a wimp if I have to lower difficulty and even if I have to increase, that means hours spent on lower difficulty that could have been more enjoyable at a harder setting. So, it's not ideal but I think it's better if there is an option.

What I think is the best option is dynamic difficulty adjusted in game naturally, not from a menu. A few good examples:

Super Giant Games did this with Bastion and then improved a lot with Transistor. You can use switches that make the enemies harder but give better rewards. Especially with transistor it doesn't just increase hp and damage but also introduces new fun mechanics.

The Souls series of games let you call other players to help with difficult stages and bosses and on the flip side, Dark Souls 2 had a mechanism (a covenant) that had you play the game solo and make all the bosses more difficult.

The underrated gem God Hand made the game harder the longer you spent without getting hit and gave you better rewards for killing stronger enemies. When you took damage the difficulty would lower and you had to build it up again.

To answer your question, most games nowadays do have trophies for various difficulties. If you lower it at any point mid game, you can't get the higher difficulty trophy. I'm playing Uncharted 4 right now and it has those kind of achievements.

Other games let you lower difficulty in game but not raise it again.

Path of Exile has an interesting way to deal with ironman runs. Ironman mode in most games means that if your character dies you have to start over. That's how most diablo clones handle it too. However in PoE if your hardcore character dies it just gets delegated to the non-hardcore league. I think it's a nice way to tackle it because there is of course a sense of loss but on the other hand all your progress isn't wasted, you can continue on the normal league if you want.

Only the weak play games on easy mode. I think it's the cause so many players are terrible. If you play on easy mode, I'd stop playing if i were you because you're not really making any progress. I wish more games start out hard and stayed that way.

or conversely you could say only the jobless with no social lives play all their games on the hardest difficulty. and only the most insecure of these unemployed social inadequates feel the need to belittle anyone who plays differently to them on gaming forms.

just saying, you could say that

@Macutchi: Oh I deserve the praise I get for completing games on hard difficulty. At least I can back myself up when I belittle others. You sound like someone who plays on the easiest mode available. Just saying.

Can't speak for everyone, but I work 42 hours a week and play most games on the hardest difficulty given the option.

However I'm not obtuse enough to think that makes me a better person or gamer. Some people just like more meat-on-the-bone if you will. If I flick a boss and he's down, that's not fun for me. Yet it depends what you play for.

My belief is that changing the difficulty on the fly does not work for every game, it works for a more casual market in mind. Otherwise it's alienating the ones like me and @darkninja66613 that want that substance and reason to push forward. If you let the game go easy when the going gets tough? You're not really learning/ exploiting the mechanics of the game :)

If games only get easier and easier, eventually the crowd wanting less resistance will complain about the game not playing itself like a movie. And that would only make this hobby die-out. I don't think the problem is games being too hard, I think it's some being too lazy to play the games accordingly_

not really doing anything to dispel the insecure socially inept stereotype there pal

@RSM-HQ: i was just highlighting that his generalisation that anyone playing on easy mode is weak and should stop playing was a bit of a silly thing to say

@Macutchi: I fully agree on that but some people do play simply to show-case superiority for usually egotistical reasons, hence the "Git-Gud" meme that has been used to mock less committed players since 2011.

I take a neutral stance on it however, because those mocking the less committed player do have a slight point with the crowd demanding games to be build on a more streamlined focus.

Gamers like @darkninja66613 might be harsh about it, even fat-headed. But if it stops another Ninja Gaiden 3 happening? I'm ok with that, it was because of less committed players demanding a easier game NG3 exists to begin with. And if you know that game? It ultimately killed the franchise.

People who want easier games already have that option. They should stay away from games that demand more if they find them frustrating, forcing preference onto a completely different audience is wrong_

@RSM-HQ: I'm just going to say thay people who complain about hard difficulty in games shouldn't even play games at all. It's not tailored for them. Get another hobby or better yet, get a life.

@Macutchi: not really helping cure that casual mindset of yours.

You're being a bit of a dick about it.

@RSM-HQ: i know what you're saying and i wouldn't worry about it too much. i think seeing the souls games and similar hit the mainstream and sell in big numbers shows there's a substantial market out there for games of that kind of difficulty. i don't personally see from software or team ninja compromising the challenge of their games anytime soon. their success will hopefully encourage more devs to put more effort into making genuinely challenging games and not just thinking that higher difficulty equates to bullet sponge enemies.

i can see what you were trying to do and it's a valiant attempt at a comeback but it didn't quite connect pal. hopefully your aim is a bit more accurate when you're gaming

@darkninja66613: Your latest argument seems pretty redundant. Glad I don't think like you, but sadly the Gid-gud-casul vocal troIIs are needed to keep variety in gaming. Otherwise players like TC will convince more developers all games need to cater towards a select group.

@Macutchi: I personally feel it's in tough times wanting a 'good' tough game.

Dark Souls has ended, DkSIII was the last one FROM planned to make. The future is uncertain for FROM SOFTWARE. And they haven't always made games with a challenge in-mind.

Team Ninja are only now getting back to grips with what made them well-known after six years of dumbed down games.

Then Capcoms failed plan to alienate Devil May Cry fans with a shameless reboot. (still an ok game but not a good or challenging DMC)

Add to Capcoms list, Monster Hunter. Renowned for being difficult. They removed G-Rank in MHX! To many fans this was a low blow to please those that wanted an easier end-game questline.

Outside of FROM and Platinum games every other (non Indie) major publisher/ developer jumped on the lazy gamers wants and needs. All while alienating the customers that supported them from the get-go.

Outside of Nioh name another Big budget single-player game in 2017 not aimed at players like TC? I bet it's a struggle_

@RSM-HQ: i can see why you're thinking that re: from software, but they'd be crytek levels of crazy to steer away from where their audience is and towards uncharted waters. but i guess time will tell. the rest of your post makes a lot of sense and there might not be lots on the horizon currently but i do believe nioh will have turned heads and we'll see more and more devs take the plunge into games of that nature in the future

@Macutchi: I hope so, it's not that I have anything against games that are more plausible to everyone. I just find games with well crafted hard difficulty to have the best replay-value for someone like myself. And I'm very much a fan of replay-value in games_

And with the market already heavy on games that are designed to be finished by everyone (hold-hand flexibility) we need more like Nioh and Soulborne games. Games with more bite.

@RSM-HQ: Well thank you for that. I'm glad someone recognizes my worth. Yes, I'm always labeled as a troll because of my attitude but that's who I am. See, people like me can save the gaming industry. We like more challenge and look down on those who couldn't take it but we're showing devs that we want more hard games.