There's a lot of hand holding in games these days. There was a time when developers would go out of their way to make their creations as challenging as possible; they'd be purposefully obtuse and impenetrable for all but the most skilled players.
Over the years these types of games have been forced to step aside and make way for what developers would probably brand as 'approachable' or 'user friendly' experiences.
It makes perfect sense. But we can't help but feel like we're missing out on the 'challenge' and 'satisfaction' feedback loop that games are uniquely equipped to provide. You can probably guess what's spurred this...
From Software's Dark Souls has received almost universally positive critical acclaim, with the majority of review scores landing in the 9/10 range and focusing on its overwhelming difficulty and the incomparable satisfaction it offers.
'Challenging' and 'gratifying' are inexplicably underused accolades these days. When pushed to think about it we can't really recall very many recent games that have left us feeling fulfilled.
Barring the floaty numbers of dose-of-drug RPGs and shooters such as World of Warcraft or Modern Warfare, most games are either entertaining but rarely challenging cinematic experiences or going-through-the-motions multiplayer offerings.
Which begs the question: Are games too easy?
Every once in a while a game will come along and really put our skills to the test, and it's usually these titles that are the most memorable.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Meat Boy are easily two of this generation's hardest titles, but both have achieved critical and sales success by cleverly balancing difficulty with accessibility.
Both games, along with classics such as Mega Man and Contra, rely on simple gameplay mechanics but use thoughftful design to put the player's mastery over these basic gameplay mechanics to the test. This means that pretty much anyone can pick up and play the games but the real fun lies in pushing through to overcome the challenges.
At their cores both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls are the same, and rely on these classic design sensibilities. The mechanics of both games are easy to get to grips with, it's the world around you and how you navigate through it that you need to be mindful of.
What say you readers? Do you think games are too easy, do you feel they provide enough of a challenge, or are you content with what they offer? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
19 comments so far...
Barca Azul on 5 Oct '11 said:
No i dont think so.
Most games come with a difficulty level setting and normally the normal setting is right for me. Often hard or extreme levels are too hard in my books depeneding on the game.
Going back to days of ZX spectrum and the like, most games were impossible to complete without cheating, where is the fun in that? on the flip side, if a game takes 4 hours to complete then, its either too short or too easy for your level.
For me if games are too hard to get through, then you lose interest and play something else!
will7476 on 5 Oct '11 said:
I find that it is in the trophy/achivement lists that the challenge lies. For example, Dead Space 2 was fairly easy, but stick in on hardcore with only 3 saves for that platinum trophy and that was one of the most satisfying things I've done - it really ramped up the tension. So the answer lies in more creative ways of playing the same game. I'm not a fan of veteran mode on CoD though - that isn't creative, just frustrating - although I've done every one!
Oh, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 is not hard at all - my kids can do most levels.
Joe90_Remy700 on 5 Oct '11 said:
i agree totally about some clever achievements for the challenge
difficulty comes down to personal enjoyment. i cant do veteran - i keep dying and get fed up with it, its not that it increases the challenge it just lowers your health so i give up on it. it can be challenging but there does need to be pregress there is no point getting stuck on a really hard bit alot of players would just give up after a few tries
now, one great game for challenge is operation flashpoint, namely dragon rising moreover red river. on any difficulty you can get clipped once and possibly die, on hardcore the only change is a total lack of HUD and markers. bloody awesome, a real challenge and a greatly enjoyable playthrough for the achievement
TheLastDodo on 5 Oct '11 said:
I normally play on normal difficulty, if it's too easy then I'll switch to hard, never go any higher than hard as games tend to become cheap and just lower the health of the player or increase the health of the AI on the highest difficulty.
If I wanted a challenge I'd climb Everest or go into bomb defusing, I play games for entertainment, if a game isn't fun then I don't bother with it.
While I appreciate what Dark Souls offers it's definitely not for me.
InsertMoreCredit on 5 Oct '11 said:
The vast majority of today games hold your hand too much. They're geared toward the mass market, 30 minute quick blast gamers and offer little challenge.
Yes, they're too easy.
You're all just a bunch of crap gamers who need a 'win' button so you can play your games.
G00N3R on 5 Oct '11 said:
I think alot of games have too much handholding. Too many games in the modern era have excessive use of waypoint markers, giant yellow markers above NPC heads, button reminders and so on. They annoy me because I want to earn my successes. If I need to press a button or find an item to complete an objective, I'll enjoy the task more if I have to search for it first, than if the game just tells me straight away "its over here". Slightly offtopic but I also find these things to be immersion breakers in many cases as well.
This is why Portal 2 is still very high on my GOTY list. Whether the puzzles were easy or hard depends entirely on the player, but I just found it so refreshing that Valve did away with the handholding and just let players figure out what to do for themselves, and any hints were built into the level design in a very natural way.
jim2wheels on 5 Oct '11 said:
I would say that depends on what games you buy, and what difficulty you choose. There's plenty of challenges in the PC market if you don't feel challenged enough.
Weezer on 5 Oct '11 said:
When I've paid £35 or £40 for my game, I'd like to see it all, thanks. I don't relish endlessly repeated levels and mindless frustration. I'm too old and too tired for that s**t; it's a game, a means of entertainment. If I want a proper challenge I'll go and swim the channel or run a marathon.
Besides, isn't it about time games were artificially intelligent enough to know when the gamer is obviously struggling? If the poor sap has restarted the same level 20 times, tweak it so he takes 5% less damage or something. Jeez...
Sleepaphobic on 5 Oct '11 said:
Well that's why there's higher difficulty settings right? Other than games I love (eg ARMA original Gaiden which are not cheap) I actually play on the lowest difficulty or at most normal. I dunno abt everyone else but my backlog is just ridiculous and I don't really have the time to even play these games to start with.
In respect to dark souls, I'm pretty sure they could've made the default difficulty as normal and then have one setting under it. How would that at all hurt the game?
roland82 on 5 Oct '11 said:
Game types that have there roots in arcade games were always harder because of the arcade business model. I also think in the days Japan dominated the industry games were harder as thats what people wanted. With more people playing games now and grown up hardcore gamers there is just less time for super hard games.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 5 Oct '11 said:
I didn't find demon souls difficult. I think it's the wrong word for the series and one that'll probably turn a lot of people off. It's challenging and uncompromising. But its also fair. That combat is so absolutely stupidly precise and well animated that it becomes more about intuition than simple game logic.
That's why its so bloody addictive, but once you get rolling and get into the mindset of the game it becomes a lot less of a bother and more about dealing with whatever comes next.
Modern games are a lot easier than games used to be. but at the same time games are about a million times longer. Its an odd trade off really.
As far as dark souls go i'll probably be playing it untill the next souls game comes out. Pretty much like i have been with demon souls. there's very few games i can say that about.
dragonjim on 5 Oct '11 said:
Most are these days, but at least they can be completed.
jim2wheels on 5 Oct '11 said:
Refreshing glass half-full optimism my fellow Jimite. I would say any game that has a story to tell should be completable by the masses.
JD_Method on 5 Oct '11 said:
I don't want games to be ultra hard. I like to be able to complete my games, and I don't want the frustration of having to repeat a part of a game a million times to get past it. I don't understand what enjoyment people get out of dying repeatedly and having to redo sections of the game. Also, I just don't feel satisfaction from completing hard games. I feel relief if anything. I just think "Thank f**k that's over! I don't want to do that again."
And I don't mind all the waypoint markers letting me know where to go next, especially if it's a linear game, because getting lost/stuck absolutely sucks, and it gets boring walking around the same room for an hour trying to find the exit.
Call me a crap gamer, but I don't care. You enjoy getting your arse handed to you for the 100th time and walking around rooms looking for the door for an hour, while I enjoy the story and destroying the bad guys.
resh on 5 Oct '11 said:
The bar should be raised for "normal mode" so games can be challenging In a way that isnt about stupid amounts of health and damge added to enemies. To make they game accessible they have easy mode for people who want that but the should call it something else. Much like Harcore in gears is the way its ment to be played and normal is the game's easy mode or heroic and normal in halo I use these examples for their naming of difficulties not the actuall difficulty.
Beetle Bum on 5 Oct '11 said:
YOU CAN'T GET PASS LEVEL 1 ONE TETRIS!!!!!!!!
MrPirtniw on 5 Oct '11 said:
In a word- Yes. The Xbox Ninja Gaiden (and sigma on PS3) is still one of my favourite ever games for being so insanely difficult but totally fair at the same time. I agree with simply reducing player health to make games harder is a bit cheap- I'd like to see harder settings concentrate on really upping the AI instead.
When games are so easy (which most are these days) I breeze through them and even though I maybe enjoying the game it'll be over ridiculously quickly. Haven't played Demon Souls yet but it does sound pretty epic.
chum1120 on 6 Oct '11 said:
I'm a casual gamer and I usually play games on Normal. I rarely play on hard or above. If someone has the time and skill to play a game like that, good for them. Personally, games are my entertainment and constantly dying or having to repeat a level isn't very entertaining.
ste hicky on 6 Oct '11 said:
Are games too easy?
in all honesty, yes. cods on veteran, halo on legendary, both mass effects on insanity, etc... far too easy. checkpoints, recharging health/shields and other aids that we take for granted now have seen to that.
however there's always the exceptions and i'd nominate mario galaxy 2's final star: the perfect run as an absolute demon while the trickiest thing i've come across lately is 'brothers to the end' on insane in gears 3 at the final stand off before Dom 'leaves'.
Jesus fookin christ: i did that last night and it's the toughest thing i've come across in the series as it's blatantly designed for 4 people but i still haven't got round to renewing my gold live so had to do it alone.
lol. i will put body parts on the fact that neither you or your kids have seen star 242: grandmaster galaxy, the perfect run if that's your opinion.
it's down as the hardest thing i've seen in gaming for a long time: a one hit death scenario across some of the most devious mario levels i've ever seen and shames the lost levels from the nes in terms of difficulty. without sounding bigheaded: i know my mario games, that level is as tough as mario gets and would make most hardcore gamers cry like girls.