What settings do you guys recommend starting out with? I'm going Normal and No continues. Too harsh for a new scrub?
I actually think playing through the game with continues at first is a good idea, just to get a chance to see everything the game will throw at you before you try with no continues. I hate finally breaking through a difficult section of something only to die mere seconds later because something surprises me. Obviously not a purist's approach, but I don't think it ruins the game or anything.