Feel Like I'm On 42
Member
Nobody's saying they want Mario to be brutally hard but like ...have you played Wonder? It's too easy.
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Nintendo- Why are they eliminating challenge in all their games?
- Thread starter Feel Like I'm On 42
- Start date
Nobody's saying they want Mario to be brutally hard but like ...have you played Wonder? It's too easy.
Dice
Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
They should smack Metroid Dread with the easy stick a couple more times then.
baphomet
Member
Represent.
Banned
Because they are for kids, mainly.
BlackTron
Member
Mario RPG has breezy and normal modes now, but I'm really hoping there is a post game hard mode because yeah, the new changes made the game even easier than it was before. More satisfying to play, but easier. Hard should have been available from the get go. Give me a break, I've already beaten this game a dozen times since 1996!
I always try to rush my way through this game by avoiding encounters and power leveling with stars, which means tougher bosses. I did the same thing here and never even broke a sweat until Nimbus Land.
One of the biggest things that makes it easier is that you can now cycle members into your party during battle. If your teammate is asleep, dead, shroomed whatever you can swap out your ally. Broken! All the new options are cool, but there needs to be a harder mode for them to add up.
I imagine breezy just plays itself.
I always try to rush my way through this game by avoiding encounters and power leveling with stars, which means tougher bosses. I did the same thing here and never even broke a sweat until Nimbus Land.
One of the biggest things that makes it easier is that you can now cycle members into your party during battle. If your teammate is asleep, dead, shroomed whatever you can swap out your ally. Broken! All the new options are cool, but there needs to be a harder mode for them to add up.
I imagine breezy just plays itself.
Robb
Gold Member
Broader audiences is my guess. Then there’s the fact that your hardcore fans will likely buy your game anyway, so why fine tune it for them instead of for the people who are on the edge. Goes for most games these days for better or worse.
I don’t disagree though. Would love to have difficulty levels in pretty much all games. The more options the better.
I don’t disagree though. Would love to have difficulty levels in pretty much all games. The more options the better.
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mrmustard
Banned
Nowadays people have the attention span of a fish. They don't want manuals or tutorials, they just want to beat games with the least possible effort.
It's not just Nintendo, games like Spiderman, Horizon, Uncharted, Just Cause, Dead Rising, Far Cry etc. are ridiculously easy on normal.
Normal Mode in most games today is like easy mode + cheat codes back in the days.
It's not just Nintendo, games like Spiderman, Horizon, Uncharted, Just Cause, Dead Rising, Far Cry etc. are ridiculously easy on normal.
Normal Mode in most games today is like easy mode + cheat codes back in the days.
daninthemix
Member
I played Mario Wonder with an invincibility cheat on so I'm not totally aligned with the OP 
Codes 208
Member
Not to mention SMW and even kirby and the forgotten land, while decently easy when playing through the main game, do have some hair pullingingly difficulty spikes in the challenge modes.
Beating the games are a breeze, completing them can be hard af
BlackTron
Member
Avatar checks outI played Mario Wonder with an invincibility cheat on so I'm not totally aligned with the OP
killatopak
Member
I think they should at least add achievements or trophies so people can find something to give them challenge while those that want it easy can be satisfied.
Torrent of Pork
Banned
SMRPG was already babby's first JRPG, it sounds like they just helped tamp down some of the grinding.
Impotaku
Member
So basically if you want you can play on it's original difficulty?
Woopah
Member
The challenge is often saved for the past game, that's what happened in Pikmin 4 and Wonder and it sounds like the same for SMRPG.
It was the same in Pikmkn 4, where there were items that could make the game quite easy but you never had to use them.
I do think it would be better if Nintendo offered difficulty modes on the menu that removed those helpful mechanics.
The extra power up is optional. You don't have to use it. You can also increase the difficulty by using the badges.
It was the same in Pikmkn 4, where there were items that could make the game quite easy but you never had to use them.
I do think it would be better if Nintendo offered difficulty modes on the menu that removed those helpful mechanics.
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NoobSmog
Member
I stopped buying Nintendo consoles after the gamecube because their games were becoming too easy. I don't need every game to be difficult, but as so many people like to repeat, Nintendo focuses on "gameplay first". The problem with that is when the gameplay is boring because it's too easy, there's not much left. The endgame stuff in some of their games looks fun, but I wouldn't pay full price just for a few good levels at the end.
edit: and just to be clear, super mario rpg is a good game regardless of difficulty! So i'm not really talking about that game.
edit: and just to be clear, super mario rpg is a good game regardless of difficulty! So i'm not really talking about that game.
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GymWolf
Member
I don't know why they do this but it is fucking hilarious how all of their games are tailored for 10 years old childs in term of challenge.
And all of their main games are like that, luigi mansion, mario, zelda, pokemon etc.
Dread was a white fly.
Pinnacle of gaming without challenge for sure.
And all of their main games are like that, luigi mansion, mario, zelda, pokemon etc.
Dread was a white fly.
Pinnacle of gaming without challenge for sure.
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calistan
Member
Yeah, you can also choose to play it with the controller upside down, or with your feet.
GymWolf
Member
At least you can chose ultra hard mode in some of them and have an actual challenge.
If you search for a challenge and play on normal it's entirely on you dude, i like challenge so i always chose the max difficulty (when available).
Today's difficulty mode are basically like this:
Easy\ for people with no working limbs
Normal\ at least one working limb
Hard\ normal mode
Very hard\ kinda hard mode
Ultra hard\ finally a challenge
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GymWolf
Member
Yep, nothing better than doing the devs job and balance the game by yourself
kyussman
Member
Gaming has more a casual audience these days though doesn't it,games are going to reflect that.The average normal difficulty on most games today isn't the slightest bit challenging if you have any experience at all with gaming.......an unfortunate side effect of gamings success I suppose,when I was a child games were about 20mins long and I'd still fail to get more than half way through most of them because they were so fucking hard,lol.
U n i o n 0015
Member
Damn, I thought the last couple special level in Super Mario 3D World was effin brutal. the one where you have to collect 30 green stars in a row. I never even finished it, and apparently there's an even harder level after that. Can't tell if just unskilled or getting old.
64bitmodels
Reverse groomer.
Mario World gets seriously challenging from like Forest of Illusion onwards.
tatotiburon
Member
and now it's even more easy
64bitmodels
Reverse groomer.
..... you could do that in Mario World too? only difference is that it's executed worse since the powerup will automatically drop upon damage taken
Because kids these days either are austistic or have severe ADD.
The plot doesn't have any emotional depth.
jufonuk
not tag worthy
Agree and also disagree.
I can now play Mario wonder with my young daughter who isn’t the best at games and will we be having too much fun laughing instead of her getting upset.
While not the hardest Mario there can still be parts where you will die.
Laieon
Member
I think it's hilarious that everyone is blaming easy modes on kids when in my experience and anecdotes, it's the exact opposite case. Kids and teens are far more likely to tolerate hard modes than adults, who eventually age out of them because work and the additional responsibilities that comes with age is hard enough and they just want to relax when they get home or get an hour or two away from the kids and wife. Considering the ESA says the average "gamer" is something like 35 and that number continues to rise year after year, I don't think that's a coincidence.
I'm in my mid 30s and have absolutely no interest in anything remotely difficult in games anymore (the only exception maybe being higher difficulty bots in RTS games), which was nowhere near the case 15 years ago.
Even on easy mode, games are pretty damn long these days which means developers don't need to artificially inflate their length by making them ridiculously hard like they were in the 90s and 80s.
I'm in my mid 30s and have absolutely no interest in anything remotely difficult in games anymore (the only exception maybe being higher difficulty bots in RTS games), which was nowhere near the case 15 years ago.
Even on easy mode, games are pretty damn long these days which means developers don't need to artificially inflate their length by making them ridiculously hard like they were in the 90s and 80s.
sigmaZ
Member
Not only Nintendo. Welcome to the era of "accessibility". That's why I still respect the hell out of games like Zelda and Elden Ring where for better or worse the developers take the responsibility of the difficulty upon themselves and how they design the game. Personally, I don't like aggressively difficult games, but I do enjoy games where the challenge is based upon figuring something out and passing a challenge.
BlackTron
Member
Not really. Normal mode may appear like the original game because there's no obvious tampering of stats, but because new mechanics were added that help you out so much, it's quite a bit easier.
The new mechanics are good and make the battle system more interesting and satisfying, but they seem like more options to make a hard mode more engaging. Barring that they're just helping blow through it even faster than the SNES version.
So yeah, I'll be disappointed if there is no post game hard mode.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
It’s not just Nintendo.
Fbh
Member
It's only their more family friendly games though.
Which I think is probably intentional to retain the interest of kids for longer. Back in the day when you got a new game it was often the only new game you'd have for months (outside of the ocasional rental) so even if it was challenging you'd stick with it. These days with the abundance of cheap games and hyper popular F2P stuff, if kids get frustrated they'll probably just go back to playing Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, etc.
Their games targeted at an older audience don't follow the same principle.
BotW/TotK are significantly more challenging and less hand holdy than Skyward Sword or Wind Waker
Metroid Dread was pretty challenging
Fire Emblem can be quite challenging if you play classic mode on the more challenging difficulties
etc.
Which I think is probably intentional to retain the interest of kids for longer. Back in the day when you got a new game it was often the only new game you'd have for months (outside of the ocasional rental) so even if it was challenging you'd stick with it. These days with the abundance of cheap games and hyper popular F2P stuff, if kids get frustrated they'll probably just go back to playing Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, etc.
Their games targeted at an older audience don't follow the same principle.
BotW/TotK are significantly more challenging and less hand holdy than Skyward Sword or Wind Waker
Metroid Dread was pretty challenging
Fire Emblem can be quite challenging if you play classic mode on the more challenging difficulties
etc.
cireza
Member
I really enjoyed Mario 3D World but honestly the game is super super easy. Champion Road was actually the only challenging level in the entire game.
Donkey Kong games offer a bit more challenge in my opinion.
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Rran
Member
That's true, but SMW's power-up system was less forgiving than Wonder's. In SMW, any hit from a power-up would reduce you to small Mario, while Wonder has the SMB3 (US) power-up system where 2nd tier power-ups like the Fire Flower and Elephant fruit thing give you two hits before small Mario.
Effectively speaking, this means Mario World gets you 3 hits total (two one-hit power-ups and small Mario) while Wonder gets you 5 (two two-hit power-ups and small Mario).
lughnasadh123
Member
What happened to respecting the devs vision?
Fake
Member
'Its for everyone, but not for everyone'.
Phobos Base
Member
I find that as well, if I've spent 8 hours at work with nearly an hour commute each way, I don't want to spend my remaining free time taking 20 attempts to beat a boss or pull off frame perfect combos.
DonkeyPunchJr
World’s Biggest Weeb
Is it that unreasonable to ask for an optional hard mode? It’s not like this is some huge undertaking. Why are people acting like this is some unrealistic request that would require enormous effort and ruin Nintendo’s appeal?
Especially something like Super Mario RPG. It’s stat/menu-driven combat. It’s not going to require a ton of development effort to tweak the difficulty.
Especially something like Super Mario RPG. It’s stat/menu-driven combat. It’s not going to require a ton of development effort to tweak the difficulty.
mrmustard
Banned
It's not all games. Some are fine or even a bit tough on normal. Cuphead, Atomic Heart, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Dying Light 2 or Grounded for example.
Another problem is that some games like Days Gone or the latest AC for example start with an ok challenge, but after some skillpoints and gear you become Superman and onehit everything.
Chuck Berry
Gold Member
I dont think the game needed lightning reflexes or was a real brain buster back in the day. It was always seen as a pretty chill, easygoing experience.
Also, why are you believing what some irrelevant GameSpot reviewer thinks? Play it for yourself. Maybe you'll completely suck at the timed offense and defense actions. Who knows.
The notion that if one person says a game is easy, then it's easy for everyone is baffling to me.
Also, why are you believing what some irrelevant GameSpot reviewer thinks? Play it for yourself. Maybe you'll completely suck at the timed offense and defense actions. Who knows.
The notion that if one person says a game is easy, then it's easy for everyone is baffling to me.
STARSBarry
Gold Member
I enjoyed mario wonder even if it was super easy. I do wish the special world had gone on a bit longer, in many ways I felt the challange worlds of the recent kirby game where better in that regard.
I hope they make a super Luigi equivalent... maybe with Rosalina as the new character and with much tougher levels, perhaps with a new badge that when equipped gives the old unique stats to each character, like Luigi's higher jump when equipped on him or peaches float when equipped on her.
I hope they make a super Luigi equivalent... maybe with Rosalina as the new character and with much tougher levels, perhaps with a new badge that when equipped gives the old unique stats to each character, like Luigi's higher jump when equipped on him or peaches float when equipped on her.
GymWolf
Member
That is a common problem of almost all games.
It must be almost impossible to balance a game with an op character and still give a big sense of progression, some games do that better than others but very few get it right.
Atomic heart was pretty easy on max difficulty when you metabolize how the combat work and when you unlock the double buzzsaw mace and telekinesis, i haven't played the others but one was a super realistic simulation (so bounded to be hard by definition), the other is an old school shooter (same as before) and the third one is a survival (so again, a genre that is based on challenge).
Most normal games are piss easy nowadays, especially open worlds (most of the time even on max difficulty).
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