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[Prospero]

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Interesting article, even if I can come up with specific counterexamples to his argument (Ikaruga, Gradius V, VF4 Evo, etc.)

EDIT: oh, and how could I forget the punishment of Super Monkey Ball?

There are a few fundamental concepts that really underscore this trend [of games becoming easier]. The ominous feeling once associated with seeing "game over" has diminished, due to save games and other conveniences. Instead of complex puzzle solving, strategic elements are now more like connect the dots. Final bosses have become weaker. All of these, along with a couple other factors, really define the degradation of difficulty in gaming. I've taken a look at these elements and will discuss some specific examples. However, I also realize that change is sometimes vital, so I've also detailed what could be done to lessen the leniency provided by so many different games, without completely reverting back to "old school".

 

[Tarazet]

Ninja Gaiden and DMC3 beg to differ.

 

[n-off]

So does F-Zero GX, but the man has a point.
Games are generally too easy nowadays.

 

[rastex]

Games are generally too easy nowadays.

"Ever hear anyone not finish a game because it's too easy?"

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Games are generally too easy nowadays.

I don't think so.

 

[TheDuce22]

Everything they said is true. I wish more games just gave you everything you needed from the start and ramped up the difficult gameplay wise. Everything today has rpg elements, the more time you invest the eaiser it gets. You dont necessarily get better.

 

[n-off]

"Ever hear anyone not finish a game because it's too easy?"

That might not be the case, but games are still easier than 10 years or so ago.

 

[Johnas]

I think people forget the fact that Gamefaqs is always there nowadays if you get stuck. It wasn't always that way, even if strategy guides were out.

I remember banging my head about certain puzzles in A Link to the Past. It may have taken you a while to figure them out, but man the sense of satisfaction when you did.

 

[Oni Jazar]

Perhaps after playing videogames relentlessly for more then 10-15 years you tend to get a little good at them.

 

[Prospero]

To be fair to the article's author--it's hard for me to remember the last time I was actually stumped by a puzzle in a game. I certainly haven't been bothered by the puzzles of any game I've played this gen.

I have to go back to the Water Temple of Zelda: OoT to think of a puzzle that I genuinely found to be difficult.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

Single player games yeah...but mulit player games??? I never heard of a "take it easy on the new guy" server for Halo , CS, WC3, etc etc. God I hate you tomshardware.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I think people forget the fact that Gamefaqs is always there nowadays if you get stuck. It wasn't always that way, even if strategy guides were out.

I remember banging my head about certain puzzles in A Link to the Past. It may have taken you a while to figure them out, but man the sense of satisfaction when you did.

Yeah, I'm trying to break myself of the "get frustrated, run to gamefaqs" pattern, because the poorly written faqs always spoil me on something.
And the skill level increase is also true. I'm beating NES and SNES games now I couldn't get past the first few levels on when I was a kid.

 

[kenta]

God of War in God Mode. Shah.

 

[Mr Gump]

Fuck im all for easier games. Time for games is limited enough as it is, so the last thing i want to do in the 20 min i would play them a week is get frustrated due to difficulty.

 

[Prospero]

"Ever hear anyone not finish a game because it's too easy?"

For me, the list of this gen's games that I didn't finish because they were too easy:

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Zelda: TWW (though I may go back to this just to look at the graphics eventually)
Tales of Symphonia (which is called out in the article):

For example, Tales of Symphonia has relatively easy enemies, and you end up watching cutscenes and reading dialog more than actually leveling up your characters.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Games used to be artificially harder because of lack of in-game tutorials, poor controls and unforgiving restart options. (Ghost and Goblins and Master Blaster come to mind).


Some games are inexcusable in thier lack of challenge though (Wind Waker comes to mind).

 

[karasu]

Didn't we already hear this argument in 2001?

 

[kenta]

Fuck im all for easier games. Time for games is limited enough as it is, so the last thing i want to do in the 20 min i would play them a week is get frustrated due to difficulty.

I feel the same way, but a little different. I've found myself wanting to play games that are less complex, I don't want to run around stat-building or collecting items or unlocking all the cool stuff, I just want to play the freakin game.

 

[marvelharvey]

Some games are inexcusable in thier lack of challenge though (Wind Waker comes to mind).

Haha, so true, I remember almost dieing once

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

I feel the same way, but a little different. I've found myself wanting to play games that are less complex, I don't want to run around stat-building or collecting items or unlocking all the cool stuff, I just want to play the freakin game.

I agree here. I am old and have less time to game. I hate collecting shit as a gameplay mechanic. Give me all the gameplay elements/moves up front and let me play through the damn game.

I don't know if this has been discussed elsewere, but the mass market game is 10-15 hours I think. 40 hour collect-a-thons are old hat and I hate when games make me do it.

thats my opinion.

 

[Yoshi]

Obviously he has NEVER tried to complete F-Zero GX' Story mode or even Super Monkey Ball (1)'s Master difficulty, especially Monkey Ball belongs to the hardest games I ever played through.

 

[MrAngryFace]

Its not that games ARE easier, its that they are made to be accessable to all challenge ranges. Sure you have your super hard, super easy, but most games, like god of war, have a super easy mode and a super hard mode. If you felt it was too easy you can make it harder. It works the other way too.

It was a fundamental step in getting more people into gaming.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

In terms of pure unforgiving, trial-and-error difficulty, yeah games are getting a lot easier.

However, they are getting a lot more difficult in other ways. As in, it's getting a lot more difficult to keep yourself from getting bored of the long, sprawling, 30+ hour, save your progress every 3 minutes quests.

 

[MrAngryFace]

I think the true difficulty is finding time to play games these days

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

I think the true difficulty is finding time to play games these days

Bingo.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I think the true difficulty is finding time to play games these days

It's certainly not easy with a 9-5 job, a 2 year old, a house.....

 

[kenta]

the mass market game is 10-15 hours I think. 40 hour collect-a-thons are old hat and I hate when games make me do it.

thats my opinion.

Big high-five there, I'm now in the habit of either finding games that are 8-15 hours long or finding games like SSX or GTA where I can just power up and start playing for what little time I have.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Didn't finish because it was too easy: Kessen III

Unlockable-only higher difficulty modes need to take a running leap off a bridge.

 

[Tea Master]

Yes, games are getting easier, it's because Americans can't handle hard/complicated games.

 

[MrAngryFace]

Wasnt SC2 beefed up for american audiences? lolz

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

God of War in God Mode. Shah.

I'll chug thru this mode if the ending is better than the regular one

 

[PistolPete]

I agree here. I am old and have less time to game. I hate collecting shit as a gameplay mechanic. Give me all the gameplay elements/moves up front and let me play through the damn game.

I don't know if this has been discussed elsewere, but the mass market game is 10-15 hours I think. 40 hour collect-a-thons are old hat and I hate when games make me do it.

thats my opinion.

Metroid Prime is a good example of how collecting stuff can be enjoyable. To stay on topic, I also thought the difficulty was just right for the casual gamer.

I don't know if it was by design, but I most of the time I found that I could progress enough in an hour, stumble onto a save station, and turn off the game cube feeling like accomplished something. I wish more games were like that...

 

[RevenantKioku]

Yes, games are getting easier, it's because Americans can't handle hard/complicated games.

I see you're up to your regular America bashing. Bravo.
Let me go see if I can find that thread about games that were beefed up for the US releases.
Not a whole lot of hard facts, but some decent discussion none the less here.

 

[n-off]

What happend to games with 3 lives and no credits anyway?

 

[DEO3]

I play games to have fun, sometimes a game can be easy and fun, sometimes it can be hard and fun. In the end, the difficulty isn't why I play games.

 

[Prospero]

Metroid Prime is a good example of how collecting stuff can be enjoyable. To stay on topic, I also thought the difficulty was just right for the casual gamer.

I don't know if it was by design, but I most of the time I found that I could progress enough in an hour, stumble onto a save station, and turn off the game cube feeling like accomplished something. I wish more games were like that...

Metroid Prime did indeed get this right (and Metroid Prime 2 botched it up).
That's also one of many reasons that I liked Prince of Persia: SoT so much--the save spots were just far enough apart to make you feel a sense of risk after playing for a while, but close enough together that you could fit a good session into a half hour.

 

[shantyman]

Fuck im all for easier games. Time for games is limited enough as it is, so the last thing i want to do in the 20 min i would play them a week is get frustrated due to difficulty.

I agree.

 

[callous]

They need to ask? Games are obviously easier. Try playing any game from the 80s.

 

[Pakkidis]

here is my question

Nintendo says that want games to be more accessible and less complex so that they can attract more gamers and everybody complains. Then threads like this come along and people want easier and less complex games due to time restraints. Did I get it wrong?

 

[djtiesto]

The majority of games are a lot easier and IMO that just makes them boring... I'm not saying be Dai-Ou-Jou challenging, but come on!

 

[Mihail]

here is my question

Nintendo says that want games to be more accessible and less complex so that they can attract more gamers and everybody complains. Then threads like this come along and people want easier and less complex games due to time restraints. Did I get it wrong?

Well, actually, the more complex a game is, the easier it tends to be (for the most part -- obviously not an absolute rule). The simpler a game is, the harder you can make it.

Some examples include Super Monkey Ball, Ikaruga, F-Zero GX -- they're all difficult games.

But more complex games like GTA or Madden are much easier.

 

[Jive Turkey]

Games used to be artificially harder because of lack of in-game tutorials, poor controls and unforgiving restart options. (Ghost and Goblins and Master Blaster come to mind).

And that's exactly it. I remember getting extremely pised off as a kid when I'd have to redo the same level for the hundredth time because of poor level design or bad control.

Personally I'd much rather play a game that's easy yet fun than a game that's frustratingly hard because of poor design.

 

[Synbios459]

Four Swords Adventure, has nothing but simple, mundane challenges that are just tedious and not thought provoking at all.

I don't agree with this, there were actually quite a few spots where me and my friend were stuck for a good while.