Do you ever lower the difficulty?

[WolfThomas]

My boyfriend played through it on hard. I think it had to do with him being a fighter. I was a mage, and that first ogre was just impossible. I went in with another mage and Alistair. Alistair held his own for a short while, but that second mage just went down in an instant, and I only had enough mana to cast one spell. It was ridiculous.

I played Mage, but once I got my PC to be an Arcane Warrior, he became an unstoppable tank. Actually I think I had two soldier NPCs at the first Ogre, so it wasn't too bad.

 

[C-45]

I usually play on normal, if I liked the game I might go back and replay it on a higher difficulty. However I did recently do an easy speed run of ME2 so I could get Morinths Dominate power.

 

[estoria-etnia]

Usually I get multiple play-throughs of most of games, so I start on normal or hard difficulty and usually when I go through it again, I start uping the difficult level if battles start getting too easily. Some games do better at this by including multiple difficult settings (I'm looking at you Final Fantasy). Other games I usually play through on the normal difficulty level. Mostly because I don't tend to get as frustrated as some people do ? my brother ? and it usually takes me only a couple of tries to get through the more difficult parts. But usually the games don't come with any lower difficulty settings other than normal.

 

[smithy_2045]

I am so unbelievably stubborn that once I play on a certain difficulty in a game, I refuse to ever drop below that.

 

[Lucifer dern]

Normaly I crack straight on the Normal or Middle Difficulty, Sometimes if the games especialy bad and i'm playing it ever for the story, to shut a friend up, or from a design point of view, I'll sneakly turn it down...
I'm starting to wish demon's souls had the option though...even though saying that would defeat the point of the game.
the rare exception to this rule was the moment of utter frustration when I had to complete devil may cry 4 on normal mode after finishing dante must die mode on the much harder third...
but then I suppose capcom games you want to make the space between the terrible story last...

 

[KefkaCultist]

I start on normal for the most part. Some games I'll throw it up to hard on the first play through like I did for the Halo and Modern Warfare games

 

[Salem_Wolf]

I usually start out on Normal, in any game I play. If I find it really difficult, in which case a "normal" actually means "grab your intestines and pull them out FROM YOUR EYES JESUS CHRIST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD HELP" hard, then I'll turn down the difficulty.

I used to ALWAYS play in Easy mode, I loved it, but I felt unrewarded and, frankly, kind of a wimp for doing so. So I beefed it up and haven't looked back. Besides, I've finally hit a point that I can handle dying a few times without wanting to drop kick my PS3 out of the window.

By the way OP: Haha knitting.

Kidding, in all aspects, just wanted to say that since you immediately brought out "Shut up" after admitting it. Actually my grandmother used to knit and I got some awesome stuff out of it, so kudos on you for admitting it so openly and good luck on all future knitting projects.

Edit: Actually when playing a flight simulator game like Ace Combat or HAWX, I always go with the HARDEST mode and most realistic flight settings. I find it way more enjoyable to be challenged in those games than in any other game where I hit normal and move up from there.

 

[MARKMCMARCUS]

I'm always on normal difficulty, 'cause I feel that's probably what the game developers had in mind when they made the game.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

I start on normal and after I beat the game, move up to the max. If I rent the game I start on max ( for the achievement of course) and beat it. Unless the game is CoD:WaW that was too hard. I mean c'mon who has that many grenades AND sees through smoke.

 

[ThatDamnedBadger]

Theres a difficulty system in games?

 

[Nexoram]

My theory (or something like that) is that the difficulty bar is like the fun factor. If you're really pro at a certain game for example and you have the difficulty on easy then it would be no challenge for you. Therefore, no fun. If you're not really that great, more on the nooby side and you have the difficulty on expert than the enemies you have to defeat will be too hard. You lose flow. You get frustrated. Therefore, no fun PLUS frustration. If you get the sweet spot, just the right difficulty than the enemies will be set great and you will get more immersion and fun.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

When I got to Point Lookout, I lowered the difficulty. A lot.

That's understandable

Bethesda needs to realise that more hit points does not equal more challenge. It equals long, tedious battles.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Once, on Half-Life 2 Ep 2. The ending sequence kicked my ass for so long and so hard I just couldn't take it anymore.

I just abused the save feature. Made that fight easier.

'Twas still a tough one though, everyone raves about how awesome that finale is but I hated the 'defend the base before it gets fucked up' aspect.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

However, recently I've noticed I have this urge to put my games down to easy mode. It started with Dragon Age. After five tries against the first ogre you ever meet, I turned down the difficulty. I just wanted to see the rest of the game.

Yeah... i DO NOT blame you for that. i turned down the difficulty in Dragon Age as well, not because i found it too difficult, but just because it had become......well, boring. Seriously, how many time can yo fight the same darkspawn and ogres and shit, when you KNOW that isn't even the best part of the game? I turned down the difficulty and even tried to get a trainer so that i could skip the fights, and just enjoy the conversations and the story.

As for other games, If you like it better playing it on easy, play it one easy. I don't see why you should feel guilty. but if you think you're not having fun with a game while playing it, consider turning the difficulty up. some games just don't allow you to play it in a fun way on normal or easy. example: AssCreed2 or SplinterCell:Conviction. got through both games on normal without using a single one of the gadgets/items.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

After playing on Insane on Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, I switched to Average to see the difference after playing on Insane. I won so fast and never got hit once.

 

[The Rookie Gamer]

Only game I do that is Halo 2. Fuck Jackal Snipers.

 

[Wolfe90]

I always put it on the hardest difficulty first, then i might lower the difficulty after i finish it on that difficulty.

 

[Chainsaws_of_War_2]

I just did to Peaceful on Minecraft trying to find my way out of a massive cave system.

Damn sniper Skeletons and their spy chickens.

 

[NathLines]

I always try normal but often change to easy. I don't go over normal in any game though. Increased difficulty just means increased rage-and-stress factor. I can understand that people wants to prove themselves good, but mostly, I just want to enjoy the rest of the game.

Anyone else play Touhou? I always play on easy, and I'm gonna stay there until I can clear the game without having to use most of my continues

 

[DanielBrown]

I usually start on the middle difficulty and then work my way through the game. If I come to a point where I cant get any further I lower the difficulty setting after perhaps 10 attempts. However, if there's an achievement/trophie for completing the game at a certain difficulty setting I beat myself blind trying to get past it.
Never had any problems with normal though, it's only when I attempt hard or higher difficulties that I realise that I have absolutley no patience... and that I suck.