Poll: Easy Mode

[LordLucan375]

Whilst I have no problem with people playing on easy, (I mean, why would I?) I love me a challenge. I am a big Devil May Cry fan, as profile pic may indicate, and have beaten them all on Dante Must Die difficulty. Even on games that I play for the story, ie Mass Effect, I never go below normal. I dunno, maybe I'm just bonkers.

 

[SlamDunc]

Almost always good. As long as it is done well.

In fact playing games on Easy is something I do if I just want the story or to see what happens before it angers me because I keep dying. Or if I just want to mow down enemies to kill time.

 

[Bat Vader]

I think it is a good thing. Not everyone likes a challenge when they play games. Some people just want to experience the story, characters, and settings with little to no challenging game-play. Some people don't have as much time to play games as they used to so they use easy mode to beat the game faster.

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

Spoiler: EASY MODE?!

... Not really.

OT: It really depends on if the difficulty is the point of the game. If it's made to be hard, then there shouldn't be an easy mode. I mean, sure, it would make it more accessible, but easy mode would defeat the very purpose of the game. Likewise, a game that is made to be easy or easy-to-learn-hard-to-master having difficulty levels would defeat the purpose of those games.

That being said, it also depends upon game mechanics. Touhou, for example, is a bullet hell game, and those are supposed to be hard. However, it's a short, arcade-style shooter that is made to be practised and memorized. An easy mode helps the player learn the ropes before moving up to the next level. Harder difficulties also make points more plentiful, allowing for easier high scores. Easy mode, in this case, is justified. Another good place for an easy mode is an RPG that can be difficult, but is mainly about the story. However, a game like Dark Souls is ill-suited for easy difficulty. It's longer than any Touhou game, and there're no high scores. It's not very story-focused, either; its main purpose is its soul-crushing difficulty. Having an easy mode in Dark Souls would make it lose a certain amount of artistic integrity. Puzzle games are another prime example; Portal just can't have an easy mode. It wouldn't work. It's another game that's all about the challenge, just in a different way from Dark Souls.

Bottom line: depends on how the game works. Story or high score focused? Difficulty levels are fine. Challenge focused? Easy mode should sit out.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

I like to play on Normal myself - first time and usually every time thereafter (exception being new game + type modes, then I bump up the difficulty accordingly to maintain that new normal feeling).

However, I do play on Easy during the school months when I'm just playing for diversion/escape from homework briefly - or when I'm playing games that are new to me (read: I know I'm not good at, for example: XCOM) that I just want to try out.

I have no problem with people who play Easy, Normal, Hard, Super-Hardcore, whatever. I DO have a problem with people who play any of those modes and get vocal about people playing in a different mode being wrong for doing so. Those people, I am not usually keen to talk to about any gaming experience.

 

[natster43]

I personally don't play on easy mode, but I see nothing wrong with it. It allows a game to be more accessible to people which isn't a bad thing.

 

[Skeleon]

Alright. I (almost) never use it. In fact, I usually play on the hardest mode even if it means dying a lot (I haven't played Dark Souls yet but I'd imagine it'd be a fitting game for me; The Binding of Isaac absolutely was). But it's not like an easy mode existing hurts me or anybody else. Games are about enjoyment. I get enjoyment out of punishing gameplay, others enjoy with a more relaxed feel to it. It's playing games, it's up to each player what to make of it.

 

[lord.jeff]

I play on normal or higher in most games, games where I don't enjoy the combat and just want it over as fast as possible like Mass Effect or Elder Scrolls I'll play on easy, but gaming is all about enjoying yourself so if overcoming a worthy challenge is what you want, go for it and play on the hardest difficulty or if you prefer tearing through enemies like paper then play easy, whatever you enjoy most.

 

[The_Echo]

I tend to pick easy mode so that I can get through the game and have fun with it.

Generally, I won't choose anything higher unless I've already played it through once or have played other games with similar gameplay.

Besides, if we struck Easy Mode, then Normal Mode would just become the new easy. Easy mode's always there in some way.

 

[Reaper195]

The day we lose easy mode will be the day I stop playing video games. Most of the time with most games, I tend to play fir the universe and story and characters. Fuck challenge. It's also a challenge for most people who aren't good at gaming. I've been playing games for most of my life, and I still sometimes have trouble on easy on CoD games, or Halo (Rarely with Halo though). But that's because I'm rather terrible at FPSs.

 

[T_ConX]

Or, you know, just put in some separate trophies for hard mode and not be a total dick to the half of your fanbase that isn't filled with hardcore gamers.

You know there's a whole gray area between casuals and hardcore gamers right? I always assume that difficulties are set up like this:

Easy: Filthy Casuals
Normal: Actual Gamers
Hard: Hardcore Gamers

If half of your fanbase is playing on easy mode, then you have failed as a game designer.

Just because you're playing on easy doesn't mean you didn't achieve something, just means it's not as impressive as if you had done it on hard.

Are you kidding me? Most games practically play themselves on easy mode. You don't achieve shit on easy mode.

Many people didn't grow up gamers and it's discouraging to them when you make them out to be children throughout the entire game.

Yes, and if there's one thing a player should never feel, it's DISCOURAGED! They should never feel challenged at any point in the game. They should always be told that they are AWESOME! POSITIVE SELF ESTEEM!

The school district in a city near mine recently instituted in no-zero policy. It basically meant that teachers couldn't give students zeros for missed or uncompleted work or tests. The argument for this was that the zeros would DISCOURAGE them and make them more likely to drop out, and so teachers would have to simply exempt the grade from the work altogether.

People aren't pathetic for playing easy mode though.

Yes, they are. They totally are.

 

[The Mighty Stove]

Really? These disgusting casuals don't deserve to play how they want!

Also: The only real issue I could see an "easy" mode affecting game-play would be something around the lines of Dark Souls. Where a lot of the challenge is from the gameplay.

 

[Eddy-16]

Easy mode = lazy disables players!

People aren't pathetic for playing easy mode though.

Yes, they are. They totally are.

I'm kinda shocked people have this attitude. I know for a fact most people wouldn't be gaming if they didn't have an easy mode to get them started, cause being murdered over and over again is not fun, you know the whole point of gaming? To have FUN.

Just cause you're an elitist douchebag doesn't mean people are worse for playing on easy.

OT: No problem with it, good for kicking back on and I sure as hell wouldn't be gaming now if there hadn't been easy modes to get me rolling.

 

[Texas Joker 52]

Personally, I really like the fact that, most games nowadays that have different difficulties, have an easy mode.

Whenever I get a new game and play it for the first time, I always play on the easiest setting first. That way, I get a handle for the controls, can really get into the story, and generally have a lot of fun. After, I may bump it up to normal, or if I'm wanting an unlock or an achievement, higher than that.

But, generally, I play campaigns on easy. Why? Because, when I play a campaign, I usually want to chill, have some fun, and not get extremely frustrated like I do with some multiplayer.

Anyway, if someone else decides to play on easy, hey, that's up to them. It doesn't make someone less of a gamer.

What doesn't make any sense to me is when some people play a game the first time on the hardest difficulty. Or worse, they do that, then get pissed and frustrated because it's too hard.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

It's ok, I guess. People play games for different reasons, some like the story and some like the challenge. For those that like a good narrative easier difficulties can help improve the flow of a game. For those like myself who play a game for the challenge easy mode doesn't feature so heavily, but different players have different skill levels and easy modes can be a challenge for people just getting into a new genre. So yeah, easy modes definitely have their place.

 

[A.A.K]

I only ever game on easy difficulty.
I don't touch multiplayer.

Why?
I don't want a challenge. I don't want to be frustrated.
Games are just a fun time-sink. Nothing else. Intellectual challenges aren't exactly fun (I find at least), and a 'skills' challenge is irrelevant. I don't think gaming is a valuable skill. I don't want my 'skills' to constantly be tested.

 

[Soxafloppin]

It should be there.

Don't want to play on it? Don't play on it!

Take Dead Nation for example, I've beat all of its difficulties, but I enjoy the game most on easy mode because mowing down hordes of zombies is incredibly satisfying.

 

[Azkar Almsivi]

A;LKSHFAKLJDFH LWHY DOD YOU PLAYZ ON EAZIES!??>

Am I edgey yet?

 

[joshuaayt]

Easy mode is pretty much essential for people who want to get their family members into gaming- you think I'd have been able to get my dad to play Fallout 3 if he actually had to be good at the thing?
God no, he's way too impatient to learn a whole new skillset against adversity.

Now, though, a few years on? He makes fun of me for being shit at Dark Souls, which he plays every weekend. Easy mode is like a gateway drug, except a good thing.

 

[aether-x3]

I play on easy but screw anyone who says i'm a casual gamer. >:/

idk. I'm capable of playing on Normal, I just prefer easy. Unless there is no option for easy then I will gladly play on normal ( SMT 3 and DDS come to mind). rarely ever touch Hard mode cause I know I will die a lot and that just makes games not fun for me. then again the only games I've played on hard are Persona 3 and Lollipop chainsaw..

...I have dabbled in Very easy, but that's mostly for completions sake and for the MGS
games the first time round cause I will genuinely admit I suck at Stealth based games especially those with 3rd person shooting elements...

but yeah. I'm A-OK with easy mode.