Poll: What difficulty level do you usually play on?

[Bernzz]

I play on Normal/Medium when I start a new game, and if it gets too hard I try to stick with it to the end, but if a point is impossible...down goes the difficulty until I finish the game. Then, I go back to it...or at least, try.

If I've been told that a game is actually really hard on Normal/Medium, then I'll go the next one down, which is usually Easy.

 

[THEMANWHOIS]

I'll usually start off on medium, because that unlocks the insane difficulty (usually). So after playing through on medium once, I'll decide if I care enough about the game to play again. If so, I skip hard and go straight to insane.

 

[CyberAkuma]

10 years ago, I would have said 'Normal' but todays standards when it comes to difficulty I always play everything on Hard, and 8/10 cases, the game is still laughibly easy.

 

[Woem]

For me it usually depends on how many grades there are. If there are 3 options then I take medium. If there are 5 options then I usually take the 4th one (so the next-to-hardest).

 

[True-Shinobi]

I would probably play the gane through in all the difficulties, unless the game is rubbish... then just easy or normal =)

 

[Abedeus]

First Medium, then Hard.

 

[LilGherkin]

I'll start off as hard as it can go, then once I play through it once play it on the next level. Resistance 2 stepped up the difficulty curve when they introduced arcade mode with several lives you had to play with god like expertise just to unlock superhuman mode.

 

[DigitalJedl]

I really depends on the game and what difficulty the game offers.
If it's an RPG of sorts, then I'll stick to medium for a while and get used to the flow of the game.

If it's an FPS, usually the 2nd to the hardest setting. I.e, Killzone 2 I play in Veteran then sometimes once in a blue moon move up to Elite. Same for Call of Duty.

 

[Xyphon]

I play on easy because I tend to turn into the hulk when pissed off by a game.

I play games to relieve stress, not add MORE. That means I want to completely OBLITERATE something very easily.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Usually "Normal" though I've gone "Hard" on a few games.

 

[DM.]

I play on the hardest one, until I get stuck.

 

[thecodemaster]

I usually start out on Medium, unless it's L4D when I try and play on Advanced/Expert!

 

[Soxafloppin]

Medium usually.

 

[DND Judgement]

default all the way which is ussually medium....

 

[Daedalus1942]

I always play on what is considered normal/ medium (sometimes it's named something else like in kane and lynch, i think normal is prozac? or other some such.).
I never start a game on easy, unless it doesn't interest me at all and i'm demoing it.
I then, (if i can be bothered finish a game on the hardest setting). Ie, portal (with the bonus challenges), the entire half life series, fallout 3, resistance 1 and 2, Dark Messiah, Metal Gear Solid 2 (european extreme. give it a go. that's what i call being stealthy, no radar xD) to name a few i could actually be bothered to finish on Hard.

 

[Zersy]

First Medium, then Hard.

Ditto

 

[Hamster at Dawn]

I play one easy first then if it isn't retardedly impossible I'll do another playthrough on the hardest difficulty for the challenge. Usually stick to easy though so I can explore and own a massive horde of enemies with one bullet.

 

[Chipperz]

Medium here, not too challenging, not too easy, enough to see the entire storyline and gameplay.

I play medium, then I judge the game for difficulty. If the game has sex scenes I choose the hardest setting just incase you get more nudity if you choose harder settings.

Nudity in harder settings.

That's what she said.

Well, yes. Nudity usually increases... ummm... hard levels, right?

I'm amazed (and glad) there hasn't been any "I play hardcore insane always because the other difficulty levels are for pussies".

You had to say it, didn't you? They started coming out of the woodwork the second you made that post!

I do normal to build skills, and eventually I go to pro mode. I never play easy, that's for noobs. What can I say, you know, you are either a pro, or a noob. That's life.

Hard. Because Medium is for baby's, in 90% of video games

 

[PlasticTree]

Normal. It's the difficulty level on which games are designed to be at their best: fun, with a challenge that is both challenging and beatable without too much frustration. Not all developers succeed in that 'goal', but it is an integral part of a good game.

'Easy' usually deprives the game of a substantial 'feature' of almost every game: the challenge mentioned before. A game that's too easy loses the idea that you are actually accomplishing something great, plus it get's boring before the game is over. 'Hard' is often too, well, hard for someone who is playing a game for the first time. While normal is supposed to provide a challenge which fits your skill on your first playthrough, hard is supposed to provide a challenge for those who have already played through the game before. So if you play on hard mode on your first run, the frustration will be bigger than the feel of accomplishment once in a while.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Depends on the game. I start fighters on easy, because I really have to learn to work out each's characters combo set. I start RTSes on medium because I already have quite a good grasp of RTS mechanics and usually get going pretty fast. I start shooters on hard because that's, kinda, my gaming specialty. I have a good hand-eye coördination, good reflexes and an excellent contrast vision, all very well suited for shooters. Latest example was Quake 4, no need for those silly lower difficulties.