Poll: What's Your Deal With Easy Mode

[Nexxis]

I have no problem with easy mode, and I usually set a game to easy by default so that I can experience it and learn how to play. Also, I mostly play games to relax and have fun, so I have absolutely no problem with a game that makes me feel OP. That just means that my friends and I laugh about how OP we are and we try to come up with silly challenges based off of it. I have no problem with difficulty options in a game. It allows people to adjust the game to their level of fun.

 

[Brotha Desmond]

I prefer to play on east mode because if it's too hard then I'm not having fun.

 

[duwenbasden]

Nothing. It's just another mode in the game. Usually I start off with the normal difficulty (hardest if I've played a similar game before) and work from there. Sometimes I just feel like blowing things up so up into the easy settings.

However, if a difficulty setting means enemies are superman (I am looking at you, Tomb Raider), I will never use that setting (headshot = instakill, PERIOD and QED.)

 

[The_Echo]

For me, it depends on the game.

On my first playthrough or if I want to get through the game fairly quickly, I generally pick Easy Mode. For sequels and replaying I choose higher difficulty settings to make it a little different from the first one.

However, not all games should have difficulty levels. Difficulty levels mean that they have to design the game to work multiple different ways, whereas a single difficulty helps the dev construct a much more consistent experience based on very distinct choices in level and enemy design.

 

[Right Hook]

If I feel the game will be very tough, I may switch to easy. If I'm just playing the game in a very casual and relaxed manner, I may start on easy. I don't really get a sense of accomplishment for beating a game on easy though, so if it is a game that I actually care about, I'll play it on normal. I rarely play games on hard or very hard, not because I can't, I've beaten a fair share on those modes but just because it becomes grueling and not enjoyable to me.

 

[White Lightning]

If I see a game has an easy mode I immediately throw it away and drop kick an orphan. I mean seriously, what kind of casual do you take me for?





But seriously I don't mind it being in there, but I won't play on it.

 

[Arafiro]

Why do people seem to think that challenge is a requirement for fun in a video game? There are a disturbing number of people here who seem to subscribe to that idea.

Let's put it this way: Saint's Row 4. Is it challenging? No, not at all. It isn't meant to be.
It is in my opinion, however, literally one of the greatest video games ever made.

While challenge seems to be the entire appeal of something like Dark Souls, there are many titles where the actual game mechanics themselves are designed to be fun, rather than the "fun" being derived from the gratification of overcoming challenges.

Heck, I dunno, we're just not in that era anymore where games had to be challenging to take your money in an arcade. It doesn't make sense to me personally to make a single-player game really hard but then that's why there are difficulty options. If I want a challenge I'll go play online against actual people. Personal preference, hence difficulty options.

 

[infohippie]

Depends on the game. For most shooters I will put it on easy since "hard" in a shooter usually just means the enemies have ridiculous amounts of hit points and their guns can kill you in a couple of shots. It doesn't mean they behave any smarter. For games that require more thought I will often play on hard for the challenge and sense of accomplishment that comes with beating a game that forces you to think, though if I am really getting my ass kicked and having no fun I don't mind dropping it back down a notch or two.
I always played games like X-Wing or TIE Fighter on hard, though, otherwise it just became a turkey shoot with no real challenge. I was always much better at joystick-based piloting games than I have ever been at traditional shooters.

 

[Maxtro]

Dark Souls does not be as hard as it is to be a good game.

The difficulty is a gimmick it doesn't need.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I almost never play easy mode. The only exception I can think of is Resident Evil: Outbreak (offline), because the AI is so bad.
Online, I rocked that shit on very hard.

 

[Yopaz]

The more difficulty tiers in games the better. Makes them more accessible to a wider audience.

I understand the argument behind a single fixed difficulty for a game like Dark Souls, but I'm still not sure I agree with it. Games like XCOM managed to get a reputation for being ball breakers despite having multiple difficulty tiers.

Pretty much this.

Now it should be said that I am not one to pick easy on any game. I will pick normal when I am new to a series and hard when it's a series I have played before. This is how I play Tales games. Always on the hardest difficulty on my first run. Except for Graces where the 2 hardest difficulty modes get really, really hard further into the game and I had to stick with just hard.

Do I mind that there is an easy mode? No, I do not. Do I intend to use it? Nope, never. The difficulty settings means those who don't want to struggle can still enjoy the game. I see nothing but positives about that.

 

[zefichan]

Easy mode is fine, only stupid people are bothered by it. Dark Souls benefits from an Easy Mode, because it means the Hard Mode can be made even more challenging.

Me, I don't usually play on easy, but I don't understand why so many gamers are unable to comprehend why people play on easy. See... for many people, it's not about challenge. Challenge is not, in fact, an universal thing people care for. Many people get challenged in their job instead, so they care more for experiences outside that. This is what easy mode usually gives them: A stress free, relaxing experience.

Dark Souls, for example, would be played to experience the world and the lore. Challenge is not the only possible appeal. Sadly, many gamers cannot see outside their tiny little box.

 

[Caiphus]

It usually depends on how much I like the game, how good I am at games of that type, and how willing I am to learn. For mooost games, however, I play on normal. For shooters, I might boost it up to hard. I completed ME2 on the hardest difficulty, although that really just made the game longer rather than harder (giggity).

So yeah, normal for me. I'm trying to think of any games that I play on easy.... I played halfway through Fire Emblem Awakening on the casual setting, although then found it boring. That's all I can remember. It took me a while to work up to Prince difficulty on Civ V, although I now win those almost 100% of the time. IF I played RTS's I'd probably stick those on easy, because boy, I suck more than [insert personal mother figure here].

But yeah, I totally understand why people would want an easy mode. For some, an easy mode would still be a challenge. I know my sister would struggle through Dragon Age: Origins on easy. She just doesn't have the years of experience with hotbars, party tactics and all that. And for others, they may want to roleplay as someone who is super powerful, or they may just want to see the story. I can dig that. That's not meant to be condescending either, go for it.

 

[BoredAussieGamer]

Easy mode doesn't bother me. I don't use it (much), I don't mind it's existence, and I don't have a problem with other people playing games.

What's with all the elitism towards easy mode in this thread?

 

[norashepard]

For me, it really just depends on how I'm feeling when I'm playing. If I'm in the zone, and want to say, try to hold out against waves and waves of bad guys, I'll turn on Saints Row and just start shooting on Hardcore and see how long I can last. But then if I'm trying to relax by playing, I'd do the same thing on easy and just chill for a while.

I really don't understand why people feel like various difficulties have to be mutually exclusive though? Like, I like Dark Souls as much as the next loser, but it sure as hell would have been nice to have an easy mode for when I just felt like exploring the game world, or trying to find out of the way areas without risking a death that would set me back hours. Of course, there are tons of other games for leisurely exploring, so it's not that great a loss overall.

 

[Luminous_Umbra]

Dark Souls does not be as hard as it is to be a good game.

The difficulty is a gimmick it doesn't need.

Easy mode is fine, only stupid people are bothered by it. Dark Souls benefits from an Easy Mode, because it means the Hard Mode can be made even more challenging.

Me, I don't usually play on easy, but I don't understand why so many gamers are unable to comprehend why people play on easy. See... for many people, it's not about challenge. Challenge is not, in fact, an universal thing people care for. Many people get challenged in their job instead, so they care more for experiences outside that. This is what easy mode usually gives them: A stress free, relaxing experience.

Dark Souls, for example, would be played to experience the world and the lore. Challenge is not the only possible appeal. Sadly, many gamers cannot see outside their tiny little box.

I could go into a long discussion about Dark Souls and similar games, but someone has done a much better job at explaining this. Yes, the video is a bit long, but most of the important stuff is in the beginning.

 

[Caiphus]

Easy mode doesn't bother me, I don't use it, I don't mind it's existence. I don't have a problem with other people playing games.

What's with all the elitism towards easy mode in this thread?

This thread has actually been pretty easy-mode friendly. In contrast to the almost absurd angriness that took place when the Dark Souls II easy mode discussion was being punted around the forums.

 

[Jak23]

Despite the fact that I live and breathe for a good challenge, which gives me more than enough reason to choose hard mode. I feel that easy mode detracts from the atmosphere of most games, therefore I avoid like the plague.

 

[SweetWarmIce]

If a game's too hard I'll drop to easy then crank it back up once I've gotten the hang of it (X-COM: Enemy Unknown for example). Also sometimes play easy mode for casual fun.

 

[BartyMae]

I pretty much always play the hardest mode of a game, although it depends on what exactly the game is, and what exactly the difficulty levels do. I have no problem with easier modes being available, though, and in fact think they actually should be there for most games. I'm not great at every single type of game - I don't expect others to be, too, and therefore a game should probably be able to be adjusted accordingly for enjoyment.