Not to sound like an apologist, but I think I get where Raymond is coming from.
See, the Souls games have their own markets. There *is* an established audience for super-hard or somewhat challenging experiences. I don't see this story as any kind of judgment of value made for or against that market. All Raymond is saying is that there's *also* a segment of gamers that doesn't really want to put up with a steep challenge. Like me, for instance.
Chaos Theory gets a bit of a bad rep because it was easier than the previous two games. The first title in the franchise was nigh unplayable for me, way back when, as there was literally no leeway given for any level of visibility or botched attempts at stealth. You got good at the game and you got good fast - or you gave up and played something that at least delivered on the "fun" department. Chaos Theory came along and honestly? It was a blast, as far as I can remember. I had fun because I could afford to mess up three times per level, and that didn't preclude me from wanting to replay through one section over and over until I'd hundred-percent it in one shot.
Earlier, I remember playing System Shock 2 and Thief: The Dark Project. SS2's pseudo-stealth was pretty handy, in that the enemies were pretty bad at detection. Thief, though? I busted my head against the wall for hours, trying to pass the third level. Absolutely no fun there. Of course, that's entirely subjective.
Considering that this is, yes, subjective - then why the hate for a potentially lower entry gate for a single segment of the player base? I think the news report makes it clear that you can still try to Garrett your way through the entire game if you so choose, and to play in as classic and recognizable a Sam Fisher as possible. Calling in air strikes, action-movie Mark & Execute moments? If they're optional, who honestly cares?
I just don't get the community, sometimes. You're given assurances that the hardcore segment hasn't been forgotten, but hear that room has been made for less skilled or impatient players. What's the first reaction most of us have? We jump to the hills and cry foul, absolutely convinced that the entire industry is turning into a morass of casuals, dudebros and douchecanoes.
Newsflash - it isn't. It's turning mainstream, which is something else entirely. We've had Dishonored to remember that to us, and there's also XCOM: Enemy Unknown's Classic Ironman (or Impossible Ironman). Hard experiences are and have always been niche.
So please, before caterwauling about how the industry no longer caters for you lovers of incredihard experiences, take a stroll through your own backlog. More to the point, ask yourself if every genre and game dev is deserving of and particularly fitting for excessively challenging experiences.
Some studios nail these out of the ballpark. Thanks, From Software!
Others cater to simpler stuff that's ultimately there to drive player enjoyment. BioWare, for instance, or Bethesda.
That somehow works to the DETRIMENT of the medium?!
I don't even. Seriously.
