We probably say this too much on TheSixthAxis, but modern games don’t really provide that much of a challenge. Old games were simply more difficult, or possibly we just sucked more back then. However today I don’t really want to talk about difficulty in general, but about puzzle games. I don’t mean stuff like Bejewled, although that is pretty awesome. No, I’m talking about things like Portal, which I replayed recently, or even games like the Prince of Persia series where you have to work out how to traverse the level.
Now I absolutely adore Portal. It really is a wonderful little game, and does buck the modern trend of simpler games. The concept is pretty unique and some of the test chambers can be pretty challenging the first time you try to get through them. The split second timing aspect of some of the puzzles is great as well, even though it can lead to occasional frustration. The thing I love the most is there’s no real attempt to hold your hand as you go through, you’re pretty much left to figure out the solution to a puzzle for yourself. Can’t work it out? Too bad.
There used to be a lot more games that seemed to take that sort of attitude to solving a puzzle. I can certainly remember becoming frequently stuck on the original Tomb Raider trilogy whilst I worked out how to get through a room. Finding the exact right angle you had to approach a jump at or scouring the room to find the switch you’d somehow missed was tough, but it came with a sense of reward when you finally figured out how to get through that room and you moved onto the next challenge.
I really do feel that most modern games don’t give you that kind of challenge any more. Look at the Prince of Persia game back in 2008. It was actually a pretty enjoyable experience, but there was no real puzzle to how you were meant to get through the levels. Some of the wall climbing sections were a little tricky, but overall it boiled down to “press this button for this obstacle type”. Not exactly the most difficult to break code, and to me it seems a sad departure from the pedigree of the Sands of Time trilogy.
Perhaps this simplifying of puzzles in games is the price we pay for gaining acceptance. If you want to move games away from being the realm of the geeks and into the more mainstream they have to be more accessible, you can’t just sit and punish players. It’s the reason that Nintendo are introducing the Super Guide feature into their games, you don’t want people getting sick of an experience because they can’t get through it.
Now by no means do I want to say that people who aren’t traditional ‘gamers’ are too stupid to get through games that have complex puzzles in them, that would be harsh, unwarranted and probably completely unfair. No you want to draw these new players in and embrace them, and if you put ‘old school’ puzzles and challenges in it doesn’t look like you’re really doing that. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that some games are dropping some of these mechanics, in fact it might be good for the industry as a whole.
Of course if you miss the challenge you’re not completely out in the cold. There’s always Portal.
Blayney
I absolutely adore Portal and think it is one of the gems of this generation.
Sometimes I would like games to be a little bit more puzzling. Not harder – but more puzzling.
For instance Uncharted 2. Stunningly beautiful game, with a great story line, epic levels, great action scenes, well voice acted, funny moments, serious moments, sad moments, some difficult sections. However the ‘puzzles’ were consistantly very easy.
It was almost always too obvious to work out what you needed to do.
Something I hope will be remedied in uncharted 3 – which will probably make it game of the generation haha.. if portal didn’t exist anyway!
linkavich
man does anyone remember hunchback from the old speccy days, THAT was a challenging game
tonycawley
My god, you’ve really brought back memories there.
4lf13
Braid was released not too long ago and that’s the hardest puzzler I’ve ever played, yet it’s one of the most enjoyable as well since it managed to not frustrate me at all.
I’ve always considered getting the Orange Box, but I’m not sure whether I should get PC or PS3. Any advice?
KeRaSh
Get Portal for the PC if you can. It’s a lot more fun with a mouse and a keyboard.
gordon_strange
As I’m doing this,as always,from my iPhone, I am unable to reply to individual comments ( please sort this when the iPhone site leaves beta!) anywa. I disagree with the comments on uncharted. The puzzles weren’t hard,granted, but if they were the entire flow of the game would have be ruined. The balance of story, gameplay,puzzles etc was perfectly balanced and a deviation of this would IMO, ruin the experience.
In regards to braid, I’m really enjoying dipping in and out of it, and when I manage to work out a puzzle I get an immense feelin of satisfaction, especially as it appears quite a ‘simple’ game at first glance.
Being unable to play fp pov games, due to motion sickness ( I’ll write a guest article about this one day) I haven’t been able to experience portal. I understand that it’s quite the game, and I also know that the cake is a lie.
One more thing. I agree about not purchasing an older game if it doesn’t have trophy support. I know this is shallow, and I’m missing out on a plethora older games, but I just really like trophies. Mgs is still on my shelf awaiting the second playthrough when trophy support is patched (I’m currently blue from
Holding my breath). I loved the game and it blew
Me away, especially the 90 min cutscene, but I just want to play it again with trophies. Cest la vie!
kerrfaewishy
posted from an iphone musta took you 3 days to write that up
gordon_strange
Yeah it takes a while! I also haven’t slept for 24hrs as I was celebrating my birthday till 7am at the ministry of sound. Being so wired is detrimental to my playing video games!
Beelzie14
Woah Woah Woah … are you guys telling me that Call of Duty does not have puzzles which require lengthy periods of epiphanous anguish? Well this is a revelation … I need to take it back to the Game employee who mis-sold it to me as follows and I quote “The story is awesome and really thought-provoking. It doesn’t hold your hand like previous Call of Duty’s.”
Oh how I laughed aloud which he seemed to think was insulting. Go figure!? At least know a bit about what you sell or just shut up and ring up the till.
I like the odd good puzzle but am afraid my attention and time constraints now dictate that I am more of a “casual” gamer. Oh the ignominy (shit there’s a word which I haven’t used since school)!
digitalmanAZ
Oh yeah, Braid is a PITA. Good puzzler.
Missed out on the first Portal, but will definitely be giving Portal 2 a try.
Severn2j
I do miss puzzles in games, the early Resident Evils and Silent Hills had some great ones, but they just phased them out in the later games in favour of more guns.. Shame really, it made than less scary somehow.
Charmed_Fanatic
Yes, games are getting easier and i dont like it :(