Alex Hutchinson, lead designer on Assassin’s Creed 3, is wrong.
I’m sure he’s a lovely bloke, talented too, but his comments regarding easy modes in games – an otherwise throwaway snippet no doubt pulled from a greater body of discarded text for maximum impact by Edge magazine – have wound me up.
Even assuming that there’s a greater context to his words, and reading beyond the headlines, I can’t think of a single game in recent years that has been “ruined” by a lower difficulty level. Ruin is a strong word (and his, too) and seems completely at odds with my own personal opinion.
Of course, opinions are there to be personal, but I just don’t see his point.
[drop2]”If you have a cover shooter and you switch it to easy and you don’t have to use cover, you kind of broke your game,” he said.That’s largely nonsense, not because a game’s singular core mechanic must be its bond that holds everything together, but because that’s not really how games like that work.
Cover shooter? Let’s assume he’s thinking of Gears of War. It doesn’t matter if he’s not, but that’s a title that most will be familiar with.
I’m playing the game on (say) a ‘medium’ difficulty level and I’m struggling with a certain point, the option to drop to a lower level would be most welcome.
But that won’t mean that I don’t have to use cover. It means – in this example – that the enemy will be less accurate, and it means that their bullets will harm me less. If I stand still like an idiot I’m still going to die. I need to use cover, but I don’t have to be such a hotshot at everything else.
Is that really a problem? Is that really “breaking” the game?
No, of course not. It is – by definition – making it easier. It’s making it more suitable for me and my (lack of) skills, and it’s making that otherwise sticking point passable. Of course, I could die repeatedly on ‘medium’ until I manage to scrape by, but I really don’t have the time for that and I certainly don’t have the patience.
In fact, games that don’t adjust to my capabilities or offer a way to (even temporarily) reduce the difficulty better have a damned good reason for their stubbornness.
Playtesting and focus testing can only offer so much in the way of balance, there’ll always be players better or worse, and that’s what easy (and hard) modes are for.
[drop]”You made a game that is essentially the worst possible version of your game,” added the lead designer.Again, he’s clearly talking about a stripped back, mechanics-less version of a game that I can’t seem to connect with. Am I playing the “worse possible version” of F1 2012 if I throw on all the assists and let it change gears for me?
No, I’m playing the version that’s most suited to my skills, and my available time.
Am I missing out on something by not bothering with Uncharted 3’s upper echelons of difficulties?
Nothing but challenge and some trophies, as far as I can see, and I’m perfectly happy playing on a lower difficulty so I can enjoy the story, the ride, the flow without having it interrupted by Retry? screens and loading pauses.
I’ve barely played an Assassin’s Creed game beyond a few hours of the first one, so there might be an association with Hutchinson’s comments that I’m clearly missing, but on a wider scale – games in general – the somewhat ignorant remarks used in the article managed to annoy me more than they probably should have done.
I like playing certain genres of games on easy modes, just as much as I like playing others on hard. I don’t think they represent the “worst possible versions” of the games I might not otherwise enjoy at all, but – again – maybe I’m just missing the point entirely.
KeRaSh
Well said and I completely agree. I really don’t see Alex Hutchinson’s point.
cc_star
Me too.
I don’t have time or these days the inclination to play through a bit dozens of times. Just want to drop the difficulty (although it would be better if the game automatically adjusted) to be able to move on and enjoy the story.
If it’s too hard I ain’t going to carry on and finish the game, or more importantly finish the story.
Always reminds me of the Dara Ó Briain point about how games are the only media you buy but don’t always get to see all of it whether it’s unlocking songs you really want to play on Guitar Hero or seeing final half of a game you were previously enjoying
LTG Davey
Well said. Not having multiple difficulties is stupid and right up there with not allowing players to change said difficulty during a playthrough – seriously, how many games force you to start from the beginning if you want to lower the difficulty down a step?! I hate that.
mugsybalone
Couldn’t agree more. I can become frustrated at difficult games all to quickly – I once demolished a Rockband drum set in spectacular fashion – and I tend to move on from a game if it’s too difficult to be enjoyable. I certainly welcome the option to keep things easy, fun and to keep me interested.
FRUIT0FDOOM
I always play my games on the hardest setting to “beat” the game. But that is my choice.
I would argue hard difficulties ruin a game! I love Dark Souls, I’ve completed both Trials HD games to 100%. But my son and my brother won’t enjoy those games because the difficulty is set so high to experience the full game! Trials would be better with some assistance options so those not as persistent as hardcore gamers can still enjoy the whole game, in the case of Trials – all the tracks.
So difficulty levels enhance the game as you can play to your level. Mr Ubisoft guy is talking bollocks.
Anubis2097
I see his point, years ago finishing a game was a real accomplishment. These days you play a game and you are all but guaranteed to finish it as long as you dedicate a couple of hours to it. It’s the feeling of success that (for me) puts games in a different league to films.
Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.
Forrest_01
Yes, this is true – If you play on easy & easy alone. The ‘accomplishment’ that you speak of can now be gained from playing on a harder difficulty.
The point that is being made here is that putting an easy mode into a game doesn’t ruin it (as was stated by Alex Hutchinson of Ubi), it makes it more accessible for more people. If you want the feeling of accomplishment, you just play on a harder difficulty.
Alex C
“Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.”
I don’t wish games were easier. I’m disputing the fact that dropping a difficulty level ruins the game – it doesn’t.
Wish I was better? Well, yeah. I do. :)
djdustb
Yes I can see the point in finishing a game, but some people play to relax and stressing on a game or not being able to finish something I have paid £40 for is not on.
colmshan1990
I used to think that.
Then I played Demon’s Souls. And SoundShapes’ Death Mode. :P
To be fair though, I see your point- games nowadays do seem to be easier than they were. And I don’t mean that I’ve gotten better, as I still struggle at HD remasters of old games.
Forrest_01
Whilst i usually play on the hardest difficulty for my first playthrough (hell, most trophies these days demand it!), if you are going to be putting a bunch of collectibles into your game, you had also better be putting in an easy mode so that collection of said items isn’t quite so frustrating.
Easy modes don’t ruin a game, as it is your choice whether to use them or not. Alex Hutchinson is making out that everyone is automatically popping it on easy regardless, which is simply not the case. If you want a challenge, you’ll be playing on a higher difficulty that suits you. If you don’t & you just want to experience the story, then i see no issue with popping it on easy.
Choice is a good thing Alex. :)
Kennykazey
I think what Alex Hutchinson meant was that the difficulty should be a part of the games design, he just worded himself terribly. Games like Mario and Zelda are without different difficulties , and for the better in my head. But this shouldn’t be the case in every game and it’s up to the developers to decide and make the experience equal across difficulties. I personally had to drop the difficulty down on God of War, and I belive that option should be there. But only if the experience is not damaged. Can you imagine if Demon’s Souls came with an easy mode?
fs
Yeah your right about the experiece, its altered completely by difficulty and this why I don’t believe easy mode should be involved with games.
Forrest_01
Actually, i think i read on twitter yesterday that they are considering adding an easy mode into Dark Souls.
Lymmusic
On several occasions have i been tempted to turn off a game due to difficulty, but more to do with unexpected spikes or poor detection of intent. Recent examples, arkham city there is a section where you are facing your inner and outer demons, and to do this you have to glide from one floating platform to the next. The gliding mechanic is not something you need to use rigidly in any part of the game, until this moment, and it is so dependant on your timing and knack of gliding that any slight delay or hesitation sees you failing and having to start over.
Uncharted games each have their individual moments too where i feel the entire experience is ruined by random difficulty surges or weird bits. Climbing the rooftops during the initial flashback is ruined in places by instant deaths just for not knowing which direction the game wanted you to run.
I would argue that these difficulty problems harm a game more so than the games being easy. Nothing ruins immersion more than a game over screen or being warped back to just before an unskippable cutscene to face a boss
freezebug2
I always tend to start most games using a medium difficulty setting, which is usually a happy medium of sometimes challenging but enjoyably doable. By the time I’ve completed that single player campaign I’ll feel confident enough to tackle the Hardcore modes (usually for trophy whoring).
If this option was taken away I think that It would be a bit of a travesty, as it does add longevity to some games.
Difficulty levels (even easy) are an important inclusion as far as I’m concerned, even as just some kind of trainer mode.
sg
i usually use the normal setting for game too and yeah for a plat i’d play again on hard lol.
started playing just cause 2 on hardcore (because of how the game works it’s easier if you want the plat to do everything in one playthrough), and it doesn’t seem that difficult because you learn to play at that difficulty straight away.
when you play easy you notice the spike in difficulty a lot more imo. maybe from now on i’ll play games on hard and see how i’ll do just for the hell of it lol. =p
i think there should always be a choice for people. everybody enjoys their games in different ways, it’s all about enjoying your own experience.
if you want to play hard mode all day long you can. if want to play easy mode and then think later on, i’ll like to play through this game again on hard mode too….everybody wins. =)
Forrest_01
Yeah, i always start on hard (if the difficulty is available of course), as like you say you get used to the difficulty from the off. You can also then drop the difficulty if required in harder parts or for a second runthrough for collectibles etc.
fs
I don’t think either of you are particularly right in places, but right in others with the points you make. His main point is that difficulty breaks games, well thats not true, I can see however what he means. I believe that difficulty elevates experience of a game, changing the way you play and your respect for your enemies during the game thus editing the experience depending on difficulty. It doesn’t ‘break’ the game just dumbs it down a little.
I don’t think easy mode should even be an option in games, my opnion is, you bought the game and you make the effort to get better at it. If the game isn’t worth playing enough in order to improve then why bother buying it?
On average, from what i’ve seen, games are too easy these days. The lack of difficulty takes the challenge away. I’ll ever forget obtaining the Big Boss Emblem on MGS4, gaining the platinum for MGS2, completing Call of Duty WaW on Veteran, GoW3 Insane solo, Demon’s Souls, and I remember collecting all the crystals and everything on Crash 1 – If I hadn’t of done any of those games on the hardest difficulty would I have remembered it? Nope.
bunimomike
I don’t care what difficulty it is, surely you just remember great games, no?
The fact that a difficulty setting makes it more memorable says more about the forgettable game than anything else. Sorry if I’m reading this wrong.
For me, I would’ve thought all of us want to find the right sort of level/challenge/difficulty for ourselves and just go with that. For example, I recently bought Medal of Honour: Airborne (I think it was) and played it on Easy. For one reason. I didn’t have much desire going into the game but still wanted to romp through it and enjoy myself. Did I break the game? No. Did I make the developers cry a bit? Probably. It was hilarious. I ran through like Rambo on RedBull and thoroughly enjoyed myself (keep in mind I’m on “medium” for 99% of games).
Your opinion of there not even having an easy option sounds really self-centred to be honest. You have to consider most ages, abilities, etc.
fs
You remember great games, ofcourse, but my point is that these greater challenges stick in the memory. I’m talking about the sense of achievement you get from managing to complete these games on extremely hard difficulties. This just isn’t the same on easy modes.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s self centered, many gamers don’t even bother with easy, it’s pretty pointless . If the game is too hard then don’t buy it? Consider age? Most of the games I mentioned aren’t suitable for younger audiences, I assume this is what you are reffering too.
Forrest_01
…& that is exactly why you now have trophies for completing on harder modes for those that wish to have the challenge.
If you don’t wish to have that challenge, you should still have the option to play through on a lower difficulty.
“if the game is too hard, then don’t buy it”
As someone who doesn’t bother with demos (too little HDD space for that), how would i know if its too difficult without actually buying & playing it? & besides which, if i want to play a game, why should the difficulty be an issue. Easy modes are put in for accessibility.
& age has nothing to do with it. That is another argument/dicussion. A game should be suitable for all ages (above the certification age anyway).
bunimomike
Whilst we have to allow for ages the difficulty setting is there for people who simply aren’t as capable as gamers. My flat-mate is pretty shit at gaming (from a proficiency standpoint) but we mustn’t exclude people like her from gaming as she utterly loves Batman Arkham City (and Asylum) and the like. Also, seeing as there’s no standard for difficulty (one developers “Hard” is another developer’s “Easy”) then we really do need a few options.
fs
Difficulty is often well documented in most reviews. You could always delete things you don’t need and then re-dwnload after you have played the demo? Surely it would be worth while to take interest in the games your buying before you buy? Purely to save money on the games you don’t want.
I just think certain games are easy enough that the inclusion of an ‘easy’ difficulty is pointless. On the other hand, I can barely understand buying a game like Demon’s Souls if you aren’t prepared to cope with difficulty.
Forrest_01
Which is fine & is your opinion, which you are entitled to.
Bear in mind that some will not share that opnion though.
fs
If everybody agreed on everything, humanity wouldn’t be where it is today.
Forrest_01
In debt? :P
fs
We would probably have more debt, as we would have more inhabitants. If everybody agreed, we would have no wars or fighting.