"Easy" Modes in Games

[Shauna]

I wouldn't play with them ever. Sounds like a boring game. Let's listen to everyone have those on all game and tell everyone the game is easy and criticize anyone who worked to beat the game. For the love of god, stop making these things in games.

This post got me thinking about all the times any kind of "easy mode", for lack of a better term, is implemented in a game. EDITL I'm not directing this at you, Nutty, I'm just using you as an example of a counterpoint to myself!

Why is it such a bad thing to have a game be more accessible to others who may not be as skilled? Those who don't want to use it, don't have to use it. It's there as an option that can be ignored, for everyone who doesn't want it. Its existence doesn't invalidate anyone's achievements who completed the game "properly".

I guess I just don't understand this elitism around people enjoying video games. If more people can enjoy them thanks to a little bit extra help, then that can only be a good thing for the medium as a whole.

Anyway, where do you stand on ez modes?

[Pheesh]

I can't remember the last time I actually played on an easy difficulty when there was a 'medium' option available, but I don't really care if it's there. I mean, I'm thinking ahead 15 years to if I had kids, I would like them to be able to enjoy a game even if their hand eye coordination isn't great, so I'd probably appreciate it being implemented at that point. If not, well then I'll just have to tell my n00b children to git gud.

[Vermachtnis]

But in all seriousness they're just games and they're for enjoyment. If you need to tone it down a bit to get through, more power to you. Giving up and quitting is worse.

[Mr. Carnelian]

Nothing wrong with easy mode. Sometimes you're not so good a game, but you still want to play it, so you stick it on easy. Or maybe you want to play without the stress of your character dying (that really bothers Formy). All games should have an easy mode.

[Galuf]

If its an FPS. easy modes seem to be ok.
if its a Jrpg then it seems ok. but its weird having an option.
as for Wrpg i cant say anything because i played skyrim and ME on easy. atleast on the first play. However i'm glad a game like Dark Souls doesnt have an option, its hard BUT you learn it.

so. um. yeah that.


i want to play ME now

[Loony BoB]

Uncharted 2/3: I first played in normal mode for the "real" experience, then I played in hard mode for the achievement and because hey, it's a good game, I'm gonna replay it! And then I figured I'd get all the achievements, and that's where easy mode came in.

[Aulayna]

I usually go to easy mode if it's a game I'm only really playing for the story, and not looking for a challenge with. If I enjoyed it enough to replay it, then I'll up the difficulty.

[Wolf Kanno]

I don't have a problem with easy modes being in games. I don't always go for them but I have nothing against there existence. I don't care for "easy" games, which is why I generally prefer when games give you an option for game difficulty instead of just one mode. I have nothing against Easy Mode or the people who play it, I prefer my challenge but I that doesn't mean its a better way to play a game, just a preference.

As for the context of the actual post though, I would point out the discussion was more about a built in cheat mode, not an actual easy mode option. Choosing to play a game at a lower difficulty level is a bit different from playing a normal game and activating cheats midway through to win. I mean the boosts in the FFVIII Steam version alone lets you gain all skill for a GF once its obtained, always do 9999 damage with attacks, permanent Limit Break and max health. I mean that's not easy mode man, that's some Game Genie shenanigans. There is a difference between learning the rules of a game to win and just letting the game let you win. I mean if you went to a football/soccer match and one team just used a special rule to start the game with 99 points, it wouldn't exactly be a game anymore.

[Shauna]

Eh, I am aware of the context and I phrased it as such because it is inclusive of many things. The Invinciblity Leaf in Mario games, for example, would be something akin to an "easy" mode as far as Mario would allow. In an RPG, something inbuilt that allows you to be max level and get through battles quickly is for all intents and purposes an "easy" mode.

And I don't think equating this to competitive, team-based sports is the right way to go. Obviously in that situation it's not right - but if someone is just wanting to play a game by themselves then I don't know why it should be frowned on that they play it the way that makes it most fun for them.

[Night Fury]

I often go with the easy mode, and then I'll try it out and maybe push up the difficulty if it's *too easy* 5 me.

But sometimes though upping the difficulty in a lot of game just means that there's more enemies to kill - like just more waves and waves and waves and ain't nobody got time for that trout.

[FFNut]

I wouldn't play with them ever. Sounds like a boring game. Let's listen to everyone have those on all game and tell everyone the game is easy and criticize anyone who worked to beat the game. For the love of god, stop making these things in games.

This post got me thinking about all the times any kind of "easy mode", for lack of a better term, is implemented in a game. EDITL I'm not directing this at you, Nutty, I'm just using you as an example of a counterpoint to myself!

Why is it such a bad thing to have a game be more accessible to others who may not be as skilled? Those who don't want to use it, don't have to use it. It's there as an option that can be ignored, for everyone who doesn't want it. Its existence doesn't invalidate anyone's achievements who completed the game "properly".

I guess I just don't understand this elitism around people enjoying video games. If more people can enjoy them thanks to a little bit extra help, then that can only be a good thing for the medium as a whole.

Anyway, where do you stand on ez modes?

the thing that makes me cross with it is the fact that many people use the help from easy then claim its way to easy. I guess I always enjoyed the satisfaction of figuring things out or grinding it out to skin bye and get through the game.

[Psychotic]

Difficulty levels are great and as the OP says, making games more accessible to more people is a good thing. In response to FF Nut's concerns, the opinion of someone who has played the game on easy saying that the game is too easy doesn't hold any weight. The overwhelming majority of gamers and devs would just laugh that off. If you enjoy a hard and challenging experience it doesn't detract in any way from that enjoyment if others prefer an easier ride.

I don't find many hard or nightmare modes to be enjoyable. As I've said in the past threads on this, I find them often to be a test of patience rather than skill. My favourite playstyle is that of a berserker. You will find me right in the heart of the carnage where the fighting is thickest hurtling around like a man possessed and attacking as many opponents as I can. Many harder difficulties tend to reward a cautious steady playstyle and punish mine.

Sadly too many games take the route of just making enemies bullet sponges rather than making them faster or have improved AI and tactics. I believe that popping off three headshots on three different enemies in quick succession requires more skill than hitting the same enemy with three headshots and that it is a hell of a lot more fun.

[Old Manus]

I remember 'Kid Mode' in the original Spiderman game.

[Fynn]

I think it's great to have the choice. Games are about enjoyment. And I even like the fact that more recent games don't actually take away stuff for beating the game on easy mode. Like, I know there were some games in the past that wouldn't give you the true ending or something if you played on easy, or some item drops would be altered so you would get less cool gear. Now it's just about letting people experience the games at their own pace, which is amazing.

But yeah, I agree with Wolf. The cheat mode thing is kinda pushing it.

[Shauna]

the thing that makes me cross with it is the fact that many people use the help from easy then claim its way to easy. I guess I always enjoyed the satisfaction of figuring things out or grinding it out to skin bye and get through the game.

Do people really complete things on easy and then say that it was too easy? If they do, then you can say "try it on a higher difficulty setting", or "don't use the L99 mod if you want more of a challenge". If they don't, well... eh. That's their choice, and their complaints about the difficulty won't be taken on board by anyone because of these choices.

Either way, you're putting too much weight in someone else's experience. What should matter is your experience and what you enjoy. You've said that you like the grinding and getting through by the skin of your teeth, and that's great. That's not everyone's idea of a good time though, and that's what matters.