HOT TOPIC
DIFFICULTY IN GAMES
How challenge in gaming has changed over the years
RETROBATES MULL OVER THE SCENE’S MOST INTRIGUING ISSUES
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DARRAN JONES
NICK THORPE
TIM EMPEY
We’verecently seen a lot of online discourse around the issue of how difficult videogames should be, and whether or not modern games can even be said to be challenging with the gamut of assistive features many games now offer. Could this be where a trio of crusty old gamers set the world to rights?
NICK
Games today aren’t as tough as the ones we grew up with, by and large. How do you feel about that?
DARRAN
My biggest issue with modern games is that they hold you by the hand too much. I remember starting Assassin’s Creed III and it was tutorial after tutorial after tutorial. I didn’t bother with it and I’ve not played a game in the series since. Life’s too short.
TIM
I’m fine with it. It’s more about quality of life – not having to replay a whole stage thanks to checkpoints and save points, and lessening the frustration you’d often get in older games.
DARRAN
That’s a really good point about the quality of life aspects. I remember bouncing hard off Ys on the Master System when it first came out because mapping all the dungeons was a massive pain in the arse. With the new Sega Ages version there’s an auto-mapping option which is a brilliant addition.