Is it just me or does your average rpg today seem just… easier overall than they used to be? I feel that’s where a lot of this problem comes from for me, because I’m always expecting it to get hard and it doesn’t. (😏)
There’s a few games here and there where dying happens a lot and consumables and constant gear upgrades are very needed, but the majority of them you don’t need most of the consumables or gear you get anyway. They feel like dopamine hit filler content.
Like I’m playing biomutant right now, and there’s a lot of consumables (and so so so much mostly junk gear) to loot throughout the game… but there’s also a heal ability that you can unlock and use on a timer, plus health refills outside of combat, so now that my weapons and armor are a lot stronger, even tho the enemies scale with you, it’s been dozens of hours of active play since I’ve used a consumable of any variety, and there’s at least half the game to go. And this has been a fairly consistent experience in games this decade or so, maybe longer even. I’m not a great gamer; I’m too lazy to learn to block or parry in any game, ever, and dodging is a maybe skill, only if it’s easy to perform… so it’s not at all that I’ve gotten better or anything…
EVERY game feels less challenging these days, and it’s frankly disappointing.
I don’t think it’s simply that I have more gaming experience either - I think it’s that studios are trying to maximize engagement by making games easy enough for everyone and their dog to complete.
It’s become so rare that I really appreciate when a game (most indie or FromSoftware titles) actually presents itself as a challenge to overcome rather than “cutscenes between fetch quests”.
Playing fromsoft games ruined a lot of other games for me.
The boss fights are a fantastic puzzle of rhythm, timing, and muscle memory. I can’t think of any other games that do that to that degree.
Plus their games, especially the more recent releases, feel super polished. Like they’re actually complete, and aside from some patches here and there, the game is done being developed.
And you can tell how much work went into their games. Makes me want to appreciate everything in it.
Also, it just kicks your ass if you get overconfident. I don’t want a video game that just let’s me win. It’s not satisfying if I didn’t have to learn anything, or get better muscle memory or whatever to get the victory.
Anyway, sorry that was such a long way to say that I agree with you!
I have a love/hate relationship with that character. He’s an endearing little weasle, but he kicked me down a hole with a monster in it one too many times.
Is it just me or does your average rpg today seem just… easier overall than they used to be? I feel that’s where a lot of this problem comes from for me, because I’m always expecting it to get hard and it doesn’t. (😏)
There’s a few games here and there where dying happens a lot and consumables and constant gear upgrades are very needed, but the majority of them you don’t need most of the consumables or gear you get anyway. They feel like dopamine hit filler content.
Like I’m playing biomutant right now, and there’s a lot of consumables (and so so so much mostly junk gear) to loot throughout the game… but there’s also a heal ability that you can unlock and use on a timer, plus health refills outside of combat, so now that my weapons and armor are a lot stronger, even tho the enemies scale with you, it’s been dozens of hours of active play since I’ve used a consumable of any variety, and there’s at least half the game to go. And this has been a fairly consistent experience in games this decade or so, maybe longer even. I’m not a great gamer; I’m too lazy to learn to block or parry in any game, ever, and dodging is a maybe skill, only if it’s easy to perform… so it’s not at all that I’ve gotten better or anything…
EVERY game feels less challenging these days, and it’s frankly disappointing.
I don’t think it’s simply that I have more gaming experience either - I think it’s that studios are trying to maximize engagement by making games easy enough for everyone and their dog to complete.
It’s become so rare that I really appreciate when a game (most indie or FromSoftware titles) actually presents itself as a challenge to overcome rather than “cutscenes between fetch quests”.
Playing fromsoft games ruined a lot of other games for me.
The boss fights are a fantastic puzzle of rhythm, timing, and muscle memory. I can’t think of any other games that do that to that degree.
Plus their games, especially the more recent releases, feel super polished. Like they’re actually complete, and aside from some patches here and there, the game is done being developed.
And you can tell how much work went into their games. Makes me want to appreciate everything in it.
Also, it just kicks your ass if you get overconfident. I don’t want a video game that just let’s me win. It’s not satisfying if I didn’t have to learn anything, or get better muscle memory or whatever to get the victory.
Anyway, sorry that was such a long way to say that I agree with you!
Hey now, that shady fellow is the best part!
Ahh…Patches.
I have a love/hate relationship with that character. He’s an endearing little weasle, but he kicked me down a hole with a monster in it one too many times.