Do we need "easy mode" any more?

[k-ossuburb]

I was wondering if there's any actual purpose to having an "easy mode" other than it not being "normal or "hard". I guess it serves a purpose of not being either of those because if you took away "easy" then that would make "normal" the new "easy" because there would be nothing below "normal" any more.

I suppose it's good for first-time gamers who are new to the medium and need things to go at a more manageable pace to help people get used to things and feel like they're achieving something which will push them to maybe try out the harder modes later on when they feel comfortable.

Surely if you're new to gaming then a fair difficulty curve alongside a decent demonstration of core mechanics (see: EgoRaptor's "Megaman X VS Classic Megaman Sequalitis" for how this can be accomplished) would mean that we don't need the "easy" mode even for people new to gaming.

Maybe it's also good if you just want a quick, un-frustrating game to pass the time and just want to relax while you're waiting for something, but the challenge is part of the fun and a lot of gamers would have a lot more fun when the game isn't too easy, so why not just go for what you're used to and play on "normal" or "hard" instead?

If you do play on "easy mode", why is this? I'm not calling you out for being a pussy or whatever, how you enjoy your games is up to you and it's perfectly fine to use a feature that's included in the game. I'm just curious as to what function it serves when I suspect a majority of gamers would choose to play on "normal" on their first play-through without even thinking about it.

I'm not really sure, which is why I wrote this post to hear the thoughts of others on maybe if it needs to stay around or if it's just another vestigial organ that gaming has long-since evolved pass the need for. I know it serves a purpose and it has its advantages, but is it really required? And, If it disappeared one day, would anyone even notice?

 

[General Twinkletoes]

I much prefer having a normal/hard mode, and then have cheats, at least for action and shooter games.

If I want no challenge, I prefer it be because I'm blowing shit up with a thousand rockets and a sword the size of the grand canyon, not because the enemies are fuckwits.

What happened to console commands ;_;

 

[AndrewF022]

I think they are definitely required, they make the games more accessible to new players, gotta remember that not everyone is like us and has been gaming for a long time, and games are not as simple as they used to be.

So in that respect I think it is important, opens your game up to a larger audience, my father once picked up my copy of Modern Warfare and played through a bit of it on easy mode, just to see what all the fuss was about, he could not have done that on hard or even normal mode.

I even believe some games suffer from not having difficulty levels, such as the Final Fantasy games (although I believe that FFXIII-2 does have an easy mode, a step in the right direction) and many JRPG's in general. I am not saying games should be easy though, I love me some challenging gameplay, bring it the fuck on! Having the option to play on easy is nice though, not everyone is a masochist haha.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

Well if there are kids getting into games for the first time, easy mode can help greatly in whether they want to continue playing or not.

And just because Im really good at say Batman: Arkham City, doesnt mean Ill be any good at Call of Duty, so i might need an easy mode there to get into things.
Easy mode will always have a place in games, theres really no reason not to have it

 

[Rack]

For me challenge isn't part of the fun, it's a replacement for the fun. Playing the same content over and over again, not getting to see cutscenes or new areas, or getting new abilities.. It spoils the flow and I don't care for it. There are games that offer challenge without falling into this trap though, Bayonetta and The Binding of Isaac being the best examples recently. Also if a game is singlemindedly focussed on challenge (ala Super Meat Boy) I can enjoy a lot more of this kind of thing. But in most games I want that easy mode there.

 

[Vegosiux]

The first half of your post seems like arguing semantics. When we have different difficulty modes, one of them is going to be the easiest one, and there's no universal rule as to how "easy" a mode should be to be called "easy mode", it's all relative to the other modes within the game itself.

As for this...

Maybe it's also good if you just want a quick, un-frustrating game to pass the time and just want to relax while you're waiting for something, but the challenge is part of the fun and a lot of gamers would have a lot more fun when the game isn't too easy, so why not just go for what you're used to and play on "normal" or "hard" instead?

Depends on what kind of "challenge" it is and what is being "challenged" (my reflexes, my on-the-fly decision making, my patience, my tolerance for arbitrary bullshit?), mostly, I suppose.

I tend to play games on normal or higher, but sometimes I still knock the difficulty down to the easiest and just try some stuff I couldn't have tried otherwise and screw around a little. Usually when I need stress relief more than I need "to be kept on edge by the challenge".

 

[Keoul]

With gaming getting more and more popular I think we'd need easy mode more than ever, it makes gaming less intimidating and more enjoyable for new gamers.
Then there's the case of people playing for the story and not for the challenge, an example of this would be deus ex.

 

[lRookiel]

Stupid question is stupid.

People who are bad at video games need that option so they can at least enjoy themselves.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Yeah, I'm fairly sure we're going to always need an "easy mode" especially as gaming comes more and more into mainstream society. There are always going to be people new to games who need an easy mode to start on so there aren't intimidated. And there's always the fun of sticking a game on easy mode and just going nuts for the hell of it for the veteran gamer.

 

[Zhukov]

Have you ever seen someone attempt to play a fast paced video game for the very first time?

I'm going to assume no, because if you had you would know why easy mode continues to exist.

 

[omega 616]

snip

I have been gaming around 17 years now I still like to play on easy, I get to enjoy the story without the fear of hitting a barrier if I get stuck.

Then if I like the game enough I will usually do a normal/hard play through to have a bit of a challenge.

Sure I could probably get through most games on normal without being stuck, but I don't want to have the story stutter while I ham fistedly get stuck on a part.

 

[shrekfan246]

I feel like I just warped into some alternate dimension where EternalNothingness has a dapper octopus avatar...

Yeah, we have a need for easy mode. Your own OP said the reasons - Sometimes people like to just have fun while blasting through a game, and people who might be new to the medium might need to ease their way in.

I know people love complaining about how "easy" games are getting these days, but they also seem to forget that they've been gaming for something like fifteen-twenty years, whereas there are tons of people who are just barely getting into gaming now. I like challenge in my games just like everyone else, but there are points where "challenge" becomes "annoying roadblock, time-waster and nuisance" and stops being "fun".

 

[Reyold]

Even though I've been gaming for years, I usually start out on easy mode, because it's a new game. Once I get a better hang of it, I switch to normal/medium, if the option's available.

Yeah, I say we're going to be seeing easy mode for a long time still. Gotta keep the newbies hooked in, y'know.

 

[krazykidd]

I think they are definitely required, they make the games more accessible to new players, gotta remember that not everyone is like us and has been gaming for a long time, and games are not as simple as they used to be.

So in that respect I think it is important, opens your game up to a larger audience, my father once picked up my copy of Modern Warfare and played through a bit of it on easy mode, just to see what all the fuss was about, he could not have done that on hard or even normal mode.

I even believe some games suffer from not having difficulty levels, such as the Final Fantasy games (although I believe that FFXIII-2 does have an easy mode, a step in the right direction) and many JRPG's in general. I am not saying games should be easy though, I love me some challenging gameplay, bring it the fuck on! Having the option to play on easy is nice though, not everyone is a masochist haha.

I think FFXIII-2 did a good thing in having an easy mode ... But a bad thing in not having a hard mode . I think every game should have 3 difficulties . That's the easiest way to make a game more accessible and widen the audience .

Then you have games like Catherine , where there are 3 modes ( easy , normal, hard ) where easy is still unaccessible to new players because it's so hard .

I personally play for challenge , so a hard mode is a must for me , bcause i have been playing games for so long i start every game on hard when i have the opportunity . But i understand that i am in the minority and thus understand the need for an easy mode .

 

[Goofguy]

Uh yes we do? How else are companies going to make their games accessible to as many people as possible?

I suck at fighting games. If ever I was to buy one, you can be sure I'll be starting on the easiest difficulty level.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I reckon even seasoned gamers, like the many of us Escapists are, can get something out of easy mode.

For example, I like playing on easy to explore, try new things or nab some achievements. Basically, when I feel like messing around without having to pay too much attention on succeeding at the game.

 

[hazabaza1]

The more options the better. It gives more player control and customisation.
Unless the game is one designed around its difficulty (i.e. Dark/Demon's Souls, etc) I don't see a reason not to have one.

 

[TrevHead]

Easy modes are fine, I just wish normal wouldn't be easy and hard mode a slow grindy affair.

It would be nice if reviewers went into detail about how the game plays in the different difficulties, either they ignore the issue or just say normal mode is hard or easy without going into any detail.