Do you ever lower the difficulty?

[daftalchemist]

I've never been the type of person to play a game on hard difficulty. I don't like a grueling challenge because I play games to have fun. But I've also always made it a point to play games on normal difficulty because I felt it was a sort of distinguishing point between myself and other girls who claim to be gamers while playing Overly Popular FPS on easy mode. A weird notion, most likely completely wrong on so many fronts, but that's the way my mind has been.

However, recently I've noticed I have this urge to put my games down to easy mode. It started with Dragon Age. After five tries against the first ogre you ever meet, I turned down the difficulty. I just wanted to see the rest of the game. But now I want to do it with every other game I play. If it takes more than a couple tries on a fight, I just want to switch it to easy. I honestly feel a little bad about it. The thing is, I don't have as much time for games as I used to. I have a job, I have a commute, I have a boyfriend and a dog to care for, an apartment to keep clean, and I have a second hobby now. It's knitting. Shut up.

So basically, I think I'm sort of justified in playing on easy. I just want to fit some game time into my busy life. But I still feel bad about doing it, like it's diminishing my identity as a gamer. So have any of you ever turned down the difficulty in favor of actually being able to play all of a game rather than giving yourself a challenge?

 

[NeedAUserName]

I start at normal, then depending on how it goes from there adjust accordingly. Basically I use the difficulty settings for its primary use. My post is pointing out the obvious, I realize this.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I always play on maximum difficulty.
Only in rare cases do I find it too frustrating and lower the difficulty.

 

[daftalchemist]

I do it when I don't want to play a game for the challenge.
Prime example: Red Faction: Guerilla. Fuck, I just want to demolish shit.

I think games that are all about outrageous destruction should be played on the lowest difficulty for maximum obliteration as a rule. It's just more fun and gives you that warm fuzzy maniacal feeling.

 

[Nerf Ninja]

Depends, if there is a reward for higher dificulty then I'd likely at least attempt it but if it's just for the story I'll take it easy.

 

[The Night Shade]

Not really i stay in normal then i adjust the difficulty to my abilities

 

[LogicNProportion]

On Fallout, always. Yes, I admit it.

I love feeling like a bronze god amongst the wasteland trash! xD

 

[Worgen]

there is only one game Ive really wanted to do that on, call of cthulu dark corners, there is one part where your in the back of a truck and its effin impossible on normal since you cant really move around and the fish things just shoot you to death

 

[Sixcess]

I usually play on normal/default difficulty, so as to get an idea of how hard the game is. If it's very story driven or in some way exceptionally difficult I might drop to easy, though my gamer pride refuses to let me do that with FPSs.

 

[ferv0r]

It depends heavily on the game.

I'm like you in that I don't have endless time to grind my way through a difficult game. Sometimes, I just want to have fun, enjoy the story and eventually just finish it.

Nowadays, normal difficulty is usually a good choice. Games have definitely gotten easier over time. But I also fully recognize that I'm not the best gamer when it comes to shooters, so if I have to play easy, I'll play easy.

I think some people have an ego or pride thing when it comes to picking the difficulty. Their gamer pride won't let them play easy or something like that, heh. I used to have that too, but I let it go years ago.

 

[benderinTime]

Not really.
I always play the games on the hardest difficulty allowed, for the sheer fact that I haven't played a game that I've found very hard in years.

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

I always start on the lowest difficulty to get a feel for things. Then I adjust it accordingly, depending on how hard it is, the gap between difficulties and the bonuses earned on a higher difficulty. I will lower it if something is too difficult, though. One example is the bonus boss from The World Ends With You. Even on Easy, that thing could DEMOLISH you.

 

[theComposer]

The exact same thing happened to me on Dragon Age. Other than that, I can't immediately think of a game where I had to lower the difficulty. I am not, however, opposed to doing so. If a game becomes so hard as to be frustrating and therefore not fun, I'll lower the difficulty.

 

[PeePantz]

I just always leave it on normal. I never bump it up or down. After I beat a game, if I want to dick around, I'll sometimes turn it down to easy. However, I get bored with it quick for it being "too easy" and usually stop after about 20 minutes.

 

[Berserker119]

I did once in Oblivion, but changed it after I was done the fight.

 

[rokkolpo]

Try hardest mode first.

If I can handle that I don't see why I shouldn't continue.
I'm also man enough to admit I can't handle it always.

Like No More Heroes 2 on bitter mode (without health upgrades) is TORTURE!

EDIT: Also I always play horror games on easy the first play-through, for obvious reasons.