Games that are easy once you know what you're doing.

[scorptatious]

Have you ever played a game(s) which you had a somewhat difficult time getting through the first time, but end up breezing through it the second time due to knowing some special tricks or strategies?

For me the most recent example would be the first Fallout. I had somewhat of a difficult time at first, from figuring out where to go to fighting strong enemies. Second time through though, I learned of a way to make my character much stronger. I used fast shot as one of my starting perks, I spent a ton of points in energy weapons, then I used perks that increased the amount of AP I had and decreased the amount of AP I used.

Finally, I bought the turbo plasma rifle, got it upgraded by Smitty, and suddenly nothing can stand against me. I was able to beat the final boss without relying on the save/load glitch that happens in the battle.

So how about you guys?

 

[ResonanceSD]

Civ 5 is pretty easy once you know *all* of the mechanics and how they interact.


There's basically 2 levels of gameplay in any game.

1st level - knowledge of core mechanics

2nd level - knowledge of how core mechanics synergise.

 

[Zhukov]

Day Z

Your first few attempts are likely to end quickly and violently.

However, once you figure out how to sneak past and run away from zombies it becomes laughably easy. In fact, it gets a bit dull.

Then it's just a matter of not getting shot by some joker on a hilltop with a sniper rifle.

 

[distortedreality]

I tend to think that the majority of games fall into that category. The only ones that don't off the top of my head are games like Super Meat Boy, maybe some sports games, driving games etc.

 

[Lilani]

In Skyrim once you figure out how ridiculously overpowered the sneaking+archery is, you'll never have trouble in a cave again. In fact, once you get sneaking in general down a lot of things become much easier.

 

[scorptatious]

I tend to think that the majority of games fall into that category. The only ones that don't off the top of my head are games like Super Meat Boy, maybe some sports games, driving games etc.

Yeah, that's sort of what I was thinking too when I was making this thread. Of course, there are some games that I find that no matter how good I get, I still die a lot. Like Super Meat Boy as you said, or the Oddworld games.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Dark Souls. All you gotta know is what to do. Then the game is piss easy.

 

[krazykidd]

Umm all of them. What kind of question is this? Are there games that become harder once you know how to play them?

 

[WoW Killer]

Final Fantasy Tactics. It can be quite punishing when you first try it, but there's a lot of game breaking strategies to exploit. Once you know what you're doing, the game becomes way too easy.

 

[lacktheknack]

Point-n-Click adventures spring to mind.

A less cheap target is The Binding of Isaac. It's never trivial, but usually significantly easier to get to the final boss the more often you do it.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

In Skyrim once you figure out how ridiculously overpowered the sneaking+archery is, you'll never have trouble in a cave again. In fact, once you get sneaking in general down a lot of things become much easier.

HA! Skyrim! YOU FOOL! This is the Dark Souls topic!

Dark Souls. All you gotta know is what to do. Then the game is piss easy.

I agree, though some enemies will break formula. That's what keeps the difficulty at a "refreshing" level.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Beat me to Dark Souls, eh? Shame. Yeah, the "difficulty" of Dark Souls is nearly always it throwing something at you that you couldn't see coming, but once you know it's there, it's not a big deal to avoid in the future. The things that come at you fairly aren't even a ghost of a challenge, however. An enemy might shamble around for a slightly smaller length of time, but that's about as challenging as things get there.

Final Fantasy Tactics, though? That game is never difficult.

Well, except at the end of chapter 3. The difficulty level on those last two fights is bizarrely out of nowhere. Makes for good water cooler conversation, though; everyone has their own story for how they beat Wiegraf.

 

[BreakfastMan]

The Souls series. Once you figure out to take things slowly and carefully, most of the game becomes a freaking cakewalk.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Every lane-pushing game ever. It takes a while to figure out how they really work and a few tricks that you absolutely HAVE to know, but once you get down a few basics like how much to push when, last hitting and you know a few characters, it stops being so daunting after a while.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

Dark Souls is probably the most extreme case of this, the game is daunting and very challenging to newcomers but once you know what you're doing and have a strategy its really quite easy.

Umm all of them. What kind of question is this? Are there games that become harder once you know how to play them?

The OP is referring to extreme cases of this, where a game is challenging until you know what you are doing, at which point it becomes a cakewalk. They aren't asking for games that become easier when you know what you are doing but games that become easy when you know what you are doing.

 

[uchytjes]

FTL. I can actually get past the final boss about 80% of the time on easy mode. Normal, on the other hand, still enjoys eviscerating my soul on a regular basis...

 

[Drakmorg]

Though I've already been beaten to it, Dark Souls. First time through the game, everything kicked my ass. Second time, areas that took me days to get through before I can clear in an hour or two. Hell, I didn't even die once until well after the second boss on my second run.

Also, FFTA2. Pro-tip, Ether Boost is basically the win button. Of course, that one was never terribly difficult to begin with so I'm not sure it really fits...

 

[The Wykydtron]

Dark Souls is going to come up loads in this thread since most people got fucking owned the first time. Common reasons include: They didn't know how to build characters (the inventory/stats system is unintuitive as fuck) what the enemies do, where the Bonfires are, what the super MLG tactics are for bosses, items > level up and a ton more.

But then you learn everything and can go on an easy murderous rampage and the entire game becomes a hilarious joke. Remember when this used to be hard? Hahaha! Classic.

I could go for LoL. In theory at least. Learn how the meta works, watch some streams, learn some characters you like,focus the damn carry. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A VAYNE (unless you are a carry then you focus the closest target for some reason :S) and aim your skillshots. Simple

Then you get put up against some nightmarish AOE ult teamfight composition or you have to deal with a Blitzcrank or you have to battle with your own team since they all hate each other, then you've got the endless "OPOPOPOPOPOPOP" whining then you've got to worry about bans and ARRRGHH

 

[Jinjer]

Oblivion: Don't level up until you get into the mages guild, learn a chameleon spell, enchant a set of armor with it until you are 100% permanently invisible. It's a gamebreaker

Enemies:

"It was probably just the wind"
"Damn rats"

Yeah, the rats stuck you with arrows and hamstrung you. Riiiight.