Poll: What difficulty do you play on, and why?

[Jerich0]

I recently bought, played, and loved every minute of Halo: ODST. I think I liked it so much because I refused to play it on any difficulty less than legendary, so I felt a lot more exposed and vulnerable - I felt like a regular human being. Also, I wanted the automatic 300 gamer points awarded at the end.

SO. I ask you, Escapist. What difficulty do you play on, and why? It doesn't have to be Halo, it doesn't have to be xbox, I'm just asking in general.

 

[BlackDodongo]

It really does depend on the game. But if I think im up to the challenge, I'll go on the hardest difficulty so I can avoid replaying the ame for those trophies.

 

[DrDeath3191]

I start on Normal, and move up from there. It allows me to learn for the first playthrough without feeling like a complete loser for choosing Easy.

 

[A Weary Exile]

I usually play on normal difficulty the first time around, unless I'm borrowing the game from someone, then I run through on the hardest difficulty on the first time.

 

[stonethered]

easy, if i wanted a challenge i'd try to get a girlfriend.
besides the plot/experience is the most important part of a game to me.

 

[Baby Tea]

I start on Normal, and move up from there. It allows me to learn for the first playthrough without feeling like a complete loser for choosing Easy.

Pretty much this.
I'm not 'hardcore' enough to start on hard (I used to be, but then I got a career, got married...basically I just got out of highschool), so I start on normal. It usually works out fine. If I really like a game and want a challenge, then I'll move up to hard, but otherwise 'normal' is fine for me.

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

If it's a brand new game and I'm still getting used to the controls, easy or medium. Typically hard for anything else, but for COD4 (aside from those damned time missions) I do veteran typically.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I start on Normal, and move up from there. It allows me to learn for the first playthrough without feeling like a complete loser for choosing Easy.

I'm sure that I won't be the last to quote this post

 

[Joa_Belgium]

First time around, I always go for Normal. But in the end, if it gains me any achievements/trophies, I also try to finish games on the hardest difficulty.

 

[Kajt]

Hard. I like a challenge, and you usually get some extra trophies for playing on Hard.

 

[Ryuk2]

Easy. I'm going in just for fun, story and to kill some stuff. If i like it, I'm going to play it on medium.

 

[Dannyboy1186]

I play in Easy first since I would probebly find all the collectibles and to get through the story to see its full. I'd play on hard if there was some sort of award at the end.

 

[sneak_copter]

Just Normal.

Anything above that and my sentences become so riddled with swearwords that my girlfriend starts to shout at me.

 

[Helgi]

I usually just play on normal difficulty the first time and if the game is good I almost always play it again on the harder/hardest difficulty.

 

[Good morning blues]

I usually do normal, unless I've heard rumors that the game is particularly difficult.

 

[ssgt splatter]

I usally play on the easiest difficulty cause I like to beat the story without any problems. I do however play the harder modes to unlock achievements and other content.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

The hardest difficulty available if I keep dying I work my way down. Means I will always be playing the hardest difficulty I can manage, it's a good system.
i never actually play a game on the hardest for any of those reasons though, I do it to prove to myself that I'm better than the game, and to give myself a seance of completion.

 

[IamQ]

I've tested trying to play the game first time on hard, but soon realised that the game becomes to difficult for the first playthrough.

Now I usually play it on normal, to have a little challenge, but have more fun and less frustration.