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

[FallenPrism]

It all depends on the game, the genre, and what kind of feeling I am trying to get from the game. One rule I have though is I almost never start off on the hardest difficulty. This is so that I have a good reason for playing through again besides just enjoying the story once more (and also so that there is continued challenge escalation on further playthroughs now that I know what to expect out of the game.)

If I've already been playing other games in the same genre, I'll aim for harder rather than easier difficulties, but at the same time if it is a new genre or one I am out of practice with, I may choose an easier setting. If the controls seem particularly intuitive and I grasp them quickly I will then occasionally restart on a harder mode before I have even finished the game.

Most recent example is ODST. I played through all of the Halo games leading up to it (heh, backwards, ending on 1, so that I would be fully prepared for the return of Health and Pistol.) I started off on Heroic from the beginning and was not disappointed with my experience. Enough of a challenge to make me feel vulnerable and squishy, but easy enough that I could work my way out of the hardest parts before getting frustrated (my frustration seems to escalate faster with games than with every other experience in life combined, unfortunately, and it can ruin a game for me.) I now very much look forward to the Legendary experience.

 

[Asickorphan]

now on any halo game or most othe games I only play on easy heroic or legendary never normal 4 some reason......

 

[WaywardHaymaker]

I ALWAYS beat campaigns on the hardest difficulty, but after I do that I usually play on the next difficulty or two down. (What? I replay the campaigns of FPS Games. I love Halo 3 and CoD 4's story modes.)

 

[Hazy]

Normal. I want some difficulty to justify my time being invested in the game. And if I can be bothered, I will replay the game on Hard, like I did with Uncharted... Many, many times. [small]Let the record show: Hazy <3's Uncharted.[/small]

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I play every game to the hardest difficulty I can manage, which in recent years has finally reached the hardest levels. Once I've finished that though, I replay games on easy, just trying to outdo myself with ridiculous stunts. Things like Stranglehold or Arkham Asylum I find much more fun when there's no challenge and you're just trying to outdo everything you've managed before.

 

[Joshimodo]

Depends on whether co-op exists or not, really.

If there's no co-op, I'll usually start on the hardest difficulty available. If there is co-op, I'll go through on the 2nd hardest solo, then go through the hardest in co-op.

 

[Lord_Durin]

I usually play on hard. its a good challenge for me. if I like a game, ill play it again on legendary/veteran/expert after I've gotten a better idea of how the game works.

 

[j1-2themax]

Start on Normal, move up to Hard and any difficulty levels on up after beating the game once. Usually only try anything higher if there are achievements involved.

 

[Davey Woo]

Whatever the game puts me on. Why?
Because I'm too lazy to change it!
Unless there's glorious achievements to be had on harder difficulties, in which case I bump it up after I've run through it once.

 

[SwishiestB0g]

Always hardest as possible. When I go back and mess around that's when I want the fun, but in the first time you see the end cutscene, I want it to feel like a struggle.

Also I've been brought up that way in games.

 

[jippy626]

LEGENDARY on Halo
HARDCORE all day, every day on COD online
whatwhat

 

[HotShooter]

I play on the hardest difficulty the first time that way I can get the trophies, items, etc. the first time that way I don't have to play it over again and can just enjoy the experience the second time around. I also don't like doing really well on normal or easy and becoming really cocky about my skills just to have my balls ripped off when I eventually ramp up the difficulty.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

I play on normal, usually. When I play games for the immersion, I don't like Anything that detracts from the immersion, like trophys or points, they are pointless. The game needs to be delivered as totally real to me.

I play for a challenge. Normal is usually challenging enough for me.

Also, I love to play for fun. Points and trophys are fun here. when I am playing this type of game, I play it on normal also.

Honestly though, I think Dead Space on the PC was better because it didn't have trophys.

 

[NBSRDan]

"Normal" or "Medium" for games released before 2005. "Easy" for anything else.

 

[meglathon]

I will start at one less the most difficult, in shooters for i like the challenge that is not there in lesser difficulty. But on other games like adventure, platfomers, etc. normal is where i start, but i always go higher after the fact. (for the achievements du.)

 

[shwnbob]

Easy then normal then hard.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

I play on the hardest difficulty available. I like the challenge.

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

Normal, play Multiplayer for a while, then Hardest level (Only if it has achievements for it. If not, fuck that)