Poll: What difficulty level do you usually play on?

[Mr C]

I generally start on easy, if it's bores me senseless (like Halo) I'll switch to Normal. I play on harder settings when finished to get my monies worth. The only time I don't do this is if the game is not fun because of its difficulty. I finished Halo 1&2 on Legendary but couldn't be bothered with the 3rd, it was just irritating.

I find them irritating if I think the game's 'cheating'. In Halo I'm a genetically enhanced super-human with solid armour and a rechargeable shield and enemy fire takes me out quicker than some dipshit marine with a papier mache flak jacket - it totally takes me out of the game. On the other hand CoD4 was great on the hardest setting, no matter how many times I died I felt I was 'almost there', the joy of doing that bloody plane level on the hardest setting is the source of my most cherished Xbox achievement!

 

[carpenteria]

Probably best described as "medium rare" - Like my steak.

More specifically, mostly on medium or normal, but some games that i'm unfamiliar with (or are just plain brutal, not as common these days mind you) I may take the smooth road instead.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Generally Normal. It's rare that my experience with a game is improved if it becomes more difficult, though Gears of War did provide a notable exception.

 

[Neosage]

I just play on hard first time through, then go onto insane/nightmare or whatever. If a games too easy I find it boring.

 

[The Anti Noob]

I will play any given difficulty, but usually I just work my way up the ladder. I'll play through the entire game on normal, and if i feel confident in my abilities, i'll move on up, and lather rinse repeat. I'm generally very good at games so I can usually get to the top difficulty without much problem. I'm not super with shooters, but with RPG's and platformers, It's a piece of cake.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

I go w/ the hardest difficulty setting. I like the challenge.

 

[Nu-Hir]

I start on whatever the default difficulty is. Then after I beat the game, I'll move up.

 

[Bernzz]

I play on Normal/Medium when I start a new game, and if it gets too hard I try to stick with it to the end, but if a point is impossible...down goes the difficulty until I finish the game. Then, I go back to it...or at least, try.

If I've been told that a game is actually really hard on Normal/Medium, then I'll go the next one down, which is usually Easy.

 

[THEMANWHOIS]

I'll usually start off on medium, because that unlocks the insane difficulty (usually). So after playing through on medium once, I'll decide if I care enough about the game to play again. If so, I skip hard and go straight to insane.

 

[CyberAkuma]

10 years ago, I would have said 'Normal' but todays standards when it comes to difficulty I always play everything on Hard, and 8/10 cases, the game is still laughibly easy.

 

[Woem]

For me it usually depends on how many grades there are. If there are 3 options then I take medium. If there are 5 options then I usually take the 4th one (so the next-to-hardest).

 

[True-Shinobi]

I would probably play the gane through in all the difficulties, unless the game is rubbish... then just easy or normal =)

 

[Abedeus]

First Medium, then Hard.

 

[LilGherkin]

I'll start off as hard as it can go, then once I play through it once play it on the next level. Resistance 2 stepped up the difficulty curve when they introduced arcade mode with several lives you had to play with god like expertise just to unlock superhuman mode.

 

[DigitalJedl]

I really depends on the game and what difficulty the game offers.
If it's an RPG of sorts, then I'll stick to medium for a while and get used to the flow of the game.

If it's an FPS, usually the 2nd to the hardest setting. I.e, Killzone 2 I play in Veteran then sometimes once in a blue moon move up to Elite. Same for Call of Duty.

 

[Xyphon]

I play on easy because I tend to turn into the hulk when pissed off by a game.

I play games to relieve stress, not add MORE. That means I want to completely OBLITERATE something very easily.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Usually "Normal" though I've gone "Hard" on a few games.

 

[DM.]

I play on the hardest one, until I get stuck.

 

[thecodemaster]

I usually start out on Medium, unless it's L4D when I try and play on Advanced/Expert!