What difficulty do you play your games at?

[Ando85]

I always start with the normal or default difficulty. I like to have a challenge, but not something overly frustrating. Maybe if I replay the game I might try a harder difficulty since I will have had a feel for the game.

There are a few recent exceptions. I played Kingdoms of Amalur on normal, but wish I had played it on hard. I do however think I'm going to replay it with a different build on hard as I really enjoyed the game despite it being on the easy side.

The other exception is Catherine. I was getting destroyed on normal so eventually I had to swallow my pride and put it on easy. But many will agree that easy = normal, normal = hard, hard = insane.

 

[crispboy2]

I too usually start with normal, then if I liked the game I may play through again on a higher difficulty.

 

[DustyDrB]

It depends on the game. There are some games I just suck at. I usually play on Hard as my default, but I know I played both Catherine and Bayonetta on Normal. I still sucked at Bayonetta. I did, however, play Vanquish on Hard. And I think that's an accomplishment. Man, that game kicked my ass hard.

Hard is my default. I like to be punished for sloppy tactics/techniques. However, if all the game does when you increase the difficulty is give enemies a stupidly large amount of health, I might knock the difficulty down. That interpretation of difficulty needs to die.

I really wish more developers would make it so everyone dies more easily on harder difficulties. One or two arrows/bullets/strikes/spoiled egg omelettes will kill both enemies and you.


So...
Action games (like Bayonetta): I play on normal. I'm woefully bad at combos and fine movements with the sticks.

RPGs: Hard or harder

Action-Adventure (like Uncharted): Hard. I almost never increase or decrease the difficulty.

 

[Terminate421]

Normal, unless I am familiar with it, then I go hard mode

 

[RJ 17]

I learned my lesson from CoD4 which my and my brothers tried playing through on Veteran, switching off ever life. While the challenge IS entertaining, I now officially prefer to start out on Normal just so I can experience and enjoy the game and the story. Then, once I've gotten a hang of the game and have beaten it, I'll crank up the difficulty to go for the challenge now that the challenge will no longer be holding me back from experiencing the entire game without feeling like I'm sticking my dick in a pencil sharpener (yes, it's that small. :3).

On an interesting side-note though, I'm a fan of the Warriors games that Koei pumps out, the latest iteration being Warriors Orochi 3. Those games are nigh impossible to start on the hardest difficulty (Chaos). You'll do pretty much no damage and die in 2 hits no matter what...making any attempt at Chaos without lvled up characters and better weapons a fool's errand.

 

[TehCookie]

I always play default first, since that's the way it was meant to be played. If it's too hard and I don't feel like dieing a ton I'll go down to easy. In other games once I beat them on normal and loved it I'll crank up the difficulty.

 

[Razoack]

Usually depends on how many difficulty setttings are available. If 5 (so super easy, easy, normal, hard, very hard) i'd normally go for the hard option. However if 3 (Easy, normal, hard) then i'd choose normal.

 

[chuckdm]

I actually tend to start on Easy, then migrate to Normal. I play games mostly for story and, second to that, for general fun. Dying is not fun. If I'm 2 hours into any RPG and I've died more than 3 times you can bet I will be turning the difficulty down before I continue.

The exception here is RTS games, especially the C&C series (my favorite) and also Supreme Commander. I prefer SupCom2 on Normal and most of the C&C games on Hard, or even Brutal. I guess when 90% of the story is delivered through cut scenes, I enjoy some more difficulty.

 

[krazykidd]

Usually hard . Either games have become easier or i have become better at games over the years . Not that this is a bad thing . But as long as they give me difficulty settings i will not complain . Now in games where there are more than three difficulty settings i chose the one above normal . I like my games challenging . More satisfaction that way , but thats just me .

Now what i hate is when games make you unlock higher difficulties . Why can't i play new game plus in dark souls with a new lvl 1 character if i want to? Bayonetta is deadly guilty of this .

 

[GundamSentinel]

I start at Normal. If I liked the game enough I might play it again on a harder difficulty. If I don't like the game that much, I might change the game to Easy and just blaze through just to finish it.

 

[teqrevisited]

Usually normal and then move up but recently I made an exception: Deus Ex:HR. "Give me Deus Ex" I said. I think it was better that way.

 

[Rumpsteak]

I play normal the first time as I like to think that's the vision the developers had for the game. Any further playthroughs I'll adjust the difficulty accordingly.

 

[veloper]

Normal, hard or harder, depending on the genre.

 

[Solo-Wing]

Normal. I rarely do Hard. The only games I play on the hardest difficulties is Guitar Hero and the Ace Combat games.

 

[DoPo]

I start at Normal. If I liked the game enough I might play it again on a harder difficulty. If I don't like the game that much, I might change the game to Easy and just blaze through just to finish it.

ninja'd

I do the same thing. I start off at normal and if it's too hard (for some reason) I go to easy. It doesn't happen that often, though. And if I'm replaying a game, I usually go with a harder difficulty.

 

[kyogen]

It depends on what I think of the combat mechanics. If combat feels like a dull chore, I lower the difficulty. If it really interests me for some reason, I play on normal or hard.

For example, I don't like the combat in the Elder Scrolls games, so I play them on easy just to get it over with faster. I like the combat in The Witcher and have played it on all difficulty settings. I love the combat in Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, and From doesn't let me have any control at all over the difficulty.

 

[Iwata]

Well, I'm pretty sure I answered this in another thread just this week, but ok.

I like to play games on Hard. I enjoy games for the challenge as much as the story and the gameplay, so that makes sure I'll get my money's worth. In subsequent playthroughs I may go for harder difficulties (currently going through the Predator campaign on the last AvP on Nightmare difficulty) for the challenge alone.

 

[ShockValue]

I tend to play them on the hardest difficulty.

 

[zuro64]

I usually start at normal or what ever name they have for it!

If I play it again I kick it up a notch (not the Minecraft Notch)! Then if I play it a 3rd time I usually go with easy (or the equivalent) just to se how easy it is and to feel like a God most of the time!

 

[MrTub]

I almost always play on the hardest setting.