Hard II is too hard

[Bingus]

I like to really challenge myself in games so on my first run through I chose Hard II... but this is too much. It completely changes the dynamic of the game I expected to play. Anyone else feel this way?

[Drake Ravenwolf]

I'm playing on Hard 1, so I'm not sure how much difference there is...

Somethings which might help; bull rush allows you to mow down zombies fast and easy without even using up any melee weapon durability or ammo - most of the time, unfortunately it gets disabled randomly forcing you to go back to normal tactics at times.

For hordes; leave them alone until you are ready to deal with them. When you are ready; the best tactic I've employed was to find a hiding spot where the horde physically has no line of sight to you then throw an attractor if you have one to get em all grouped up and then just keep lobbing molotavs on the group until they are down to the last 10 or so, then a couple pipebombs will mop up the rest. If you don't have good enough cover then you have to run and kite em through proximity mines or proximity bombs but those are rarer devices and not as efficient. I routinely down entire hordes with just ~5 molotavs and a couple pipebombs, but of course some hordes are larger than others

[Isabelle]

Originally posted by BrotherMan:

I like to really challenge myself in games so on my first run through I chose Hard II... but this is too much. It completely changes the dynamic of the game I expected to play. Anyone else feel this way?

go for headshots. non-headshots are functionally wasted ammo on hard II.

[Sprinkles]

I disagree. It's hard *at first* but as soon as you get your first... what's the media love to call 'em these days, "assault style weapon" lol, with a decent non-california-compliant magazine, aka standard size magazine, combined with the focus skill, it sort of trivializes the game. Well I should clarify, I'm mainly referring to the MWS, then upgrade to the US556, then to the IDF Pup. Some of those other primary weapons, like the Chopper, are just terrible. Even when you crouch down, the reticle is still too wide to be useful.

I'm been holding the urge to try this mod to make the game more challenging again (the enhanced spawn part of it).
https://www.nexusmods.com/daysgone/mods/453

I keep saying, wait until your next playthrough, but man it would be nice to be actually worried again while out there exploring & collecting crafting items. I know most games get this way after many hours but it happens way too quickly in this game, imo. I've noticed this is a semi-common complaint when stumbling onto reddit forums and browsing Days Gone mods so I know I'm not alone. Still love the game to death though. :)

[Lord Of War]

Originally posted by BrotherMan:

Anyone else feel this way?

Nah, did my first play on Survival II, it was a breeze. Headshots rules

[Dukhat]

Be sure to upgrade the slow motion stuff, crucial for hordes!

[__A_R_T_E_M_K_A__]

Just started new game on Survivor II after first short "get to known" game run.

[simon.pete15]

Downsize your expectations of yourself, and play it on Hard 1.
Simples.

If that's still to hard, reduce the difficulty setting another step. This is the reason for the various difficulty levels. You set it to the level that suits you best. You want to challenge yourself, but not so challenging that it's almost impossible for you to play.

When I first played this game, I wasn't long out of hospital after having a stroke. I played it on the easiest level. Then again on the next level up, then again on hard, then again on Hard 2. I had a lot of difficulty even on Easy, because my right hand didn't work properly. After a stroke, you have to retrain your brain-hand-eye co-ordination / leg/foot-eye co-ordination and everything else. Playing computer games helped with that, as did physio and other assosiated physical exercises.

[Sprinkles]

Originally posted by Sprinkles:

I'm been holding the urge to try this mod to make the game more challenging again (the enhanced spawn part of it).
https://www.nexusmods.com/daysgone/mods/453

I keep saying, wait until your next playthrough, but man it would be nice to be actually worried again while out there exploring & collecting crafting items. I know most games get this way after many hours but it happens way too quickly in this game, imo. I've noticed this is a semi-common complaint when stumbling onto reddit forums and browsing Days Gone mods so I know I'm not alone. Still love the game to death though. :)

Well, I just thought I might follow up... I've finally completed the game a few days ago and started a new game on survival 2 using this AI mod (and a few others QoL mods). Not a NG+ game, but just a normal new game so I start off with nothing again. I plan to find out what this "secret ending" is all about with this playthrough. I'm already several hours into it and I'm absolutely loving it! It's brought back that fear & need the to be cautious while out exploring again.

I've already died a handful of times despite having seasoned knowledge of the game. Just a pack of wolves can actually become a dire situation - more once I've had to resort to throwing molotovs to get them to temporarily retreat to avoid imminent death! Amazing. It's not so much the greater numbers that's the biggest difficulty multiplier... I think what gives this mod its potency is the 'lack of cool down after an attack' which is normally a frigin' eternity in focus & weapon-wheel time. Now I can barely get enough slow-mo time, I need more (an actual reason to invest in the focus skill)! Even healing when juggling a few swarmers up close, the attacks just keep coming so you need to be quick about it and not just hanging out with your wheel open, deciding what to do next.

I highly recommend this mod to anyone else who needs the boost of intensity to get their heart rate elevated again. Absolutely loving this game all over again. 😊

[Sprinkles]

Originally posted by simon.pete15:

Downsize your expectations of yourself, and play it on Hard 1.
Simples.

If that's still to hard, reduce the difficulty setting another step. This is the reason for the various difficulty levels. You set it to the level that suits you best. You want to challenge yourself, but not so challenging that it's almost impossible for you to play.

When I first played this game, I wasn't long out of hospital after having a stroke. I played it on the easiest level. Then again on the next level up, then again on hard, then again on Hard 2. I had a lot of difficulty even on Easy, because my right hand didn't work properly. After a stroke, you have to retrain your brain-hand-eye co-ordination / leg/foot-eye co-ordination and everything else. Playing computer games helped with that, as did physio and other assosiated physical exercises.

Wow! That's awesome to hear of your recovery and this game playing a role in that. That's amazing. Video games definitely sharpen the brain. There was a recent study in the news that stated it so. I think this was it: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/video-gaming-may-be-associated-better-cognitive-performance-children

[GR4V3 MIST4K3]

I'd just restart and go through normal or hard, it's a story-based game anyway with some of the unlocks after you wrap up the main story.

IMO any game designed to be beaten can be beaten. Higher difficulties tend to limit your options to stealthing around while camping for headshots and exploiting AI.

I played the game on normal with a controller and I had fun all the time. There was adequate leeway for imprecision of the analog sticks. The game is largely about story and exploration.