Difficulty setting is a big risk

[Haven]

I'm not sure A44 Games realise what a big risk they're taking by adding a difficulty setting.

Adding difficulty settings to a soulslike is not a safe option to expand your audience. The formula of having a difficult game where "it is what it is" is a proven business model by now.

The reason it's so good, is because everyone can relate to everyone else who has overcome a given challenge. A big part of our motivation for playing a soulslike and overcoming some infamous boss, is to be able to post on a community afterwards, and immediately find people who get it and can directly relate to your experience and your victory. It's awesome being met with "i know right!" and "congratulations!". I think "ok, but what difficulty though" will short-circuit that positive sense of shared experience. It risks fragmenting the community. For me, the existence of a difficult setting is de-motivating, and the main/only reason my pre-order trigger finger is still hesitating.

A middleground might be using the word "soul" somewhere in one of the difficulty modes, to make it clear which difficulty is intended to be the definitive soulslike experience.

[adarmus47]

I have played every souls game I can get my hands on since playing the game that started it all, Demon's Souls on PS3. I have no issue whatsoever with difficulty options. My motivation is the personal satisfaction of overcoming the challenge rather than seeing it as some form of bragging right, as if beating one of these games is a life achievement worthy of note. I think the group you are a part of are in the minority. I will play the game on the hardest difficulty however if someone wants to play it on easy it doesn't effect my enjoyment of the game just as I believe most would.

[Traumaturgy]

For a 'normal' game difficulty levels are understandable. But part of souls genre was always overcoming obstacles. Boss that is impossible at first try, becomes beatable after few more. Thats what these games are about for me. So difficulty level ruins this purpose, and because of that I dont like it.

[Panda]

Originally posted by Traumaturgy:

For a 'normal' game difficulty levels are understandable. But part of souls genre was always overcoming obstacles. Boss that is impossible at first try, becomes beatable after few more. Thats what these games are about for me. So difficulty level ruins this purpose, and because of that I dont like it.

But you can experience this exact same thing in a game with difficulty options

[Moose]

My money is just as good as the next. being Someone that has service related disability. Difficulty options as well as any accessibility option is never ever a bad thing. And anyone who can sit there and complain about a game not having these options, Just shows the immaturity that comes along with lack of IRL xp. With any product in the world. You always want to reach the largest audience possible. More eyes, more availability equals more money!

[Narcissistic Cannibal]

The basement-dwelling elitists are as salty as ever

[Slip]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ gatekeepers…

[Traumaturgy]

Maybe accept the fact Souls genre is not for you, instead of crying here. And these games are not even that hard, they just requires patience, common sense and methodical approach. If you want brainless enemy slaughter go play Diablo or CoD.

[fastica]

Imagine complaining because a game has difficulty options. I hate the elitism around the soulslike genre.

[azogthedefiler25]

Originally posted by fastica:

Imagine complaining because a game has difficulty options. I hate the elitism around the soulslike genre.

Agreed. If it didn't have difficulty settings I wouldn't have bought it. Spending hours fighting one enemy isn't my idea of fun.

[MundM]

Originally posted by Nictator:

The Jedi games have difficulty settings and those are pretty darn popular.

They're not good soulslikes, though.

[Traumaturgy]

You can look at this as elitism and perceive fans of these games as gatekeepers and ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. But you can also view high difficulty as a FEATURE of these games, as trait that distinguishes them from other games. If you remove it game will not provide the same experience for all players.
Imo Myazaki knows this perfectly, thats why there is no difficulty slider in Souls. But still you can get easier experience (as an option). You can summon NPCs or other players to help you, you can use 'easier' builds or op weapons/spells, some bosses have mechanics that will make fights easier etc. You can use it, but you dont have to. This is difficulty done right and shows how good developer he is and how he understand games.

[Narcissistic Cannibal]

Originally posted by Traumaturgy:

these games are not even that hard

Originally posted by Traumaturgy:

high difficulty as a FEATURE of these games

Make up your mind already.

[ŁōãF]

I hate hard games.

Therefore i will not buy hard games. Ive never touched a souls game again after dark souls 1.

Its pretty simple.

[senrign]

its not a souls-like its souls-lite. know the difference

[azogthedefiler25]

Originally posted by ŁōãF:

I hate hard games.

Therefore i will not buy hard games. Ive never touched a souls game again after dark souls 1.

Its pretty simple.

Same. Flintlock is one you should try though based on what Ghost above me said.