Is Grounded difficulty too much to be fun?

[Landfar]

So I wanted to play the game on max difficulty because I heard it’s great, but now that I’ve tried it I’d want to discuss its problems. Well, maybe I just don’t get it, but anyway.

So, from small problems to bigger:

1. No HUD.
It’s usually great for the atmosphere and realism, but a) the game's HUD wasn’t that intrusive to begin with b) it’s kinda half-backed. Like, why shouldn’t you know how much health do you have, how is it even realistic?
It works great in Metro series and Far Cry 2, but in those games you're still able to see all the usual stats. It’s purely an aesthetic choice, not a detriment.

2. If you like to vacuum clean all the maps, Grounded mode is a bad choice.
You just would not be able to loot all places, because there’s not enough resources to open all the doors with shivs. So you often will pass by loot caches knowing that you just can’t open them no matter what.
That’s the most puzzling design decision for me. Like, how is it fun? If you don’t want to give the players too much resources then just place a smaller about of loot, you don’t have to lock them out of places.

3. The amount of resources and ammo is designed for stealth only.
I wouldn’t call the game’s combat system bad, it’s rather solid but pretty basic. It shines when you have many options, and fun when you have many weapons to choose from.
Well, there aren’t many options when you have close to none ammo and even less throwables like Molotovs and bombs. Sure, you can fight with what you have for one encounter, but good luck for the next one when you face six enemies with only 3 revolver rounds.

Overall, I just don’t get it. It’s not even that difficult, it plays fine if you’re careful. You just have fewer options in combat because of this constant resource-hunger. I suppose it works if you wanted a stealth game but find other difficulties too easy to bother with sneaking. But that’s just about it.

Anyway, I just restarted the game on Hard and had to replay like 7 hours of gameplay so I wanted to vent. Will be glad if you share your experiences and prove me wrong, I am genuinely curious what’s the idea behind this mode.

[<empty>]

I got extremely annoyed even on survivor difficulty can't imagine your frustration on grounded...

[Hundinger]

I stick with hard with listening mode disabled.

[GamerGate Valkyrie]

i play it on grounded, and i only ignore 2 shiv doors for bad loot they have, and i still have enough shivs for more if i even decided to open all the doors, and yes, the way i save shiv is mostly being stealthy, good way to save ammo for bigger missions that you can't go stealth with.

[acowsik]

Idk how many unlock credits you get from Survivor difficulty but for completing on Grounded, I was able to unlock all the extras content with barely 100 credits left.

[PunxsutawneyPhil]

I finished the game on Normal, Survivor and Grounded difficulty and Grounded was so much fun and a very intensive experience. I'm a casual gamer in mid fourties and Grounded was very doable.

[Landfar]

I asked the same question on Reddit and the overwhelming majority of the answers was like this: Grounded is something that you may appreciate when it's not your first playthrough. Well, for the time being, I have to take their word for it, maybe I'll try it again someday.

[PunxsutawneyPhil]

It is definitely an advantage if you already had a playthrough and know the topography of the scenes. Use the first playthrough to learn the mechanics and handling of bottles and bricks. They are absolutely essential on Grounded difficulty.

[Zodiac011]

Like with the majority of games, the harder difficulties are gimmicky, and usually for masochists lol. I know many people who play them and try to act all high and mighty about beating a difficult game yet you can see/hear them clearly not enjoying the journey through it. If a game is too hard, lower the difficulty or avoid it. It's supposed to be fun, it's not a competition, that's what ESports is for.

[JakeTheSnake]

I find Grounded to be quite well balanced. If you play careful, you will have more than enough resources. The game works in the way, that the more ammo you use/the less you have, the more ammo drops will spawn. So use your ammo, but hit your shots. And you can also play the game aggressively, but obviously have to be faster and more precise than on lower difficulties, because your window of opportunity for shooting someone else, is very short. Use melee (it is so powerful), but make sure there's just a single enemy, so you don't get mobbed.

In terms of resources; you will have enough resources to get all the shivs doors, and have some binding and blade to spare. However, if you use shivs on grounded like you do on, say normal or hard, you will quickly run out. Clickers can be taken out in so many other (efficient) ways (bricks are your best friends). You can go through the whole game without using any shivs on enemies.

Grounded therefore, in contrast to lower difficulties, actually asks you to make some harder choices in regards to your resources - which I think resonates alot more with how TLoU's world is portrayed in the narrative and worldbuilding. You won't have enough to get all shiv doors if you use shivs somewhat often - you actions in regard to how you use your supplies actually have some permance, where on lower difficulties it is negligible. So for example in regards to blade; will you 1) focus on making shivs and get as many upgrade pills/parts as possible from locked rooms (in addition to other supplies), 2) focus on making shivs to engage clickers in stealth (or use the shiv master if Clickers are tough for you), 3) use blade to make the bombs for tough encounters - especially by attracting infected in a close cluster, 4) or a mix of all. Point is; you will never have enough resources to pursue each "route" purely (you can't get all) - you have to sacrifice something for the other - you have to weigh what's most ideal for you. And these choices pretty much never occur on lower difficulties since supplies are so plentiful. This is ironically why I prefer grounded; yes, some definitely think it takes options away from you, but they are actually still there; but are a lot more meaningful/impactful.

But as others have said; grounded is absolutely best experienced after your first playthrough. You should have knowledge of the games mechanics, ins-and-outs, and encounters (so you can prepare for tougher encounters). In the original PS3 version, the grounded difficulty was sold as an DLC, for players who where very familiar with the game, and seeked a significantly harder challenge. Hence, why it never should be played on your first playthrough.

Lastly; the PS3 and PS4 version of grounded was considerably more challening. The Part 1 remake for PS5 and PC is easier in considerable ways, due to balance changes, and the now more refined animation/responsiveness than the original. Resources are mostly the same on grounded on the PS5/PC version, but some loot spawns are actually more plentiful in these versions than in the original. On the ps3/4 Joel would die in three melee hits (two health pips per hit) from an unarmed human NPC (health unopgraded), whereas in the remake you can tank 10 (0,5 pip of health, unopgrade health) from the same NPC type. This, however, is a welcome change I think, since it makes melee more viable - since in the original it could be quite frustrating, since you would be locked in a combo of enemy hits, with nothing to do to prevent it. There are numerous other small changes, but I have rambled enough.

In short; I think grounded enriches everything about the game more; its narrative, themes, wouldbuilding, lore, understanding of the characters (if you struggles as a player in gameplay, getting by by the teeth of your skin, you are more aligned with how hash survial is portrayed in the story, instead of Joel being a one-man-army on say; normal difficulty). Just some thoughts from a long time player of the original. Hopefully it makes some sense.

EDIT:
In regards to the HUD; in the original, you had almost no indiciation of how much health Joel had - only when he would clinch his arm to his chest - meaning he would have less than 1 pip of health left (meaning anything would kill you in one hit at this point which isn't really helpful). In the remake, the screen is much more color-coded, giving af much better indication of your health, without knowing it 100%. The more red and distorted/zoomed in/blurry it is, the worse your condition, in addition to Joel's grimaces, stance, and breathing. Joel's pain sounds can also give you some indication as to how severe the damage is you received (and obviously, higher powered guns damage more than lower). I think it does quite a good job showing you enough to assess you state.

[GamerGate Valkyrie]

Originally posted by JakeTheSnake:

I find Grounded to be quite well balanced. If you play careful, you will have more than enough resources. The game works in the way, that the more ammo you use/the less you have, the more ammo drops will spawn. So use your ammo, but hit your shots. And you can also play the game aggressively, but obviously have to be faster and more precise than on lower difficulties, because your window of opportunity for shooting someone else, is very short. Use melee (it is so powerful), but make sure there's just a single enemy, so you don't get mobbed.

In terms of resources; you will have enough resources to get all the shivs doors, and have some binding and blade to spare. However, if you use shivs on grounded like you do on, say normal or hard, you will quickly run out. Clickers can be taken out in so many other (efficient) ways (bricks are your best friends). You can go through the whole game without using any shivs on enemies.

Grounded therefore, in contrast to lower difficulties, actually asks you to make some harder choices in regards to your resources - which I think resonates alot more with how TLoU's world is portrayed in the narrative and worldbuilding. You won't have enough to get all shiv doors if you use shivs somewhat often - you actions in regard to how you use your supplies actually have some permance, where on lower difficulties it is negligible. So for example in regards to blade; will you 1) focus on making shivs and get as many upgrade pills/parts as possible from locked rooms (in addition to other supplies), 2) focus on making shivs to engage clickers in stealth (or use the shiv master if Clickers are tough for you), 3) use blade to make the bombs for tough encounters - especially by attracting infected in a close cluster, 4) or a mix of all. Point is; you will never have enough resources to pursue each "route" purely (you can't get all) - you have to sacrifice something for the other - you have to weigh what's most ideal for you. And these choices pretty much never occur on lower difficulties since supplies are so plentiful. This is ironically why I prefer grounded; yes, some definitely think it takes options away from you, but they are actually still there; but are a lot more meaningful/impactful.

But as others have said; grounded is absolutely best experienced after your first playthrough. You should have knowledge of the games mechanics, ins-and-outs, and encounters (so you can prepare for tougher encounters). In the original PS3 version, the grounded difficulty was sold as an DLC, for players who where very familiar with the game, and seeked a significantly harder challenge. Hence, why it never should be played on your first playthrough.

Lastly; the PS3 and PS4 version of grounded was considerably more challening. The Part 1 remake for PS5 and PC is easier in considerable ways, due to balance changes, and the now more refined animation/responsiveness than the original. Resources are mostly the same on grounded on the PS5/PC version, but some loot spawns are actually more plentiful in these versions than in the original. On the ps3/4 Joel would die in three melee hits (two health pips per hit) from an unarmed human NPC (health unopgraded), whereas in the remake you can tank 10 (0,5 pip of health, unopgrade health) from the same NPC type. This, however, is a welcome change I think, since it makes melee more viable - since in the original it could be quite frustrating, since you would be locked in a combo of enemy hits, with nothing to do to prevent it. There are numerous other small changes, but I have rambled enough.

In short; I think grounded enriches everything about the game more; its narrative, themes, wouldbuilding, lore, understanding of the characters (if you struggles as a player in gameplay, getting by by the teeth of your skin, you are more aligned with how hash survial is portrayed in the story, instead of Joel being a one-man-army on say; normal difficulty). Just some thoughts from a long time player of the original. Hopefully it makes some sense.

EDIT:
In regards to the HUD; in the original, you had almost no indiciation of how much health Joel had - only when he would clinch his arm to his chest - meaning he would have less than 1 pip of health left (meaning anything would kill you in one hit at this point which isn't really helpful). In the remake, the screen is much more color-coded, giving af much better indication of your health, without knowing it 100%. The more red and distorted/zoomed in/blurry it is, the worse your condition, in addition to Joel's grimaces, stance, and breathing. Joel's pain sounds can also give you some indication as to how severe the damage is you received (and obviously, higher powered guns damage more than lower). I think it does quite a good job showing you enough to assess you state.

This guy knows, we the ones ho plays on grounded a lot you will get sorted your ammo well eventually and you will find it is even generous.

[Landfar]

Originally posted by JakeTheSnake:

In short; I think grounded enriches everything about the game more; its narrative, themes, wouldbuilding, lore, understanding of the characters (if you struggles as a player in gameplay, getting by by the teeth of your skin, you are more aligned with how hash survial is portrayed in the story, instead of Joel being a one-man-army on say; normal difficulty). Just some thoughts from a long time player of the original. Hopefully it makes some sense.

Thank you, that's actually the best answer I got. Definitely will give it another go if I'd have a mind to replay the game.
By the way, I also tried Permadeath on Hard after this topic and I really liked it, these were some adrenaline fights. But I certainly would have to beat the game on something less extreme before I could actually pull that off.

[acowsik]

Originally posted by JakeTheSnake:

I find Grounded to be quite well balanced. If you play careful, you will have more than enough resources. The game works in the way, that the more ammo you use/the less you have, the more ammo drops will spawn. So use your ammo, but hit your shots. And you can also play the game aggressively, but obviously have to be faster and more precise than on lower difficulties, because your window of opportunity for shooting someone else, is very short. Use melee (it is so powerful), but make sure there's just a single enemy, so you don't get mobbed.

In terms of resources; you will have enough resources to get all the shivs doors, and have some binding and blade to spare. However, if you use shivs on grounded like you do on, say normal or hard, you will quickly run out. Clickers can be taken out in so many other (efficient) ways (bricks are your best friends). You can go through the whole game without using any shivs on enemies.

Grounded therefore, in contrast to lower difficulties, actually asks you to make some harder choices in regards to your resources - which I think resonates alot more with how TLoU's world is portrayed in the narrative and worldbuilding. You won't have enough to get all shiv doors if you use shivs somewhat often - you actions in regard to how you use your supplies actually have some permance, where on lower difficulties it is negligible. So for example in regards to blade; will you 1) focus on making shivs and get as many upgrade pills/parts as possible from locked rooms (in addition to other supplies), 2) focus on making shivs to engage clickers in stealth (or use the shiv master if Clickers are tough for you), 3) use blade to make the bombs for tough encounters - especially by attracting infected in a close cluster, 4) or a mix of all. Point is; you will never have enough resources to pursue each "route" purely (you can't get all) - you have to sacrifice something for the other - you have to weigh what's most ideal for you. And these choices pretty much never occur on lower difficulties since supplies are so plentiful. This is ironically why I prefer grounded; yes, some definitely think it takes options away from you, but they are actually still there; but are a lot more meaningful/impactful.

But as others have said; grounded is absolutely best experienced after your first playthrough. You should have knowledge of the games mechanics, ins-and-outs, and encounters (so you can prepare for tougher encounters). In the original PS3 version, the grounded difficulty was sold as an DLC, for players who where very familiar with the game, and seeked a significantly harder challenge. Hence, why it never should be played on your first playthrough.

I went against the usual advice and played it first time on Grounded and beat it and got all the achievements done. The clicker encounters had you think and use objects to distract them to sneak past and save all your blade and binding for shivs only and nothing else to be able to open all 13 locked doors in the game. I managed to explore every area thoroughly for resources and save crafting stuff for enemies like the bloaters where you need molotovs. The shiv master skill is kinda useless on grounded. You just focus on upgrading everything else.

Checkpoints are also fewer and far between so you have to do long stretches without messing up. It is a challenge indeed but its not impossible.

Playing NG+ on this game is utterly pointless if you have already done your first run on Grounded cos you will have enough unlock points for all the extras content.

BTW I have played and beaten games straight on the hardest difficulty with in game 100% completion (GOW 2018, HZD, RC Rift Apart) so it just depends on how confident you are in your own skill and ability to keep trying even if you fail and learn from your mistakes to get better.

[Xenowolf]

Grounded is mesnt to be grounded. Unforgiving… What you expect from difficulty level 7.

If you knew your health, your ammo, you had plenty of ammo, shivs, etc. Where is the challenge ?

I find grounded exciting. You need to find new routes, really look around, watch npcs move around and know their move sets, know how to deal with clickers when you have only brick, piece of wood and three bullets. (I just found out that brick and long arm is op. Two hits with brick, then one final hit with long arm when npc is on ground… grounded is about this….

You really need to try grounded in part 2…. Then you really understand, how tough this difficulty really is….
Bigger encounters, smart enemies,…. It was really hard, and damn frustrating. But I enjoy chsllenges, and having trophy that your friend trophy hunter dont have, is nice feeling. :D

[Landfar]

I appreciate your feedback, even though I already got the most comprehensive answer to my question that I could ever have hoped for.

Buuut, since you brought up the old topic, I would like to take this opportunity and just praise the range of different difficulties of the game.

I haven't come around to try Grounded again yet, but I did find the difficulty I enjoyed and finished the game. It's a normal difficulty, but your death takes you back to the beginning of the chapter, and you can't reload a checkpoint during gameplay. It's a difficulty where you're allowed to have fun but, at the same time, have to roll with your mistakes and your death sets you back up to an hour of progress.

Damn, I had a good time. I had the full arsenal of tools for battles and stealth and the game was lenient enough to allow me to use them freely. But when you're hiding near an enemy that can insta-kill you or pushing the advantage during a fight knowing that if you got carried away your death would mean a lot of trouble... It's such an amazing feeling. 5 of the 19 hours of my playthrough were replays after deaths, but it rarely felt undeserved and it was damn good fun.

But yes, I'll definitely come back to try Grounded again, perhaps right before the PC release of Part 2.