This game isn't hard, it's stupid.

[Arthur]

I love myself a challenge. I enjoy games that are genuinely difficult, games that show you that you're doing something wrong; that your failures are your own fault.

Unfortunately, EU's difficulty settings are beyond ridiculous. It basically multiplies the amount of enemies you're facing by four, and then makes the AI more accurate - I tried playing on impossible a few times, and had to stop before the stupidity boiled over. For example:

I start out with four men on the first mission, as always, and started slowly moving forward, from cover to cover. Finally came across some Sectoids, nothing unusual - they see me and run for cover. As I began setting up my men in more appropriate positions for taking the aliens out, I stumbled across twelve more of them - excellent, I'll have to be careful.

But no - before I could do anything more, the aliens, on their turn, murdered every single one of my soldiers standing behind full cover. All four.

Yes, it's probably called impossible for a reason, but that doesn't justify how lazily it's implemented. Rather than actually making the game more difficult, it seems as though Firaxis just made the AI more powerful, which isn't the way difficulty should be increased.

[Sentinel Greg]

I think that's fair to say. I only try impossible when I'm in a really masochistic mood. It's not really fun, just an exercize in patience. But I feel classic hits a really sweet spot in terms of difficulty, outside of the powercreep you inevitably get by late game.

[Mandemon]

You played impossible -> All arguments for "cheapness" become irrelevant.

Impossible is unbalanced on purpose. The game even flatout states that said difficult is for "Those who enjoy pain".

Also, how else do you propose the game would become more difficult, if not by powering up the AI? I mean, that's the only way. They slap you with heavy starting penalties and give aliens boost they need.

On Impossible, Sectoids have 75 Aim. That is same as Thin Men on Classic. Essentially, treat all Sectoids as if they were Thin Men... who can get a boost from other Sectoids.

[JH]

Originally posted by Arthur:

Yes, it's probably called impossible for a reason, but that doesn't justify how lazily it's implemented. Rather than actually making the game more difficult, it seems as though Firaxis just made the AI more powerful, which isn't the way difficulty should be increased.

I really don't see any other options other than the things you are complaining about.

How else could the game be made more difficult other than more enemies and buffs.

Originally posted by Arthur:

Yes, it's probably called impossible for a reason

Yah think ?

[himmatsj]

The ♥♥♥♥ dude? You haven't even completed the game on Normal or Classic difficulties, and here you come around having the gall to ♥♥♥♥♥ about Impossible?

All three require you to have different playstyles, and I am fairly certain that most of us need to stat on Normal, then Classic, and only if you wish to be tormented, Impossible. Though, some guys go straight to Classic (usually XCOM vets).

[fredingue]

Yup ! But even in Classic mode you will go into frustration...especially if you hate just losing 1 soldier.

[DraKKuLL]

I'm XCOM vet and there's nothing wrong with impossible... is just impossible ( i believe you said the same ). But what's your point trying to beat the game on impossible if u cleary wouldn't be able to complete at classic? As I told before, I'm a vet on this game and the classic mode is BRUTAL... man, just try normal first.

[stormdragon789]

Actually he has a bit of a point. Snipers for instance such enough balls with them NEEDING to terget things at least twice their sight range to actually score a hit and in easy normal and classic the aliens aim is pretty pathetic.

The answer is not to uncrease the AI's power or bonuses because the previous three modes have pointed out that aliens suck, the better answer is to increase the number of opponents and the size of each pull because we're supposed to be dealing with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ invasion here! If they want to put in a hardore, realistic massochist mode it should be THE ALIENS ARE INVADING! FML! not, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, WHEN DID THEY LEARN TO AIM!?!?!

[himmatsj]

Originally posted by stormdragon789:

Actually he has a bit of a point. Snipers for instance such enough balls with them NEEDING to terget things at least twice their sight range to actually score a hit and in easy normal and classic the aliens aim is pretty pathetic.

The answer is not to uncrease the AI's power or bonuses because the previous three modes have pointed out that aliens suck, the better answer is to increase the number of opponents and the size of each pull because we're supposed to be dealing with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ invasion here! If they want to put in a hardore, realistic massochist mode it should be THE ALIENS ARE INVADING! FML! not, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, WHEN DID THEY LEARN TO AIM!?!?!

On Impossible, IT IS AN INVASION! Enemy numbers have been significantly increased, and they definitely tend to spawn when you are engaging an active pod.

And in addition to that, ONLY sectoids and outsiders get aim bonuses. And Sectoids get +1 HP while Thin Me and Floaters get +2.

[stormdragon789]

I was trying to point out that i didn't believe that the aliens should be buffed so much and i really didn't notice that big an increase in population. maybe 30%, but that was the increase from the previous two.

[ARi0S]

I always viewed it more as the AI acting more and more competitive.

Easy is like the game holding your hand, teaching you how to play.
Normal is understanding that you understand the concepts, but want a little help.
Classic is the game letting you go for it, as it was intented.
And on Impossible, the game doesn't ever hold back. You should be celebrating every single victory you can pull through, even with only one survivor. Because that means you're getting closer to victory.

After all, why would the game give you a victory when it tells you that Impossible is for those who find joy in suffering?

[stormdragon789]

...because if you ragequit the game you won't reccomend it to friends which is where most of their purchases come from?

I do understand what you're saying though

[Ethan - A true gentpornman!]

please return to normal or classic level and enjoy the game in a more relaxed style, or su ck the game's design up.... there are always some players want to test the hardest game level in every game, and they should not complain the game level because that is their own choice

[stormdragon789]

Personally though, while i quite enjoyed both this game and the DLC expansion, I think the game could have been much cooler if they'd kept and expanded upon a few of the GLOBAL WAR aspects from the origional.

[ThunderGr]

In EU Impossible, the first mission has 8 Sectoids, if I am not mistaken. I have not played EW impossible, yet. It is true I find Impossible rediculously difficult and the fact that you have to exploit the game's glitches in order to complete Impossible Ironman is a proof of that, in my opinion. I would rather have a difficulty level with more enemies(so, it *is* an invasion and you are ournumbered and outgunned) but, at least let me equip my squad anyway I want. Whatever, I understand the sentiment but the game is the way it is. If it was another way, it would be another game, I guess, or so I was told in another thread.

[Lucatiel]

Originally posted by ThunderGr:

In EU Impossible, the first mission has 8 Sectoids, if I am not mistaken. I have not played EW impossible, yet. It is true I find Impossible rediculously difficult and the fact that you have to exploit the game's glitches in order to complete Impossible Ironman is a proof of that, in my opinion. I would rather have a difficulty level with more enemies(so, it *is* an invasion and you are ournumbered and outgunned) but, at least let me equip my squad anyway I want. Whatever, I understand the sentiment but the game is the way it is. If it was another way, it would be another game, I guess, or so I was told in another thread.

Last time I attempted impossible, there were at least 12 sectoids.