What are the differences between difficulties?

[T3hScoT.]

I played the game in Hard for the first time and finished it. I did not enjoy it. Still, I'm still curious on what changes between difficulties.

The game recommending Hard mode was a load of bull. As much as I like the atmosphere, tension and horror it established; it went all down the drain once you start to die too much where it only becomes frustrating as the game devolves into reloading a save until you already know what to do and until random occurrences becomes less antagonizing to your situation.

[Nastly Gross Tunnel]

the real difficulty comes in nightmare mode and when you are actively trying NOT to die. That's where the pressure comes and the unpredictability of alies comes

[T3hScoT.]

Originally posted by DONT QUIT:

the real difficulty comes in nightmare mode and when you are actively trying NOT to die. That's where the pressure comes and the unpredictability of alies comes

I'm not really interested in having a more difficult game. I'm mostly wondering if there's at a least difficulty that is not too frustrating but still challenging. Hard mode is definitely not that. It's a game that I would recommend to other people if I could also recommend to them an appropriate difficulty that will deliver an appropriate horror experience which won't devolve to frustration.

[LeGuell]

The only difference I've noticed between hard and nightmare is that nightmare has fewer resources and no Map..
If you're looking for a challenge, try the Insane AI Mod from Nexus Mods. This is now my 'normal' mode

[Vzzdak]

Harder difficulty also has faster unlock of the decision tree that the alien uses when hunting you.

On normal difficulty, the decision tree would unlock more gradually over the course of the game, though it will also "learn faster" if you get repetitive in how you hide.

[T3hScoT.]

Originally posted by Vzzdak:

Harder difficulty also has faster unlock of the decision tree that the alien uses when hunting you.

On normal difficulty, the decision tree would unlock more gradually over the course of the game, though it will also "learn faster" if you get repetitive in how you hide.

Are there also difference when it comes to damage you take and items? For me the only actual problem was the Alien while the rest was acceptable. I'm also planning to play the rest of the DLC game but I don't want to make the same mistake of choosing a difficulty that ruins the horror.

[LeGuell]

Originally posted by Vzzdak:

Harder difficulty also has faster unlock of the decision tree that the alien uses when hunting you.

On normal difficulty, the decision tree would unlock more gradually over the course of the game, though it will also "learn faster" if you get repetitive in how you hide.

You may be right .. I didn't notice any difference. The big difference is not noticeable. You can still hide behind tables and even chairs ... that's so ridiculous! This no longer works in the Insane AI Mod. You're not safe, even under tables!
The only safe place are lockers

[jafri]

Originally posted by T3hScoT.:

Originally posted by DONT QUIT:

the real difficulty comes in nightmare mode and when you are actively trying NOT to die. That's where the pressure comes and the unpredictability of alies comes

I'm not really interested in having a more difficult game. I'm mostly wondering if there's at a least difficulty that is not too frustrating but still challenging. Hard mode is definitely not that. It's a game that I would recommend to other people if I could also recommend to them an appropriate difficulty that will deliver an appropriate horror experience which won't devolve to frustration.

I play at the lowest difficulty Novice and I find it challanging and even too dificult sometimes

[Bolt]

Difficulty mainly controls how much damage enemies deal. Other than that there isn't much to it. Nightmare is the only difficulty that actually really changes the game because throughout the entire game you get almost no supplies to craft anything with at all. To me the nightmare run was the most boring of them all ! Can't do this, can't do that. Ugh ! I'd rather play on hard, which is the difficulty setting that this game recommends.

[$2 Hero]

Does the alien actually change tactics or will it always hit you in certain rooms?

[T3hScoT.]

Originally posted by Hollow:

Difficulty mainly controls how much damage enemies deal. Other than that there isn't much to it. Nightmare is the only difficulty that actually really changes the game because throughout the entire game you get almost no supplies to craft anything with at all. To me the nightmare run was the most boring of them all ! Can't do this, can't do that. Ugh ! I'd rather play on hard, which is the difficulty setting that this game recommends.

My biggest problem with the difficulty of the Alien is there is actually no way to "git gud". The game just becomes a wait fest and instead of being afraid of the game I am more horrified of the thought that the AI would just decide not to go away to the area that I need to go which forces me to wait for minutes. The rewire system could have added more gameplay but that was implemented poorly and was even underused as if the game forgot that it existed.

In order to "survive" the only way is to basically play the game less, a waiting game.

[$2 Hero]

Originally posted by T3hScoT.:

Originally posted by Hollow:

Difficulty mainly controls how much damage enemies deal. Other than that there isn't much to it. Nightmare is the only difficulty that actually really changes the game because throughout the entire game you get almost no supplies to craft anything with at all. To me the nightmare run was the most boring of them all ! Can't do this, can't do that. Ugh ! I'd rather play on hard, which is the difficulty setting that this game recommends.

My biggest problem with the difficulty of the Alien is there is actually no way to "git gud". The game just becomes a wait fest and instead of being afraid of the game I am more horrified of the thought that the AI would just decide not to go away to the area that I need to go which forces me to wait for minutes. The rewire system could have added more gameplay but that was implemented poorly and was even underused as if the game forgot that it existed.

In order to "survive" the only way is to basically play the game less, a waiting game.

You ever play Stalker? The AI in those games is legendary. It's why I haven't got this game yet cause im afraid of some scripted alien.

[T3hScoT.]

Originally posted by Nubcity:

Originally posted by T3hScoT.:

My biggest problem with the difficulty of the Alien is there is actually no way to "git gud". The game just becomes a wait fest and instead of being afraid of the game I am more horrified of the thought that the AI would just decide not to go away to the area that I need to go which forces me to wait for minutes. The rewire system could have added more gameplay but that was implemented poorly and was even underused as if the game forgot that it existed.

In order to "survive" the only way is to basically play the game less, a waiting game.

You ever play Stalker? The AI in those games is legendary. It's why I haven't got this game yet cause im afraid of some scripted alien.

Not yet but thanks for the recommendation! I'll probably try it when I get the chance.

The AI in this game from people who like the game is overrating it too much. You can see discussions on how complex the AI is but you never really notice it. The only thing that I noticed is that AI pathing is just unpredictable and is not just limited to the alien itself but also exist with other enemies as well. The biggest problem is that it starts to only become luck based and there's almost no way to react properly when sh*t hits the fan (until you get the flamethrower, kinda) and all you can do is just die. Maybe because I played it on Hard mode which is something I STRONGLY NOT recommend as it only becomes annoying.

What I do love is that you should always be careful and keep listening as there is always a chance that the alien will suddenly pop out of a seemingly safe area. You'll always hear noises that something is moving in the vents which is why you should try to avoid using guns or being noisy as much as possible. This is less AI and feels more like a spawn mechanic. That being said there are actual scripted areas where the Alien will keep patrolling the corridors but with an unpredictable path.

[LeGuell]

The (double) AI is very good for a game from 2014 and largely better than the AI in many current games.

But the alien doesn't really "learn" ... Depending on the style of play, the animation and behavior tree will be unlocked differently and at different speeds and gives the player the feeling that the Xenomorph is adapting its behavior.

An example: Before you roast the alien with the flamethrower for the first time, its behavior is still normal. Later you don't even need to fire - just lift the flamethrower and the alien will stop immediately. This gives you the chance to quickly lock a door, for example.

Even for someone like me, with over 450 hours of gameplay, there are always surprises and I cannot always accurately predict the behavior of the alien. Whereby certain behavior patterns are repeated and can be foreseen with a little experience.

Acoustics also play an important role and after so many hours of play I can often predict the coming situation based on sounds.

For this reason I only play the Insane AI Mod, as everything else is too easy for me. The senses (hearing, seeing) of the Xenomorph are extremely sharpened and the alien does not forgive any mistakes you make.

[T3hScoT.]

Originally posted by LeGuell:

The (double) AI is very good for a game from 2014 and largely better than the AI in many current games.

With whatever complexity it is that was coded within the AI it didn't really feel like it was advanced as the gameplay didn't really compliment it well. The game should've given a chance for the player to observe the alien "learning" without dying over and over. To me it felt more like the Alien AI was just getting harder because I'm going further through the game which is typical for any games. Also storywise, it doesn't make a lot of sense as it is later revealed that there are more than one creature therefore the alien that's chasing you could probably be a completely new one.

Originally posted by LeGuell:

Before you roast the alien with the flamethrower for the first time, its behavior is still normal. Later you don't even need to fire - just lift the flamethrower and the alien will stop immediately. This gives you the chance to quickly lock a door, for example.

This was actually interesting and an important thing that I learned in the game but unfortunately I was already at the last parts. I'll probably try it with the next dlc games.

[eZudo]

If you have not actually tried it, I advise you to give the Unpredictable Alien AI mod a try. That mod loosens the aliens leash somewhat, preventing it from always being tethered to your near location. It still comes if you make noise, or on some scripted sequences where the story needs it to appear, but apart from that it actually does move away from you further etc if it did not notice you.