I feel like the increased difficulty levels aren't well designed at all.

[Goonbag]

Take a Fromsoft game for example, it is difficult but with some practice and learning patterns, you are able to grow with the difficulty and improve as a player.

But with the Helldivers 2 difficulties, from >=6, it's rather artificial. Give more armoured enemies, and have them spam spawn more, that's not well made difficulty, that's artificial difficulty.

I don't expect it to be trivial, but I don't expect it to be unlimited dropships and heavy armour to be the answer to increased difficulty.

Borderlands 3 had the same issue with difficulty tiers, they weren't balanced properly, instead they just gave enemies more HP and damage.

Edit: not HP, I should say more armoured enemy spam.

[Fractured]

Does HP increase? I thought the HP stayed the same honestly.

[Goonbag]

Originally posted by Fractured:

Does HP increase? I thought the HP stayed the same honestly.

Actually no, it's just more damage resistant enemy types.

[Nazara]

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

[Goonbag]

Originally posted by Nazara:

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

[GoatseWithTheAwesomeSauce]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Originally posted by Nazara:

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

fromsoft games are the definition of artificial difficulty

[Gharvar]

Team comp makes a world of difference, you need people able to clear all the smaller enemies fast and people that can deal with armor. Of course it'll be hard if only one guy has anti armor stuff.

[Lunaire]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Take a Fromsoft game for example, it is difficult but with some practice and learning patterns, you are able to grow with the difficulty and improve as a player.

lol? Just level up and cheese the game. That's where the "difficulty" in Fromsoft games come from.
People started to play those without taking that into concideration. When dark souls first got released on PC, you had people complaining about difficulty too. Then, they learned how to play the games.
Kind of appropriate that you compared the two. As I'm seeing the same thing happen here.
+ we don't have all of the stratagems from the previous game yet and I think the devs designed the current diff levels with what they plan on releasing later on, in mind.

[Fractured]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Originally posted by Nazara:

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

So I'm honestly going to ask. What would you prefer? What would make hte difficulty increase better?

[Chaos]

Idk, From game expect you to git gud by learning to dodge and learn proper timing to attack.

This game expect you to git gud learning to pick the right gears for the right job and some situational awareness.
But why compare them in the first place tho? it's not even the same genre.

[Oku]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Originally posted by Nazara:

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

Y'all heard a youtuber say that in a very specific context years ago and you just apply it to anything now. Stop using terms you don't know the meanings of.

[Mosey]

Guy tells tales of games where experience made the players better able to handle higher difficulty, but doesn't give this game the time that might be required to get better at it.

Yeah, ok, if you're trying to call yourself out on this one I guess that's your business.

[Nocturnalx36]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Originally posted by Nazara:

HP stays the same. The things that change are variables like heavy units and horde intensity.

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

The gameplay in general I agree is a bit half baked, but it's got good bones mechanically. My issue mainly is that the increase in rewards does not justify the increase in difficulty past extreme. Granted challenging yourself is fun, but if there's no purpose it just feels empty.

You're also comparing drastically different genres which is a bit of an issue in my opinion. You're comparing a game that is specifically designed around one difficulty level with an entirely skill based combat system. Helldivers 2 has difficulty settings, which means it's trying to cater to a wide audience of players. The game already has different enemy types depending on difficulty, I never even saw a bile titan before extreme.

They can only add so many new enemies, abilities, etc based on difficulty setting. I think the issue, personally, is a lack of varied enemy types, specifically for the bugs. The Automatons feel a lot more dynamic to fight.

Add some flying bugs, bugs that have like, bio guns, mortars, etc. Maybe bio weapons where you need to put on a biohazard mask or escape the area. Ultimately I think though you're expecting something from the difficulty settings that aren't in the scope of the game.

[XGUNNARX]

its fine play at a lower level if you cant handle it. then go up..

[Goonbag]

Originally posted by Oku:

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Yep, basically artificial difficulty.

Y'all heard a youtuber say that in a very specific context years ago and you just apply it to anything now. Stop using terms you don't know the meanings of.

What YouTuber? Sounds like you don't know the meaning of it yourself.

"Artificial Difficulty (also referred to as Fake Difficulty) is a term which is used to describe 'cheap' methods of creating difficulty used in games to increase the likelihood of failure. "

= more armoured enemy spam, more enemy spam in general.

[BRYWALL]

Originally posted by Sonichu:

Take a Fromsoft game for example, it is difficult but with some practice and learning patterns, you are able to grow with the difficulty and improve as a player.

But with the Helldivers 2 difficulties, from >=6, it's rather artificial. Give more armoured enemies, and have them spam spawn more, that's not well made difficulty, that's artificial difficulty.

I don't expect it to be trivial, but I don't expect it to be unlimited dropships and heavy armour to be the answer to increased difficulty.

Borderlands 3 had the same issue with difficulty tiers, they weren't balanced properly, instead they just gave enemies more HP and damage.

Edit: not HP, I should say more armoured enemy spam.

Skill Issue. Go back to easy mode on Elden Ring.