636
Anon is looking for a new video game (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 years ago by [M] to c/greentext@sh.itjust.works
89 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 1 point 2 years ago (2 children)

There are still plenty of mechanically difficult games, such as:

  • Titan Souls - you and bosses have 1HP
  • Cuphead
  • Celeste

There are plenty more, but each of those is mechanically difficult and there's no way to grind to make up for lack of skill. Dark Souls is an honorable mention here because you can make up for some lack of skill by finding better gear, but it's still more on the end of "mechanically difficult" than "numbers difficult."

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Finding better gear isn’t number difficulty

    Mechanical difficulty is your entry barrier

    You want low mechanical difficulty because it’s easy for the player to pick up and start learning

    Titan Souls - you and bosses have 1HP

    If that’s what makes it hard then it’s a number difficulty - a clue is that you used a number. If you gave the player god mode then would it still be as hard? If so then it’s mechanically difficult

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    If that’s what makes it hard then it’s a number difficulty

    I disagree. Giving both the player and bosses 1HP means there are no numbers because one hit kills you (and them). So the only way to adjust difficulty is through mechanics, as in boss movesets, constraints on controls, etc. It's quite literally the opposite of a "numbers" game.

    The opposite would be a typical JRPG. Bosses are more difficult if you're under-leveled, easier if you're over-leveled. Getting better stats, gear, etc makes the game easier because you have better numbers, so grinding is encouraged if you're having trouble.

    In short:

    • "numbers" - adjust difficulty by adjusting access to better numbers (XP, gear, abilities, etc); players improve by grinding XP, gold, etc
    • "mechanics" - adjust difficulty by adjusting mechanics (movesets, speed, variety of enemies on screen, etc); players improve by practicing
  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent