You’ve surely seen memes and read comments arguing that old games were far better than modern ones. They emphasize that, in the past, players had to face much more demanding challenges. Are new games really too easy?
More difficult games earn more money
When gamers of today try to play some releases developed 25 or 30 years ago, they may find them extremely hard. That’s a fact, but it doesn’t mean that those games were better. Many classic releases, including Dragon’s Lair, Art of Fighting, and Super Mario, had a reason to be difficult. Arcade games were relatively short but forced players to insert a new coin every time they ran out of credits. Therefore, in order to make money, these games had to be impossible to complete on a single try. Players were forced to spend tons of quarters to complete popular titles or take their place on a leaderboard.
Games were smaller
Another reason why old games are more challenging is that they’re shorter because they were produced by small teams or even single-handedly. For example, Éric Chahi developed the famous Another World on his own. It would be impossible to make a bigger game in such conditions. Increasing the difficulty level was an efficient way to extend the gameplay.
Lack of time
The demography has changed. Video games are no longer children’s toys. Most gamers have jobs and families; hence, they don’t have much time to play. Moreover, they want gaming to be relaxing. Games like Uncharted or Tomb Raider answer this call, providing players with entertaining yet casual gameplay.
There are more games
The number of video games released each year has increased. Even for the most avid gamers, it’s impossible to play every new title. Major publishers compete for our time, and they know that they’ll lose this fight if they release a frustrating game. Additionally, easy games can be completed faster. Therefore, you can experience more virtual journeys if they don’t require you to replay the same encounter or combat multiple times. Finally, many video games developed in recent years emphasize stories. It’s almost impossible to follow a compelling tale when you spend hours trying to defeat a single enemy.
Difficulty levels
Most old games had just one preset difficulty, while today’s releases offer numerous levels to choose from. Moreover, players can change various in-game settings, such as opponents’ IQ, aiming assistance, etc. As a result, even if a game’s default difficulty isn’t particularly great, players may change it to get a more demanding challenge.
Challenging games aren’t an extinct species
It’s also worth mentioning that not all modern games are easy. There are many demanding releases. For instance, FromSoftware games such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Sekiro put a lot of emphasis on demanding fights. By the way, it’s not a coincidence that Elden Ring, a game that gives players many ways to level up and increase their chances against bosses, has become the most popular and best-selling Soulslike title.
Furthermore, roguelike games containing the permanent death feature can be described as challenging. Besides, it’s a good idea to look beyond AAA games. There are many indie games perfect for patient players who don’t mind retrying levels countless times.
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