Current Events > What are some games with a well-balanced "hardest" difficulty level?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just thinking about this because I'm considering giving up on BotW's Master Mode after putting ~20 hours in -- I've found that I'm avoiding pretty much all combat because it really isn't worth the risk and weapon durability, and now the game is significantly less fun. I know it'll probably get better late-game, but I can't really see myself enjoying the grind enough to make that worth it, especially after putting in like almost 200 hours into the standard mode.

So this got me thinking, When did I really feel adequately challenged (and rewarded) from a "difficulty" standpoint? and I suppose for me I really liked the original Halo trilogy's Legendary modes. It was difficult enough that I really was forced to think about every combat scenario on every level -- but IMO, the resulting story beats and "badass" moments engaged me enough to make it worth the hassle. One thing though -- screw those sniper jackals -- they were the cheapest little bastards on Legendary.
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Doom (2016)
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Ive found theYs series does it perfect
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Rock Band

>___>
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HydroCannabinol posted...

Ive found theYs series does it perfect

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GATTJT posted...

Rock Band

>___>

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WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain. It's one of those games where even on the easy difficulty, the AI will destroy you if you let it.
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Metal Gear Solid 1~3 seem to do difficulty levels really well.
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Most fighting games have a pretty good difficulty slider for ai.

The only time it's bullshit is when you've got an unbalanced boss character at the end like Shao Kahn or even worse The General.
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Etrian Odyssey.
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Kid Icarus uprising

The Witcher three

Xcom.

Not to many tbh. Most are just health and damage sliders.

Ys
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (JP exclusive Maniac, not the butchered NA Hard) and Radiant Dawn
Terraria Expert Mode
Atelier series hard modes

TheMarthKoopa posted...

Ys
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (JP exclusive Maniac, not the butchered NA Hard) and Radiant Dawn
Terraria Expert Mode
Atelier series hard modes

Not radiant Dawn. Dawn brigade is trash to the point where it can become unwinnable on harder beasts levels, and Ike ensure the grill mercenaries are going to have an easy time. The Crimea army got har who really simplify the combat.

Viewtiful Joe. Difficult as hell, but it was fair.
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Teddytalks posted...

Dawn brigade is trash to the point where it can become unwinnable on harder beasts levels

Get good, it's hard mode

and Ike ensure the grill mercenaries are going to have an easy time. The Crimea army got har who really simplify the combat.

If you want to play the boring way and set it up for either of them to solo

TheMarthKoopa posted...

Teddytalks posted...

Dawn brigade is trash to the point where it can become unwinnable on harder beasts levels

Get good, it's hard mode

and Ike ensure the grill mercenaries are going to have an easy time. The Crimea army got har who really simplify the combat.

If you want to play the boring way and set it up for either of them to solo

It is doable if you Batman it and plan, otherwise, it is frustrating needlessly. Perfectly unbalanced as they are to weak to do anything, hence why they get burger king to help their sorry asses out.

Boring=/= not hard. Both characters trivialize their respective combat gauntlets, and Geoffrey cleans up what har can't because he isn't there, and the laguz. You can't recommend such a horribly unbalanced game. Gtfo

DoomSwell posted...

Metal Gear Solid 1~3 seem to do difficulty levels really well.

yes

also it's not the hardest but the specialist mode in Infinite Warfare was super fun, it added a lot to the game.
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Teddytalks posted...

Boring=/= not hard. Both characters trivialize their respective combat gauntlets, and Geoffrey cleans up what har can't because he isn't there, and the laguz. You can't recommend such a horribly unbalanced game. Gtfo

I don't think you've actually played it on the hardest mode

ChromaticAngel posted...

Most fighting games have a pretty good difficulty slider for ai.

The only time it's bullshit is when you've got an unbalanced boss character at the end like Shao Kahn or even worse The General.

fuckin jinpachi and azazel come to mind as unfair.
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TheMarthKoopa posted...

Teddytalks posted...

Boring=/= not hard. Both characters trivialize their respective combat gauntlets, and Geoffrey cleans up what har can't because he isn't there, and the laguz. You can't recommend such a horribly unbalanced game. Gtfo

I don't think you've actually played it on the hardest mode

Neither have you, if ike starting with 23 speed and 21 might with the ett*rd doesn't automatically make his mode easy. Geoffrey of course doesn't stomps everything, but he makes the game easy enough you can't really call it hard.

Teddytalks posted...

Neither have you

I've played it dozens of times using all sorts of characters and it's pretty well balanced

if ike starting with 23 speed and 21 might with the ett*rd doesn't automatically make his mode easy

I don't play the boring way and have a single character turtle his way through everything. I play for efficiency and low turn counts

Geoffrey of course doesn't stomps everything, but he makes the game easy enough you can't really call it hard.

Where are you getting this idea that he's anything but average as fuck

Oh yeah, I forgot you are that guy who don't understand opinions aren't fact and think Low turn runs are the only valid way of playing. Plz don't listen.

Fire Emblem 6 and 7 got quite an enjoyable Hard Mode. Sacred Stones is also there, but it isn't that much different from normal.

Megaman X5, X6 and X8 got some cool Hard Modes too, X6 in particular (even if the Maverick Stages are kind of off putting).
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Almost any version of Tetris and/or Dr. Mario.

Lots of other puzzle games totally break at higher difficulties. Ie, Puyo Puyo.
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Mass effect 2+3. I always liked the way it primarily changed enemy defense and behavior rather than just massively upping damage and hp, made playing on max difficulty a more interesting experience
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Frolex posted...

Mass effect 2+3. I always liked the way it primarily changed enemy defense and behavior rather than just massively upping damage and hp, made playing on max difficulty a more interesting experience

That sounds like a great way to do it. Making enemies on hard damage sponges is poor design. Forcing you to play smarter is the way to go. Like the newer Xcom games. If you play on the hardest setting, you better make sure you are getting under full cover every turn, and never give the aliens a chance to flank you.
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Actraiser 2 for Super Nintendo

only way to get the real ending and to fight Satan at the end one on one
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Uncharted
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Up
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