News

Hutchinson: I don't believe in easy difficulty modes
Posted: 04.09.2012 06:25 by JonahFalcon Comments: 10
Assassin’s Creed 3 creative director Alex Hutchinson doesn't believe in "easy modes", and thinks that they ruin the experience.


According to Hutchinson, “A lot of games have been ruined by easy modes. If you have a cover shooter and you switch it to easy and you don’t have to use cover, you kind of broke your game. You made a game that is essentially the worst possible version of your game.”

He went on to use the analogy, “It’s like if I picked up a book and it said, ‘Do you want the easy version or the complicated version?’”

The analogy seems to be tortured since game stories don't change depending on the difficulty level, and such titles as Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mass Effect 3 have used easy difficulties to allow players to enjoy the stories without having to sweat combat. In fact, Deus Ex: Human Revolution's mode is called "Tell Me A Story" while Mass Effect 3 offers a "Story Mode".

The entire game difficulty issue has come into focus with Dark Souls director Hidetaka Mizayaki stating he was thinking of adding an easy mode to his game.

Hutchinson recently complained that Japanese developers were given a pass by the press for when they released "rubbish" while Western developers weren't.
Source: VG247

Comments

By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
SirRoderick
I agree with him ^^

Might as well just watch a movie really, if you're going to essentially skip the gameplay. If you just want to diddle about, play a game like angry birds, not Mass Effect!
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
nocutius
For most games I agree, but there are exceptions. Sometimes the gameplay is actually in the way of you finishing the game, in those cases an easy mode is nice to have.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
JonahFalcon
Or I just want to experience the story mode, without worrying about combat.

When a game gets too difficult and there's no God mode, I just quit playing.
By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Sep 04, 2012
Xyfer117
I dont mind having the option because I'll always choose the harder modes anyway.
By lichlord (SI Core) on Sep 04, 2012
lichlord
if its just a choice a player can take so let em add it those who want the story can go their while those who also want to enjoy a challenge can take the harder ones

leave it to ubisoft directors to actually think about that easy mode would ruin it lol its a choice so why should the guy worry for f*ck sake...
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
SirRoderick
It's an elitist thing...you wouldn't understand.

:P
By lichlord (SI Core) on Sep 04, 2012
lichlord
i played the UT series from old to new on godlike difficulty i played about 90% of the games ive played on its hardest don't give me the elitist bs :P

i just don't mind if theirs an easy diff on the game i chose the diffs and theirs nothing else to discuss on it it tbh
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
nocutius
One percenters, get em!
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2012
SirRoderick
*sips his tea*

As I said, an elitist thing. *tips hat*
By HenoKutus (SI Core) on Sep 05, 2012
HenoKutus
I played all the Mass Effect titles on Insanity and Call of Duty series on veteran,easy mode is for annoying games that you just want to play fast to get to the ending because you already have money invested in it.