Games Getting Harder? 25 Year Old Brain Slowing Down?

[Stewart]

Its freezing cold, I'm skint and have a bit of a head cold, so no going out tonight, no mates around. Nothing on TV either so I'm having a blast on the 360.

Now, I just can't do anything.

94% complete on Gotham 3, but the last few Platinums are beyond me; the Cone Challenges are way too hard on Plat, can't do a few of the remaining Hot Laps either.

Dead or Alive 4 remains a mystery to me. Constantly countered by the AI, consistently taken apart at the joints by Alpha 152, can't get anywhere near the 50 wins needed in survival for a *silver* medal, with 39 wins my best.

Can't unlock any more belts on Mutant Storm, even though you only need to survive the first 20 levels without dieing on the highest belt you have.

Can't get a black perl on Hexic.

Can't do even the first mission on perfect agent on Perfect Dark Zero.

Can't get level 1 master on Smash TV.

Games getting harder or am I just crap?

[ExceededGoku]

I am going to go for a mixture of both, games aren't necessarily harder but the goals are aimed higher. If it was easy evceryone on Xbox Live would have tons of gamer points and it would become rediculous. Just be happy you got the games as finished as you have done , you finished them didn't you? Give yourself a pat on the back old man

[CocoPops]

I took DOA4 back today, it's the most frustrating game I've EVER played.........


Just didn't get on with it at all.

[ExceededGoku]

What didn't you like about it? I am still undecided on whether I should get it or not

[Stewart]

Right, this is the deal with Dead or Alive 4 - you have to accept a certain amount of randomness. You have to be ready to lose rounds where there is nothing you can do.

The AI will counter you to death sometimes, and there is nothing you can do about it. High attacks, low attacks, quick, slow, whatever. It just happens.

The boss will kick you all over the screen. Just have to keep plugging away.

If you like precise gameplay, then you wont enjoy this game. Its too crazy, too quirky, too random.

If you just go with it, its a mildly fun button masher. Might even have a bit of depth to it.

But for 99% of people, its just going to leave you scratching your head, wondering whats going on, wondering why the AI is so dodgy.

Its not Street Fighter II. Its not fit to lace Street Fighter IIs boots.

It is the only fighting game avalible though, and it looks good. Get it, just don't expect too much and be prepared for *the* most frustating gaming experiance in the history of gaming.

I've owned it for a while now, and I can play a bit with Hayate and Zack, but most of the time when I lose, I have no idea what I could have done to avoid it.

Not so bad against another person, but the AI is sick. Not tough, just cheap and irritating.

Don't get this if you want a fighting game that makes sense. This game makes no sense, but still is *just about* fun; but its bitter sweet.

[JimNastics]

Its not Street Fighter II. Its not fit to lace Street Fighter IIs boots.

A-god damn-men to that... I'm 24 and can feel your pain. I've just plugged my old N64 in for some Mario Kart 64 action, life was so much easier in the 90's

[Stewart]

And soon the forever the champ fighting game will be with us on the live aracde. And I will more than make up for the beating I've been getting on Dead or Alive by laying what can only be described as the smack down on anyone who wants it.

Been a while since I've played, but after a few rounds I'll be back in the groove with Ken, and then I'll enjoy playing a proper beat em up again.

Mario Kart 64 was good, but the SNES original is the one for me. I was untouchable on that, back in the day.

[Pirate Pete]

games are getting easier as far as i can see

pete

[dkmech]

I think what you are saying, Stewart, is that games on the "impossible" setting and the very last of special bonuses are hard. Well DUH!!! Thats the whole point. You have completed the game on normal/hard/whatever - i think thats as much as you can expect. You can try the harder settings but you aren't guaranteed to succeed. Thats all.

[directhex]

i'd say they're getting easier too.

it might be hard to get 100% completion on modern games - but try just getting past level 1 of Captain Planet and the Planeteers on NES

[DavidM]

Or level 1 of airwolf.

[Zak33]

not only are they getting harder, they're losing "balance" in some cases.

However, some are scaling well for the less "efficient" killing machine ie: me

Examples.....I used to aim to start a game at the second from hardest level, and then go back and do it at its hardest.

Now I start at a low settting for one level and the restart if its not a challenge after one stage. I see no point at all in having a game that simply makes you angry. Games are "fun" and we must remember that.

With the xception of IL-2 that still keeps me awake at nights reliving my burning deaths over and over....3 years on !

[Lee H]

I have days like that and I expect most gamers do too.

For example Counter-Strike, some days I can hit the head of a needle with the scout from 200 yards away and some days I turn into Andrew Cole and couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo.

I've found playing with cold hands is a factor in this, be nice and warm and this helps get the response times down a lot

I also found playing hung over or the day after a clubbing session is not worth it. Instead sleep and you'll be back pwning in no time

[bertie]

Just HOW good are you at SF2 Stewart? I've seen you boast a few times and I'd like to see you prove it
Are you like, as good as regular Japanese arcade-goers?

(Not saying i'm good at all and I don't own a 360)

[Ferral]

This is something I mentioned to Nick on the phone a few weeks back. I have found that the games are actually much shorter than what they used to be (Unreal 2 single player I done in around 7 hours so £30 for that was a bit much albeit really good) and due to this I personally feel they are making them more difficult to try and make them last longer.

Alot of the first person games as of late I have had to put on an easier skill level as when I start on normal its playable and manageable for the first hour or so then the difficulty just goes to high instantly on a new level.

[sawyen]

if you hate DOA4's random shyt.. you'll love Tekken 5.. believe me...

Tekken 5 gathering at Meadowhall this weekend anyone?