LogFAQs > #951132154

I've been gaming since the NES days, and I know that some games do have OPTIONAL Easy Modes for anyone new to the game. Games like Duck Tales on the NES and Turtles in Time on the SNES had difficulty modes. Easy was for newcomers, Normal was for more seasoned gamers, and Hard was for the dedicated. And there were games with even crazier difficulty modes.

And back then, I did not hear a peep of complaint about difficulty options. We knew what option we chose, and we were happy about it.

Nowadays, I've been hearing gamers whine and complain about the OPTION for an Easy Difficulty mode. Especially with word going out that Final Fantasy 16 will have an OPTIONAL Easy mode, for anyone who wants to enjoy the story or enjoy the game. And that anyone who is in favor of an easy mode is NOT a true gamer.

Could someone explain to me the logic of that argument? That easy modes make you a fake gamer, even though they existed long before the Internet was widely available? What is wrong with having an easy mode, especially if it was truly OPTIONAL, and you had harder difficulties as compensation for those who are willing to test their skills against what the game throws at them? If Easy Modes were a bad thing, then gaming companies would have a hard time selling to the masses if the games were totally unfair to them.

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I try to laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes.