Poll of the Day > remember how older games used to remove levels if you played on easy mode

(+) Yeah! (+)

im glad they stopped doing that
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Golden Axe instantly comes to mind. I was not good enough as a child to ever beat it on normal difficulty. it removed like the last 2-3 levels. making it so you could never beat the actual final boss

and i'll second the idea of being glad it stopped, i'm all for putting unlock-able content being tied to beating the game at a particular difficulty, but down rob someone of the full game experience just because they ain't good enough.

though mega man 9 or 10 I wanna say had a decent middle ground. it didn't remove levels but it removed some enemies and pitfalls.(basically put a platform over them)
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I guess you're trying to get people to respond with "lol casual" or something, but I definitely DO appreciate it when there's more content on the harder difficulties. Goldeneye having more mission objectives is a good example. I also remember in Buster Busts Loose, that there were more levels on the harder difficulties, and it sure made it a lot more worth playing on hard.
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Sahuagin posted...

I guess you're trying to get people to respond with "lol casual" or something, but I definitely DO appreciate it when there's more content on the harder difficulties. Goldeneye having more mission objectives is a good example. I also remember in Buster Busts Loose, that there were more levels on the harder difficulties, and it sure made it a lot more worth playing on hard.

more mission objectives i'm fine with as that was part of what made it more difficult. (sure the later levels in golden axe where more difficult. but what you said made even the first mission harder on more points than just damage buffs/nerfs and enemies) and overall i'm fine with it today, but when I was a kid I hated it. so i'll atleast amend my statement to it shouldn't be a thing in a game geared towards being kid friendly.
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VioletMassacre posted...

The only game I can recall that does that is Timesplitters 2.

Micky Mouse Castle of Illusion did it, as well as Body Harvest. Beyond what has already been mentioned i can't think of anymore, unless we are going to include extra levels unlocked via difficulty.
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Darth_CiD posted...

as well as Body Harvest

I don't recall Body Harvest having difficulty modes at all, let alone ones that altered the game's levels...
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Panzer Dragoon did that as well
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I keep thinking some guitar hero games did it but now I'm not sure.

Sahuagin posted...

Darth_CiD posted...

as well as Body Harvest

I don't recall Body Harvest having difficulty modes at all, let alone ones that altered the game's levels...

It most definitely did, i think you had to put a particular name in, like with how you use cheats in the game. I remember using them when i played the game as a kid but it doesn't let you play pass America (zone 3).
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It's a method of padding for content. But I do kinda like new experiences for playing on higher difficulties.
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AwesomeTurtwig posted...

It's a method of padding for content. But I do kinda like new experiences for playing on higher difficulties.

I just don't really care for punishing someone whos less skilled by not letting them fully experience the game. i'm fine with other forms of content being locked behind difficulty though. like alt outfits, maybe a new playable character. artwork that can be viewed. maybe even a new game mode.
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AwesomeTurtwig posted...

It's a method of padding for content. But I do kinda like new experiences for playing on higher difficulties.

Not really the same thing as being described. It's not the fact that you gain content for playing on a difficulty higher than normal but thay you lose content for playing on a diffculty less than normal.
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Darth_CiD posted...

AwesomeTurtwig posted...

It's a method of padding for content. But I do kinda like new experiences for playing on higher difficulties.

Not really the same thing as being described. It's not the fact that you gain content for playing on a difficulty higher than normal but thay you lose content for playing on a diffculty less than normal.

yeah it even bugged me on SF 2 when I was a kid you had to play on a particular difficulty or up to see the character endings otherwise you got this somewhat condescending message about "thanks for playing. now try on a harder difficulty"

I didn't originally own the game and could only play it at my cousin's house so I didn't exactly have time to "get good" and once I did get the game it took me awhile to get good enough with everyone to see all the character endings. trying to do it with Dhalsim was a nightmare
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Darth_CiD posted...

It most definitely did, i think you had to put a particular name in, like with how you use cheats in the game. I remember using them when i played the game as a kid but it doesn't let you play pass America (zone 3).

looking it up, I do see that the game has a choice between Hero and Easy. I have no idea what they do. I've beaten the game, but I don't know for sure which mode I was on, but I assume it was Hero. If Easy stops at after America, I have no idea.
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I love Double Dragon II and many consider it the best DD game, but damn if it isn't bs how on the easy mode you only get to play like 1/4 of the game. It ends w/ the helicopter ride, I think, or somewhere around there.

Cuphead does so, and that just released.
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DeltaBladeX posted...

Cuphead does so, and that just released.

isn't that one of those games that go out of its way to be hard?
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VioletMassacre posted...

I just remembered that Resident Evil 4 lock out areas on easy.

it does? I never knew that. damn it. now I can't remember if I played on easy back when I played it. I was more prone to playing easy mode back in the day especially when it was a style of game I wasn't used to.
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Sahuagin posted...

Darth_CiD posted...

It most definitely did, i think you had to put a particular name in, like with how you use cheats in the game. I remember using them when i played the game as a kid but it doesn't let you play pass America (zone 3).

looking it up, I do see that the game has a choice between Hero and Easy. I have no idea what they do. I've beaten the game, but I don't know for sure which mode I was on, but I assume it was Hero. If Easy stops at after America, I have no idea.

Beyond that, i don't exactly know what else it changes, i just know that when i tried to replay it on normal i couldn't progress pass the 2nd timezone. Damn i need to replay that game.

mooreandrew58 posted...

VioletMassacre posted...

I just remembered that Resident Evil 4 lock out areas on easy.

it does? I never knew that. damn it. now I can't remember if I played on easy back when I played it. I was more prone to playing easy mode back in the day especially when it was a style of game I wasn't used to.

As far as i remember, it only locks you out of the maze garden before you meet Ada properly, bypassing about 10 minutes of gameplay. Why there as it isn't a particularly difficult area, idk.
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Eliminator Boat Duel removed levels if you played on harder difficulties.
I guess the logc was less levels means less money earned means less upgraded boat means a harder game.
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Oh, and Super Smash TV only allows you to play the first level if you play on Easy.
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Dinosaurs for hire comes to mind
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Streets of Rage 3 did this as well. Not sure about the other SoR games though.

I remember how, after beating the game on Easy, me and my cousin noticed the back of the game box had screenshots for levels we didn't go through. We figured out it was because of the difficulty levels even though we never bothered to play on anything other than Easy regardless.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

I just don't really care for punishing someone whos less skilled by not letting them fully experience the game. i'm fine with other forms of content being locked behind difficulty though. like alt outfits, maybe a new playable character. artwork that can be viewed. maybe even a new game mode.

If someone isn't very good at the game, why would they want to play the extra hard bonus levels so much anyway?
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Contra 3 does it as well.

I like it, it lets you get a sample of the game before you get to try the real thing. Older games are supposed to be played over and over again until you get good enough to beat them. Want the full experience? Play it on the proper difficulty level.
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Valkyrie Profile does this but it tells you when you choose the difficulty at the beginning, like play easy, get only a few dungeons and B/C ending, play normal get all dungeons A/B/C ending and finally play hard get all dungeons, A/B/C ending plus a couple extra characters.

Kinda bs anyways since you have to do some very specific stuff to get the A ending so eh, you wouldn't see the A ending unless you looked up on how to do it.
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I actually liked how they did that with Streets Of Rage 3.
I first got that game in 95 and kept thinking for years something was wrong with my game because on the box cover it showed the screen shots of the different levels ( Back then I didn't read the manual , I was just excited to get that game for Christmas )

Up until 2003 , I managed to beat the complete game with normal mode. Alot of people say that game is crazy hard, it's not hard for me I guess because I've become use to the enemies's fighting style so it's easier to kill them. SOR 2 was hard for me, that damn Bear Jr, and the guy that looks like Blanka from Street fighter.
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Shinebolt posted...

Streets of Rage 3 did this as well. Not sure about the other SoR games though.

I remember how, after beating the game on Easy, me and my cousin noticed the back of the game box had screenshots for levels we didn't go through. We figured out it was because of the difficulty levels even though we never bothered to play on anything other than Easy regardless.

LMAO ROTF I just said the same thing lol yup, I used to think it was only for the VS. round
I think SOR3 is one of those game that once you get used to beating on easy and work your way up with the difficulty it's easy as hell
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Golden Road posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

I just don't really care for punishing someone whos less skilled by not letting them fully experience the game. i'm fine with other forms of content being locked behind difficulty though. like alt outfits, maybe a new playable character. artwork that can be viewed. maybe even a new game mode.

If someone isn't very good at the game, why would they want to play the extra hard bonus levels so much anyway?

get the full experience? like say DMC would suck if some levels where locked into say dante must die mode.
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Well Devil May Cry was just trolling. Since you weren't locked from anything, but if you die twice at ANY point during your game, you get a huge big message with audio telling you that easy mode is now available. (why two times lol wtf?)

I don't mind games restricting levels on easier difficulty. In general I'd want a game to not have a difficulty setting anyway. You can't change the difficulty in fun games like Castlevania or Ninja Gaiden on Nintendo and we beat the games eventually. Developers will still troll us in some other way like Gradius (every stage & boss is hard as diamonds except the last boss who is the easiest thing you will encounter)
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blackhrt posted...

Well Devil May Cry was just trolling. Since you weren't locked from anything, but if you die twice at ANY point during your game, you get a huge big message with audio telling you that easy mode is now available. (why two times lol wtf?)

I don't mind games restricting levels on easier difficulty. In general I'd want a game to not have a difficulty setting anyway. You can't change the difficulty in fun games like Castlevania or Ninja Gaiden on Nintendo and we beat the games eventually. Developers will still troll us in some other way like Gradius (every stage & boss is hard as diamonds except the last boss who is the easiest thing you will encounter)

thought it was 3 times. and in some games you had to do that dying before a certain point. I remember 1 it was actually hard to unlock easy mode. I actually had to look up a guide for it lol. I always wanted easy mode in DMC games despite being good enough for at the very least hard mode. dante just seems like hes supposed to be unstoppable so I always wanted easy mode just to feel like a god so to speak. then i'd play other difficulties for the challenge afterwards.

I think I only managed dante must die mode in one game. wanna say 3 cause it was my favorite thus more likely the only one I felt compelled to get good at.
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Still even if it is three times, why did they bother to have a low number? We don't know how to use every weapon and move yet, of course we're going to slip up at some point.

I mentioned devil may cry because there was a old video online of someone getting to the last boss in devil may cry 3, the very last boss and the player died that 2nd/3rd time prompting the screen about the easier difficulty, um ok hes at the end!
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blackhrt posted...

Still even if it is three times, why did they bother to have a low number? We don't know how to use every weapon and move yet, of course we're going to slip up at some point.

I mentioned devil may cry because there was a old video online of someone getting to the last boss in devil may cry 3, the very last boss and the player died that 2nd/3rd time prompting the screen about the easier difficulty, um ok hes at the end!

idk as said though in 1 it was different. think you actually had to play into level 2 or 3, and had very specific condition to unlocking not all of which involved dying, think you had to use so many green stars or whatever in one of the levels, had to die so many times. think you had to use a gold orb in one level.

edit: just checked the page on this site and apparently i'm wrong. huh I remember it being harder than that. maybe it was just in in the ps3 port of it I had. but it still had to be done early game.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

blackhrt posted...

Still even if it is three times, why did they bother to have a low number? We don't know how to use every weapon and move yet, of course we're going to slip up at some point.

I mentioned devil may cry because there was a old video online of someone getting to the last boss in devil may cry 3, the very last boss and the player died that 2nd/3rd time prompting the screen about the easier difficulty, um ok hes at the end!

idk as said though in 1 it was different. think you actually had to play into level 2 or 3, and had very specific condition to unlocking not all of which involved dying, think you had to use so many green stars or whatever in one of the levels, had to die so many times. think you had to use a gold orb in one level.

edit: just checked the page on this site and apparently i'm wrong. huh I remember it being harder than that. maybe it was just in in the ps3 port of it I had. but it still had to be done early game.

And you all thought Demons Souls or Dark Souls was hard? Look at what pain @mooreandrew58 went through! 8D
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blackhrt posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

blackhrt posted...

Still even if it is three times, why did they bother to have a low number? We don't know how to use every weapon and move yet, of course we're going to slip up at some point.

I mentioned devil may cry because there was a old video online of someone getting to the last boss in devil may cry 3, the very last boss and the player died that 2nd/3rd time prompting the screen about the easier difficulty, um ok hes at the end!

idk as said though in 1 it was different. think you actually had to play into level 2 or 3, and had very specific condition to unlocking not all of which involved dying, think you had to use so many green stars or whatever in one of the levels, had to die so many times. think you had to use a gold orb in one level.

edit: just checked the page on this site and apparently i'm wrong. huh I remember it being harder than that. maybe it was just in in the ps3 port of it I had. but it still had to be done early game.

And you all thought Demons Souls or Dark Souls was hard? Look at what pain @mooreandrew58 went through! 8D

ha ha. yeah no. i've never even played those games. I don't mind a challenge in a game but the idea of a game thats going to make me bash my head against a wall doesn't sound appealing and as I edited my post as you see I was actually wrong and it was easier than my memory seemed to think
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SkynyrdRocker posted...

I keep thinking some guitar hero games did it but now I'm not sure.

no

easy was three buttons, normal was 4, hard was all 5, and insane was all 5 with a faster fret board
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VioletMassacre posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

it does? I never knew that. damn it. now I can't remember if I played on easy back when I played it. I was more prone to playing easy mode back in the day especially when it was a style of game I wasn't used to.

Darth_CiD posted...

As far as i remember, it only locks you out of the maze garden before you meet Ada properly, bypassing about 10 minutes of gameplay. Why there as it isn't a particularly difficult area, idk.

It's actually four areas.

* The maze, which you mentioned (and is one of my favourie areas).
* A couple of rooms just before you enter the large room where you'll meet Salazar for the first time. You must get the key there to get into the castle.
* One room full of armors where you must get the King's Grail. On easy you only must get the Queen's Grail.
* The clock tower between the Novistador hive and the place where you're hunted by Salazar's "right hand".

Also, the room just before the last one mentioned has two Garradors instead of just one.

The interesting thing is that it's only the castle that has things removed, the village and island is, to my knowledge, intact.

who was salazars right hing? sadly its been a long time since I played this game so hardly any of this is ringing any bells for me. just give me a name if he has one and I can google him myself.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

who was salazars right hing? sadly its been a long time since I played this game so hardly any of this is ringing any bells for me. just give me a name if he has one and I can google him myself.

If I remember right, it's one of the scariest parts of the game: a fast Predator-looking thing called The Verdugo chases you in the sewers and the way you kill him is by dropping gas cylinders to freeze him and then shoot him.
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jramirez23 posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

who was salazars right hing? sadly its been a long time since I played this game so hardly any of this is ringing any bells for me. just give me a name if he has one and I can google him myself.

If I remember right, it's one of the scariest parts of the game: a fast Predator-looking thing called The Verdugo chases you in the sewers and the way you kill him is by dropping gas cylinders to freeze him and then shoot him.

yeah I fought him. he wasn't in easy mode you say? huh coulda swore I had played easy mode at least once. did the gamecube version have difficulty settings?
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VioletMassacre posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

yeah I fought him. he wasn't in easy mode you say?

I think you misread what I wrote. I just specified an area that came before that part. No bosses were removed on easy mode.

oh well the way you wrote it made it sound that way. "and the place where you are hunted by salazars "right hand"

the whole fight felt like me running from him until the right moment, so it felt in a sense like being hunted.
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VioletMassacre posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

oh well the way you wrote it made it sound that way. "and the place where you are hunted by salazars "right hand"

Yeah, I read it the wrong way too now. >_> I don't know if I can phrase it better.

the whole fight felt like me running from him until the right moment, so it felt in a sense like being hunted.

I always save a rocket launcher for him, if I have the space.

I never used the rocket launcher much cept on "big" bosses or if I got the infinite launcher on a new game +
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VioletMassacre posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...
oh well the way you wrote it made it sound that way. "and the place where you are hunted by salazars "right hand"
Yeah, I read it the wrong way too now. >_> I don't know if I can phrase it better.

I read it wrong too and was going to say that sucked as it is one of the best parts of the game.

Just to be clear you mean the clock tower in which you have to shoot wood out of the cogs then fight a bunch of tnt guys on the way back down?

Still weird as apart from that clock tower section, none of them are particular difficult.
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helIy posted...

SkynyrdRocker posted...

I keep thinking some guitar hero games did it but now I'm not sure.

no

easy was three buttons, normal was 4, hard was all 5, and insane was all 5 with a faster fret board

I could've sworn one locked you out of the last tier of songs on easy but I guess not.