|
|
View previous topic :: View next topic
|
| Author |
Message |
Hot Stott Bot
banned
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Backwards difficulty curve |
  |
|
| Koji wrote: |
There has been some talk (now and in the IC days) about what I'm calling here backwards difficulty curve, which is a phenomenon happening in plenty of games, new and old. It can happen in two ways: in one, successive achievements will reduce the difficulty of the game as you progress (through upgrades to your character, or other such kind of reward,) and in the other, failing to play well will increase the difficulty, by punishing you in some form.
In the Platformer Theory! thread there has been some talk on this, regarding Megaman especifically. Baines put it this way:
| Baines wrote: |
| In Megaman X, beating certain stages affected other stages. Except there it almost always made the other stages easier. Fire is replaced with safe ice. A pit floods with water, making an otherwise impossible jump possible. Etc. |
Other Megaman games still have power-ups that you earn by defeating bosses, but the first stage will always have you the most defenseless, and the last you pick the most powered-up. |
Well, I think what's going on here is that the actual "difficulty" of the game isn't the stage itself, but learning to control Mega Man and use all of his moves and powers. The game is made simpler by the fact that you only have to think about a few powers, and then is slowly made more complex by adding powers on top of that.
If you overcome the challenge of figuring out how to use his power ups correctly, then the game becomes easier, because figuring out how to use his power ups is the primary challenge the game offers you.
So, I would argue that Mega Man actually does have a proper difficulty curve when you think about it. |
|
| Unfilter / Back to top |
|
 |
Hot Stott Bot
banned
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:41 pm |
|
|
| Baines wrote: |
| Actually, with trial and error you can pass the disappearing blocks without Item-2. You just need an adequate combination of talent, patience, and memory. (I don't recall if it pulled any really dirty tricks that guaranteed a death on the first try.) |
Nope, it doesn't really. It is quite straight forward. Just really hard. |
|
| Unfilter / Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
