Personal Preferences in Gaming
VIDEO games are for everyone, but not all video games are for every person. Some gamers love JRPGs, 2D platformers, metroidvanias, and visual novels, but shy away from games involving virtual guns.
Challenging Boss Fights and Joy of Overcoming Obstacles
Games like Elden Ring are famous for their challenging boss fights. The joy of these games lies in overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles, which is a fundamental part of the gaming experience.
Deeper Solutions for Accessibility
Simply adding difficulty settings to games like soulslikes or platformers may not make them more accessible. Instead, removing barriers like mashing, allowing controller remapping, and offering various ways to tackle challenges can make games more approachable to a wider audience.
Dynamic Accessibility Features
Games like Stellar Blade and Super Meat Boy have successfully implemented features that allow players to adjust the difficulty dynamically. For example, offering slowdown before a parry or different character options can make challenging games more inclusive without compromising on the core design.
The Pitfalls of 'Easy Mode'
While some games offer an 'easy mode' for players, like Another Crab’s Treasure, it can sometimes diminish the sense of achievement and cause players to miss out on important lessons the game intends to teach.
Conclusion
Giving players options that dynamically adjust accessibility factors beyond traditional difficulty settings can lead to better gaming experiences for all types of players.
