Difficulty level
Encyclopedia
In general usage, difficulty level refers to the relative difficulty of completing a task or objective.
In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade game
s as well as many early console game
s included the difficulty level as an explicit setting. For example, games such as Tempest would prompt their users to choose "easy", "medium", "hard", or similar options before beginning play. Some games, however, maintain the former practice to a degree—often harder versions of the game can be unlocked after the player has completed the game once or fulfilled certain criteria.
The difficulty level controls various conditions in games; these conditions include the aggressiveness of AI
characters, the amount of health the playable character has and the amount of weapons, power-up
s, and other items provided to the player(s). A common puzzle game
feature is to progressively increase the game difficulty as the user reaches higher levels.
's 1974 arcade
racing video game Speed Race. It gave the player an option between two different difficulty levels: "Beginner's race" and "Advanced player's race".
The Atari 2600
controlled difficulty levels using two switches directly on the console itself; there was one for each player, with two possible settings. However, modern systems usually implement difficulty levels in the game's software, such as in a configuration screen where the player may also change other game settings.
s to invent their own names that extend or replace the standard difficulty nomenclature. Quake, for example, uses a "nightmare" level (accessible only through the use of a hidden portal) that is more difficult than the hard level. In Halo
the difficulty levels are called easy, normal, heroic, and legendary. The legendary difficulty level has been called "suicide" by the game's developers. Duke Nukem completely invented its own difficulty levels based upon Duke's common phrases such as: "piece of cake", "let's rock", "come get some," and "damn I'm good." The Devil May Cry
series uses a combination of the two. The three difficulty modes are Normal, Hard, and the hardest difficulty, "Dante Must Die!". The third game in the series, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
, has an additional one called "Heaven and Hell", where each and every inhabitant of the game can be killed in a single attack - including Dante. Most Metal Gear Solid games use the levels of "extreme" which have higher difficulty levels than hard mode, harder still is the "European Extreme" difficulty level (which is present in the European Versions of MGS2 and MGS3), where being seen results in a game over. WWE games have a "Legend" difficulty that's more difficult than "Hard", a reference to their "WWE Legends" branding of older, established stars.
s (FPS) and general action game
s, the enemy characters aim more accurately and deal more damage. Some FPS games, such as GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark
, require extra objectives to be completed on harder difficulty levels. In older games such as Wolfenstein 3D
, each difficulty level added a number of new guards. More recently, Max Payne
added a "New York Minute" mode, where the player has to complete levels against a time limit
, where killing enemies extends the time available, and the game ends if the timer reaches zero. For side scrolling shooters such as Metal Slug
, enemies may take more damage before dying.
s computer-controlled players are stronger, faster, and more accurate in harder levels. In some games the difference between beginner/easy and medium levels can be dramatic. FIFA 99, for instance, allowed players to beat the computer by unrealistically high numbers in easy, while games played in normal were much harder. There is also an inherent alternative way of increasing the difficulty level, which is playing with worse teams, which was the only way to change the difficulty level in earlier EA Sports
games and in MicroProse
' Grand Prix Manager
series. Also, sliders can make games even easier, ultimately making it possible to reach a game set scoring limit, like "255" in football and baseball games. Such settings are called "AI Settings" in some Madden NFL games, "Gameplay Settings" in NBA Live, "Game Sliders" in NBA 2K, and "Gameplay Tuning" in the old MVP Baseball series.
s the main difference lies in the opponents' speed, but other settings can be changed, such as driving aids (usually braking and steering
), player and opponent damage, or the length of the race. A common device in arcade racing games is to increase the "rubber band effect", where AI
players are artificially allowed to catch up regardless of how fast the player goes. Arcade games based on time limited checkpoints decrease the time allowed for a player to clear each one, and usually no other setting (such as opponent speed) is changed.
s the difference often lies on the amount of ungathered resources the computer spends and its aggression level. On easier levels the computer players are less aggressive on researching upgrades and improvements and their attack parties are composed of few units. As difficulty goes up, however, so does researching and unit creation speed. Business-based strategy games, such as Transport Tycoon
, typically change the profitability of human and computer-controlled characters, so on harder difficulty levels human players have less of an advantage compared to computer-controlled ones.
and SNK
based fighting games), or some other advantages.
, Uncharted
, Halo
, and Metroid Prime
, among others. Similarly, kart racing
games—Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
being one—often offer mirror
ed versions of the game's tracks to players who clear all of the regular courses. Others, such as Streets Of Rage 3 have an ending for each difficulty level. The "good" ending is only presented in the hardest setting. Another example is when someone completes "Earthworm Jim
" on the easiest difficulty, the player would get a segment where Doug TenNapel
would criticize the player for finishing on the lowest difficulty, then say various facts about worms.
There have been games that prevent players from completing the game in the easy setting. Castlevania
for the Nintendo 64
gives easy-mode players a game over
message after finishing the fifth level, requiring them to restart with an increased difficulty level. Twisted Metal 2
is the same, unceremoniously ending after the first boss
in easy mode by showing a stop sign
with the words "no losers allowed beyond this point." And in Alien Hominid
, it's not possible play past the first few levels on very easy setting. Double Dragon II is the same as some of the games listed above. On the easiest difficulty settings, only the first two levels are playable and with each increase in difficulty level, more levels can be accessed, but in order to beat the game the difficulty level must be set to the hardest level, thus allowing the player to access all of the stages. Mario Party 2's Mini-Game Roller Coaster is set up in a similar fashion, forcing the player to end the game after World 3 on easy and World 6 on medium. One will have to play on hard to go all the way to the end, playing against the toughest AI each step of the way.
In Warcraft III, the easier difficulty level is not available by default. Should the player fail a mission, the game over menu presented offers the choice to "Reduce Difficulty", giving the player a better chance to complete it upon restarting.
In the open source
video game, Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid, on easy skill, the player will not be required to fight any of the game's bosses; but they will not see the game's true ending either. In order to experience the full game, including the final level and extra mission requirements, the game must be played on normal or hard difficulties.
In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
s as well as many early console game
Console game
A console game is a form of interactive multimedia used for entertainment. The game consists of manipulable images generated by a video game console, and displayed on a television or similar audio-video system. The game itself is usually controlled and manipulated using a handheld device connected...
s included the difficulty level as an explicit setting. For example, games such as Tempest would prompt their users to choose "easy", "medium", "hard", or similar options before beginning play. Some games, however, maintain the former practice to a degree—often harder versions of the game can be unlocked after the player has completed the game once or fulfilled certain criteria.
The difficulty level controls various conditions in games; these conditions include the aggressiveness of AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
characters, the amount of health the playable character has and the amount of weapons, power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, and other items provided to the player(s). A common puzzle game
Computer puzzle game
Puzzle video games are a genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles to be solved can test many problem solving skills including logic, strategy, pattern recognition, sequence solving, and word completion....
feature is to progressively increase the game difficulty as the user reaches higher levels.
History
An early example of difficulty levels was TaitoTaito Corporation
The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....
's 1974 arcade
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
racing video game Speed Race. It gave the player an option between two different difficulty levels: "Beginner's race" and "Advanced player's race".
The Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
controlled difficulty levels using two switches directly on the console itself; there was one for each player, with two possible settings. However, modern systems usually implement difficulty levels in the game's software, such as in a configuration screen where the player may also change other game settings.
Terminology
The most common terms for level of difficulty are easy, normal (also seen as medium) and hard. It is common for game developerVideo game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
s to invent their own names that extend or replace the standard difficulty nomenclature. Quake, for example, uses a "nightmare" level (accessible only through the use of a hidden portal) that is more difficult than the hard level. In Halo
Halo (video game series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
the difficulty levels are called easy, normal, heroic, and legendary. The legendary difficulty level has been called "suicide" by the game's developers. Duke Nukem completely invented its own difficulty levels based upon Duke's common phrases such as: "piece of cake", "let's rock", "come get some," and "damn I'm good." The Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry
is an action game developed and published by Capcom, released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2. Although it is the first game in the series of the same name, the events in Devil May Cry are second in the series storyline's chronological order, taking place after Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and...
series uses a combination of the two. The three difficulty modes are Normal, Hard, and the hardest difficulty, "Dante Must Die!". The third game in the series, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, released in Japan as simply , is an action game that was developed and published by Capcom, released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2...
, has an additional one called "Heaven and Hell", where each and every inhabitant of the game can be killed in a single attack - including Dante. Most Metal Gear Solid games use the levels of "extreme" which have higher difficulty levels than hard mode, harder still is the "European Extreme" difficulty level (which is present in the European Versions of MGS2 and MGS3), where being seen results in a game over. WWE games have a "Legend" difficulty that's more difficult than "Hard", a reference to their "WWE Legends" branding of older, established stars.
Difficulty level by genre
There are other changes that are affected by the difficulty level chosen from genre to genre.First and third-person shooters
In some first-person shooterFirst-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
s (FPS) and general action game
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
s, the enemy characters aim more accurately and deal more damage. Some FPS games, such as GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It is considered the spiritual successor to Rare's earlier first-person shooter GoldenEye 007, with which it shares many gameplay features...
, require extra objectives to be completed on harder difficulty levels. In older games such as Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D is a video game that is generally regarded by critics and gaming journalists as having both popularized the first-person shooter genre on the PC and created the basic archetype upon which all subsequent games of the same genre would be built. It was created by id Software and...
, each difficulty level added a number of new guards. More recently, Max Payne
Max Payne
Max Payne is a BAFTA Award–winning third-person shooter video game developed by Finnish developers Remedy Entertainment and published by Gathering of Developers in July 2001 for Microsoft Windows. Ports created later in the year for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and the GameBoy Advance were published by...
added a "New York Minute" mode, where the player has to complete levels against a time limit
Time limit (video game terminology)
A time limit is a phrase in video game terminology that is used to make gameplay faster on the threat of losing a life. A typical time limit can range from a single second to multiple amount of minutes. Although it is possible to have a Super Mario World level with zero seconds on the timer A time...
, where killing enemies extends the time available, and the game ends if the timer reaches zero. For side scrolling shooters such as Metal Slug
Metal Slug
is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform developed by Nazca Corporation and published by SNK. It was originally released in 1996 for the MVS arcade platform. The game is widely known for its sense of humor, fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast paced two-player action...
, enemies may take more damage before dying.
Sports games
In sports gameSports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
s computer-controlled players are stronger, faster, and more accurate in harder levels. In some games the difference between beginner/easy and medium levels can be dramatic. FIFA 99, for instance, allowed players to beat the computer by unrealistically high numbers in easy, while games played in normal were much harder. There is also an inherent alternative way of increasing the difficulty level, which is playing with worse teams, which was the only way to change the difficulty level in earlier EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
games and in MicroProse
MicroProse
MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...
' Grand Prix Manager
Grand Prix Manager
Grand Prix Manager is a Formula 1 management game released in December 1995 by MicroProse. It featured the 1995 Formula 1 season.- Description :...
series. Also, sliders can make games even easier, ultimately making it possible to reach a game set scoring limit, like "255" in football and baseball games. Such settings are called "AI Settings" in some Madden NFL games, "Gameplay Settings" in NBA Live, "Game Sliders" in NBA 2K, and "Gameplay Tuning" in the old MVP Baseball series.
Racing games
In racing gameRacing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
s the main difference lies in the opponents' speed, but other settings can be changed, such as driving aids (usually braking and steering
Steering
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
), player and opponent damage, or the length of the race. A common device in arcade racing games is to increase the "rubber band effect", where AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
players are artificially allowed to catch up regardless of how fast the player goes. Arcade games based on time limited checkpoints decrease the time allowed for a player to clear each one, and usually no other setting (such as opponent speed) is changed.
Strategy games
In strategy gameStrategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
s the difference often lies on the amount of ungathered resources the computer spends and its aggression level. On easier levels the computer players are less aggressive on researching upgrades and improvements and their attack parties are composed of few units. As difficulty goes up, however, so does researching and unit creation speed. Business-based strategy games, such as Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe are computer games developed by Chris Sawyer and published by MicroProse in 1994 , and 1995...
, typically change the profitability of human and computer-controlled characters, so on harder difficulty levels human players have less of an advantage compared to computer-controlled ones.
Fighting games
Generally, the computer at harder difficulties blocks more, reacts quicker, adapts quicker to cheap or repetitive tactics, and executes more complex combos. In some cases, the computer controlled player may have advantages such as increased hit points, a faster fill rate of a super combo gauge (for CapcomCapcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
and SNK
SNK Playmore
SNK Playmore Corporation is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. SNK is an acronym of , which was SNK's original name. The company's legal and trading name became SNK in 1986....
based fighting games), or some other advantages.
Level specific events
In some games the player is rewarded for beating the game on higher levels. Some common rewards are special cut scenes, unlocked maps or higher difficulty levels. Such games include Gears of WarGears of War (series)
Gears of War is a science fiction video game franchise created and owned by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The three games that currently make up the series take place on the fictional planet Sera and focus on a war between humans and creatures known as Locust...
, Uncharted
Uncharted
Uncharted is an award-winning series of action-adventure/platform/third-person shooter video games developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3 video game console. The series follows modern-day treasure hunter Nathan "Nate" Drake as he...
, Halo
Halo (video game series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
, and Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002...
, among others. Similarly, kart racing
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
games—Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003. The game is the fourth installment in the Mario Kart series, following Mario Kart: Super Circuit from 2001...
being one—often offer mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
ed versions of the game's tracks to players who clear all of the regular courses. Others, such as Streets Of Rage 3 have an ending for each difficulty level. The "good" ending is only presented in the hardest setting. Another example is when someone completes "Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim is a run and gun platform video game starring an earthworm named Jim in a robotic suit who battles evil. Created by Doug TenNapel and designed by David Perry, the game was developed by Shiny Entertainment and Playmates Interactive Entertainment, released by Sega for the Mega...
" on the easiest difficulty, the player would get a segment where Doug TenNapel
Doug TenNapel
Douglas Richard "Doug" TenNapel is an American musician, animator, Eisner Award-winning artist, author, essayist and Christian. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a famous video game, cartoon series, and toy line.-Early life:TenNapel was born and raised in the...
would criticize the player for finishing on the lowest difficulty, then say various facts about worms.
There have been games that prevent players from completing the game in the easy setting. Castlevania
Castlevania 64
Castlevania, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure video game developed by Konami's Kobe branch for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released on a 64-megabit cartridge in North America on January 26, 1999, in Japan on March 11, 1999, and in Europe on May 14, 1999...
for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
gives easy-mode players a game over
Game over
Game Over is a message in video games which signals that the game has ended, often due to a negative outcome - although the phrase sometimes follows the end credits after successful completion of a game...
message after finishing the fifth level, requiring them to restart with an increased difficulty level. Twisted Metal 2
Twisted Metal 2
Twisted Metal 2 is the second and most successful game in the vehicular combat Twisted Metal series...
is the same, unceremoniously ending after the first boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
in easy mode by showing a stop sign
Stop sign
A Stop sign is a traffic sign to notify drivers that they must stop before proceeding.-Specifications:The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals proposed standard stop sign diameters of 0.6, 0.9 or 1.2 metres. UK and New Zealand stop signs are 750, 900 or 1200 mm, according to sign...
with the words "no losers allowed beyond this point." And in Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid is an independently developed console video game released for Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube in 2004 through publisher O~3 Entertainment. A PAL version was later released during May 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox through ZOO Digital Publishing...
, it's not possible play past the first few levels on very easy setting. Double Dragon II is the same as some of the games listed above. On the easiest difficulty settings, only the first two levels are playable and with each increase in difficulty level, more levels can be accessed, but in order to beat the game the difficulty level must be set to the hardest level, thus allowing the player to access all of the stages. Mario Party 2's Mini-Game Roller Coaster is set up in a similar fashion, forcing the player to end the game after World 3 on easy and World 6 on medium. One will have to play on hard to go all the way to the end, playing against the toughest AI each step of the way.
In Warcraft III, the easier difficulty level is not available by default. Should the player fail a mission, the game over menu presented offers the choice to "Reduce Difficulty", giving the player a better chance to complete it upon restarting.
In the open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
video game, Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid, on easy skill, the player will not be required to fight any of the game's bosses; but they will not see the game's true ending either. In order to experience the full game, including the final level and extra mission requirements, the game must be played on normal or hard difficulties.