It’s always at a point where the game suddenly requires a skill that isn’t part of its usual gameplay. I played a crafting and exploration game that suddenly has a huge platforming element in the late game in a dungeon, and it was even timed! The rest of the game involved no platforming, and it wasn’t even particularly difficult to do but I suck at platforming, never enjoyed it, and I especially did not need the stress of a timer in an otherwise relaxing game.
Another story rich game which was heavy on logistics suddenly turned into a shooter. No, thank you.
Another thing I hate is when I turn the difficulty down and the only option is to do it across the board so I may as well stop interacting with the game. I know I’m bad at fast-paced precision inputs. That doesn’t mean I don’t want cool puzzles to solve or complex systems.
I know, I know: “get good.” I’m old. Shooting and platforming are not the skills I care to be developing at this stage of my life.
I quit Skyrim when they threw a mandatory stealth mission at me and I hadn’t leveled Stealth at all. Granted, most people don’t play it for the underwhelming story anyway…
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye DLC does this, unfortunately. Halfway through the story, Myst-like exploration of an abandoned location turns into horror wandering around pitch black locations with a janky lantern, being chased by creepy-looking aliens. Nope, made me stop playing. (Horror and jumpy enemies are fine if I have a weapon and can control the protagonist. But not if it’s a death cutscene at a single touch in complete darkness. It made me more uncomfortable than Dusk, or Quake, or Blood did)
Did you try the “less scares” setting? I think it makes this part easier, because I was watching someone struggle with this and as soon as they turned it on they passed it on the next try.
Doesn’t that just turn off their screeches or something?
I absolutely loved Outer Wilds, except for our friends in Dark Bramble. But once I had do those parts of the DLC, I installed a mod that lit the place up and made the things in there not know around.
I was in for a puzzle space exploration game, not a stealth horror game.
IIRC no screeches and they move slower. Not sure how much that would help though since in one location, they wander in the dark, and player cannot see them without alerting them.
I played on the Switch, so no mods for me. I would lighten everything up, at least.
Oddly, the Dark Bramble didn’t bother me as much. I got a surprise once without even seeing the guy, then a jumpscare once, but generally, those guys are chill, hang out in one place, and are visible (or have a giveaway, at least).
It’s always at a point where the game suddenly requires a skill that isn’t part of its usual gameplay. I played a crafting and exploration game that suddenly has a huge platforming element in the late game in a dungeon, and it was even timed! The rest of the game involved no platforming, and it wasn’t even particularly difficult to do but I suck at platforming, never enjoyed it, and I especially did not need the stress of a timer in an otherwise relaxing game.
Another story rich game which was heavy on logistics suddenly turned into a shooter. No, thank you.
Another thing I hate is when I turn the difficulty down and the only option is to do it across the board so I may as well stop interacting with the game. I know I’m bad at fast-paced precision inputs. That doesn’t mean I don’t want cool puzzles to solve or complex systems.
I know, I know: “get good.” I’m old. Shooting and platforming are not the skills I care to be developing at this stage of my life.
I quit Skyrim when they threw a mandatory stealth mission at me and I hadn’t leveled Stealth at all. Granted, most people don’t play it for the underwhelming story anyway…
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye DLC does this, unfortunately. Halfway through the story, Myst-like exploration of an abandoned location turns into horror wandering around pitch black locations with a janky lantern, being chased by creepy-looking aliens. Nope, made me stop playing. (Horror and jumpy enemies are fine if I have a weapon and can control the protagonist. But not if it’s a death cutscene at a single touch in complete darkness. It made me more uncomfortable than Dusk, or Quake, or Blood did)
Did you try the “less scares” setting? I think it makes this part easier, because I was watching someone struggle with this and as soon as they turned it on they passed it on the next try.
Doesn’t that just turn off their screeches or something?
I absolutely loved Outer Wilds, except for our friends in Dark Bramble. But once I had do those parts of the DLC, I installed a mod that lit the place up and made the things in there not know around.
I was in for a puzzle space exploration game, not a stealth horror game.
IIRC no screeches and they move slower. Not sure how much that would help though since in one location, they wander in the dark, and player cannot see them without alerting them.
I played on the Switch, so no mods for me. I would lighten everything up, at least.
Oddly, the Dark Bramble didn’t bother me as much. I got a surprise once without even seeing the guy, then a jumpscare once, but generally, those guys are chill, hang out in one place, and are visible (or have a giveaway, at least).
Loved the original Outer Wilds too.
It seemed like it made there be literally less guards but maybe she just got lucky on the winning run.
This.