tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post5767475028493196057..comments2022-02-27T10:08:01.367-08:00Comments on Zauron's Lair: Why Dragon's Dogma's Hard Mode SucksZauronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13618851680073932153noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post-60830888272094485042019-02-26T15:01:56.182-08:002019-02-26T15:01:56.182-08:00I have also stopped using consumables in any form ...I have also stopped using consumables in any form for several years ago, including on the last couple of challenge runs on my YouTube channel. So I totally agree with you on the consumables (and manual saves).<br /><br />I still don't use pawns at all though. They may be unique but so is DD's amazing combat system, unrivaled by any other game in the genre IMHO. I also still don't use Hard mode for the reasons above, I just add other restrictions to increase difficulty in a way that feels more fun to me and without being counter-balanced by Hard Mode's increased XP/DP/GP. For example in my more recent runs I've tried things like not using vendors at all (meaning no upgrading equipment outside a lucky Dragon Forge and can only use what I find) and playing in Speed Run mode from the start of a fresh character (meaning literally can't save at all, death ends the run entirely, and have to complete the game in a single sitting).Zauronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13618851680073932153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post-41223145895205947982019-02-26T14:39:22.991-08:002019-02-26T14:39:22.991-08:00I created my own difficulty using Hard Mode by not...I created my own difficulty using Hard Mode by not allowing any consumable usage whatsoever. The biggest gripe I have with games such as Dragon's Dogma or Skyrim, is the ability to pause and use consumables. I refuse to use them at all: no mushrooms, no vim, no healing, nothing at all. They make the game far too easy. I keep the pawns (the most unique aspect of Dragon's Dogma!) and never manually save. This forces me to run back to Inns or change areas to get a save in. I do all this on Hard Mode and love it. I wish the enemies scaled on NG+ to further increase followup playthroughs. Oh well. <br /><br />Still, one of the best RPGs I've ever laid hands on. Still playing it to this day.Chimpohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08208166580972354791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post-85867293988889991832017-01-10T08:02:46.662-08:002017-01-10T08:02:46.662-08:00This was a great read! And there's only ONE po...This was a great read! And there's only ONE point I disagree with (2, technically, but only one counting for HARD mode - I'll list both).<br /><br />1) Risk vs Reward! You're telling me that you'd like to play on a harder mode and NOT get a reward for it until AFTER you win? And even then, you don't need the reward to be GOOD?<br />My counter: I'm playing a harder mode. It should be harder, granted - a test of MY SKILL (or lack thereof) .. But I should get rewarded for EVERY feat of strength or skill I show. Each. And. Every. One. I don't see how you could do this without extra money and/or experience. But maybe this is just me. <br />Keep in mind that this game was meant to be VERY different from Dark Souls (I don't know Monster Hunter at all, must admit). <br />In Dark Souls, you can do almost anything at any time, with the proper skill and practice. In this game, the same cannot be said. A level one trying to do pretty much ANYTHING in BBI Hard Mode WILL BE KILLED. << Just an example showing that this isn't Dark Souls. <br />You NEED your gear. Or your money. And you NEED your EXPERIENCE. Or, at least, some kind of reward useful while moving forward. <br /><br />2) Normal mode shouldn't get nerfed just because a hard mode was patched in. <br />Hard mode shouldn't allow for chugging items while in a paused menu, I agree... But don't make it harder for easy-mode nubs who don't WANT the added challenge :P<br /><br />Again, great read. I appreciate your style completely. It's not MY style, mind you, and belongs in games like Dark Souls more than in this kind of a game ... But, you're clearly better than I am, I must admit. <br /><br />You're looking for an unrewarding challenge, with the "win" being the only real "reward" - that is not what games like this, or Diablo 3, are about. And RNG plays a MAJOR (if not the SINGLE.. BIGGEST) part in many of these kinds of games. <br /><br />Best of luck in your future gaming travels! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00908866815584173234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post-65248916352752854102016-02-20T10:09:32.517-08:002016-02-20T10:09:32.517-08:00Totally agree +4000Totally agree +4000Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682532952580408677.post-52888889554018487532016-02-01T20:32:10.038-08:002016-02-01T20:32:10.038-08:00This ended up being a very good read, I'm not ...This ended up being a very good read, I'm not agree in a few points anyway.<br /><br />Rhythm and stamina; the stamina managment is terrible anyway, hard mode only make it worst by a little bit. You can survive with core attacks? not with a Ranger or a Magick Archer. The game is meant to abuse stamina items, boring as hell, I know, but it's likely designed that way.<br /><br />This is balanced in terms of time efficience for killing and farming, carrying too much stuff will make you slow. Thinking on it the objective of the game is to get the best stuff, not beating the game, same goes for Diablo, Monster Hunter, Phantasy Star Online...etc, so, you're supposed to farm bosses efficiently, being a medium or heavy character makes you incompetent at farming, so, you've failed at being proficient at the game. Think about this as a work.<br /><br />That's how the game counter balances the items you carry.<br /><br />About healings from menu, yeah, I don't like it either (I dislike even more the fact that you must use like 30 curatives for every impact you get) but the game, chaotic as it is, won't allow a in-action healing animation, they need to redesign everything since now your only chance in most situations is to abuse the menu.<br /><br />About the knockback; completely agree, they're killing feedback for the game, imagine a perfectly timed combo in some EVO tournament, only to getting your rival not flinching at all and trading hits. That's pretty much killing the interaction between you and monsters; you manage to counter with a good hit = nothing happens.<br /><br />About damage and the esque bullet hell mechanic. Yes, dogs move very fast around you and their jumping attack have no telling at all, same can be said from many enemies, getting hit is gonna happen regardless (and no, unlike you've said not only from minor attacks, Garms have some no-telling bites too) maybe they wanted to make defense a factor? (or ranged combat if possible) anyway, yeah, hard mode feels unfair, very often.<br /><br />About experience gained. It feels just like risk reward to me, and less about "challenge" like speedrunning Dark Souls or Resident Evil it will be riskier but more rewarding, specially on games with character builds building a new "toon" in a few hours feel particularly rewarding. That's my opinion, hard mode is not meant to carefully struggle through the game, like you do in your (excellent) videos, seems more like an elite farmer playground, with better risk/reward relationship, much like trying to get to that epic sword underleveled on every action RPG, being efficient at speedrunning will indeed make things actualy EASIER for you, once you take the risk, IE, looking for the ice bow at BBI before playing the main game or going for the Gravelord Sword (Dark Souls) from the start.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619289660215702162noreply@blogger.com