Difficulty Level of FF

[FinalHeart]

I wouldn't say easier, I would say more fun. For example, FFI is crazy boring BECAUSE of all the grinding necessary to get anywhere in that game. I'd much rather have the game be more difficult in gameplay rather than in needing to grind to beat a boss.

Besides, FFXIII is supposedly quite difficult.

 

[Harlequin]

Thank you. As I've said, any RPG can be made easy.

For instance, some call FFVII easy, but is it really presented as such? No. Without extensive grinding of levels or materia, certain opponets, even random monsters (Sunken Gelinka anyone?) could kick your ass without proper focus or strengthened characters.

Does it get easier when you start AP mastering Mimes & Counters, gaining Final Attack, KOTR, W Summon, etc...? Obviously; and even more so if you whore these things to death. But think about all the work you have to put in to do this kind of stuff. You're making it easy.

In VIII, is it natural to go and create so many of the characters' Final Weapons on Disc 1? Master Junctions and LBs so quickly, or even whore "Enemy Away"? No, but you have the option to do stuff like this that'll allow for an easier game.

It's an RPG - the level of difficulty is not something that's supposed to be predetermined, you ultimately decide it.

The real difference is that the later games offer these kind of options more than the earlier additions.

The only one I felt that was actually presented easy would be X. With no ABT and the ability to rotate characters in battle, they set that shit up to be a cakewalk.

Spot. On.

The level system is an incredibly good way of handling difficulty settings in RPGs. Not only is it fuly malleable throughout the length of the game but it patronises unskilled gamers perfectly.

Who wants to go through the indignity of playing a game on easy?

 

[Crash Lecavlier]

I think the games are getting easier. As someone who went from FF7 first (I was in 5th grade), I then went on to play all the others in a reverse order. That being said, I noticed playing the older games that there was quite a bit more challenege involved. Eh, well... it happens.

 

[GBJoker]

If you are truly wanting a challenge... solo some stuff as Red Mage, Monk, or Dragoon, NOT BEASTMASTER, on XI.

As for the single players, I agree it's getting easier. The only problem I had in XII was when I went into the uh... Necropolis dungeon at about level 40, and linked about 20+ of those weird troll buggers.

My first playthrough of X, I didn't have any problems until Yunalesca... Mainly because she really messes up the game and party mechanics, unlike VIRTUALLY ALL other monsters and bosses up to that point. The sad part being, she's the only one that can truly mess you up. The rest are all either almost as weak as normal monsters, or they are endurance tests (How long can you keep curing).

VII and VIII felt way too easy, because you just keep using regular attack and you'll win. There aren't even endurance battles in it.

But VI and earlier, at least you had to do stuff and modify strategies a tiny bit to beat random bosses here and there.