1999 mode? Sure, as long as you still find it fun to play. If you want the extra challenge I guess a 1999 mode is okay, but isn't that what the highest difficulty setting should represent? What is 1999 mode really? And why that year? Because of System Shock 2? That was a really good game, but not that difficult to be honest so why call it that? I'm all for remembering the good old days with the good old games, but I'm not one who would finish any of them on highest difficulty without ever saving. Or dying. For me, that's not fun at all and I do play games for fun.
Games, if properly balanced, should cater to all kinds of playthroughs, from casual to challenging. I guess it's all about the initial difficulty settings, but what is considered easy or hard? Is medium or normal difficulty setting the intended difficulty of the devs? Often that's what I start with on my first playthrough. Games like the Witcher I crank up to the highest(as long as I can save my game), as well as games that have the 'Realistic' setting like Deus Ex. Because if you play them right, they can be beaten while also being fun. It's about strategy and learning, while also have the freedom to play your own way after having adapted to the game's rules. Gothic taught me that. Well Gothic is one of many games that taught me that, but Gothic stands out as being an overwhelming game at first but slowly starts rewarding you for fighting on.
Then there are the games with unbalanced difficulty settings. The original Far Cry is one such example. Well I wouldn't call it balanced. I managed to beat it once and then I tried a couple of times more, but never really got into it or found it fun ever again.
What I am adamant about however is not confusing 1999 mode with Hardcore mode. I find that they are two different things entirely. Both are about challenge, but Hardcore is also about immersion. I love Hardcore mode in Fallout New Vegas(eating and drinking, sleeping and healing limbs properly), and I'd love for Witcher 3 to have a Hardcore mode. A 1999 mode wouldn't interest me. Isn't Insane difficulty in Witcher 2 challenging enough? Die once and start over from the beginning? How can you top that? And why would you want to?
Sorry about that. What are we talking about? Fast travel? And not being able to fast travel while in Hardcore mode, but to actually be forced to travel the distance instead? Well I'm all for beautiful vistas so count me in! :lol: Throw in some carrot meter for Roach as well, while at it.
After WOW! effect from the trailer and demo wore off, it feels like the game gets dumbed down with each chapter.
The game:
1) tells us where to go (Witcher sense)
2) tells us what potions/oils to use against certain monster
3) gives us unrestricted fast travel
4) don't have W1 alchemy system (it was probably to difficult for western gamers)
5) don't feature drinking and eating
6) combat looks ghastly (in demo)
For god's sake, let's have settings for advanced preferences.
I don't want to press a button and have a griffin to be delivered on a plate to me.
I want to find this little guy from the demo myself.
And find the best spot for climbing myself.
And make my mistakes and die.
I don't want to be led by a hand.
CDPRed, you can name this mode "Unforgiving Mode" but do it please.
It's not like it's some special effort - just no Witcher sense, no hints for monster hunting, it's less resources from game actually.
On the other hand, there is a part of gamers nobody basically thinks about - people who play Witcher series for story only, who don't want of cannot get used to the combat and find some battles unplayable. Think about Her Majesty (W1) or Kayran (W2). I personally have elder relatives who love the books and the games but are not gamers and simply lack reaction or what it's called to complete hard chapters of the games. Easy modes in both previous games were just words - you had to follow certain steps to kill bosses, one miss and you are dead, on all difficulties.
Make boss battles on easy mode as cut-scenes of Geralt killing the monster. Job done!
I'm evil, I know.
Hi Nucta! How are you? Long time no see! :welcome: I actually agree with much of what you say, and I would love the return of Witcher 1 alchemy system and new elements in what I would call a Hardcore mode. But I also want to update your 'On the other hand' section. So on the other hand not all western gamers are gamers that want handholding, to be catered to, or games to be dumbed down.
I never found alchemy in Witcher 1 difficult, but you would probably still call me a westerner since I live where I live. It's getting pretty tiresome to hear it to be honest, so can you dial it down please? East or west, north or south, the ones you really are referring to are gamers that want devs to cater to them because they can't play games without being led safely all the way. Don't pin that on any nationality.
I, a westerner, play many games on highest difficulty and would love a Hardcore mode or even a Unforgiving mode as you would call it.
As long as I can choose my own difficulty and path, and see that the devs implement player choice
victory
I'm all game!