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[PyroPaperPlanes]

The key for a Dark Souls "easy mode" is there needs to be something to reward the people who master the normal mode. Similar to how Smart Steering disables Ultra Drift Boosts and can prevent the player from accessing offroad shortcuts. As Jim said, it gives the player a chance, but they won't be able to keep up with masters of the game.

 

[Mister Zimbu]

Every time someone mentions that Souls games should have an easy mode on here, everyone shits on them.

Even though like Jim says, it literally wouldn't effect regular players at all.

It does, though, even if the impact is low. The lack of a lower difficulty level changes the experience of the higher one. You don't have a safety net, so you're forced to (ugh) "git gud" to beat the game, since you don't have the option of dropping difficulties.

I almost always choose Normal difficulty in games that have a difficulty selection, unless it's a repeat playthrough. Personally, if Souls games launched with Normal and Hard modes (with "Hard" being current DS), I would have played on Normal for my playthrough and been done with it. Since it wasn't there, I was forced to get better to overcome the difficulty of the game and enjoyed doing it. So in this case, having an additional difficulty would have robbed me of that experience.

You're well within your rights to criticize the lack of an easier difficulty (because that's exclusionary to lower-skilled players), but the lack of Dark Souls' difficulty levels contributes to the atmosphere of the game and adding an easy mode can take that away.

edit: to stay on topic

Smart Steering is good. Hate that it's on by default and you have to dig into an options menu to find it. It should've been a 3rd screen during the player setup (Choose your character, Choose your kart, Choose your assists).

 

[Peterc]

Same like this, I've 2 kids, 5y and 3y's old. It's nice to have something for them too.

I also don't need a share buttons, but every console has one. But i'm not complaining because i don't use it.

 

[Gator86]

The key for a Dark Souls "easy mode" is there needs to be something to reward the people who master the normal mode. Similar to how Smart Steering disables Ultra Drift Boosts and can prevent the player from accessing offroad shortcuts. As Jim said, it gives the player a chance, but they won't be able to keep up with masters of the game.

No, there doesn't need to be. Isn't the smug sense of superiority people derive from Souls games enough? Following the arguments against an easier mode, shouldn't the satisfaction of conquering a difficult challenge be enough of a reward by itself?

In general, Souls isn't a competitive game. Why does it matter at all what other people are doing? It's not like the person playing on easy mode is going to invade your game and fuck you up or something.

 

[Spirited]

It does, though, even if the impact is low. The lack of a lower difficulty level changes the experience of the higher one. You don't have a safety net, so you're forced to (ugh) "git gud" to beat the game, since you don't have the option of dropping difficulties.

I almost always choose Normal difficulty in games that have a difficulty selection, unless it's a repeat playthrough. Personally, if Souls games launched with Normal and Hard modes (with "Hard" being current DS), I would have played on Normal for my playthrough and been done with it. Since it wasn't there, I was forced to get better to overcome the difficulty of the game and enjoyed doing it. So in this case, having an additional difficulty would have robbed me of that experience.

You're well within your rights to criticize the lack of an easier difficulty (because that's exclusionary to lower-skilled players), but the lack of Dark Souls' difficulty levels contributes to the atmosphere of the game and adding an easy mode can take that away.

No it really wouldn't change anything, only thing it would change is that you don't get to feel superior to people who aren't able to finish the game.

If they add a "easy" mode and have the usual be a normal mode I'd be 100% sure nothing would change for anyone outside of the small amount of people who actively hate the idea of accesibility.

 

[Dr. Worm]

The key for a Dark Souls "easy mode" is there needs to be something to reward the people who master the normal mode. Similar to how Smart Steering disables Ultra Drift Boosts and can prevent the player from accessing offroad shortcuts. As Jim said, it gives the player a chance, but they won't be able to keep up with masters of the game.

I think what's notable about smart steering is that the things it's restricting you from, while obviously crucial to more experienced players, aren't things that someone new to the game would concern themselves with (and if they tried, they'd probably fuck up without mastering steering beforehand - see Jim's play w/o smart steering).

A new player might not notice what they're missing out on, but once they stick with it and race other players not using smart steering (even the AI takes shortcuts and uses full drift boosts), they might be moved to take their stabilizers off themselves in order to use those techniques.

MvC3 and TvC do this with their Simple Modes - the basics are easy, the advanced stuff isn't allowed. A taste of competence, but not a giveaway - it's enough for those who want a starting place to git gud without stepping on the toes of those gud enough already.

You don't have a safety net, so you're forced to (ugh) "git gud" to beat the game, since you don't have the option of dropping difficulties.

There are games where difficulty is locked once you select it.

Alternatively, give players who beat the game entirely on one difficulty a star or whatever for their save for bragging rights.

 

[Yoshi]

People against smart steering obviously do not have kids

In my time there was no fancy and useless stuff such as smart steeing. When I was young, I had to learn and earn to control my video game hero!

 

[Nightii]

No, there doesn't need to be. Isn't the smug sense of superiority people derive from Souls games enough? Following the arguments against an easier mode, shouldn't the satisfaction of conquering a difficult challenge be enough of a reward by itself?

In general, Souls isn't a competitive game. Why does it matter at all what other people are doing? It's not like the person playing on easy mode is going to invade your game and fuck you up or something.

Well said! People against accesibility should go die, it is unbelievable how awful they are.

 

[Lindsay]

I wish accessibility stuff existed in the NES days! Having a game tell me "start all over again on Difficulty X if you wanna see the rest of the game" always bummed me out! Know what I did with those game? Got good? Nopes! I dropped 'em an played more fun ones that I could get through without someone (real or the game itself) telling me to "get good"! I dun get why people gotta be all stuck up over such harmless nothingness.

An why're peeps saying the videos to long? How could hyping up Dry Bones, going over the main point of the video, calling out dumb forum/twitter comments, talking about the NL video then showing an online race disproving the whole thing, plus Brash update & Life Hax be done in just a couple of minutes again?

It's been said many times, but the difficulty of the DS games are way over exaggerated, some bosses excluded.

Are ya saying that as an experienced player of the series or someone who's just dove into their first one an none beyond?

 

[spookyfish]

My 4-year-old can now play with this feature. It keeps him from being just a spectator. I think it's great.

 

[marmoka]

I think Jim is right about those people who are criticizing accessibility.

Why are people so pissed off because some people can enjoy the game more than before?

 

[Metal B]

Yeah, because Subtitles, Braille and Audio Description doesn't fucking exist in these other mediums you do eloquently state are lacking in accessibility options.

Or is accessibility too hard a fucking concept for Souls fans? Maybe all their brain power needs to go towards playing the games because they can't seem to differentiate between accessibility and difficulty.

Why should difficulty not be part of a work of art? Do we need to make things more accessible just to reach a bigger audience? It's sad, that some people can't experience a work in similar way as others (sometimes even off limits out of their control), but this should not limit the possibilities, the creative freedom or the budgets of artists.
Some games this can be easier integrated (like Mario Kart) and with others this means creating a complete new experience, if you actually want to have a similar game as the normal difficulty.

But... there are. For books, anyway.

Those are outside sources. Nobody is against using guides or mod the game.

 

[CambriaRising]

I actually didnt realize the game had this feature begore watching the video. I just ordered it to play with my 4 year old.

So, plus 1 sale to nintendo.

 

[ViciousDS]

No, there doesn't need to be. Isn't the smug sense of superiority people derive from Souls games enough? Following the arguments against an easier mode, shouldn't the satisfaction of conquering a difficult challenge be enough of a reward by itself?

In general, Souls isn't a competitive game. Why does it matter at all what other people are doing? It's not like the person playing on easy mode is going to invade your game and fuck you up or something.

Honestly, the fucking Souls community bashing players who want an easy mode to just enjoy the atmosphere and art style of the game is fucking gross. As if their high and mighty ass of superiority isn't enough, do they really think any easy mode player would beat most veterans anyways?

 

[LordKasual]

The key for a Dark Souls "easy mode" is there needs to be something to reward the people who master the normal mode. Similar to how Smart Steering disables Ultra Drift Boosts and can prevent the player from accessing offroad shortcuts. As Jim said, it gives the player a chance, but they won't be able to keep up with masters of the game.

The reward for mastering the normal mode is enjoying the game from start to finish, because the game is already designed for you to struggle.

Difficulty modes exist for the individual player, not for invisible bragging rights. The reward for graduating from easy > normal > hard is the experience itself.

Anything that comes extra (new enemy patterns, stronger weapons, ect) should be there to justify the replability, not to act as some bragging rights trophy that transcends the game itself.


Edit:

Look, ever since i started playing fighting games competitively, i am 100% for accessibiltiy/difficulty options. I literally cannot enjoy playing fighting games with my sisters or non-competitive friends anymore because I almost don't even have to be conscious to defeat them.

Handicaps and accessibiliy keeps the game fun for everyone. I don't care if it adds a well-balanced smart steer. If it means I can go all-out against you and still feel a challenge, then it's worth having.

 

[spookyfish]

I actually didnt realize the game had this feature begore watching the video. I just ordered it to play with my 4 year old.

So, plus 1 sale to nintendo.

Get the little steering wheels. Mine loves those.

 

[El Odio]

Why do people keep saying that the options for smart steering are buried deep in the menus? You just have to press +/- when assembling your kart to pull up the options for it. Not that hidden.

 

[CambriaRising]

Get the little steering wheels. Mine loves those.

Will do. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Plum]

Equating something like Smart Steering in MK to an easy mode in Dark Souls is a bit of a poor comparison in my eyes. For one, Mario Kart has pretty much always been a game meant for "everyone"; its art-style, popularity, multiplayer-focus, etc all point to this being the case. The Souls games, however, were never meant to be for everyone, they're M-rated games (which is why I won't be mentioning kids in my arguments) set in strange, cryptic fantasy worlds that found unexpected success from very humble beginnings.

But that's not what I want to focus on here, instead my point is; smart steering and a Souls easy mode are not the same thing. For a disabled person or someone brand new to gaming not being able to drift in Mario Kart or hold down the acceleration button were problems that were fixed with the new accessibility features whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks. This is especially important as, in semi-linear games such as the Souls series, if the controls are a barrier-to-entry, even co-op might not help someone finish the game. Going back to Mario Kart: Jim points out that 50cc, to most, has failure as something that one has to actively aim towards, and that's always been the case, but only now that the game's implemented options to help those who find even that a challenge is it being applauded for allowing new people in; the same would happen with Dark Souls if they implemented an easy mode.

The thing is: for most people here the controls aren't a barrier to entry; they want an easy mode because they, instead, want in on the fun. That's fine mind you, the Souls games are excellent and I'd love for everyone to play them, but I can't find much sympathy for such a request when it's coming from able-bodied people who "don't want to become masochistic," or "want to beat it in the time they have." instead. Now don't get me wrong, if From decided to implement easy mode into Bloodborne 2 or Metroid: Dread Souls I wouldn't give a singular shit, I'm not against an easy mode in Dark Souls but I am, however, against co-opting legitimate accessibility issues by equating Smart Steering, a legitimate accessibility fix, to a less powerful Orphan of Kos. To do some of my own co-opting with the book example posted before; your desire for an abridged version of Moby Dick is nowhere near the same as a blind person's desire for a braille version of Moby Dick.

EDIT: Oh, and just to avoid any "high and mighty" remarks; I suck at Dark Souls. Every game required either cheesing tactics or copious summoning to complete; if there were an easy mode I would very likely use it.

 

[Yoshi]

Equating something like Smart Steering in MK to an easy mode in Dark Souls is a bit of a poor comparison in my eyes. For one, Mario Kart has pretty much always been a game meant for "everyone"; its art-style, popularity, multiplayer-focus, etc all point to this being the case. The Souls games, however, were never meant to be for everyone, they're M-rated games (which is why I won't be mentioning kids in my arguments) set in strange, cryptic fantasy worlds that found unexpected success from very humble beginnings.

But that's not what I want to focus on here, instead my point is; smart steering and a Souls easy mode are not the same thing. For a disabled person or someone brand new to gaming not being able to drift in Mario Kart or hold down the acceleration button were problems that were fixed with the new accessibility features whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks. This is especially important as, in semi-linear games such as the Souls series, if the controls are a barrier-to-entry, even co-op might not help someone finish the game. Going back to Mario Kart: Jim points out that 50cc, to most, has failure as something that one has to actively aim towards, and that's always been the case, but only now that the game's implemented options to help those who find even that a challenge is it being applauded for allowing new people in; the same would happen with Dark Souls if they implemented an easy mode.

The thing is: for most people here the controls aren't a barrier to entry; they want an easy mode because they, instead, want in on the fun. That's fine mind you, the Souls games are excellent and I'd love for everyone to play them, but I can't find much sympathy for such a request when it's coming from able-bodied people who "don't want to become masochistic," or "want to beat it in the time they have." instead. Now don't get me wrong, if From decided to implement easy mode into Bloodborne 2 or Metroid: Dread Souls I wouldn't give a singular shit, I'm not against an easy mode in Dark Souls but I am, however, against co-opting legitimate accessibility issues by equating Smart Steering, a legitimate accessibility fix, to a less powerful Orphan of Kos. To do some of my own co-opting with the book example posted before; your desire for an abridged version of Moby Dick is nowhere near the same as a blind person's desire for a braille version of Moby Dick.

Smart steering is probably also not aimed primarily at disabled people, but at people who have a hard time learning the controls, among them kids, but also potentially guests at parties who have never played a videogame in this sense, "wanting in on the fun" is exactly the same thing as with Dark Souls.

 

[redcrayon]

Smart steering means I can play with my wife and daughter, neither of whom have spent the last thirty years playing with half a dozen controllers that added an extra pair of buttons every few years.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

I wanna be back in 2009 too. The world made more sense back then.

 

[SmackAttack]

Started watching and had to stop only 1:35 in because

DRY BONES IS BACK, YOU FUCKS!

Fuck yeah, Jim, you tell 'em who the best Mario kart character is!

Okay, now to resume.

 

[Always-honest]

Kids as well as adults can learn real fast. No need to pamper them with this nonsense.

Same answer for the tourist mode thread. No!

Just learn how to do it right.

 

[Imperfected]

The advantage of an "easy mode" in Souls games, from a game design/production perspective, is that it frees the designers up to make the experience harder.

3D World can have hard levels because there's a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. If there wasn't, the designers would be watching playtesters and saying, "85% of players can't beat this level in five tries. Cut it."

Dark Souls may not get playtested to the same degree as Mario--in fact, you can pretty much bet it doesn't--but I'm sure there's still content that's been cut back because they found it was too frustrating/difficult. That's content "hardcore" players could have had if there was an easy mode to let the broader audience get around it. (Personally, if the extra challenge areas in DS2's DLC are any indication of what that content would have looked like, I wouldn't have wanted it anyway, but I gather some players wanted more of that.)

 

[Plum]

Smart steering is probably also not aimed primarily at disabled people, but at people who have a hard time learning the controls, among them kids, but also potentially guests at parties who have never played a videogame in this sense, "wanting in on the fun" is exactly the same thing as with Dark Souls.

My 50cc example shows that no amount of tweaking can make a game accessible to someone if the controls are their main barrier to entry; seeing as the Soulsborne games' controls are even more complex, if someone from the game's main demographic legitimately (so neither kids nor party guests) has trouble with them then, again, no amount of tweaking will help. I think it's safe to say that those here wanting an easy mode do not have legitimate issues with the controls of Dark Souls. Of course everyone who wants to play a video game is wanting in on the fun, but the motives behind such a desire are extremely different here and that's where my problem lies.

 

[khaaan]

Equating something like Smart Steering in MK to an easy mode in Dark Souls is a bit of a poor comparison in my eyes. For one, Mario Kart has pretty much always been a game meant for "everyone"; its art-style, popularity, multiplayer-focus, etc all point to this being the case. The Souls games, however, were never meant to be for everyone, they're M-rated games (which is why I won't be mentioning kids in my arguments) set in strange, cryptic fantasy worlds that found unexpected success from very humble beginnings.

But that's not what I want to focus on here, instead my point is; smart steering and a Souls easy mode are not the same thing. For a disabled person or someone brand new to gaming not being able to drift in Mario Kart or hold down the acceleration button were problems that were fixed with the new accessibility features whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks. This is especially important as, in semi-linear games such as the Souls series, if the controls are a barrier-to-entry, even co-op might not help someone finish the game. Going back to Mario Kart: Jim points out that 50cc, to most, has failure as something that one has to actively aim towards, and that's always been the case, but only now that the game's implemented options to help those who find even that a challenge is it being applauded for allowing new people in; the same would happen with Dark Souls if they implemented an easy mode.

The thing is: for most people here the controls aren't a barrier to entry; they want an easy mode because they, instead, want in on the fun. That's fine mind you, the Souls games are excellent and I'd love for everyone to play them, but I can't find much sympathy for such a request when it's coming from able-bodied people who "don't want to become masochistic," or "want to beat it in the time they have." instead. Now don't get me wrong, if From decided to implement easy mode into Bloodborne 2 or Metroid: Dread Souls I wouldn't give a singular shit, I'm not against an easy mode in Dark Souls but I am, however, against co-opting legitimate accessibility issues by equating Smart Steering, a legitimate accessibility fix, to a less powerful Orphan of Kos. To do some of my own co-opting with the book example posted before; your desire for an abridged version of Moby Dick is nowhere near the same as a blind person's desire for a braille version of Moby Dick.

EDIT: Oh, and just to avoid any "high and mighty" remarks; I suck at Dark Souls. Every game required either cheesing tactics or copious summoning to complete; if there were an easy mode I would very likely use it.

Why do you get to make up what the accessibility features are and then use made up accessibility features as proof?

 

[Spirited]

Kids as well as adults can learn real fast. No need to pamper them with this nonsense.

Same answer for the tourist mode thread. No!

Just learn how to do it right.

Why? What is the problem outside of some weird feeling of superiority some of you seems to get from some people not being able to enjoy the same games as you?

 

[Necron]

I guess this leads into the bigger question in terms of accessibility based on gameplay vs subject matter/concept. Not all films or books are easily accessible to all (e.g. Eraserhead, Shakespeare) so why should games? If Souls is this "special case" as some seem to justify it in not being able to have difficulty settings, then the evidence towards that conclusion lies within the game itself. There is no right or wrong answer in this. However, by not having the option it is true that this inherently leads to certain people feeling superior as a result ("I understand Shakespeare. You can't?"). The pattern is seen across media and yet games are somewhat different in this area. The very means of accessing its content is not through just words or visuals, but by the manipulation via our hands through experience and training.

Jim, I think accessibility in whatever form deserves another video within a broader context. Nevertheless, Nintendo have indeed been doing a good job at this for quite some time. Though, I agree that it's weird that they have this feature on by default in the new Mario Kart (probably to emphasise that it exists as an option, I'd imagine). Not sure where I was going with the above but it's late and I should probably sleep now.

 

[Moff]

I don't use it, but smart steering is a great addition because first and foremost mario kart is a party game and smart steering allows people to just pick it up and have fun with it even if they never played it before. great move by nintendo.

 

[Plum]

Why do you get to make up what the accessibility features are and then use made up accessibility features as proof?

Huh? I'm really not sure what this post is trying to get at to be honest.

 

[redcrayon]

Kids as well as adults can learn real fast. No need to pamper them with this nonsense.

Same answer for the tourist mode thread. No!

Just learn how to do it right.

Why is the option any more 'nonsensical' than any other training mode in a game? Not every kid will have this at home, this let's someone who hasn't seen Mario Kart before (and might
Not play it again) join in for an hour or two at family gatherings. My daughter is just about old enough to sit on my lap and press buttons, she's at least a year away from playing properly, but just wants to join in and zoom around when we play any multiplayer games. Not really seeing how that option, in a family oriented game, is nonsensical. As for 'do it right', who defines that? You? For some families 'do it right' is having a good time together in the living room rather than everyone training for competitive online play. When I play games with my kid I don't expect her to have to train to be at the same skill level as me for us to enjoy it.

 

[Lindsay]

Just learn how to do it right.

Whats the "right" way ta play FF7?

Never run from even the most pointless battles?
No materia run?
Keep at least 1 of every item in your inventory?
Play straight through without ever saving?

Games can be played in so many different ways that just declaring there to be a "right" one kinda doesn't work.

The advantage of an "easy mode" in Souls games, from a game design/production perspective, is that it frees the designers up to make the experience harder.

3D World can have hard levels because there's a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. If there wasn't, the designers would be watching playtesters and saying, "85% of players can't beat this level in five tries. Cut it."

Since Souls games difficulty is apparently overhyped, maybe fans of the series are scared of there being an Easy mode for the reasons you point out. They're afraid of playing something truly hard! lol

 

[khaaan]

Huh? I'm really not sure what this post is trying to get at to be honest.

whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks.

Why is that your example of a Souls game accessibility feature?

 

[yophlow]

I mean, I'm against easy mode in Souls games but there's really people against Smart Steering in Mario Kart? What a world we live in.

What's the difference?

 

[Fiendcode]

Jim's right. Hopefully when From Soft ports the Dark Souls trilogy to Switch they add easy mode.

 

[tryagainlater]

I guess this leads into the bigger question in terms of accessibility based on gameplay vs subject matter/concept. Not all films or books are easily accessible to all (e.g. Eraserhead, Shakespeare) so why should games? If Souls is this "special case" as some seem to justify it in not being able to have difficulty settings, then the evidence towards that conclusion lies within the game itself. There is no right or wrong answer in this. However, by not having the option it is true that this inherently leads to certain people feeling superior as a result ("I understand Shakespeare. You can't?"). The pattern is seen across media and yet games are somewhat different in this area. The very means of accessing its content is not through just words or visuals, but by the manipulation via our hands through experience and training.

Jim, I think accessibility in whatever form deserves another video within a broader context. Nevertheless, Nintendo have indeed been doing a good job at this for quite some time. Though, I agree that it's weird that they have this feature on by default in the new Mario Kart (probably to emphasise that it exists as an option, I'd imagine). Not sure where I was going with the above but it's late and I should probably sleep now.

Texts are certainly made more accessible so that more people can enjoy. Most people don't read Beowulf in ye olde English although it's still there for people who do.

 

[Chainsawkitten]

But that's not what I want to focus on here, instead my point is; smart steering and a Souls easy mode are not the same thing. For a disabled person or someone brand new to gaming not being able to drift in Mario Kart or hold down the acceleration button were problems that were fixed with the new accessibility features whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks.

So don't have the Dark Souls easy mode simply be lowering enemy health bars. Have it make enemies slower so dodging attacks is easier even if you don't have the greatest reaction times or ability to manipulate the controller. In other words, if the precise dodging is the problem, just make it less precise. There's more ways to do an easy mode or accessibility features than "enemies have less HP".

 

[Plum]

Why is that your example of a Souls game accessibility feature?

Because the people I'm talking about in my post aren't asking for the equivalent to smart steering for Dark Souls, they're asking for the equivalent to 50cc instead. As I've said two times now; even Dark Souls at its easiest wouldn't be beatable for someone with legitimate trouble controlling the game so I can only assume that those who want an easy mode don't have legitimate trouble controlling the game.

 

[Bronetta]

Wouldn't coop be easy mode in Souls? Or does it not count as its reliant on another human player for help.



Smartsteering - Optional feature which partially plays for the player


Coop summons - Optional feature which partially plays for the player

 

[Nightii]

Because the people I'm talking about in my post aren't asking for the equivalent to smart steering for Dark Souls, they're asking for the equivalent to 50cc instead. As I've said two times now; even Dark Souls at its easiest wouldn't be beatable for someone with legitimate trouble controlling the game so I can only assume that those who want an easy mode don't have legitimate trouble controlling the game.

Well, you aren't thinking hard enough about the solution then! A good accesibility mode for Souls could be done, maybe From can give Hollywood a call to develop it for them, they can get rid of all the things holding the game back from being enjoyed by everybody that wants to experience the lore and art of it.

 

[LordKasual]

So don't have the Dark Souls easy mode simply be lowering enemy health bars. Have it make enemies slower so dodging attacks is easier even if you don't have the greatest reaction times or ability to manipulate the controller. In other words, if the precise dodging is the problem, just make it less precise. There's more ways to do an easy mode or accessibility features than "enemies have less HP".

a) lower the leveling requirement and "To Next Lvl" exp requirement scaling

b) buff the stat rewards for leveling

c) make each level provide bonus extra bonus stats that promote survivability. (Bloodborne already does this, every level provides defense. Just also make every level provide Stamina/HP/Defense).

A mode that provides a combo of (a) and (c) would make Soulsborne casual accessible IMO.

Even when you're getting rekt'd by enemies, a little bit of grinding would allow you to eventually outlast enemies.

 

[Memory]

Its great for people with disability's both physical and learning related.

I think its great personally, nothing beats the sheer joy of some of the people i volunteer with being able to participate in video games.

 

[Yautja_Warrior]

It's great to have options for everyone, so you can toggle on or off as needed, anyone annoyed by that is just weird.

 

[khaaan]

Because the people I'm talking about in my post aren't asking for the equivalent to smart steering for Dark Souls, they're asking for the equivalent to 50cc instead. As I've said two times now; even Dark Souls at its easiest wouldn't be beatable for someone with legitimate trouble controlling the game so I can only assume that those who want an easy mode don't have legitimate trouble controlling the game.

So the best example of a 50cc equivalent you could think of is a boss taking less hits? Not more generous invincibility frames, or a lesser punishment for missing a parry, or more lenient death penalties, or a more sparse enemy distribution?

 

[Bronetta]

a) lower the leveling requirement and "To Next Lvl" exp requirement scaling

b) buff the stat rewards for leveling

c) make each level provide bonus extra bonus stats that promote survivability. (Bloodborne already does this, every level provides defense. Just also make every level provide Stamina/HP/Defense).

A mode that provides a combo of (a) and (c) would make Soulsborne casual accessible IMO.

Even when you're getting rekt'd by enemies, a little bit of grinding would allow you to eventually outlast enemies.

None of these would help someone who doesnt have the fundamentals down like dodging and spacing.


If I cant drift through corners, smart steering does it for me. If I cant dodge Capra Demon or Cleric Beast, reshuffling stats wont do it for me.

 

[atr0cious]

So the best example of a 50cc equivalent you could think of is a boss taking less hits? Not more generous invincibility frames, or a lesser punishment for missing a parry, or more lenient death penalties, or a more sparse enemy distribution?

Not to mention they would never see this mode. Folks need to get over themselves and stop trying to play gatekeeper.

 

[Plum]

So don't have the Dark Souls easy mode simply be lowering enemy health bars. Have it make enemies slower so dodging attacks is easier even if you don't have the greatest reaction times or ability to manipulate the controller. In other words, if the precise dodging is the problem, just make it less precise. There's more ways to do an easy mode or accessibility features than "enemies have less HP".

That would be better but how far would you have to go to help someone who might legitimately find controlling a character in a 3D environment an incredibly difficult task whilst still having any semblance of fun? Many bosses in the Souls games already have ridiculously long wind-ups for their animations yet, if you watch beginners play the game, they still get hit. Without something like Smart Steering that changes the fundamental controls there's little Dark Souls can do to make itself accessible to those who need accessibility unless they make it into something even easier than 50cc, but where's the fun in that?

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

I think Jim is right about those people who are criticizing accessibility.

Why are people so pissed off because some people can enjoy the game more than before?

Because then people would be 100% sure they were nerds. Now there is some ambiguity since people don't play.

'You don't understand...'


Glad for this for my kids.

 

[Easy_D]

Good episode, nice hat, enjoyed the updated background music.

Edit: And thank God for Luigi. Also just when I think it's over we get some fuckin Life Hax too. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.

That would be better but how far would you have to go to help someone who might legitimately find controlling a character in a 3D environment an incredibly difficult task whilst still having any semblance of fun? Many bosses in the Souls games already have ridiculously long wind-ups for their animations yet, if you watch beginners play the game, they still get hit. Without something like Smart Steering that changes the fundamental controls there's little Dark Souls can do to make itself accessible to those who need accessibility unless they make it into something even easier than 50cc, but where's the fun in that?

Your issue here is that your definition of fund doesn't have to match someone else's definition of fun.