Modern Game Difficulty Vs PS1 In Survival Horror

[alexfree]

I am playing Resident Evil Director's Cut for the first time ever on a real SCPH-1000 PS1, on original mode difficulty, and the contrast is just insane.

For reference I beat Resident Evil Code Veronica on Dreamcast (USA has no difficulty select it's basically 'normal' equivalent to the Japanese Dreamcast release, but knife is OP in that game).

I also have beat Resident Evil Requiem Standard Classic (amazing, hardest difficulty you can start on and it brought back everything I've missed with more recent survival horror) within 2 days of release on PS5. Which is important because there's no auto-aim and it's on controller too.

Same with Resident Evil 7 and 8 (PS5, hard mode, no auto-aim).

Now Silent Hill F on PS5 hard difficulty was maybe one of the hardest games I've ever completed, but it's the closest to the classic PS1 survival horror I've found.

I personally love pre-rendered backgrounds and tank controls, I also enjoyed Parasite Eve 1 and 2, Dino Crisis, Fear Effect…. But maybe it was because it had just been awhile since I played such a game or because I had only previously beat code Veronica, but when I played resident evil 2 last Halloween on normal mode I was getting destroyed in the famous opening sequence. To the point where I restarted on easy and did complete it for the first time on that difficulty.

I do not want to complete Resident Evil 1 on 'tutorial' (easy). I did choose the easier directors cut version (compared to the original USA release with increased difficulty in all modes and no auto-aim). Directors cut is basically the original Japanese difficulty but in English. Because it's tank controls I have zero interest in the dual shock version, even though I know there is some revision of it with the og soundtrack. That version has even less ribbons then the Japanese original release/original directors cut (back to 2 per pickup like the original USA one on original mode, and I don't know what I'm doing!). Also you do not play these games with an analog stick anyways.

Anyways seeing Requiem bring back the limited saves and having zombies now with guns/missle launchers/abilities to open doors but now with stealth options as well was great. Still not the same level of difficulty as the original trilogy on PS1 but the grace sequences were awesome and rewarding. I was much worse at the Leon sequences, I got stuck on 'the commander' for hours.

Just curious what anyone else's thoughts on how game difficulties are not the same level as they were 25 years ago. Currently a lot farther then I thought in Resident Evil 1 on the original difficulty then I thought, I hope this lasts.

Anything outside of this genre I play on pretty much the hardest mode every time. Fallout 3/New Vegas/4? Very hard auto-aim off. Outer worlds/Bioshock 1/Bioshock 3? Hard auto-aim off. Etc. And it makes it more meaningful to accomplish things for me anyways. But comparing that to something like Resident Evil 2 which I completed on easy? Crazy comparison.

 

[Kevstah2004]

 

[psdavx]

I also finished Biohazard Dual Shock Ver on my PS2 early last year. I remember that when this game first came out, I didn't dare to play it. One was because it was too scary, and the other was because it was too difficult. But now that I play it again, it feels like it's just that. As long as the pace is slower and more careful, there is basically no pressure.

Generally speaking, I think the games released in the early years are more difficult. In today's terms, it seems that they should be called hardcore. As the performance increases, the games released in the later years become lower in difficulty, become more fast food, and seem to have a lot less fun.

Are there any trends in games returning to the hardcore style in recent years? There are only a few games like Demon Souls, Elden Ring that I am more impressed with. Hopefully, there will be more games like this that allow people to rediscover the joy they once had.

 

[alexfree]

I also finished Biohazard Dual Shock Ver on my PS2 early last year. I remember that when this game first came out, I didn't dare to play it. One was because it was too scary, and the other was because it was too difficult. But now that I play it again, it feels like it's just that. As long as the pace is slower and more careful, there is basically no pressure.

Generally speaking, I think the games released in the early years are more difficult. In today's terms, it seems that they should be called hardcore. As the performance increases, the games released in the later years become lower in difficulty, become more fast food, and seem to have a lot less fun.

Are there any trends in games returning to the hardcore style in recent years? There are only a few games like Demon Souls, Elden Ring that I am more impressed with. Hopefully, there will be more games like this that allow people to rediscover the joy they once had.

Silent Hill F on Hard was insane. Like, 7+ hours trying to beat a single boss insane. Having to essentially play perfect maybe getting hit 1-2 times max and memorizing multiple patterns. Being extremely early in the game when finding this first boss was rough too. After beating it I watched a streamer play the same boss also on hard and they had just as much difficulty as me was kinda funny.

I liked Resident Evil Requiem in Classic Standard mode brining back the limited saves. Makes you want to practice until you human TAS it on a great run is very rewarding to me. But I honestly had a ton of ribbons by the end. I unlocked the 'insanity' mode by doing this but I'm not too sure if I want to play it were basically 2 hits you die!

 

[alexfree]

Just finished Resident Evil 1 Director's Cut USA PS1 on normal!

I've been doing these all out of order. This is what I played so far and in this order:

1) Resident Evil Code Veronica (no difficulty mode on Dreamcast USA so basically you can "only" play on normal mode)
2) Resident Evil 7 hard mode no auto aim on PS5
3) Resident Evil 8 hard mode no auto aim on PS5
4) Resident Evil 2 easy mode on PSX (want to go back now for normal mode)
5) Resident Evil Requiem on standard classic (hardest mode available from the start) no auto aim on PS5
6) Resident Evil Directors Cut on normal mode PS1.

Thinking I may go to silent hill 1 on PS1 next to mix it up a bit.
Results screen attached. Did a cheeky save at the end to set up inventory for tyrant that I didn't need to do so I'd say not bad for first time. My entire item box was full too!
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