Game Difficulty As a Virtue

The Wii and various mobile gaming platforms have done wonders for the trend toward casual or "easy" games. But the success of a few recent titles, despite their difficulty, has caused some to wonder whether the pendulum has swung too far; whether a little frustration can be seen as a good thing. Quoting:
"The evidence is subtle but compelling. For one example, look to major consumer website GameSpot's Game of the Year for 2009: Atlus' PS3 RPG Demon's Souls, which received widespread critical acclaim – none of which failed to include a mention of the game's steep challenge. GameSpot called it 'ruthlessly, unforgivingly difficult.' Demon's Souls was a sleeper hit, an anomaly in the era of accessibility. One would think the deck was stacked against a game that demanded such vicious persistence, such precise attention – and yet a surge of praise from critics and developers alike praised the game for reintroducing the experience of meaningful challenge, of a game that demanded something from its players rather than looked for ways to hand them things. It wasn't just Demon's Souls that recently flipped the proverbial bird to the 'gaming for everyone' trend. In many ways, the independent development scene can be viewed on the macro level as a harbinger of trends to come, and over the past year and into 2010, many indies have decided to be brutal to their players."

http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/0...ty-As-a-Virtue

If people start complaining about games being too hard they should play some of the old 8bit platformers and Shmups, and if it doesn't make them cry they'll certainly have a new view on game difficulty.

The games of today are just too darn easy! They hold your hand and guide you through EVERYTHING till the credits start rolling, it's just not even fun anymore. Games should be a bit challenging, like the old 8bit games as mentioned above.

.. however, Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins for the PSP (remake of Ghosts 'n Goblins) is a bit too much perhaps, the 8bit Castlevania/Contra games seem to be at the right level. :) Really though, if you have a PSP, go out and buy Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins, I'm pretty sure it's (one of) the most difficult game(s) you'll ever play! :thumbup:

guaranteed on the ghost and goblins, tho thats how the original snes one was too insane difficulty XD difficult games are the best its something to overcome >D