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Challenge In Games Is Not A Dirty Word
Thanks to GamerDad for their editorial discussing why there should be more difficult-to-complete games out there. The piece takes difficulty complaints regarding F-Zero GX for GameCube as a starting point, saying "This isn't the first time a top quality, high profile game has kicked people in the butts with challenge and it won't be the last. This kind of challenge is good for gaming and we need more games like it." The article goes on: "Players have grown accustomed to difficulty levels that are far too easy and I think it's contributing to their boredom with many games", but also cites specifics: "The most important thing about challenge, and it's one that F-Zero GX gets right, is that the game must let the player know it was their fault that they lost."
I recommend you buy Disgaea for the PS2 (if you can find it). It's very similiar to FFT and FFTA but much, much more deep. Check the reviews for it, it sounds like it'd suit your needs.
Starcraft is the same. The AI knows from the start the entire map layout AND where you are. Easily demonstrated by cheating to remove fog of war, and watching the AI IMMEDIATELY head in your direction.
Cheating AI is something I REALLY hate. It's just a kludge developers use to make the AI seem smarter than it is. Without the cheating, most game AI would be dumb as a brick.
Funny, I've died a few times because of 'dumb luck,' (on Half Pipe mostly) bust most often it has been because of my lack of skill, not luck. (and I tend to be a pretty skilled player)
I spent the last few days working on Master difficulty. I was getting my ass handed to me repeatedly on some of the tracks. I ran the tracks a bunch to practice, and I got better. I just beat the diamond cup with 1st, 2nd, 1st, 5th, and 18th place finishes.
It was an extremely satisfying experience. (1st on Undulation was great, 2nd on Shift was even better) In fact, it's one of few times I've actually talked smack to computer opponents.
My *only* complaint about the difficulty is that the computer opponents don't seem to be fazed whatsoever by impacts. When going through the boosts with 15 other racers at the end of Green Tree 2 (Intersecting Track, I think), you never see *them* lose control because of a collision and end up dead last because of it. Other than that, I think the game is perfectly fair.
I think the key is to just learn from your mistakes. Died on a turn when you got bumped by someone? Remember that and be more careful next time. Lost too much speed going through a corner and got passed by 12 people? Run the track on practice mode and learn how to get through the turn better. Don't like situations where you can't react to something? Learn to avoid those situations.
Learn the best places on the track to make aggressive moves for position -- learn the places on the track to just relax and keep moving.
Most of all, learn from defeat.
--Jeremy
Jesus was a liberal