I’ve read a lot of people arguing that Fable II is radically easy, be it the combat or the abundance of cash, but I’ve never played it so I couldn’t go against what you say. I can argue that not everyone can play through Devil May Cry 4, regardless of how intuitive the controls are for people like you and me, but it’s not trying to be something it’s not. At least it has difficulty settings, though.

I understand that games scale the difficulty as you progress through them (or at least they should, Prince of Persia). That’s what’s supposed to happen, and that’s why I didn’t argue against it, but there is a difference between the first level on The Boss Extreme and the first level on Solid Normal, and that’s how it should be.

I just don’t want to be forced to have to see flashing fucking billboards and gates everywhere I go. I just want the option to turn it on or off, if I need it, like how Mirror’s Edge has a selection for Runner’s Vision. The game is so much better without the option enabled.

Also, I’m not sure what you’re trying to say with the whole “confusing” thing. Anyone who’s ever played a game with a hack, slash, and dodge button knows exactly what you’re talking about. For that matter, I would imagine people who have played games for years would also pick up on it in a flash. I think the only people who would be confused are people who have never played a game before.

I wanted to finish with “In that regard, I think your comment is a little off base,” but I realize that I was perhaps not clear enough in my original article. I hope I have solidified my point here. If not, feel free to refute.

A good example of ‘Easy to pick up’ is Fable II. Control systems intuitive, not too long tutorials and you can make the game as hard as you like, or play it as easy as you like – it just depends on how good of a gamer you are and how much you can bite off and still manage to chew.

Any MGS on EuroExtreme is still easier at the start than it is at the end, the curve just starts higher up.

The best example of ‘Easy to pick up’ is Devil May Cry 4. Control system? Flawless. Comfortable, easy to remember, never grasping for buttons to do combos. You can play the game as slow as you like and sacrifice stylish points or you can slowly master the game learning timings, combos for situations, ways to move faster through the level, how to minimise damage taken, dodging at the last second, learning attack patterns and what style goes with what you want to achieve against how much health you have left. Sound confusing? That’s because that’s what mastering a game IS to someone who hasn’t yet.

Good article, but a little off base.