FromSoftware might raise some eyebrows and cause some Twitter fingers to be exercised. But by adding different difficulties to Elden Ring and its fellow Souls games, the benefits would outweigh all.

MONEY UNSURELY SPENT

When I consider buying games, in this case Elden Ring and Dark Souls, many factors go into my decision. I look at what reviewers are saying and I try to gauge the games’ levels of accessibility. For those who might not know, I was born with one arm, so when it comes to purchasing games I need to know if I can play them first. While I am not against learning opponents’ strategies and movements, I am against being unable to choose my adventure’s difficulty. Especially when it comes to my first playthrough.

Depending on the type of game, I normally play on medium at first. On medium difficulty, games present a nice amount of challenge for me. I do not feel my progress is being badly hindered and I do not feel like I threw my $70 away. But when I play a game like Elden Ring or Dark Souls, I cannot help but feel defeated. Not just in the sense of losing a fight, but as if the series is not made for me. There is a real sense of feeling left out.

I understand developers having a vision and wanting to ensure it remains pure throughout the process. However, adding numerous options of difficulty would not hinder it. Nor would it hinder the experiences of other players. It is not like we are playing a game like A Way Out or going on raids in Destiny 2 together. We are not playing games with game modes where your success is dependent on my skill.

SLAY AT YOUR OWN PACE

I am playing a game by myself and how I choose to play does not make another player’s achievements on a harder difficulty any lesser. It does not hinder the developer’s vision because many others are playing on hard mode. There will always be those who welcome an immediate challenge, I am someone who prefers to build-up to the challenge. I have not played Cuphead in months because I get frustrated to the point where I do not want to play anymore.

I bought the game shortly after launch and have still not gotten past the second world. Let me get through the game first and then if I had enough fun I will replay it and challenge myself with a harder difficulty. Otherwise, on my shelf, the game will stay and collect dust, or I will trade it in. In the end, all I want to do is compare experiences. Just because I or you play on a lesser difficulty does not mean we are infringing on the experiences of people we do not know.

We are all playing the same game and arriving at the same end credits albeit different routes. That is what makes gaming so fun is that our paths in a game rarely if ever stay the same but we all reach the same goal. It is part of what unites us. It is like being on a pro sports team, we all wear the same uniform but went to different schools, taking different paths to get to the top. What matters is if we had fun or not.

THERE IS A PATH

Adding more difficulties would not harm FromSoftware’s reputation or the reputation of their video games. It would not be as if they were keeping one difficulty but lowering it. They are adding to their sales numbers and fanbase by giving us choices. They are ensuring that I and those like me financially support them with every new release. In the end, they are still making wonderful games, they are just widening out the pool so more people can join.

You can choose to hop into the deep end if you want to, I’m going to be over on the side slowly immersing myself. Either way, we have a path we will both enjoy and can compare. Gaming is meant to be fun. There is no fun in purchasing games I know I cannot play and letting the trophies and achievements in them go unclaimed. It is torture. Both for me and for my wallet.

There should be a path where people of all skill levels and body types (both abled and disabled) can create memories of playing and beating FromSoftware games. I am not going to lie, there will always be people who look down upon you and your ability to play a game. But their words do not nor should not bear any weight on your comfortability playing a game.

YOU WILL WITNESS TRUE SUCCESS

You should not feel shame playing on a level easier than what these games are known for. If anyone ever tries to belittle you and tell you to “Get good” just ignore them and focus on your own journey. At the end of the day, the world will still keep spinning and your character will keep trying to survive. Focus on the things you can control, if you want to buy these games go do it. Who knows maybe you will find your skill level is better than you once believed.

There is hope. I do believe as accessibility in video games becomes more and more prevalent, developers will soften their stances on the difficulty of their games. At the end of the day, it is all about business, and it would be unwise for companies to implement different strategies. Both Elden Ring and Dark Souls have sold over a combined 40 million units. Both have been deemed huge successes and labelled as good games.

It is hard to imagine that number not being what it is because of added difficulty options. If anything their sales would double because of the number of new people being able to join in. Beating one of these games has to feel like dunking on a 10-foot rim. But there
is nothing wrong with starting a few feet lower and slowly working your way up. While we may be maiden less now in terms of difficulty options, we must remain hopeful that the sun will bless us one day.