Difficulty levels in gaming.
 

In terms of difficulty, there are games of every stripe, from Elmo's Alphabet Adventure to Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. There are games with high learning curves, like Final Fatasy Tactics, and games where chance alone determines victory.

Some people lack the time to invest in difficult games, or play games only to enjoy the story or characters, and are frustrated by challenging systems. Others love a good challenge. Among those, some prefer an intellectual approach, as in Zelda: Twilight Princess, and some get a thrill from a game in which the cards are stacked entirely against them, as in Baroque.

So, Mene, what kind of experience are you looking for, in terms of difficulty? And what makes a game difficult to begin with?

What's the hardest game you've ever played, but liked anyway? Conversely, which one's the game (or games) you never finished because it was too hard?

Answer any or all, and ask your own questions, too. There is so much to discuss across every genre. Let's get to it, gamers!

I, too, like a good puzzle. Particularly in the 3D Zelda games, difficulty is related much more closely to strategy than it is to upgrades (or stats, which are effectively nonexistent aside from health). In Twilight Princess I always get that "smart" feeling after finally finishing a dungeon, but I actually find the process pretty stressful. A feeling not of enjoyment, but of accomplishment. It's not the kind of game I'd play more than once.

I've never played any survival horror games, for the very reason you mentioned. I hate being scared, and refuse to pay 50 bucks for it. XDD

And that does sound like a weird game. Although candy people reminds me of this really old action/adventure game for the Mac that had cookie and candy people in the later levels. I think there was a toothpaste gun involved? In any case I never beat it because of the candy people. Candy people are evil, apparently.

I can never seem to focus on a game long enough to play a tougher setting.
I go for it's default setting or a hard.

I'm really bad at the game Jericho, it isn't really that hard, but I'm bad with the camera view/gun scope; and it's pretty freaky at some parts so I have to have someone with me when I play it. I'm a pansy like that. Same with the Silent Hill games.. >>

I basically never play games on hard mode. I suck badly enough on normal difficulty. D:

Well.. There is Ninja Gaiden....I couldn't get past the first boss QQ.....
MSG... Not past first area realy.. But that was when I was like 7.

LoZ games can be pretty hard... Like when you put the game down for a month and can't remember what's going.

And there have been a number of RPGs where I get to the Last boss with out knowing I can't turn around, Heal, Save.. And the thing kills me, And I loss 4hrs or play......

One of the frustratingly tough games made when video game companies had no idea of a difficulty curve AT ALL was Earthbound 0 for the NES.

I mean, one area, you were fighting puffles or something, and the next area was filled with giant silver wolves, in packs of 3. x_x I trained for many hours in the puffle area, but I never got strong enough to survive in the next area. So I stopped playing. :|