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Games that are improved by playing on non-default settings (excluding difficulty)
- Thread starter Siegmeyer
- Start date
Savantcore
Unconfirmed Member
Thief.
Thief. Thief. Thief.
I know it gets a lot of shit, but Thief was genuinely one of my favourite gaming experiences last year when I played it on super hard mode with all the modifiers switched on.
Thief. Thief. Thief.
I know it gets a lot of shit, but Thief was genuinely one of my favourite gaming experiences last year when I played it on super hard mode with all the modifiers switched on.
Battlefield 4:
Default vehicle controls are horrible.
Default air vehicles controls are horrible.
Since the last major CTE patch running with the default transparency, size, color, etc. of any of the on screen indicators or HUD is limiting and putting yourself at a disadvantage. There are way too many customizations to list here, but dive in and check them out. It helps situational awareness and visibility significantly.
Default vehicle controls are horrible.
Default air vehicles controls are horrible.
Since the last major CTE patch running with the default transparency, size, color, etc. of any of the on screen indicators or HUD is limiting and putting yourself at a disadvantage. There are way too many customizations to list here, but dive in and check them out. It helps situational awareness and visibility significantly.
Deified Data
Banned
Skyrim modded, more like.
Pertaining to your point, a mod that elaborates on directions to an objective in the quest journal and a mod that creates more roadsigns in the world. The effect is partially spoiled if you're familiar with the world but it's still a lot more immersive.
ChronotriggerJM
Member
Turn off the HUD whenever possible. The skill required to actually learn the game and it's limitations is amazing when it all clicks. Racing games and shooters benefit massively.
Disable crosshairs/dot on screen any time possible. Using the actual weapons scope, or getting a better idea of how centered you are is wonderfully difficult at first, but becomes second nature. I just played infamous second son with no hud on, and it's pretty crazy lining up headshots, the powers feel more natural in that they're guesswork that gets better over time.
Racing games - Mapping gas and reverse to the right stick. I find that the throttle control is so much more fun when I can use the stick instead of a button or trigger.
Disable crosshairs/dot on screen any time possible. Using the actual weapons scope, or getting a better idea of how centered you are is wonderfully difficult at first, but becomes second nature. I just played infamous second son with no hud on, and it's pretty crazy lining up headshots, the powers feel more natural in that they're guesswork that gets better over time.
Racing games - Mapping gas and reverse to the right stick. I find that the throttle control is so much more fun when I can use the stick instead of a button or trigger.
Poimandres
Member
Bioshock, vita chambers off.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Driveclub, turn off all HUD. So good!
Imbarkus
As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
I'm going to go so far as to say this game would have been a full point higher in its review average if the laser sight had been default. That reticle makes no sense.
TC McQueen
Member
A lot of XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy WIthin's optional tweaks (god, I forgot what the name for those settings was) like Marathon and Training Roulette (which lets you get custom skill trees for soldiers) give the game tons more replayability. Modding the ARs and LMGs with Suppression and upping the MELD amounts helps make the higher difficulties less bullshit too.
And shoot on L1
You mentioned Dead Island, that was the biggest one that came to mind immediately. Though I do disagree with you about Fight Night. I much prefer the game with analog stick control and adding button control options to EA MMA ruined that game online. Well, the fact that the face button system broke your stamina and let you punch infinitely is what actually broke it, but that's nitpicking.
Since that's out, I'd say any game ever where pressing up on the stick makes your character look upwards. Straight to the options menu I go any time I start up a game to make sure I fix that setting.
Since that's out, I'd say any game ever where pressing up on the stick makes your character look upwards. Straight to the options menu I go any time I start up a game to make sure I fix that setting.
I love me some HUDless Driveclub (once I've learnt the courses), but it's never occurred to me to turn it off in a shooter, especially in a TPS where you can't rely on ADS. I still have First Light to play from last month's PS+, so I think I'll give it a shot with that. Thanks!
Fallout New Vegas' "hardcore mode" is separate from difficulty and makes the game a much more interesting wasteland survival challenge.
I'll go with Bad Company 2 multiplayer, play in Hardcore mode.
Friendly fire, no auto-health regen, no HUD, no grenade indicators, no mini-map, faster TTK.
(I can't remember if it also disabled auto-aim, or whether I just did that myself)
Yet, you can still check your menu map when people call out spotting positions (which last only briefly) at the expense of being briefly stuck in a menu, so the tactical and team-working elements of the game are totally enhanced. DICE's brilliant sound-design means you aren't crippled by the lack of readouts, you quickly learn to hear what's going on around you, and even identify the different weapons being fired at you.
Definitely the best way to play that game, and it only takes a quick change in the quick match menu.
------------------------
Also, Goldeneye 64 multiplayer. No auto-aim, no cross-hair. Health -10. Cheat mode: No mini-map.
The lack of cross-hair would be stupid in most other FPS without ADS, but because of RARE's excellent 1:1 aiming control on the analogue stick, you can really learn how to aim and once you do you'll be in for some real tests of skill against similar opponents.
Turning the Health to -10 at first seems to make it the same as Licence to Kill, but importantly body armour will still save you against a bullet, unless it's in the head. This makes the tactical map play crucial to the game, but a skilled pistol marksman can still headshot someone rampaging with a machine gun.
The final recommendation is a bit niche, but if you can, also split the video signal to two or more TVs and cover over the other players parts of the screen. (Typically we did it to two TVs and played 2v2)
Congratulations, you're now playing the best arena shooter ever made. Enjoy.
Friendly fire, no auto-health regen, no HUD, no grenade indicators, no mini-map, faster TTK.
(I can't remember if it also disabled auto-aim, or whether I just did that myself)
Yet, you can still check your menu map when people call out spotting positions (which last only briefly) at the expense of being briefly stuck in a menu, so the tactical and team-working elements of the game are totally enhanced. DICE's brilliant sound-design means you aren't crippled by the lack of readouts, you quickly learn to hear what's going on around you, and even identify the different weapons being fired at you.
Definitely the best way to play that game, and it only takes a quick change in the quick match menu.
------------------------
Also, Goldeneye 64 multiplayer. No auto-aim, no cross-hair. Health -10. Cheat mode: No mini-map.
The lack of cross-hair would be stupid in most other FPS without ADS, but because of RARE's excellent 1:1 aiming control on the analogue stick, you can really learn how to aim and once you do you'll be in for some real tests of skill against similar opponents.
Turning the Health to -10 at first seems to make it the same as Licence to Kill, but importantly body armour will still save you against a bullet, unless it's in the head. This makes the tactical map play crucial to the game, but a skilled pistol marksman can still headshot someone rampaging with a machine gun.
The final recommendation is a bit niche, but if you can, also split the video signal to two or more TVs and cover over the other players parts of the screen. (Typically we did it to two TVs and played 2v2)
Congratulations, you're now playing the best arena shooter ever made. Enjoy.
texhnolyze
Banned
Pretty much every single pc games that I've played. I have my own hotkey for for games. Sometimes tweaking the mouse sensitivity help as well. I also usually tweak some of the sound settings by lowering effects and maxing music and conversation, which also applies for console/handheld games.
boredandlazy
Member
Ding, Ding, Ding!
Lightning Count
Member
RE5, Revelation switch to RE4 controls.
Sword Of Doom
Member
The Last of Us on survivor mode is perfect imo
chaosblade
Unconfirmed Member
No mention of turning off lock-on free-aim in Prime 1 and 2? The games weren't designed for it and it makes some things more challenging than they should be (including one of the first bosses).
Also, most people seem to prefer advanced sensitivity, reducing the necessary motion for aiming.
Avid Reading Horse
Member
Wait a sec, Dead Island had Die by the Sword controls?!?!
Fake edit: Wait a sec, Die by the Sword was developed by Treyarch!?!?
Fake edit: Wait a sec, Die by the Sword was developed by Treyarch!?!?
chrominance
Member
Perfect Dark had an option that let you use two controllers to play single-player. Dual-analog controls, man! My friend, who owned the game, just thought I was being a goof when she saw me holding two controllers but CLEARLY I SAW THE FUTURE
Quite right, I forgot about the lock-on option as I played MPT over a year ago and the free-aim option was nonsense. I've got it on my hard drive now thanks to that crazy offer but haven't jumped back in yet. It's just the jump/shoot option that stuck in my head, you didn't even need to play the game to realise how much of a terrible idea it was.
A Sentient Keyboard
Member
Bumper Jumper or bust.
It's a custom control scheme in the Halo games for those who don't know.
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Resident Evil 5 on Professional difficulty(with co-op)
Is the absolute most fun I had with a game last gen.
Is the absolute most fun I had with a game last gen.
A friend of mine hit Paragon 200 without knowing the option existed. He only found out because I told him to try my build out, and was confused by my use of multiple abilities from the same tree...
WhirlwindMonk
Banned
I get around this by playing Nuzlocke until I beat the Elite 4. Pokemon that "died" get deposited in a box rather than released so I can pull them out again in the post game. Gives the fun and challenge of a Nuzlocke without forcing two playthroughs.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Uncharted 3. Garbage aiming default, good aiming optional
Came in to say Thief.
This is correct.
I just wish Dragon's Dogma was playable without its HUD as well, cause that was another game I know I would have enjoyed if I could just have gotten rid of all the crap on the screen.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Yeah, I switched those immediately in MP3. The reason it is like that was originally probably to keep it familiar for those who played MP1 & 2 on GCN. Those games had shoot on A and jump on B, and they kept it that way for MP3. And then all the games inherited it in Trilogy.
Benzychenz
Member
Kid Icarus Uprising, turning the rotation speed or whatever up to max.
ResidentDante
Member
This.
I also recall doing this in Silent Hill 2 and 3 in the hidden options screen (press the shoulder buttons or something). Picture went from "that looks muddy" to "wow, PS2 is great!"
I fucking hate film grains.
I first learned about Nuzlocke early last year(during the Twitch Plays phenomenon) and it completely turned me around on the entire franchise. The only way I could ever play and I have since been smitten with these self-adopted rules. Really makes me wish a perma-death mode is included as an option as that little rule exponentially improves my engagement and connection to my team. Simple fodder fights can end up being some of the most grueling and tense moments in all of gaming, and crits are devastating emotional thrillrides instead of just efficiency bonuses heading to the next objective.
Screw collecting them all, Pokémon is better when trying to maintain survival for your plucky team amidst a harsh environment!
Enabling "Legacy" controls vs. the default in FFXIV: A Realm Reborn. You have to be good at using lock-on or face target, however.
"Check Box Ticking Simulator 2011...now with INVISIBLE check boxes for the ULTIMATE immersive check box ticking experience!"
"Check Box Ticking Simulator 2011...now with INVISIBLE check boxes for the ULTIMATE immersive check box ticking experience!"
sorry
Fbh
Member
Disable "hints": Almost every modern game
This. It made stealth segments much more enjoyable and tense.
I know OP says no difficulty option but for me TLOU on hard and with no listening mode is almost a different (better) game than on normal with listening mode enabled
This. It made stealth segments much more enjoyable and tense.
I know OP says no difficulty option but for me TLOU on hard and with no listening mode is almost a different (better) game than on normal with listening mode enabled
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