The Best Difficulty for Days Gone First Playthrough: A Beginner’s Guide
When approaching a new game, deciding on the right difficulty setting can make all the difference in creating a fun and engaging experience. For Days Gone, a survival action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world, finding the right balance between challenge and enjoyment can be a bit tricky. In this article, we’ll delve into the various difficulty levels and help you determine the best setting for your first playthrough.
Understanding the Difficulty Settings
Before we dive into the specific settings, let’s break down the terminology used by the game’s developers, SIE Bend Studio:
- Survival Mode: This setting removes all fast travel and HUD (heads-up display) elements, making navigation and combat more challenging.
- Hard Mode: As its name suggests, this mode increases the difficulty of the game, making enemies harder to defeat and more aggressive.
- Difficulty: This refers to the three main levels of difficulty in the game: Easy, Normal, and Hard. Each level affects the strength and number of enemies, as well as the resources available.
What’s the Best Difficulty for First Playthrough?
Normal is generally recommended for a first playthrough. The game is designed with this difficulty level in mind, providing a fair balance between challenge and exploration. At Normal, the enemies are not too weak or too strong, and the player has enough resources to complete the story missions without getting overwhelmed.
Here are some benefits of playing on Normal difficulty:
• Well-balanced enemies: The enemies are at a decent strength, requiring strategic use of the environment, ammo, and weapons to take them down.
• Accessible storytelling: The game’s story is more enjoyable on Normal difficulty, allowing players to focus on the narrative and characters without excessive frustration.
• Discoverability: The Normal setting allows for a good pace of exploration, enabling players to discover the game’s secrets and features without getting too bogged down.
When to Consider Hard or Survival Modes
While Normal is recommended for first-time players, some gamers may prefer the added challenge of Hard mode or the added realism of Survival mode. Here’s when you might consider taking the difficulty level up:
• For experienced gamers: If you’re looking for a tougher challenge or have played through the game before, Hard mode or Survival mode might be more appealing.
• To increase immersion: Survival mode can enhance the sense of realism and urgency, making the game more immersive and engaging.
• For a more competitive experience: Hard mode and Survival mode can be used to test your skills and compete with others in terms of combat and survival expertise.
Table: Comparison of Difficulty Settings
| Difficulty Level | Enemy Strength | Resources | Story Missions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Weaker | More abundant | Easier |
| Normal | Balanced | Moderate | Accessible |
| Hard | Stronger | Less abundant | Challenging |
| Survival | Increased | No fast travel/HUD | Immersive |
In Conclusion
In Days Gone, the best difficulty setting for a first playthrough is Normal. This level provides a good balance between challenge and enjoyment, allowing players to appreciate the game’s story and exploration elements. However, if you’re looking for a greater challenge or increased immersion, Hard mode and Survival mode can be an excellent option. Ultimately, the choice of difficulty depends on your personal preference and gaming experience.
Remember to always check the game’s settings before starting a new playthrough, and experiment with different difficulty levels to find what works best for you. Happy gaming!