Hard™ games, in the context above, would be stuff that seems built to test your nerves with tight controls and difficult but fair level design. You play them and you feel like your screw-ups are your fault rather than the game's.
Hard games (no trademark) are the ones that are just plain difficult. Whether it's fair difficulty or not depends on the game.
my recommendations still fit, though I will warn you that T&B might feel short
I have never played IWBTG nor do I have any interest in doing so
I can't remember who I watched play it (I think it was Cr1tikal but I'm not sure) but seeing just the first level was enough for me to go "nope, not my thing," and I say this as someone who considers the platformer his favorite genre
I'm of the opinion that a game should be challenging without being cheap or betraying the player's trust, and that game violates both of those criteria the moment you begin playing it. More power to those that have time to deal with that, but I think life is too damn short to bother with it.
If you want a full-size (or larger) game with an extensive game world and highly immersive experience, I suggest you look into The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.
I actually have no idea what level of seriousness this is operating on.
100%
Mario, Sonic, Kirby, fucking easy Bullshit for children
There are different kinds of difficulty, and difficulty doesn't intrinsically make a game good or bad. I can barely play anything that requires significant manual dexterity or hand-eye coordination, which includes all of the games that you mentioned. But I am reasonably good at adventure games and puzzle stuff, which tend to require a different set of skills, which I happen to actually have.
Like, by your logic, something like Undertale is a cakewalk, and therefore worthless.
Anonus, did you go on 4chan/Reddit and read something that made you feel bad about yourself
this
unlike what a certain vocal minority of gamers might like people to believe, there is far more to gaming than beating (one's head against a wall repeatedly just to complete) difficult games
(i bet you some of that vocal minority has staked their social turf on exactly that and thus don't want to relinquish its leverage that they have in the limited group that plays like this)
IWBTG is notorious for being unfair, rather than simply hard
i think you're kinda conflating 2 things here maybe? people who say 'that game is for babies' are usually contrasting with M-rated games ime, whereas a game like Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels is pretty hard by most people's standards
also Undertale has some hard-ish parts, even on neutral mode Flowey is somewhat challenging to clear without dying
I actually have no idea what level of seriousness this is operating on.
100%
Mario, Sonic, Kirby, fucking easy Bullshit for children
...Have you actually played some of the challenge levels in Mario games lately? Like, ever since Galaxy 2 they haven't been remotely shy about busting your balls in the postgame. I still have nightmares of Champion's Road.
And if you want a hard-but-fair challenge I would recommend Ys -- particularly Ys Origin.
There are some games that I find really easy, but I still find them fucking phenomenal to play. And there are games that are just so hard that I rage quit.
I wasn't clear, or was too sleep-deprived, but no, I don't think easy games are worthless
I just feel sad that games don't feel huge like they did when I was a kid anymore
Understandable.
So I'm definitely seconding Sect's recommendation of CS. Plus it's free to download (I used the original website years ago I am pretty sure, but those should be fine), if you don't want to pay for Cave Story+, which is essentially just an enhanced edition. A very solid upgrade on multiple fronts, and lets you play it both ways, though the original is still pretty great.
So.... correct me if I am wrong, but what you're looking for isn't an "adult" game so much as it is a game that's more "deep," maybe? Wherein the plot, the setting, and the general atmosphere have a lot going on behind the scenes for you to think about? Mario platformers have a great deal of breadth and challenge, but not so much depth.
Games that I think would fit this bill:
Bastion and Transistor, but especially Bastion
Analogue: A Hate Story
Morrowind
Thomas Was Alone (not sure this is exactly what you're looking for, but it has a great vibe)
To The Moon
Undertale
Firewatch
Some of these games are pretty "easy" or have no elements of actual danger and are more cinematic. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, concept, and world behind them all, however.
That all said, "baby easy" games can be super fun. Like, you don't even know how pumped I am for Yooka-Laylee to come out. :D
I think of those titles, Firewatch and TTM would be most to his liking. Can't recall the last time AU mentioned being fond of games like Bastion or Transistor or Morrowind (but I still highly recommend the first two in general). It'd help to know what games felt "huge" to AU as a kid, although our tastes likely don't overlap much.
Yeah, TTM is nice. Pleasant, automatic recommendation for those that like story-focused gameplay and/or like a lack of challenge and don't mind the art, just didn't really resonate with me... I think.
Like I watched it when I was sick as heck, and the time spent watching the LP was time well spent. Ultimately though I was roughly left thinking "I appreciate the craft, and that it didn't overstay its welcome, but I'm ready for something else."
I <3 Thomas Was Alone, and actually was just thinking about it yesterday
it's excellent in the story department; the actual gameplay is simplistic, but it's not the main attraction so much as it is simply a means of keeping the player engaged
If you're looking for depth of worldbuilding, then yeah, RPGs might very well be to your liking.
* The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky + The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC * Golden Sun + Golden Sun: The Lost Age * Final Fantasy VI * Chrono Trigger * and probably many others I can't think of off the top of my head (I very recently recommended Nostalgia to someone who was looking for a game where they could sail to many places)
For more atmospheric suggestion of worldbuilding/lore, try the Momodora series, especially starting with Momodora III.
Comments
and then, when you're done suffering, play Tiny and Big (both are by the same team)
I know I talk about it endlessly but there's a reason for that, it really is a good game
Hard games (no trademark) are the ones that are just plain difficult. Whether it's fair difficulty or not depends on the game.
my recommendations still fit, though I will warn you that T&B might feel short
I can't remember who I watched play it (I think it was Cr1tikal but I'm not sure) but seeing just the first level was enough for me to go "nope, not my thing," and I say this as someone who considers the platformer his favorite genre
I'm of the opinion that a game should be challenging without being cheap or betraying the player's trust, and that game violates both of those criteria the moment you begin playing it. More power to those that have time to deal with that, but I think life is too damn short to bother with it.
Like, by your logic, something like Undertale is a cakewalk, and therefore worthless.
unlike what a certain vocal minority of gamers might like people to believe, there is far more to gaming than beating (one's head against a wall repeatedly just to complete) difficult games
(i bet you some of that vocal minority has staked their social turf on exactly that and thus don't want to relinquish its leverage that they have in the limited group that plays like this)
i think you're kinda conflating 2 things here maybe? people who say 'that game is for babies' are usually contrasting with M-rated games ime, whereas a game like Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels is pretty hard by most people's standards
also Undertale has some hard-ish parts, even on neutral mode Flowey is somewhat challenging to clear without dying
i only know them by reputation, not played them myself (yet)
Hard =/= good.
There are some games that I find really easy, but I still find them fucking phenomenal to play. And there are games that are just so hard that I rage quit.
Be more specific in what you're looking for.
Motherfucking Rainbow Road.
But yeah, motherfucking Rainbow Road. On 150cc
Except for motherfucking Rainbow Road.
Even the Easy mode is plenty difficult, and it's a good game in the tradition of the Nintendo/Sega games that you like besides.
It isn't really story heavy or anything but Rayman Origins is free from Ubisoft this month
I think you might like it based on the criteria you've listed, though even ignoring that I think it's the best modern 2D platformer of recent memory so you should get it
or play Super Metroid
rainbow road...
I loved Undertale but of course it's over now :(
Anyway the Marioverse is huge to me
Deepest Lore/worldbuilding elevated Sunshine over 64 to me
* The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky + The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
* Golden Sun + Golden Sun: The Lost Age
* Final Fantasy VI
* Chrono Trigger
* and probably many others I can't think of off the top of my head (I very recently recommended Nostalgia to someone who was looking for a game where they could sail to many places)
For more atmospheric suggestion of worldbuilding/lore, try the Momodora series, especially starting with Momodora III.
For a stiffer challenge, try the Ys games.