Interesting question and from personal experience I would say the answer is yes. These days if I have the patience I have a reasonable expectation of actually finishing a game.
In the 1980s it was pretty much guaranteed that I would never see the final levels of any arcade game.
But I see that as a good thing rather than a bad one. After all if I spend $50 on a game… shouldn’t I have the opportunity to enjoy the entire thing?
Modern designs also emphasize replayability and variety much more than early games did.
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Are video games easier than they used to be?
With the growing popularity of video games, are we favoring friendlier, more streamlined gameplay over real challenge?
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Agree on both counts. Dara O’Brien said it best when he complained about video games being the only medium you can be not good enough to finish. This was always a source of irritation to many players, outside the loud minority of “pros”.
Not to mention infinite lives. I can die 10,000 times in Assassin’s Creed or Halo and just keep right on playing until I get it.
Yes, older games had “Continue” options (some anyway) but usually, if you die, back to the start you go!
While I do agree, on the other hand, it makes us laxer, because we don’t have to try as hard. And I don’t think that aspect is any good.