This is my entry for the Archdruid Challenging Gaming Moments Contest run by @enjar.

There are many games that have challenging moments built into their design and story. Sometimes, these can be boss fights, a hidden secret, a sudden difficulty spike, a game mechanic, a crap port or maybe even a terrible camera control! Some of these challenging moments are difficult by design, whilst others are just a product of poor design (or more forgivingly, an overlooked or unforeseen consequence of a design decision).

I’m sure that many people will take the specific route when addressing this contest theme and point out a particular boss fight or mechanic, but I wanted to take a little bit of a different spin on the topic.

To Ironman or Not?

These days, some games (like FTL, Darkest Dungeon, XCOM to name a few) are trying to revive the appeal of the early days of gaming. They are built to be difficult and to be a bit of a struggle against a superior force. However, by overcoming these added difficulties and challenges, the player has a greater sense of accomplishment in comparison to the latest invincible, hand-holding, arcade shooter, fairy-floss war simulation (otherwise known as Call of Duty).

The idea that, by failing, you learn and get better is making a welcome and virtuous return to the world of gaming. Like real life, things are hard and the universe doesn’t care that you are supposed to be the Chosen One, you need to earn that title!

These are NOT your friends!

However, not all of us have the moral fortitude to avoid “Save Scumming”, and so it is great that some developers have taken the initiative and started to include the option to play in IRONMAN mode. Basically, for those who don’t know it, this sets up your game with a SINGLE game save, which is overwritten every time you save or quit. There is no avoiding consequences, you only have one life… a bit like real life!

This makes starting a new game of XCOM or FTL (or other similar games) THE single most challenging moment of the whole game. The decision that you make at this selection screen, to enable Ironman, will have lasting consequences for the way that you play the game. Every moment will be weighted with consequence, every step could be potential disaster, and it all boils down to this “simple” decision that you make at the beginning of your journey.

Unsplash

There will be many moments in the journey of your game where you will curse and regret this decision, but keep it in mind, this is good for you! You are building the moral fibre and grit that makes you into one of the hard-core elite gamers, after choosing this option and surviving, you will never turn back. Every other game that allows an easy escape from your consequences will just feel pale and insipid in comparison. This is the most challenging moment of the game genres that give me the most joy!

Are you a chicken (aka Casual) or a REAL gamer?

Will you Rise to the Challenge?