PixlBit

Great read. I agree, it is all about balance. Jak II is another good example of a game that can be pretty tough but never impossible. It gives you the ques you need, and never makes you retread through a bunch of stuff or wait to come back to life. 

For the most part I agree. Jak II is one of my all time favourite games. However, there are some truly evil missions with terrible checkpointing, and the missions often tick over into frustration territory. I didn't mind when I was 15 and playing it though, I had nothing else to play haha.

I'm all for fair and challenging models, so I really liked your blog. Super Meat Boy was a good example you used. That game is honestly one of the best designed 2D Plataformers.

Damn straight. It's a finely tuned masterpiece.

It all depends. I like challenge. However usually if a game is hard it makes me feel great when I finally beat it (looks at F-Zero GX story mode for the GC)

Nice write up, Blake. I'm ok with Battletoads though. I'll probably never be able to beat it, but can still enjoy playing it occasionally.

Unfairness can be fun in situations I guess. That's why roguelikes are so popular.

have u played Darkest Dungeon yet?  I'm curious, but waiting for maybe for it to be a little more balanced in an update before I buy it.  

Nope. I hadn't even heard of it until I saw Totalbiscuit play it on Twitch. I might have to give it a go soon when I can afford to download games again.

I will say this, Diablo III has six different difficulty levels you can choose from and four modes that also modulate difficulty. You can fine tune that sucker to be just as hard or easy as you want it to be. I find that really nice.

That it is. I also forked out and bought the expansion... it actually makes the game easier. Better loot drops all the time. In had a freaking legendary before I met Deckard. I mean, I'm a crusader and on normal I take no damage - even from bosses, and I one shot kill most enemies.

 Being a god is somewhat satisfying though, I must say. I'm considering bumping the difficulty up though.

I found Hard difficulty pretty good for the whole game. Hardcore though is a different story. I'm on Medium and I'm worried I set it too difficult for Act III. We'll see though.