One thing we can all acknowledge is those who play video games are diverse.

That diversity manifests itself in numerous ways be it skill level, location, interests, and a bevy of other identifiers. It’s fair to say that there is no “one size fits all” solution when playing.

And still, many find themselves putting arbitrary limits on themselves, particularly when it comes to skill levels and difficulty settings.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a challenge from your games. That said, there is a point where the game you may enjoy ceases to be fun and becomes a chore.

That’s never a great place to be.

There recently was a Boss Rush Banter about the unfair creed for players to just “git gud.” My thoughts are similar to those, but center more on the limits we put on ourselves.

I was recently playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. I loved the previous two games and was enjoying this one. As the game wore on, I noticed I was dying quite a bit and combat wasn’t fun anymore.

This was disheartening because I really enjoyed combat in the previous two games.

I was playing the game on Amazing, the game’s version of normal. This setting is the default and aims for a balanced yet challenging experience. I had played the other two games on Friendly, the step down from Amazing.

I changed my settings back to Friendly and started having a lot of fun again. Prior to changing, I hesitated. I started telling myself that I was cheating or not playing the game the “right way.”

I’ve found that mentality is common among those who play. We become so concerned with the “right way” to play that we forget the key metric in all of this: fun.

What’s great about using fun as your north star is the “right way” will look different for everyone.

For me, the “right way” to play Spider-Man 2 was on Friendly. For others, it might be Spectacular or Ultimate. What matters here is you’re having fun.

This is where the diversity comes in. Some people have the time to dedicate themselves to refining their skills. Others, like myself, have kids and their gaming time is limited.

Sure, I enjoy a challenge, but not when it hampers what precious little time I have to game.

Don’t let your arbitrary limits ruin your gaming experience. Find the right way for you and play how you want on any difficulty. If a way isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it up by either lowering or raising the difficulty.

Do you ever fear lowering a game’s settings? What is the “right way” to play a game for you? What are your thoughts on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: PlayStation Blog

The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast About Video Games

The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of The Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, Stephanie Klimov, LeRon Dawkins, and Pat Klein come together with their friends, colleagues, and fellow creators to talk about their week in video games, discuss industry topics, conduct interviews, answer listener questions, and more. New episodes every Monday. Get each episode one week early and more perks over on the Boss Rush Network Patreon page.

This feed also includes Boss Rush Spotlight podcasts and Boss Rush Video Game Book Club. Get both shows early on Patreon. 

Email the Show: podcast.bossrush@gmail.com

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