Line #10 PlayingWith/HarderThanHard


1	'''Basic Trope''': A difficulty harder than the 'Hard' difficulty
2	* '''Straight''': ''JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia'' has a 'Very Hard' difficulty, which is harder than the 'Hard' difficulty
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** ''JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia'' has several difficulty levels above Hard including '[[HarderThanHard Very Hard]]', '[[FakeDifficulty Expert]]','[[LowLevelRun Insane]]', '[[AllDeathsFinal Extreme]]', '[[OneHitPointWonder Impossible]]', '[[{{Permadeath}} Ultimate Impossible]]', [[DeletionAsPunishment Ultimate Impossible EX(treme)]]' and '[[UnwinnableByDesign Ultimate Impossible EX(treme)Apocalypse Ω+]]'.
5	** The 'Normal' difficuty is already NintendoHard.
6	** The hardest difficulty has you die [[PressStartToGameOver as soon as you start the game.]]
7	** UnwinnableJokeGame
8	* '''Downplayed''': ''JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia'' has a 'Very Hard' setting, but it's actually not much more difficult than the already challenging Hard mode.
9	* '''Justified''': The game is [[ItsEasySoItSucks very easy]] on the easier difficulty ratings.
10	** The harder difficulty options allow ''JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia'' to retain its challenge on NewGamePlus, and each of them require you to complete the game on the previous difficulty to unlock them to extend the total gameplay hours.
11	** The player has an incentive to play on the hardest difficulty because the GoldenEnding is unlocked by simply beating the game whereas you'd have to do a tedious CollectionSidequest and complete the BrutalBonusLevel on the easier difficulties for the same reward.
12	** The TrueFinalBoss can only be fought on Very Hard and above, and has 4 forms on Very Hard. Each difficulty above Very Hard adds an additional form, clocking in at ''11 forms'' if you fight them on Ultimate Impossible EX(treme)Apocalypse Ω+. A truly dedicated player will play on each difficulty just to see and fight each form for themselves, greatly increasing the game's replay value and the promise of an OldSaveBonus once they start up an New Game on JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia II.
13	** The hardest difficulty exists solely to troll players and is impossible to complete.
14	* '''Inverted''':
15	** EasierThanEasy
16	* '''Subverted''': JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia has Normal, Hard, and Very Hard, but Hard is considered the main difficulty, as Normal contains EasyModeMockery.
17	* '''Double Subverted''': However, beating Very Hard unlocks Expert, which '''is''' harder. [[SerialEscalation Completing the current hardest difficultly unlocks a harder one]] until you unlock the TRUE final difficulty Ultimate Impossible EX(treme)Apocalypse Ω+.
18	* '''Parodied''': JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia has a secret 'Impossible' difficulty that [[PressStartToGameOver kills you right at the beginning]].
19	* '''Zig Zagged''': 'Very Hard' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Until you come across HardModePerks like extra money, experience, etc. Until you reach ThatOneLevel, which is [[NintendoHard frustrating on any difficulty]]. The boss of that level opens the way to a GameBreaker that makes the rest of the game easy. Until the FinalBoss. Then NewGamePlus is available, which starts out easier than before...but you're roped into Expert mode early into this playthrough.
20	* '''Averted''':
21	** The hardest difficulty level is 'Hard'.
22	** There are no difficulty levels.
23	* '''Enforced''': Hardcore players wanted a difficulty that would challenge them.
24	** JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia ended up getting an UpdatedRerelease which adds several new difficulty modes in order to increase the replay value of the game.
25	* '''Lampshaded''':
26	** "Insane is just pummelling us left and right! WhatTheHellPlayer [[BreakingTheFourthWall Why didn't you just pick 'Hard'!?]]"
27	** The in-game description for the 'Very Hard' difficulty promotes that it's tailor-made for masochistic players, or players who hate themselves.
28	* '''Implied''': The moment the player engages the OpeningBossBattle, they take damage and die before ''immediately'' seeing the Game Over screen. Bob complains that he got killed in the ''tutorial'' fight.
29	* '''Invoked''':
30	** "[[Videogame/CrystalStory This game needs a harder difficulty!]]"
31	** "[[VideoGame/{{Gungrave}} How do we convince players to endure the hardest difficulty? Allow them to unlock everything after beating it]] or at least let them [[Franchise/KingdomHearts watch the secret ending.]]
32	** "You know what would increase the replay of this game? Harder difficulty levels."
33	* '''Exploited''': The [[HardModePerks extra gold]] allows you to buy DeflectorShields sooner, allowing you to defeat ThatOneBoss ''[[NonIndicativeDifficulty more easily]]'' on Very Hard and above by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard defeating it with its own attacks]], thanks to the enemies' increased damage output.
34	* '''Defied''': The devs intentionally invert this trope, as the game is already NintendoHard.
35	** Rather than adding in a more difficult difficulty to hard they make the old Hard Medium-Hard and add a new harder Hard.
36	** Remakes of ''JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia'' simply rebalance the difficulties instead of adding new ones. As a result, the game's difficulties are now EasierThanEasy, Normal and HarderThanHard respectively.
37	* '''Discussed''':
38	** "Hard is tough." "This is harder. Good Luck, troper!"
39	--> '''(Very Hard)'''
40	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
41	-->'''Enhdithall''': Is that it? Your empty bluster won't save you! I shall crush you and this entire world asunder!
42
43	--> '''(Expert)'''
44	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
45	-->'''Enhdithall''': Pathetic creature! You fight against me, the embodiment of perfection! Your empty bluster won't save you! I shall crush you and this entire world asunder!
46
47	--> '''(Insane)'''
48	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
49	-->'''Enhdithall''': Pathetic, worthless creature! You fight against me, the embodiment of perfection! Your futile attempts at combat and empty bluster won't save you! I shall destroy you and tear this entire world asunder!
50
51	--> '''(Extreme)'''
52	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
53	-->'''Enhdithall''': No matter how many times you continue this folly, I shall tear you and this world apart. [[AGodAmI You are a pathetic, sad little ant that dares to walk towards the blazing sun!]]
54
55	--> '''(Impossible)'''
56	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
57	-->'''Enhdithall''': How many times do you intend to continue this pathetic resistance against me? Who do you hope to gain from your repeated attempts at destroying me, the one destined to destroy everything?! You are nothing to me. DIE!
58
59	--> '''(Ultimate Impossible EX(treme))'''
60	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, as will you. Nothing can stop me now!
61	-->'''Enhdithall''': Over and over again! I shall destroy your world and all of creation. No matter how you much you try, you will never truly win! You will never be satisfied until you can finally convince yourself that you're anything but a worthless, pathetic failure who cannot avert the inevitable. Time wears everything to dust and I too shall eradicate everything. Death is your only option against me! DIE!
62
63	--> '''(Ultimate Impossible EX(treme Apocalypse Ω+))''' (Humorously, instead of Enhdithall, it's [[PlayingWith/RivalFinalBoss Clay]]).
64	--> '''Bob''': I've come this far! Emperor Evulz has fallen, Enhditall has fallen, and now, you will too, Clay. Nothing can stop me now!
65	--> '''Clay''': Funny that ya say that, Bob. I've been goin' on me own [[AnotherSideAnotherStory adventures too]]; Seems like ya've been through hell. So was I, ya know? I honestly believe that [[VillainRespect yer finally deservin' of some respect]], even after all the shite we put each other through. Then again, yer takin' that from me; Someone who's pretty reviled himself. Although, I'm definitely sure I've been through worse than ya; Evulz, Enhditall? Bloody fuckin' amateurs in comparison tae the gods I've picked a fight with, an' ''felled''. Wanna hear the names of the most fearsome foes I've felled? [[JustForFun/TvTropesWillRuinYourLife T'Veah]] [[EldritchAbomination Tir'opius]], an' the bloody Goddess [[JustForFun/TropeTan Troperia]] herself. Enhditall and Evulz aren't that big of a deal, at least tae me. Sure, it might not please ya, Bob, but ya've probably gone down the easier road. Although, don't ya dare consider yerself any lesser than me, I know yer capable of so much more. So let this fight not be one of malice, or hatred; This fight will be of respect, and love. Ya've gone through too much shite tae be belittled by the man ya've fought with most, Bob; We shall fight each other, ''AS WARRIORS!'' Come, take up arms, Bob! '''''[[PreAssKickingOneLiner LET'S FINISH THIS, ONCE AN' FOR ALL!!!]]'''''
66
67	* '''Conversed''': "Why do so many games have a difficulty above Hard if Hard is pretty difficult?"
68	* '''Deconstructed''':
69	** After defeating Emperor Evulz, Bob feels unchallenged and decides to relive his adventure on a harder difficulty. This GroundhogDayLoop gradually causes Bob to become more and more unhinged as he seeks to relive his adventure, causing him to go insane by the time he's on a Ultimate Impossible EX(treme)Apocalypse Ω+ playthrough.
70	** If you unlock the TrueFinalBoss, their dialogue becomes more and more insulting on harder difficulties. If you beat them on the hardest difficulty, the game will spite you by revealing that the entire game is a ShaggyDogStory and that you've wasted countless hours just to EarnYourBadEnding. Suffice to say, JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia becomes infamous in the gaming community for it's spitefulness to players who play on the hardest difficulty.
71	* '''Reconstructed''': However, it wasn't a complete waste. The player unlocks the final set of concept art and music, and if they start a new game on JustForFun/TalesOfTroperia II, they'll be a rewarded with a OldSaveBonus that allows them to ''demolish'' the game with their maxed out character.
72	----
73	Back to HarderThanHard
74	----
75	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
76	%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

Context PlayingWith / HarderThanHard