For players who enjoy manipulating game mechanics to gain an upper hand, the search for methods to simplify challenges is a thrilling journey. While it doesn’t quite break the rules, it often skirts the edges, allowing skilled players to breeze through difficult encounters or challenging platforming sections with ease.
However, even the most seasoned players may discover that certain games contain mechanics, skills, or builds that render them almost too simplistic, diminishing the excitement and challenge that gaming offers. The goal is to utilize clever tactics that provide a strategic advantage without devolving into a guaranteed win every time. Below, I have highlighted some exceptional games and the overpowered options that can undermine their difficulty.
10. Fallout: New Vegas
High Speech Skill
The Fallout series has long featured powerful gameplay mechanics, with the VATS system being a highlight for many players. In New Vegas, however, the emphasis on dialogue and persuasion can make combat feel almost unnecessary. With a high Speech skill, players can deftly talk their way out of confrontations, gaining rewards and access that less charismatic characters simply cannot reach.
Spellbindingly, players can even engage Legate Lanius at Hoover Dam, opting to negotiate their way out of the showdown rather than engaging in a climactic battle. Combining this speech prowess with extensive lockpicking skills leads to a formidable character capable of navigating challenges with minimal conflict.
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Stealth Archer Build
Stealth mechanics can often lead to effective strategies in gaming. However, no other title has made stealth as notoriously powerful as Skyrim. My numerous playthroughs have consistently led me down the path of the Stealth Archer, where players can effortlessly eliminate foes from the shadows without triggering alarm.
As early as the tutorial in Helgen, once players acquire a bow, they can start picking off enemies from a distance. Even if spotted with an arrow visible, adversaries can revert to complacency with utter disbelief, allowing the stealthy player to continue their onslaught. The various perks associated with stealth and archery effectively create a near-invincible foe, turning every encounter into a predictable success.
8. Ring of Fire
Bleed Builds
As one of the most accessible entries in the Soulsborne genre, Elden Ring presents players with an immense variety of combat approaches. Nonetheless, opting for a bleed build often proves to be the most effective strategy for taking down even the most formidable bosses.
This build capitalizes on the damage-over-time effect of bleed, effectively reducing an enemy’s health in mere moments. While certain bosses may counter this tactic, the general effectiveness of bleed builds can grant developers a sense of ease akin to playing an easier version of a traditionally punishing game.
7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Quen Shield
Facing the ultimate challenges in RPGs can be daunting, especially when playing on the hardest difficulty, Death March, in The Witcher 3. Despite this, many players discover that the Quen Shield sign can trivialize significant portions of the gameplay. This protective sign allows Geralt to negate damage from incoming attacks, ensuring survival even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Investing in the Quen sign amplifies its effectiveness, enabling players to breeze through battles that would otherwise prove deadly, solidifying its place as a defining mechanic for overcoming high-stakes challenges.
6. Pokémon Red
Psychic Types
In early generations of Pokémon, the balance among different types was often skewed, particularly with Psychic types dominating the battlefield. Back during the original 151 Pokémon, designers overlooked the effectiveness of Ghost-type attacks against them, making Pokémon like Alakazam nearly unbeatable.
The lack of adequate counters often meant that trainers with a Psychic powerhouse were on the fast track to victory in tournaments and battles, reflecting an imbalance that many players experienced throughout their adventure.
5. Kingdom Hearts 2
Reflect
As a proud holder of the KH2 platinum trophy, I owe much of my success to the spell Reflect. Unlike its predecessor, the ability to block enemy attacks with precise timing has transformed the experience, making combat smoother. Reflect offers a significant advantage by negating damage and reflecting it back to enemies, making tough battles considerably more manageable.
With sufficient MP and careful use, Reflect can turn the tide of impending doom, showcasing its status as one of the most overpowered spells in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
4. Baldur’s Gate 3
Haste
Within the realm of Dungeons and Dragons (DND), some spells have gained notoriety for their overwhelming nature. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the spell Haste amplifies this phenomenon, granting characters an extreme advantage in battle. This ability not only doubles movement speed but also allows for an impressive number of attacks in a single turn.
Despite its original design in tabletop DND limiting the spell’s effectiveness, its adaptation in Baldur’s Gate 3 can result in battle outcomes being determined before enemies have the chance to retaliate, contributing to an imbalance within encounters.
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Cogfly
While Hollow Knight: Silksong is designed to challenge players, the tool Cogfly significantly alters the approach to battle mechanics once acquired. Although this tool is only accessible later in the game, its power allows players to inflict damage passively, sidestepping the need for direct confrontation.
By spawning multiple Cogflies on the battlefield, players can effectively dismantle challenging bosses without the overwhelming stress usually associated with their difficult designs, making the game feel easier without detracting from its core experience.
2. Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
Stendhal
While not a traditional JRPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 employs classic turn-based mechanics, allowing for overpowered abilities, particularly the Stendhal move. Although the ability has faced nerfs since its initial release, it previously allowed players to obliterate bosses in mere moments.
Even though current gameplay maintains a semblance of balance, the potency of Stendhal still facilitates decisive victories against formidable opponents, reinforcing its legacy as a game-changer in the world of turn-based combat.
1. Cyberpunk 2077
Contagion/Overheat Quickhack
Initially skeptical of the netrunning aspect in Cyberpunk 2077, I soon discovered the profound effectiveness of utilizing quickhacks instead of brute force. Combining the Contagion quickhack with Overheat offers an ingenious way to eliminate enemies without firing a single shot.
This strategy enables players to spread damage among foes, leading to simultaneous takedowns while remaining concealed. Though it may not provide an adrenaline-fueled experience, it delivers unrivaled efficiency for those who prefer tactics over mayhem.
Leave a Reply