Highlights
- Square Enix's PlayStation 4 era saw a variety of games across different genres, many of which embraced challenging gameplay.
- Dragon Quest 11 removes grinding and forces players to focus on strategy and proper use of debuffs and buffs.
- NieR: Automata and Dragon Quest Heroes 2 provide difficult combat encounters that require skill and quick thinking.
Square Enix had a pretty healthy output of games during the era of the PlayStation 4, with some of their most highly acclaimed titles being released for the platform in the eyes of both fans and critics alike. What really helped them stand out so much during this period, though, was how much they were branching out to other developers, leading them to publish a variety of games across many different genres while also adding new installments to some of their most beloved RPG series.
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Throughout the entire Resident Evil franchise, there exist some games in the series that are far harder than others for a multitude of reasons.
However, this was also a time when the whole concept of brutally difficult games rewarding players for overcoming difficult odds was starting to become much more popular, and many of the titles that Square Enix was involved with also started steering in this direction. All of these games are a true test of a player's abilities, and they're well worth playing through for anyone who loves jumping straight into a challenging gaming experience, whether it's for the trophies or simply the bragging rights.
6 Dragon Quest 11
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 3/5
A major reason why Dragon Quest 11 is often considered relatively difficult among fans is that it essentially removes grinding from the core gameplay loop. Because weak monsters will earn the player next to no XP, it means that gamers can't just rely on taking out a few small Slimes to boost their stats before a big boss fight. Instead, they are forced to simply get better at managing their party in battle and to learn how and when to use debuffs and buffs at the appropriate time to avoid any early deaths.
The bosses are also far from pushovers in this game, with the likes of Overweening Pride and the Auroral Serpent being absolute nightmares to deal with due to their devastating attacks and impenetrable defense. Dragon Quest has always been regarded as one of Square's most difficult series, and this tradition certainly held up with the release of the eleventh mainline game for the PS4.
5 NieR: Automata
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 3.04/5
NieR: Automata was many people's very first introduction to this action RPG series, and while the game most certainly made an impression on players for its emotional story and complex themes, it was also known for being pretty difficult when it came to gameplay. While there are multiple difficulty settings that players can choose, they all feel a little too challenging for what they should actually be, especially when running into level damage modifications where enemies can become literally invincible.
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If players dare to jump into Hard mode, they'll be expected to use their plug-in chips to raise their max HP and defense as high as possible in order to even have a chance of surviving the tougher bosses such as Emil and the Amusement Park Rabbit. NieR: Automata isn't just a typical hack-and-slash game, it's actually a lot more strategic and layered in its gameplay, which, as a result, makes it just a little harder to play than many other titles found within the genre.
4 Dragon Quest Heroes 2
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 3.08/5
The fast-paced core gameplay of Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is admittedly pretty easy to get the hang of, but because of how aggressive the enemy AI is, it means that the game never ends up being too easy and always presents a pretty significant challenge. If players aren't fast enough with their attacks and abilities, they can easily get overwhelmed by AOE spells and hard-hitting enemies who are capable of melting health bars with their giant attacks.
There are also several areas where the game can feel needlessly difficult, such as in the Black Manse, where all the creatures have incredibly high defense stats while still being able to throw out devastating attacks like nobody's business. The game definitely becomes much easier with a lot of practice, with the combat encounters also becoming a lot more fluid and fun as a result.
3 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 3.12/5
The remake of Final Fantasy 7 did an amazing job at modernizing the combat system while still carrying over traces of the turn-based gameplay that fans fell in love with all the way back in 1997. Still, while the game definitely incorporated a lot more action into its gameplay, Square Enix ensured that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake still retained the series' legacy of the games being very challenging, with this title having more than a few very difficult encounters.
Whether it's the gigantic Airbuster, the devious Ghoul monster, or the manic Hell House, there's a plethora of incredibly tough enemies that can be extremely difficult to take down without the proper equipment and weapon upgrades. Players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all four controllable characters since their unique abilities and combat styles can help make particular battles a lot easier, especially during the VR missions.
2 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 3.56/5
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- March 18, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
In the lead-up to the release of Stranger of Paradise, most people were focused on the confusing story and the game's vague connection to the first Final Fantasy game, but when it finally came out, all the conversations turned towards the brutal but fantastic gameplay. Final Fantasy games in recent years have made their combat a lot more accessible so that anyone can jump in and play, no matter their prior experience. However, Stranger of Paradise takes a much more traditional RPG approach to its gameplay, with characters being assigned jobs that allow them to earn unique skills and weapons to help them in combat.
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While the system is incredibly fun to play around with, especially since there are so many jobs to try out, if players aren't smart with what skills and stat boost they choose, they can definitely expect to run into more than a few Game Over screens. Since Jack's two AI companions are more or less useless when it comes to inflicting damage, it means that it's entirely up to the player to do a lot of the heavy lifting, something that can become extremely difficult when facing the multiple manifestations of Chaos.
1 Left Alive
Game FAQ Difficulty Rating: 4.28/5
Left Alive is a third-person shooter game that places a big emphasis on stealth, and while this doesn't sound like it should be all too bad regarding its overall challenge, the difficulty comes from how unpredictable the game actually is. For example, while enemies can be pretty hard to provoke in some areas due to their limited sightlines, others will be able to find out where the player is hiding even if they're just moving around or switching weapons, which can easily result in a Game Over screen, especially if the enemy happens to be a gigantic mech.
There are also some severe problems with the physics engine, which ends up making it pretty difficult to actually fire at enemies since their bodies will always bounce around slightly if a bullet makes contact with them. Pair this with a very lackluster tutorial, and some truly terrifying bosses who have gigantic health bars, and it results in an experience that often feels like it turned out a lot harder than the developers intended it to be.
