What do you do when you can't solve that mission or beat that specific level today?

[HTBandicoot]

I sometimes fixate on beating a mission that drives me crazy until I figure it out. This is okay when it takes me a few tries and can beat it in one session. It becomes problematic when I've done all I can for one day and have to save it for another day or time. It continues to haunt me until I finally come back to it and beat it somehow. When I can't play in the following days, it can sometimes interfere with my focus for work and other things, because of how I left the game.

Any suggestions of things you do that may help? One thing I am going to try is to make a note of various solutions from research online and then try not to look at it again until I know that I will have time to give it the needed time. We will see how that goes.

 

[Clippy]

Let it go for a few days. Coming back with a fresh mind can be unexpectedly helpful. Or at least that's my experience.

 

[Dr.Kisaragi]

Well mostly I just stuck around to see if I figured out what am I doing next like yesterday mission of Max Payne one the restaurant on fire mission because I easily died on fire until I discovered just jump on that boxes to avoided.

 

[Jayonnaise6105]

Take a break. Do something else. Go for a walk, try a different game, chill to some music. Whatever you fancy.
Depends on the game too, I guess.
I had awful trouble with Malenia in Elden Ring, but that game was designed in a way that you could take a break from a tough boss and and still have a million things you could go do instead, then come back later. It was super satisfying putting a pin in the map of a tough area and then checking them off one by one after I'd played more of the game.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:10 AM

Well mostly I just stuck around to see if I figured out what am I doing next like yesterday mission of Max Payne one the restaurant on fire mission because I easily died on fire until I discovered just jump on that boxes to avoided.

I had that same issue when I played Max Payne a few weeks ago...
Got through it in the end though!

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I usually just take a break and come back later if I get stuck on a tough boss or challenge. Sometimes just resting or sleeping on it can help you come back and ace it the next time. Trying to "let it go" and relax helps a lot for me.

 

[retro8s]

I 'll tend to take a break because after a long time of trying, it is going to frustrate me. I don't what to keep trying after so many attempts had failed . I take a break that a short time; if not, it would be too sudden to quit playing, butt it lead me to force break. i do keep trying, as i know alot of games can drive angry out of you. so taking a break is a best option.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I usually put on some music and try some more.

But if it's genuinely pissing me off, then I leave it entirely for a couple of hours/days or give it to the kids as ammo for joking around.

 

[Turbo Kid]

Three things that work for me

Step away from the game, sometimes your brain needs time to process whatever challenge you're facing and sometimes it also just needs a break.

Get help from gamefaqs, reddit, or youtube videos.

If you start getting angry, that's usually a sign to put down the controller and turn off the game. However, there have been times when being mad put me in a hyper focused state where I was able to overcome that tough boss or stage. I tend to only get angry when nothing else I've tried works and sometimes it's exactly what I need. You ever see heroes get their butts kicked in a movie until they finally get mad and it's like a switch gets flipped on and they suddenly start dominating? It's sort of like that.

 

[Jayonnaise6105]

Three things that work for me

Step away from the game, sometimes your brain needs time to process whatever challenge you're facing and sometimes it also just needs a break.

Get help from gamefaqs, reddit, or youtube videos.

If you start getting angry, that's usually a sign to put down the controller and turn off the game. However, there have been times when being mad put me in a hyper focused state where I was able to overcome that tough boss or stage. I tend to only get angry when nothing else I've tried works and sometimes it's exactly what I need. You ever see heroes get their butts kicked in a movie until they finally get mad and it's like a switch gets flipped on and they suddenly start dominating? It's sort of like that.

I understand the idea of the frustration/anger fuelling motivation, but that tends not to work for me personally. If I'm really getting frustrated/angry, then even finishing the thing in that state tends to make me feel unsatisfied. Like, it's more relief at getting past it than enjoyment or fulfilment.

 

[Sir Auriel of Lionel]

Brute force it for 3 hours, bask in that glory, save in new spot and come back tomorrow and try the mission again and realize with a cooler head and already noted a pattern you beat it in 20 mins.

 

[MasterEn]

i take a short break, watch a party crasher video, phelous, or some other youtuber; or listen to a video while i draw a hot anime babe to relax and calm down, and then i try to play and beat the level in the game again.

 

[Turbo Kid]

I understand the idea of the frustration/anger fuelling motivation, but that tends not to work for me personally. If I'm really getting frustrated/angry, then even finishing the thing in that state tends to make me feel unsatisfied. Like, it's more relief at getting past it than enjoyment or fulfilment.

I get that. This is why I generally don't like when developers go overboard in making a game difficult.

I remember a video from Playstation Access where Rob expressed the same sentiment as you. Once something gets frustrating he gets no joy from overcoming it.

 

[diapered]

 

[E0N]

I will just watch a walkthrough of that part.

 

[nobitakun]

Yeah, the most common sense answer is to rest your brain. It's like when you're working or studying, if something is getting on your nerves, just leave it and tomorrow will be another day :)

 

[Isegrim]

I'll sleep on it for a while and try something.

I'll consult the Internet if I'm at my wit's end and don't think I can do it on my own.

I don't want to use videos initially when doing so since the latter will practically spell it out for you. Instead, I'll check out Gamefaqs, message boards, game8.co, Fextralife and try to get as little advice as possible, something small that can tip the edge so I figure out some part on my own. If it's inadequate, I'll expand my search and read the articles flat out.

And if that fails, only then will I check out videos.

 

[qw90700]

I just google it. I won't even bother figuring it out unless I like the game. After beating so many games my life experience is enough to progress the game unless developers were having brain fart so the puzzle is not understandable at all, then I would just stop playing the game -> refuse to play any game from that developer.

 

[HTBandicoot]

I get that. This is why I generally don't like when developers go overboard in making a game difficult.

I remember a video from Playstation Access where Rob expressed the same sentiment as you. Once something gets frustrating he gets no joy from overcoming it.

It makes me think of this chart for the flow state in psychology. There are also more basic ones. But the main concept is that you want the challenge to match your skills. If the challenge is too high, and your skills are low, that creates anxiety. But if something is hard, but overcomeable, then you can get into a flow state or at least be able to enjoy the game.

So a good game knows the perfect balance.

Post automatically merged: Today at 1:44 PM

I'll sleep on it for a while and try something.

I'll consult the Internet if I'm at my wit's end and don't think I can do it on my own.

I don't want to use videos initially when doing so since the latter will practically spell it out for you. Instead, I'll check out Gamefaqs, message boards, game8.co, Fextralife and try to get as little advice as possible, something small that can tip the edge so I figure out some part on my own. If it's inadequate, I'll expand my search and read the articles flat out.

And if that fails, only then will I check out videos.

Some things I like to try on my own, but then I will check the tutorials, etc. However, some games are just unpredictable at times and can also have multiple ways to solve them. Like my current game of GTA IV...If I look up a mission online, there will be 20 or more different ways that a person beat that level.

Thats the beauty of, and sometimes what makes sandbox games hard.