Sales have generally been trending down substantially since FF7. [1] X and X-2 only sold better by merit of both being two games counted as one, and by being released and released on a zillion platforms.

I think in general though there's this weird paradox in games that things we think we enjoy can make games worse, yet it feels bad to try to 'fix' now. I think the best example would be quest waypoints in various open world games. It's absolutely painful to play without them now, but on the other hand when one actually had to pay attention to your quests and goals, it resulted in vastly more satisfying gameplay compared to what's gradually turned into some weird ritual across a million games of fast-travel to nearest location, bee-line to colored dot, skim text, repeat.

No idea who first said the quote (that's been attributed to Gabe Newell) but it's just so true: give players the opportunity to, and they'll optimize the fun out of your game.

[1] - https://www.vgchartz.com/game/226241/final-fantasy/

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve got into arguments with people by saying the addition of the automap feature was bad for the Metroid series. The original Metroid was an old school hard game and a big part of its difficulty was due to the lack of a map to guide you. The feeling of tension was palpable, when you were profoundly lost and low on health. When the automap arrived that feeling was banished forever.

I think in general there’s a problem with gamers who demand that their games give them nothing but good feelings all the time. They don’t want to experience sadness, sorrow, heartbreak, fear, stress, or frustration. They just want the game to feel like a Christmas party that never ends. How dreadfully boring!

Super Metroid is still a very difficult game despite the automap. Getting lost in a game where you can warp to the start by dying isn't scary, it's tedious.

I'm still flabbergasted by the number of people I know who played DooM and played a lot of it and yet _never_ used the minimap.

And I'm someone with moderately decent spacial awareness in video games and real life, and maps are incredibly useful.

This is why Demon’s Souls really resonated with me back in 2009 or whenever. The victories were truly earned. Every souls game since then has gotten easier by eliminating, one by one, all those unforgiving mechanics. (But I still genuinely enjoy them)

I already have a job, I want my games to feel like a Christmas party.

That’s fine! My complaint is only that all games are made for gamers like you. I just want a few made for people like me!

Returnal and Sifu

agreed. when i had to get a pen & paper to jot down symbols for an early Alan Wake 2 puzzle it was refreshing.

Perhaps OP is in the minority, but I am too then - I couldn’t enjoy the voice-acted versions; they all sounded cheesy.

With text only, I imbued the game with a little imagination - not unlike reading a book - and also found the weird translations let my imagination fill in the gaps

The dialogue is rather flat in FF10 (and most all JRPGs of that time). Not say it say it lacks substance though.

Given that flatness, I always found the voice acting awkward. I much rather read it.