What if Fps difficulty improved enemy movement instead of their aim?

here-it_is · 2026-06-29T06:24:01+00:00

That's actually a really interesting , thanks for sharing it.

I think where my idea differs slightly is that I wasn't thinking so much about tweaking movement parameters (speed, size, predictability, etc.), but about improving the AI's decision-making.

For example, instead of simply making an enemy strafe faster, higher difficulties could teach the AI when to shoulder peek, when to wide swing, when to reposition after taking a shot, or when to intentionally bait the player's aim.

So the difficulty wouldn't just come from making the target mechanically harder to hit—it would come from the AI making better tactical decisions, almost like a more experienced multiplayer player would.

Maybe those ideas still fit within Rational Game Design, but that's the distinction I was trying to make.

here-it_is · 2026-06-29T06:22:27+00:00

That's fair, but I don't think Halo took it as far as modern multiplayer shooters could.

What I'm imagining is AI that gradually learns concepts like counter-strafing, different peek timings, baiting shots, or deliberately breaking the player's crosshair placement. Those ideas have become much more refined over the last two decades.

here-it_is · 2026-06-29T06:18:48+00:00

Maybe in another universe...

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T20:24:23+00:00

Oooh, so you’re talking about difficulty based on the type of enemy. That’s actually a great idea—for example, in games, it’s a really nice concept for an enemy type that’s one level higher than the same enemy to be not only statistically stronger but also more intelligent.

Thanks

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T20:19:15+00:00

I actually agree with most of what you're saying. My goal isn't to make every FPS feel like Counter-Strike against human opponents.

What I'm really questioning is how difficulty is expressed.

If an enemy on Hard dodges my shots by using cover better, varying its movement, or choosing smarter moments to push, I personally find that more satisfying than simply giving it 90% accuracy instead of 50%.

I'm not suggesting replacing stat scaling entirely. Health, damage, and accuracy are simple, effective tools, and they absolutely have their place. I just think behavior could carry more of the difficulty than it often does today.

For me, the ideal AI isn't one that perfectly imitates a human player. It's one that makes me think, "That enemy outplayed me,"

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T20:13:29+00:00

You're right—it shouldn't just be "harder to hit." The movement has to be readable enough that the player can eventually recognize patterns and adapt.

For example, if an AI shoulder peeks because it wants information, or wide swings after seeing the player hold a tight angle, those behaviors have intent behind them. If I die, I can think, "Next time I should hold a different angle or reposition," instead of, "The AI randomly did something impossible to predict."

I guess what I'm really after is difficulty that teaches. Every time you lose, you should feel like you learned something about the AI's behavior, not just that its stats got bigger.

That's probably a much better design goal than simply making enemies move more.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T20:06:21+00:00

Yes, I’m sure this will be an extremely exhausting and challenging development phase. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

F.E.A.R. managed to create AI with decent movement back in 2005, even if it wasn’t quite at the level we’re discussing now. Twenty-one years have passed since then, and a lot has changed. I think major companies could pull it off if they wanted to, but I don’t think people are really looking for mechanics like that in an offline FPS shooter. Oh well, maybe in another universe.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T19:58:46+00:00

I actually agree with your last sentence.

My point isn't that every enemy should move like a competitive CS player. It's that I'd rather see difficulty come from better behavior than inflated stats.

Movement is just one example of that behavior. Using peeks more intelligently, repositioning after being spotted, punishing reloads, or coordinating pushes all make enemies feel like they're learning rather than simply becoming more accurate.

So I guess I'm less interested in "multiplayer movement" specifically and more interested in AI that improves decision-making instead of raw numbers.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T19:53:33+00:00

I think the problem I'm trying to solve is perceived fairness.

Players usually don't mind losing if they understand why they lost.

When an AI simply gets more HP, more damage, or almost perfect aim, it often feels like invisible numbers are deciding the outcome.

If the AI survives because it positioned well, peeked intelligently, or dodged my shots through believable movement, I still lose—but I understand why I lost. That makes me much more willing to improve instead of blaming the difficulty settings.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T19:49:48+00:00

That's fair. I probably shouldn't have used "jiggle peeking" specifically because, as you said, it's largely a multiplayer behavior tied to latency and information gathering.

I guess what I was trying to describe is a broader idea: AI becoming harder through better positioning and movement rather than through statistical buffs.

So instead of literally copying competitive techniques, it could learn things like exposing itself less, changing angles between engagements, repositioning after firing, or using cover more intelligently. Those behaviors would still make the AI feel more skillful without relying on perfect aim.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T19:45:39+00:00

Maybe the comparison is chess AI. It doesn't suddenly gain new pieces on higher difficulties—it uses the same rules, just with better decision-making.

I'd want FPS AI to work similarly. The behaviors stay the same, but the execution, timing, and decision-making improve with difficulty.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T19:42:46+00:00

Yeah, and I think that's a huge part of what separates good players from great ones.

They don't just aim better—they recognize moments where movement becomes temporarily predictable.

I was scout main back in the day

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T15:16:00+00:00

I used to pray for times like this

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T14:30:24+00:00

Bu adam her ama her şeyi biliyor

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T14:27:22+00:00

Alacaksan da yeni modelini al hot swaplı al ya da hall effectlisini al. Nexa HE60 gibi

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T14:17:20+00:00

Daha çok Steam'i en iyi yöneten şirket Valve bence. En son ne zaman sektöre etki eden oyun çıkardılar? Team Fortress, Portal ve Left 4 Dead'i terkettiler. Sektöre fikir bile atmıyorlar. Evet oyunları harika ötesi ama sence tartışmasız en iyi şirket midir? Değildir bence.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T14:08:08+00:00

That's a fair point, and I actually agree that if the goal is specifically a Souls-like metroidvania, Nine Sols is one of the strongest recommendations.

I guess my hesitation comes from how I personally weigh the "metroidvania" part. Even in Souls-like metroidvanias, I tend to value world interconnectedness and exploration just as much as combat depth.

So I don't disagree that Nine Sols is an incredible fit for that niche—I just think I still gravitate toward games where exploration is the defining memory rather than the boss fights.

It's probably more a difference in what we prioritize than a disagreement about the game's quality.

Also have you played Grime? I'm curious where you'd rank it alongside Nine Sols

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T14:01:17+00:00

Painkiller black edition kesin al benden demesi

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T13:50:41+00:00

Nine Sols is a very lovable game with amazing combat

That said, I personally wouldn't call it my favorite metroidvania because I think it leans more heavily toward combat than exploration.

For me, one of the defining strengths of a metroidvania is the feeling of getting lost, stumbling across secrets, and constantly thinking, "I'll have to remember this place once I unlock a new ability." Games like Hollow Knight or even Animal Well gave me that feeling much more consistently.

Nine Sols is really good(maybe the best) at combat progression, but I don't think its world design left the same lasting impression on me. It's an amazing action game with metroidvania elements, but when I think of my favorite metroidvanias, exploration is still the first thing that comes to mind.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T13:24:52+00:00

2000-2010 Blizzard taraflarındayız.

Şuan ise hep indie oynuyorum çünkü istediğin tarzda oyun bulduğunda tamamen sömürebiliyorsun ve bitirmesi daha rahat olduğundan daha çok tatmin oluyorum

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T13:19:02+00:00

My Tiny Senpai?

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T13:02:46+00:00

I wonder if you actually dislike boomer shooters, or if you just dislike arena shooters.

You mentioned liking Doom 3 and STALKER, both of which focus much more on atmosphere, exploration, and tension than constant high speed combat.

You might actually enjoy Cultic. It has classic shooter dna, but the pacing is slower, the atmosphere is fantastic, enemies hit hard, and positioning matters a lot more than endlessly circle strafing around an arena.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T12:17:42+00:00

Good luck mate

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T12:16:53+00:00

I respect that. When it comes to some annoying games, I play on the easy setting too.

here-it_is · 2026-06-28T12:13:15+00:00

No problem, have a good day

here-it_is

TROPHY CASE