Challenge Gamer: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"We choose to [[Real Life|go to the moon]] in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."''|'''[[John F Kennedy]]'''}}

The usually less annoying [[Sister Trope]] to the [["Stop Having Fun!" Guys|"Stop Having Fun!" Guy]], the [[Challenge Gamer]] has equal dedication to his '"art'" but instead of striving to surpass others, he focuses instead on improving his own skills as far as they will go. This is the type of gamer who gets [[Gameplay Grading|high scores]] on [[Nintendo Hard]] games at [[Harder Than Hard|full]] [[Fake Difficulty]], and loves nothing more than to tell (and '''show!''') infuriated casual gamers ([[Scrub|scrubsscrub]]s included) that ''it can be done after all''. They may also specialize in various [[Self-Imposed Challenge|Self Imposed Challenges]]s such as the myriad types of '"runs'", or attempt to see [[Script Breaking|how horribly they can destroy the game system]].

The Challenge Gamer tends to focus on games with systems that can be exploited, [[Fake Skill|but not in the conventional sense]]. If he plays fighting games, expect to see him aim for stuff like time or combo records rather than beating other players. RPGs are all about gaining levels and cranking out ridiculous numbers, not [[Player Versus Player]]. FPS multiplayer? Sorry, gotta shave a second off my [[Speed Run]]. A Challenge Gamer also will not complain about exploits or bugs, but will embrace them as a means by which a skilled gamer can push the bar higher. Adeptness at exploiting the programming flaws or loopholes in a game may even be a requirement for joining the game's Challenge Gamer community.

Those who lose patience with less than optimal play may become [[Stop Having Fun Guy|Stop Having Fun Guys]]s but most don't bother with how others play because that would distract them from scoring practice. Their games are no less [[Serious Business]], however. Also, expect fewer cheating accusations as their typical reaction on seeing someone else do better is to go home, boot up their own copy and beat the score themselves.

Most of these gamers tend to be Japanese as many companies that produce games that cater to this sort of play generally [[No Export for You|don't release those games outside of Japan]], thereby keeping Western players out of the loop. If you see high scores two or three digits ''longer'' than the norm, [[No Damage Run|No Damage Runs]]s of [[That One Boss]] or [[Kill Screen|complete playthroughs]] of [[Endless Game|games that shouldn't have an end]], you're looking at one of these.

It probably goes without saying, but these types are by far the most likely to practice [[Fake Skill]], though it is certainly not exclusive to them. Many gamers look down upon Challenge Gamers as people who are incapable of having fun with a video game, never mind that everyone has their own definition of what "fun" is.

* In ''[[Cave Story (Video Game)|Cave Story]]'', there are generally two popular challenges: The 100% challenge and the minimal items challenge. The latter means that you only pick up the three weapons you absolutely need to pick up and that you play through the entire game (including the [[Brutal Bonus Level]]) with only 3 max HP. In that same Bonus Level, there is also a timer, so of course there are plenty of speedruns both for 100% and minimal items.

* Play though ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Video Game)|Ocarina of Time]]'' without buying anything (other than the required Deku Shield), and without picking up any heart containers, and without catching any fairies in your bottles. Yes, that means one solid hit from an Iron Knuckle will kill you. Still, it's quite simple compared to some of the other examples on this page...

** Combine the last two challenges on a fresh new game, and you get the "Fresh Hard KMS Run" - no God Hand unleashes, no roulette moves, hard mode and no [[New Game Plus+]] benefits. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUlRZjzvuh8 This is an example.]

** Only [[Boom! Headshot!|headshots]] do damage to enemies.

== [[Four X4X]] ==

* In ''[[Europa Universalis (Video Game)|Europa Universalis]]'' (a huge, quasi RTS game where you can play a country from 1399 to 1821) it's a common challenge to try to conquer the entire world. Experienced players can do this quite handidly with any of the real mega powers, like England, France, Spain etc. The real game sharks conquer the world with nobodies like the Xhosa (a minor African power and a rival to the Zulus).

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130223074243/http://s13.zetaboards.com/Challenge_Mode/index/ There's a whole board of Challenge Gamers].

* Anyone who plays a game with [[Dynamic Difficulty]], where the player is expected to [[Do Well, But Not Perfect]], and does his or her best, taking whatever punishment the game dishes out in return.

* ''[[Battletoads (Video Game)|Battletoads]].'' Anyone who got past level 3 (much less BEAT it) without Game Genie/savestates/a Sega Genesis is probably a [[Challenge Gamer]].

* ''[[Super Monkey Ball]]'' has a huge [[Challenge Gamer]] following to the point that [http://www.elitescores.com/ there's an entire site primarily dedicated to it].

* ''[[Fantastic Contraption (Video Game)|Fantastic Contraption]]'' is an online physics puzzle flash game where your goal is to move a small pink ball or square to a goal, and you're only allowed to build in a certain area not near the goal. You're provided with powered wheels, unpowered wheels, and two kinds of connecting rod (one that interacts with other building objects, one that doesn't, except to connect them). Outside of the fact that you can't build outside a certain area, the game lets you do whatever you want within the realm of physics. Fans began implementing their own challenges. Using no powered wheels, using no wheels, using only blue rods (which weigh less than brown rods and don't interact with one another beyond connecting), sending the pink object to the goal and then bringing it back to the starting area, sending it to the goal and making sure it stays there, sending it back and forth between the goal and the starting area over and over indefinitely, clearing the game of all your objects, clearing the game of all objects, even those that started there. And between any two player models, the one with fewer pieces is better and the one that gets done faster (as measured by the in-game timer) is better (fewer pieces is more important than speed). There is some hard core ingenuity out there.

* Any well-designed racing game that has a Time Trial mode with [[Racing Ghost|Racing Ghosts]]s. The latest ''Mario Kart'' games have taken to providing players with online ghosts that are slightly faster than the player's best time, putting Challenge Gamers into a continuous cycle of out-racing ghosts and downloading better ones.

* Many, many players of [[Rhythm Game|Rhythm Games]]s, particularly the Bemani franchise. There's ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' and ''[[Rock Band]]'' players getting full combos, ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' and ''[[Pop'n N Musicmusic]]'' players going for perfect scores, and ''[[Beatmania IIDX]]'' players getting AAA's (which are ''not'' perfect scores, as perfection is impossible on any song that isn't a total cakewalk due to the strict timing judgments).

* The ''[[Audiosurf (Video Game)|Audiosurf]]'' scoreboards boast some very impressive high scores which could only have been obtained by Challenge Gamers or cheaters.

** Do keep in mind that any mode other than Ninja (and Twin) is a lot easier to get high scores. Not 'easier' in the sense of being lower difficulty just you get more point because the mechanics are different. That's why if a song has ever seen serious competition, you never ever see Ninja scores in the top ten.

** [[Unwinnable Byby Design|Save the Charon Korolov station]].

== [[Role -Playing Game]] ==

* ''[[Pokémon (Franchise)|Pokémon]]'' has quite a few of these. One of the most well known [[Self-Imposed Challenge|Self Imposed Challenges]] these gamers put on themselves is the Nuzlocke Challenge, where any Pokémon who faints must be released (or put into the PC and not used so long as they're doing the challenge) and they can only catch the first Pokémon they encounter in each area. Some of these gamers even consider the "no experenceexperience" [[Copy Protection]] on pirated ROMs of ''[[Pokémon Black and White]]'' a welcome feature for this very reason.

== [[Shoot 'Em UpsUp]]s ==

* ''[[Ikaruga]]'' is a feat to complete already even on its normal difficulty. How can a [[Challenge Gamer]] do better? By completing it on the max difficulty, specifically shooting enemies in a way to accumulate the maximum amount of points... while controlling [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz60aFSs5aU BOTH SHIPS AT THE SAME TIME]!

== [[Turn -Based Strategy]] ==

*** Of all of these, the most notable is Mediator. Explaining all the reasons why this is insane would take a long time, so lets go with one of the 'simpler' ones. The Robe of Lords is pretty much necessary to win this challenge. How do you get it in the solo mediator challenge? By reloading a single level over and over until you get an enemy with the ability Move-Find Item. Then you have to invite him to your party using a Mediator ability with a very low success rate. Then you have to convince the AI controlled unit to step on a specific square. Then you have to hope that you success on what amounts to a 45% (the odds depend on the invited unit, ranging from 30%-60%) chance to actually get the robe. While preventing the invited unit from being killed, or killing any remaining enemies. And then you have to still win the battle.

** ''Metroid'' is also a common stomping ground of the [[Challenge Gamer]], the games even change their ending depending on how fast you complete it and with how many items you acquired.

=== In-universe examples: ===

=== [[Film]] ===

** The record is now held by someone who was inspired to go for the record after having seen ''[[The King of Kong]]''. Also, if you thought ''[[The King of Kong]]'' made those guys look insane, check out ''[[Chasing Ghosts]]'' which makes Billy Mitchell look almost normal by comparison. Highlights include [[Todd Rodgers]] talking about how he's glad his wife died, two ''Berzerk'' players having a reunion after not having spoken in 20 years after one beat the other's score and bragged about it, and much more on Mr. Awesome [[Roy Shildt]].

[[Category:Challenge Gamer{{PAGENAME}}]]