Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

[HarrySTruman]

I'm playing with Dynamic difficulty on. If I switch from Timing to, say, Zone, does the difficulty level change at all? Or is the game agnostic about which interface I use?

I guess a related question is: which hitting mode is easiest?

Thanks in advance.

[ShaBoomer]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

I'm playing with Dynamic difficulty on. If I switch from Timing to, say, Zone, does the difficulty level change at all? Or is the game agnostic about which interface I use?

I guess a related question is: which hitting mode is easiest?

Thanks in advance.

There is no "easiest" hitting mode, as far as the game is concerned. It's more about what you find easiest.

Changing hitting modes also does not directly change your difficulty level. The modes are designed to be as equal as they can be.

This is from the Strategy Guide:

"Each of the four hitting modes (Zone, Timing, Pure Analog, Zone Plus Analog) and four pitching modes (Meter, Classic, Pure Analog, Pulse) are designed to be comparable in difficulty. For example, even though Timing hitting sounds easy because you only have to pick your swing timing, the timing window is slightly narrowed to balance for this. In Pure Analog hitting you have the advantage of only having to aim in one dimension (left/right), but stride timing is a factor and you are penalized in the other dimension (up/down) for bad aim. Likewise, in Classic pitching your 'Meter' mode input is automatically determined for better or worse. In Pure Analog pitching there are also pros and cons to the interface."

[HarrySTruman]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

Thanks for your reply. Wait, we have to "aim" left or right in pure analog hitting mode? I thought it was just a matter of flicking the right stick back and then up. Am I supposed to angle it depending on pitch location?

Also, where is this in-game strategy guide? I can't find it in the game.

Thanks again.

[bcruise]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

Thanks for your reply. Wait, we have to "aim" left or right in pure analog hitting mode? I thought it was just a matter of flicking the right stick back and then up. Am I supposed to angle it depending on pitch location?

Also, where is this in-game strategy guide? I can't find it in the game.

Thanks again.

On All-star difficulty I would go so far as to say you don't HAVE to aim right or left, except with very poor hitters (like a step above pitcher tier ). This is because for most hitters the PCI will be large enough to cover the width of the plate, and you'll put some balls in play that are on the corners of the strike zone.

On HOF it's pretty much essential unless you have godlike timing (even then you'll make poor contact or swing and miss at corner strikes pretty often). On Legend it's essential even if you do .

And here's a print link to the guide if you don't want to read it in-game: http://forums.theshownation.com/showthread.php?t=26936

[ShaBoomer]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

Thanks for your reply. Wait, we have to "aim" left or right in pure analog hitting mode? I thought it was just a matter of flicking the right stick back and then up. Am I supposed to angle it depending on pitch location?

Also, where is this in-game strategy guide? I can't find it in the game.

Thanks again.

The strategy guide is found in-game. So you have to be playing a game mode, in an actual game, to find it. It's a little annoying that for at least 3 years now they haven't been able to find a way to get it onto the main menu.

I'm not sure what the left/right means in regards to Pure Analog. Unless you use Pure Analog w/ Zone, you don't control the PCI. Your timing controls it.

[HarrySTruman]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

On All-star difficulty I would go so far as to say you don't HAVE to aim right or left, except with very poor hitters (like a step above pitcher tier ). This is because for most hitters the PCI will be large enough to cover the width of the plate, and you'll put some balls in play that are on the corners of the strike zone.

On HOF it's pretty much essential unless you have godlike timing (even then you'll make poor contact or swing and miss at corner strikes pretty often). On Legend it's essential even if you do .[/url]

Just so I'm clear: are you speaking of pure analog hitting, or analog plus zone? I had the impression that in pure analog hitting, I have no control over the PCI; my job is only to flick the right stick down and then up.

Does the direction in which one flicks the right stick ever matter, in either pure analog or analog plus zone?

[bcruise]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

Just so I'm clear: are you speaking of pure analog hitting, or analog plus zone? I had the impression that in pure analog hitting, I have no control over the PCI; my job is only to flick the right stick down and then up.

Does the direction in which one flicks the right stick ever matter, in either pure analog or analog plus zone?

Pure analog gives you left and right PCI control by which direction you push the analog stick upward when you swing. The other dimension (up/down) is determined by timing, and also the hitter's ratings to some degree, meaning you can swing and miss sometimes with a poor hitter even if you had good timing.

I'm not sure exactly how Zone Plus Analog works as I never use it. I know you control the PCI with the left stick and the swing with the right, but I don't know if angling the right stick affects the swing at all.

[HarrySTruman]

Re: Does hitting mode affect difficulty setting?

Wow, I didn't know that. Off to try pure analog again now! Thanks.