And probably the reason I won't do it. I seriously don't need that shit.

What I like about it is the added anxiety. I've already finished the game 3 times, but when playing on hardcore my heart is pounding the whole time.

Early death due to video game induced stress = check!

Yup, I'm pretty much done with hardcore mode at this point. Interesting idea, I suppose, but the restrictions and time investment are a bit too absurd in this day and age. I think I'm taking the "life's too short" approach to shit like this from now on.

Now, if someone manages to decipher the cheat codes and those provide some assistance, I might be tempted to try again.

I'd be down with a little "assistance" to make it easier. Hell, I would give it a shot if they gave you the one save per chapter or repeat a chapter approach.

Still playing on Normal, I died hundreds of times in chapter 10, LOL!

I'm at the start of Chapter 12, I think I've read that the last chapters are hard, is that true?

I may play again in Zealot with all the upgrades and weapons, but hardcore? No way!

I definitely find the last 1/4 of the game to be a lot more difficult if only because of sheer numbers alone. Things get nuts.

I'm still on Chapter 3

Aren't you literally trapped in your house? You could finish that shit today!

It's not like I leave any other time anyway. Unlike the rest of the world, I don't get snow days because I'm always here anyway. #FirstWorldProblems

Trapped in our houses is an understatement. I don't think that my co-workers and I will be going back to school anytime soon.

We are not trapped together or anything.

Methinks you doth protest too much. You can be honest with us - we are an open, non-judgmental community here.

Now you know why Dead Space hasn't got my full attention

So, those of you with first-hand experience, was it determined that Hard Core is actually closer to Normal in difficulty but for the saves?

Normal-level enemy health/damage, zealot-level ammo drops.

I finished it on casual in just under 11 hours. I thought it was a fun ride, and started a new playthrough on Zealot. But I definitely don't look forward to the last few chapters again.

Is it just me or did

That's about right, although it may be slightly above Normal level damage cuz some of the enemies in the first few chapters take at least 3-4 shots to kill. I don't remember it taking that many when I did the Normal playthrough. Either way, it's definitely not as difficult as zealot level... only for the ammo drops. I think the hardest thing about it is starting with nothing. And since the drops aren't as plentiful, you're not making the money needed to buy new weapons/suits/etc. What little money I collect usually goes to buying rounds.

Also, I don't like that it drops ammo for weapons you don't have. For instance, I didn't even pick up the Pulse Rifle schematic because I knew I wouldn't use it, yet the enemies still drop the pulse rounds. That part is frustrating especially when ammo is in such short supply.

Sounds like you need to run thru every difficulty including Easy and stockpile ammo before you consider making a run at Hardcore. I guess then you might have every upgraded weapon and as many slot as possible and just switch your weapons back and forth from your safe as you need to.

Does any else hate having to stomp corpses and shit you just killed for ammo and money? It's enough that you have to kill mutant kids and babies but then you have to go and stomp on their corpses as well. Ugh.

I love this game and it is actually making me want to revisit the original release again. I only half paid attention during the first one as far as ammo drops, placing proper nodes, upgrading shit and actually selling the semi-conductors and exploring areas. (actually, was more than halfway thru the original before I even realized what the semi-conductors were for [extra cash by the way] and forgot about using stasis most of the time.)

By the way, my guide (I bought the LE guide) states that you get a special bonus if you completely upgrade your stasis first but it doesn't say what it is. Anyone know?

I agree that having things you just killed not dropping their goods when they die. When they pop as you kill them, it's nice to know they're actually dead. Stomping after that means I'm spending more time checking and double-checking the room that it's cleaned out. Which I guess is fine for the tone of the game.

Not that it's really a big deal since I'm used to stomping the shit out of every dead body when I come into a room.

Another question about Hard Core mode: I read on another site that you don't get a NG+ option when starting it up so that you have to start fresh? Is that true? Everything I remember reading here said the opposite.

That is correct. There is no NG+ option on Hard Core. If only there were! Then again, I don't think it could rightly be called Hard Core in that case, since it would mostly be a breeze when using certain fully-upgraded weapons.

Just out of curiosity, what contradicted that here?

See above. You can't stockpile ammo for a Hard Core run because you must start fresh on a Hard Core run, with nothing in your inventory and no upgrades.

Probably assumptions before anyone actually got to it. I have a tendency to skim posts when I get behind in a game as to not be spoiled.

Part of my issue with Hardcore is the limit of saves. The other part is having to start all over to do it and not being able to go in all beefed up and stockpiled. I don't think I specifically said that aspect though, so maybe I caused confusion.

No, I just read through the thread, and it was at least heavily implied that a Hardcore run should me much easier because you could NG+ it. So the fact that you can't is a surprise to me.

Maybe people are confusing Zealot with Hard Core? The Zealot run is a lot easier when done with a NG+.