Difficulty is among the most contentious topics in video game discourse. On the one side are the purists who prize the clarity of design and hold perseverance in the face of unwavering adversity to be a gamer's greatest virtue. On the other hand, there are those who view difficulty as an accessibility issue, arguing that freedom of choice is always a plus and that nobody should be excluded from an experience because of circumstances beyond their control. Between the two are many other disembodied hands, wreathing in a chaotic bed, each variously pointing fingers, counting arguments on their digits, and occasionally flashing rude gestures at one another.