Gameplay

The **Gameplay** submenu allows the customization of gameplay and changing of preferences.

## Overview

The Gampelay menu can be directly accessed from the Settings submenu in the Game menu.

Depending upon the specific platform being used (PC, Xbox, or PS4), the menu configurations may change slightly. - NEED TO CONFIRM THIS

### Difficulty

There are five difficulty settings.

* NARRATIVE: Intended for players who are more interested in story than combat.
* CASUAL: Intended for players with less shooter experience.
* NORMAL: Intended for players with experience playing shooters and RPGs.
* HARDCORE: Intended for players looking for a greater challenge.
* INSANITY: Intended for players seeking the ultimate challenge.

WARNING: Changing the game difficulty will apply to all save data for this character, which may prevent you from attaining certain achievements.

*Difficulty settings change a number of aspects of gameplay. Enemies become tougher, more numerous, and more aggressive in nature. Hazards become more aggressive and will deplete life support faster as difficulty increases.*

### Display Tutorials

If enabled, tutorials will appear to provide helpful hints and instructions on how to play.

*Tutorial texts will appear to explain interfaces, such as the Strike Team Console, the first time Ryder accesses the interface.*

### Aim Assist

If enabled, the game will provide minor assistance to help you aim at your targets.

If disabled, aiming is 100% freeform.

*This setting will automatically move your weapon reticle closer to an enemy on screen when a weapon is in use. There will be a slight correction to the reticle to move in the general direction of the enemy but aiming is still required by the player.*

### Auto Level

If enabled, will automatically distribute skill points each time you level up.

Can be set for Ryder and all squadmates, or just squadmates.

* DISABLED - All skill point choices are manual.
* SQUADMATES ONLY - Skill points are automatically distributed for all squadmates
* ALL - Skill points are automatically distributed for Ryder and all squadmates

### Mission Tracker

Determines when the Mission Tracker will display in your HUD.

* ALWAYS SHOW - Mission tracking map symbols will always be present. This can be distracting at times.
* CONTEXTUAL - Mission tracking map symbols will fade when not important. Symbols will appear when needed and fade when not. Less intrusive method of showing these mission tracking map symbols.

### Display Conversation Icons

If enabled, icons will appear in the conversation wheel to indicate the tone of the choices, when you'll be flirting or making friends, and when you're making a story choice.

### Ryder's Helmet

* AS EQUIPPED - Ryder's head and face will not be shown in instances where a helmet would normally be in place.
* OFF IN CONVERSATIONS - You can see Ryder's head and face during most conversations where a helmet would normally be shown. There will be a helmet shown during all other times that a helmet would be needed.
* OFF IN GAMEPLAY AND CONVERSATIONS - You can see Ryder's head and face all of the time—even during combat when a helmet would be in use.

*No change to the helmet benefits take place if the helmet isn't showing.*

### Squadmate's Helmets

* AS EQUIPPED - Squadmates' heads and faces will not be shown in instances where a helmet would normally be in place.
* OFF IN CONVERSATIONS - You can see squadmates' heads and faces during most conversations where a helmet would normally be shown. There will be a helmet shown during all other times that a helmet would be needed.
* OFF IN GAMEPLAY AND CONVERSATIONS - You can see squadmates' heads and faces all of the time—even during combat when a helmet would be in use.

*No change to the helmet benefits take place if the helmet isn't showing.*

### Subtitles

*If this is enabled, subtitles will be displayed at the bottom of the screen any time that someone is speaking. This includes all conversations that include Ryder, squadmates, or crew, as well as audio logs, nearby conversations involving any other characters. In multiplayer, this includes Kandros' dialog, which is presented at the top of the screen.*

*Changing this setting will automatically change the setting in the Audio menu to match. The setting is global; changing it in either multiplayer or singleplayer mode will change it in both modes.*

### Field of View Multiplier

*This setting controls the player's point-of-view distance from Ryder, how big the area appears to be, and how much of the area can be seen.*

## Notes

**Be Aware!** - If you are attempting to attain the Unwavering achievement or trophy by completing an Insanity-level playthrough, you must select that difficulty from the Character Customization menu at the start of the game and **NOT** change the difficulty level until the game is completed. If you change the difficulty at any time using the Gameplay sub-menu in the Settings menu, this achievement can be lost.