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I recently started doing a hardcore playthrough and I noticed the game is still too easy(I normally suck at shooter games). For the whole playthrough I only died a couple more times than a playthrough on casual difficulty.
Here's what I noticed between difficulty:
Casual: Increased health and vehicle health(while commandeered)
Normal: Slightly increased health and vehicle health(while commandeered)
Hardcore: Normal health and vehicle health
The AI's tactics stay the same, the AI's acurracy stays the same, the amount of enemies and specialists spawn stay the same, the AI uses the same non-upgraded weapons, AI health stays the same.
It looks like volition wasted the oppertunity to add more challenge to this game.  

I noticed a bit of a difference between the Normal and Hardcore levels.

I'm trying to dreate a "starter" save in Hardcore where I trying to reach level 50 without doing any of the missions past mission 4 (the one that gets you the penthouse) AND without buying any of the upgrades.

I'm getting owned left and right, you run slow your clips are small, it takes forever to reload, there's a delay in health and stamina/sprint regeneration.

The Bloodsucker pack has been helping me stay alive, but it's really touch and go when the action gets heavy.

I've already caved in terms of getting weapon upgrades and playing the DLC missions (since you can re-play them), but if you play the game this way (by taking NO upgrades) the game does become a challenge!

Jul 19, 2012 -- 8:17AM, TheFitnessGuru3 wrote:

Honestly, I think that the challenge level of Hardcore is perfectly difficult enough, particularly in the early stages of the game where you haven't upgraded your characters ability to take damage and the damage the MC can deal out. Also, the truth is that there is a way around it for anyone who thinks Hardcore is too easy: Just STOP upgrading your character early on and you can make the game as difficult as you like.

Obviously, I am of the mind that level 4 upgrades on the damage you take from bullets, getting hit by vehicles, and explosions makes you so invulnerable that it completely breaks the game for me, but that, too is a preference.

Honestly, if you utilize the upgrade system wisely you can keep the game VERY challenging, make it so absurdly easy that you can just about NEVER die, or anything in between. The mistake, in my honest opinion here, is the erroneous belief that the three difficulty levels are the ONLY way to determine the level of challenge you want to experience from this game.

It's the jump from level 3 to the level 4 (infinite clips/ammo/sprint and no damage) that is a HUGE leap.

10 levels in between would have made more sense and the ability to toggle certain upgrades, especially the overall game changing ones like the Nitrous Boost for all vechicles, would have made the game closer to perfect IMHO.

Jul 19, 2012 -- 9:06AM, TheFitnessGuru3 wrote:

I definitely agree that the jump from level 3 to 4 on the damage you take is a little too extreme. Maybe not ten levels in between, but I definitely get your point about there needing to be some points in between level 3 bulet damage and level 4, for instance.

For me, however, I am very used to the game, so really level 3 across the board on the damage I take is all I really need on hardcore. Couple that with the Bloodsucker Pack's ability to instantly replenish health and really, I personally don't need any gradations between 3 and 4, BUT for the sake of more choice and freedom, I categorically agree with you.

One note: I always upgrade to invulnerability to falls and fire. Why? Well, because being fireproof was something I loved in San Andreas and Vice City, so that is my way of paying homage to them. And being invulnerable to falls was an awesome feature in SR2, so that is my way of paying homage to that game. :)

10 levels might be extreme, but there are 50 character levels and quite a few gaps while leveling up where there are no upgrades available, it would depend on how the game is balanced and how the upgrades are distributed, but 4 is definitely too little and the leap between the level 3 and 4 upgrades which is "infinte/unlimited/no damage" is HUGE.

Since Bullets and Explosions are the most likely way your character is going to die, then taking the Fire and Falls invulnerabilities and leaving Invulnerability to Bullets and Explosions at Level 3 is a nice compromise between and challenge.

I also agree that with the Hardcore difficulty, the majority of the Level 3 upgrades are a nice balance between power and survivability, you can still be overwhelmed but you aren't proverbially ramming your head against a brick wall when trying to tackle a tough mission.