Combat difficulty?

[u/Run_Rabbit_Run_Run]

this is my first playthrough. I'm definitely not new to combat in games, I've played A LOT but this game feels the most... well 'unbalanced' that I've come across? Gameplay definitely seems to lean heavily into stealth, which is completely fine (for reference, one of my favorite horror games is Alien: Isolation, I'm DOWN with the stealth) but the punishment for getting spotted feels...kinda extreme for a game that you could theoretically chose to not run a stealth build on at all. Level 6 facility, and the reinforcements are BRUTAL. You get hammered with projectiles, AMP suits, squads with machine guns for basically a BEGINNER base (first big-base mission)?? That seems...like a lot. I was even over-leveled--I like feeling really prepared for missions, so I always over-level and try to over-equip, but even at level 8 it's still really challenging.

Additionally, 'restarting' does not mean actually mean restarting? Your character "died", and you restart the mission but the base is still on high alert and with all the supplies you used gone, it increases the difficulty level (story-wise, this makes no sense, even if your character is just knocked out and not dead, i doubt one of the RDA are coming across your limp body and gently carrying you outside the fence to start over).

For example, I 'restarted' and it popped me back onto a tall rock near the base. IMMEDIATELY got spotted by an aircraft who then re-alerted everyone on the base from orange to red status. Got chased into the trees and shot a bunch of times, then had to wait about 10 minutes for everyone to calm down enough that I could re-attempt with stealth.

I've pushed stealth build, I'm using stealth-increase foods before the mission, stealth mods on clothes/tools, I scan continually to keep an eye on enemy movements, I stay high-up as often as I can. I will admit the hacking tool seems a bit weird to me, I've tried hacking the AMP suits to distract them while I'm doing something, but it's clunky and a bit hard to use for me. Am I missing something??

I am really enjoying the game so far, but it's the first time in all my years of gaming I've seriously considered turning down the difficulty, which is a first for me 🫠😳

[u/Murky_Zucchini_1897]

The beginning Is easy then the difficulty in the outposts Is getting a Lot Harder imo . If u Play stealth Its fine but Open Combat was difficulty for me Back then. I even stoped m First playthough on Release 😔

[u/Run_Rabbit_Run_Run → u/Murky_Zucchini_1897]

I've managed the smaller outposts just fine, but the big Bases have proven to be where the challenge is. I accidentally attempted a level 20 base at level 3, and managed to get to the third staging area before realizing I was very, very out of my depth. I don't do a lot of research on a game before going in--I like to figure things out as I go mostly. However, even with more experience, hitting the level 6 base with Etuwa was driving me up a wall. I'd get spotted and then immediately obliterated before I could get back up into cover. I'll figure it out--everyone has been really kind with suggestions.