A fixed difficulty with a range of levels of success is the best of both worlds. Instead of dynamically adjusting difficulty is that it allows the player to decide for themselves how difficult they want the game to be, in real time, in a highly contextualized way. If the one section is too frustrating, then they can ignore the side missions and just get things done.
That works for one kind of gaming, in which your "goal" is to finish the game. But it doesn't work as well for the kind of gaming I prefer (I touched upon it in this ill-conceived rant), in which I like to explore every nook and cranny without having to spend too much time backtracking because a wall of spikes crushed me to death. So I prefer either really easy games or really good walkthrough FAQs.
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That works for one kind of gaming, in which your "goal" is to finish the game. But it doesn't work as well for the kind of gaming I prefer (I touched upon it in this ill-conceived rant), in which I like to explore every nook and cranny without having to spend too much time backtracking because a wall of spikes crushed me to death. So I prefer either really easy games or really good walkthrough FAQs.
BUT THAT'S JUST ME.