7. Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest
Simon’s Quest offered day to night cycles and RPG elements years ahead of its time. It was also cryptic and frustrating. Simon’s Quest was forward thinking, but it’s also considered the black sheep of the Castlevania series on account of its various eccentricities. What made the game so difficult and so frustrating was the weird elements of its puzzles that just made no sense. The exact kind of puzzles that were put in games so that players would be forced to buy that month’s edition of Nintendo Power. “Hit Deborah Cliff with your head to make a hole.” What kind of a clue is that supposed to be? Skip to 1:48 for the start of the weirder stuff.
6. Ninja Gaiden
The Xbox remake was one of the hardest games of recent memory, but the NES original was every bit as devilish. Every thing about this game was tricky, with enemies swarming you from every possible angle. Stage 6-2 deserves particular credit for invading my nightmares on a regular basis. If I ever go into therapy, it will likely be on account of that particular level. I hope you’re happy with yourselves Tecmo.
5. Mega Man
Mega Man has taught me many things over the years. Life is only rewarding after years of patience, but before then it is not worth living. This healthy dose of cynicism came from the hefty requirement of lightning quick reactions, nerves of steel and pixel perfect platforming needed to get anywhere in Mega Man. Dr. Wily’s fortress was particularly frustrating, if only because it practically throws the entire game at you for a second time, forcing you to conquer a variety of old enemies and bosses again. Both tedious and extremely hard.
4. BattleToads
Battletoads, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game it was designed to compete with, is tryingly tough. It isn’t the hardest of games by yourself, but the moment you played a two player game things scaled up to disproportionately tricky levels. The difficulty was unbalanced and unforgiving at the best of times, but the inclusion of a second player made it something altogether even more terrifying. Still the quickest and cleanest way to lose friends.
