Topic: Hardest playable games of the 8-bit era

[The Last Belmont]

Which game's back in the day caused the most headaches, broken controllers and gave ya'll the most nightmares?
I'm not counting games like dr jekyll and mr hyde because the difficulty stems from nonexistant programming and not actual intended toughness.

Some of mine would have to be battletoads, (which I've never done w/out game genie because I'd get so mad at that damn red rat in level 6 that I had to turn it off before I destroyed my TV, that is one cheapass mofo), captain planet which is no fun to play as well as punishingly difficult, and silver surfer a game which I agree with AVGN had to be intended as a joke, it's a well made game minus not having a head's up as to what you can and can't touch with a good soundtrack but silver surfer dieing in 1 hit has to be a joke. I managed to beat the firelord once but after that I just couldn't stand to play this game anymore, it disgraces SS too much.

[Bloodreign]

Battletoads
Mega Man 1 without using glitches
Ghosts N Goblins (arcade version is still far harder)
P.O.W.


There's far more, but back in the day these games would beat you senseless till you learned/memorized patterns. Still love the 8 bit era, from NES to Sega Master System, something about that era has made me love that time period of gaming the most.

[Kale]

Omg... POW! You mean prisoner of war right? Dude... that game was OWNAGE! I miss that game... I don't think I've ever beaten it. But Ninja Gaiden games top em I think. I actually beat Battletoads and Battletoads & Double Dragon, though.

Never tried Ghost and Goblins, so I can't say much about that.

[Bloodreign]

In Reply To #3

Yes Prisoner of War for the NES, longer than it's arcade counterpart, and quite a bit tougher as well.

I've played many NES games and SMS games via emulation, but now I'm trying to put together a nice NES collection, over 50 carts right now and slowly building it higher.

[Kale]

Hah, nice. I never "owned" one. My niece or nephew did and I just played them. But that game was so fun... til I died... I remember getting decently far though.

[The Last Belmont]

Omg... POW! You mean prisoner of war right? Dude... that game was OWNAGE! I miss that game... I don't think I've ever beaten it. But Ninja Gaiden games top em I think.

Y'know it's weird because ninja gaiden never really gave me problems, games like friday the 13th and ANOES always kicked my ass back in the day. (till game genie came out that is )

[A n t r a x x]

- Transformers (NES IMPORT)

... If you don't know... you don't want to know. Most ppl will die within 2 seconds of starting -- I kid you not. However it is entirely playable once you understand how, but never easy.

- Metroid (Go back and play it: it's a BITCH. You will get lost, and you will get frustrated.)

- Batman

- Castlevnia III: Dracula's Curse (I'd like to see CV newbies take this one on. Good luck with that.)

- Mega Man 1

- Dragon's Lair

- Bionic Commando

- Shadowgate

- Gyromite (well, without R.O.B. to help you, you're fucked)

- Kid Icarus (because it starts out so hard, only getting easier much later... which is very opposite of most games)

- Castle Quest

- Solstice (because of the viewpoint)

- Bayou Billy (GAWD he's slow)

- Double Dragon 3

- Legacy of the Wizard (Dragon Slayer series)(Because YOU WILL get lost)

- The Legend of Zelda (Second Quest -- MADNESS!)

- Ninja Gaiden series

- Ikari Warrior series (2-player can help, but this is still one tough mo-fo of a series)

- Donkey Kong

- Wizzards and Warriors series (because of the stupid controls...)

[Bloodreign]

In Reply To #7

I used to own Bayou Billy back in the day, beat it constantly, often in 1 credit. It's Japanese counterpart, Mad City is easier, after not playing Bayou Billy for a number of years, passed that one in 1 credit as well.

Either my skills returned, or Mad City is just that easy.

[cecil-kain]

In Reply To #1

Ninja Gaiden.

Although NES Batman haunts me because I never did finish that b!tch. *shiver*

[shelverton.]

I never had any problems with either Batman or Bionic Commando. They're kinda easy if you practice a little. Bayou Billy however was EVIL. I never beat it.

And I dunno about you, but Zelda II is one of the hardest games I've played on the NES. That and Ghosts'n Goblins.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I've never beaten "Battle of Olympus" or "Faxanadu" even though Battle of Olympus had passwords.

[Xain]

- Castle Quest

Wow, i haven't thought about that game for a while. That's an evil bitch of a game. I used to play it a lot when i was younger...i really should pick it up when I'm at my aunt's house next time and see if age will make it easier. (I severely doubt it)

[Kale]

In Reply To #6

I beat Friday the 13th. It wasn't all that hard. But it just repeats itself over and over again.

[Jago]

silver surfer

[Aridale]

In Reply To #11

Ive beat Faxanadu... Very good game love it.