This might as well be called “5 Notorious Difficult Video Games On The NES” because the majority of the industry’s most notoriously tough games are on that console we all love and sometimes hate, then forgive and love again. However, there’s at least one game in this list that makes no appearance on the NES, so let’s get started. In no order:
1. Ninja Gaiden (1988, NES)
The first level is actually incredibly easy – I see this as a cruel trick Tecmo decided to pull because you’ll more than likely breeze through stage 1, then find yourself having to fend of absolutely tons of enemies with movement patterns that make it increasingly difficult to determine your best plan of action. Even the first boss is excruciatingly easy, but the rest will truly test your skills. Like most games back when Ninja Gaiden was released, it requires a lot of patience and the ability to memorize everything the game throws at you, eventually making it playable to the very end, but certainly still belongs firmly in this list.
2. Doom II: Hell on Earth: Nightmare Mode (1994, DOS)
This goes for all Doom games, however for the sake of it we’ll focus on Doom II, which isn’t a difficult game by any means, but once you switch the difficulty to Nightmare Mode, you are truly doomed (heh…). Nightmare adds gameplay characteristics such as regular monster respawns, rapid attacks, and much more monsters placed around each map than normal. As soon as you enter even the first level and alert the Zombiemen, they will drain your health in a matter of seconds if you don’t either run past them or quickly mow ’em down, so you can imagine what it’s like during battles with Cyberdemons and rooms full of Chaingunners. Evidently, it can be done but only through very specific tactics such as speed running through each map to avoid unwanted encounters. Give it a go yourself…
3. Ghosts ‘n Goblins (1986, NES)
Commonly known as one of the hardest video games of all time, Ghosts ‘n Goblins is exactly that. It refuses to give you any breathing space what so ever and bombards you with tough enemies, creating a gameplay experience that is overwhelmingly difficult, but still strangely fun regardless. The enemies will spawn absolutely anywhere and everywhere, making it very difficult to actually memorize any sort of pattern. Despite all of that, there is actually unlimited continues in Ghosts ‘n Goblins, which at least gives you the opportunity to beat the game, even if you do find yourself dying hundreds of times. There’s even an incentive to play through the game twice as there’s an additional ending only seen through a second completion. I’d be happy beating the game once.
4. Castlevania (1986, NES)
Whilst massively enjoyable and a truly iconic game, Castlevania is undoubtedly one of the harder games within the franchise (although Castlevania III is definitely a contender). Unlike the likes of Contra, Castlevania actually allowed players to take a significant amount of damage before dying, but it still doesn’t stop it from being stupidly tough at times, especially during the Grim Reaper battle and the Medusa Heads that always appear at the absolute worst times, making you fall off a stage, and ultimately – death. There’s a fair share of weapons to help you along, but for the most part it’s the enemy placements and that awkward style of jumping that will drain most of your lives.
5. Battletoads (1991, NES)
Also known as an absurbly difficult game, Battletoads could leave you ripping your hair out from pure frustration. Spanning a total of twelve levels that offer nothing but moments that you may have nightmares about (too much?). The ‘Turbo Tunnel’ comes to mind, which takes a break from the game’s standard gameplay and puts you in a vehicle as you rapidly navigate obstacles at an increasingly difficult speed. This stage alone will most likely take all your lives, not giving you a fighting chance to beat the rest of the game, which is unlikely to happen anyway.
Leave your most difficult games below…
