The Stuff of DreamsThe Stuff of Dreams
    

Posted on Feb 24th 2011 at 08:48:54 PM by (ReddMcKnight)
Posted under NES, Nintendo, Difficult, Games

Let's face it: NES Games are TOUGH. Whether they provide a real challenge, or are just cheap, the majority of them are tough. Why? I'm not really sure. Sometimes I wish it was still that way. I feel that many games nowadays appeal to Casual Gamers only when it comes to difficulty. Don't get me wrong now. I know there are some tough ones today, like Demon's Souls for the PS3. Anyway, I'd like some assistance here. I want to compose a list of the toughest, most punishing NES Games out there, and that includes NTSC-J and PAL games. Here's some I personally know of:

Contra
The Adventures Of Bayou Billy
Little Nemo The Dream Master
Super Mario Bros. 2 (J)
Final Fantasy 2 (J)
The Legend of Zelda 2 (US)

That's only a few off the top of my head. If you can think of any more (and I'm sure you will), please shout them out in the comments. Thank you! Cheesy


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Comments
 
Battletoads is the first one that pops in my head.

I think the main reason games were harder then was because new ones didn't come out as often as they do now, so developers knew the games had to last gamers a long time, so they made them challenging. Now, games come out so often, developers make them easier so gamers can get through them and buy the next one right away.
 
Fester's Quest
Adventures of Dino Riki
Ninja Gaiden 2
Cybernoid
Deadly Towers
Double Dragon III
Dragon's Lair
King's Knight
Summer Carnival '92: Recca (J)
Both NES Wizardry games

are a few off the top of my head.

Incidentally, I've watched a friend play all the way through Contra and only loose one life, and a different friend play through Zelda 2 in one sitting and only continue twice through the entire game.  Same guy finished the first TMNT without loosing a turtle!!  It was one of the most impressive things I've ever personally seen in gaming.  He's looking into the Twin Galaxies record on it.


 
Crabmaster actually submitted a run for Twin Galaxies on TMNT.

Honestly, I see a few games I played in my youth on there that I didn't find too horrible - Fester's Quest, Contra and Little Nemo. I'll definitely vouch for Double Dragon III, Dragon's Lair, and King's Knight though. Ninja Gaiden 2 I never had as a kid but tried playing it recently and it was pretty difficult.

Let's add this to the list, and there are many others like it:
Silver Surfer
 
Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest
Some of those puzzles were ridiculous. 
 
I beat many of those as a kid. Mastering was just pure massochism and repition. I'd add:

Bokosuka Wars, Wizards & Warriors, Nnja Gaiden III, and Zanac.
 
I'd even throw Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! into the ring. The first two title series aren't bad, but once you start getting to the end, you have to be almost perfect to even get to Tyson and you MUST be perfect to beat Tyson.
 
I'd cross Little Nemo and Contra off the list. They may be challenging by today's standards, but as far as NES games they seem rather tame to me.

Here is my list of Hard NES games:

Adventure Island series
Adventures of Lolo 3
G.I. Joe Atlantis Factor
Gauntlet II
Ghosts n' Goblins
Gradius
Hydlide (probably the hardest I've come across yet)
Karnov
Kid Icarus
Legacy of the Wizard
Milon's Secret Castle (also one of the hardest)
Ninja Gaiden series
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2
Wizards & Warriors series

Thanks for the reminder to send in my Twin Galaxies submission Shadow. I had the submission forms printed off and tape ready to go, but just havnt put them in the mail yet. Sent them off today.

@Slackur - If your friend has any questions about sending in a run for TMNT (is he aiming for Highscore or Speed?) I'd be happy to help. It would be nice to have a rival to encourage me to boost my time/score. I did ok with each, but could definitely do better if motivated to.
 
For me personally would be the Ninja Gaiden Series, Battletoads, Contra, Zanac and I agree with bickman2k about Mike Tyson's Punchout.  You have to be lightning quick to dodge Tyson and beat him.
 
Tyson is unforgiving, but the rest of the game isnt that bad.

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