Some video games are infamous for their sudden, brutal difficulty spikes that can frustrate even experienced players. Here are 10 that stand out:
1. “The Lion King” (1994) – SNES/Genesis
- The second level, “Can’t Wait to Be King,” is a nightmare due to precision platforming and unclear mechanics, making it much harder than the first stage.
2. “Battletoads” (1991) – NES
- Turbo Tunnel. Enough said. This speeder bike level requires near-perfect reflexes and memorization, making it a wall for many players.
3. “Ninja Gaiden” (1988) – NES
- The game is already tough, but Stage 6-2 introduces aggressive enemy spawns and knockback mechanics that send you into pits constantly.
4. “Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts” (1991) – SNES
- The entire game is hard, but the second loop (which you must complete to get the true ending) suddenly cranks the difficulty even higher.
5. “Jak II” (2003) – PS2
- A massive shift from the first game, Jak II is full of unfair missions, like “Escape from the Fortress” and “Destroy the Eco Grid”, where enemies overwhelm you with little room for error.
6. “F-Zero GX” (2003) – GameCube
- The Story Mode is brutal, especially Chapter 7 (“The Grand Prix”), where you must beat 29 AI opponents in a perfect race.
7. “Kingdom Hearts” (2002) – PS2
- The Riku fight in Hollow Bastion is a major skill check. The game up to that point is manageable, then suddenly, he becomes a relentless, teleporting monster.
8. “Cuphead” (2017) – Multiplatform
- The game is known for being hard, but Dr. Kahl’s Robot in Inkwell Isle Three is an absurd difficulty spike compared to the bosses before it.
9. “Rayman” (1995) – PS1/Saturn/PC
- Eat at Joe’s and the late-game levels introduce brutal platforming sections that feel way harder than earlier parts of the game.
10. “Dark Souls” (2011) – Multiplatform
- While the game is challenging throughout, Ornstein and Smough in Anor Londo represent a massive jump in difficulty, especially for first-time players.
Annoying.