Hardest game you've beaten?

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

Well, in my mind, your average pleb has played and gotten his ass kicked my Dark Souls.

But the only people playing DoDonPachi are of the more hardcore ilk (in general), and those people are less prone to say (admit?) that a game is difficult.

So I imagine the votes reflect that.

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

Is it harder spending dozens of hours gaining (and executing on) knowledge, or spending dozens of hours developing muscle memory and pattern memorization?

I'm not arguing for it, just bringing it up.  After all, I beat Sekiro, but I'd never 1CC the hardest shmups.

[Brickman | 3,986]

12 minutes ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Well, in my mind, your average pleb has played and gotten his ass kicked my Dark Souls.

But the only people playing DoDonPachi are of the more hardcore ilk (in general), and those people are less prone to say (admit?) that a game is difficult.

So I imagine the votes reflect that.

Yeah I think the list covers your “average modern gamer”. Which is a loose term. Most of these people are probably still stuck on Sif or some other boss and will never touch the game again.

I don’t think checkpoints or unlimited lives automatically equals easy mode either. Modern games are much longer and having three lives to beat modern games would be pretty much impossible for most.

Games are just designed differently these days. Games like Darkest Dungeon, Cuphead, Sekiro etc. are still difficult, just in different ways.

A lot of the voters probably haven’t played the NES outside of the popular stuff. But there is a list of hardest NES games on this site for those who want even more pain haha.

[peg | 370]

21 minutes ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Is it harder spending dozens of hours gaining (and executing on) knowledge, or spending dozens of hours developing muscle memory and pattern memorization?

I'm not arguing for it, just bringing it up.  After all, I beat Sekiro, but I'd never 1CC the hardest shmups.

Didn't you 1cc Ikaruga or am I wrong?  It's definitely not in the "hardest shmups category" but also no joke either.  How'd you rank that against these other games?

[SNESNESCUBE64 | 540]

On 8/31/2022 at 8:19 PM, Reed Rothchild said:

But the one game that may take the cake is Call of Duty World at War on Veteran.  I don't know what they were thinking with that shit...

Oh my god, this might be mine too. That was ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL. The problem was that enemies would keep spawning, so you would have to get lucky and just push through. The last two missions in particular took me forever because of the respawning. Well they say the German soldiers were on Meth during the second world war, perhaps they were making the AI like that...

[DarkTone | 984]

World at war...... that game nearly broke me. Finding the playing cards and beating the story is up there. 

[Philosoraptor | 468]

IMO SHMUPS and Souls games are different types of difficulty.

The Souls games aren't difficult, just counterintuitive. Charging in "gunz-a-blazin" gets you killed even by the lowliest enemies, but that's how a majority of newer popular games work. When Joe Rando gets home from his 9-5, takes out Halo or Gears, and puts in Souls, he's probably going to have a bad time.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bayonetta is all about "gunz-a-blazin," but still can be incredibly difficult on harder difficulties.

SHMUPS are different, still. They take planning, memorization, and precision, especially with bullet hells. Being in the wrong place or getting forced to the edge of the screen is almost an immediate death sentence.

I'm shocked no one has mentioned fighting games. Maybe I just suck, but I've always gotten my ass handed to me on pretty much any Capcom-made 2D fighter, but especially stuff like Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The highest difficulties just seem impossible. 

Also surprised that music games haven't gotten much shine. Stuff like DJMax and the Miku games will run you ragged on high difficulties.

Anydangway, the most difficult games I've beaten on the GameFAQs list are the Souls games, Bayonetta, Contra 1cc, Super Meat Boy, Catherine, and Lost Levels. I think the toughest SHMUP I've 1cc'd is R-Type. Shoutouts to Binding of Isaac and Rabi-Ribi as two not on this list that are also quite difficult. 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Philosoraptor

[Sumez | 2,951]

2 hours ago, MagusSmurf said:

Is Dark Souls vastly better than Demon's Souls? Like, I realize it's the iconic one that got super-famous and not Demon's but by most accounts Dark Souls is pretty much in the same vein and the Souls crowd almost all seem to think Demon's is a really great game too so I always wrote the rest of them off as not for me based on my experience with Demon's.

No, I think the two games are very close. When Dark Souls first came out I honestly had a tough time picking a favourite.

But Dark Souls definitely rises above both its predecessor and its own sequels primarily thanks to its incredibly well designed interconnected world, that should be considered a shining example for all of video games. There's also a bunch of smaller mechanical improvements over Demon's though, most notably the usage of estus flasks (a limited supply of healing items that gets restocked at checkpoints) instead of a healing item that can be stockpiled and needs to be grinded for if you should run out.

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

2 hours ago, peg said:

Didn't you 1cc Ikaruga or am I wrong?  It's definitely not in the "hardest shmups category" but also no joke either.  How'd you rank that against these other games?

I did.  I don't know how many hours it took, but it was probably comparable to what Sekiro just took.

So, arguable the hardest Souls game against a "hard, but not the hardest" shooter.

[twiztor | 851]

hmm, i've beaten 12 games on the first version of the list.

gave up on Hollow Knighg most of the way through, so that ranks way up there for me (love the game, but those boss fights...)

 this may be my incentive to complete SMB2(J), which i've always considered my white whale. can i finish it in 2022 or does it make the 2023 backlog thread? time will tell........

Edited October 20, 2022 by twiztor

[Kguillemette | 1,544]

Crash Bandicoot might be the hardest game I have ever beaten. Some of the platforming in the original is absolutely punishing. They really eased up the difficulty after the original.

[Code Monkey | 2,010]

• Ninja Gaiden
• Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword Of Chaos
• Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship Of Doom
• Castlevania
• Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
• Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
• The X-Files
• Megaman X6
• Megaman ZX
• Dragon Warrior
• Dragon Warrior II
• Dragon Warrior III
• Metal Storm
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)
• Battle Kid
• Silent Hill 2
• Silent Hill 3
• Silent Hill 4: The Room
• Silent Hill 0rigins
• Gran Turismo 3 (100%)
• Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!

[AirVillain | 489]

For the folks that have "beaten" Ghosts 'N Goblins on NES.... we're talking about 1cc, right? 

Like, I've finished the game but with immeasurable continues. Dozens maybe over a hundred? I don't even know. Would be interesting to count one day, haha.

So, of course I don't consider that "beating the game". I sheepishly even say I finished it given the embarrassing amount of continues, haha. But it's a fun one to hack through, and I love the satsifaction of getting through some of th really difficult sections.

Someone mentioned a newer game on the "difficult" list. I would agree that any game that has essentially unlimited lives should not be on the list.

On 10/18/2022 at 9:54 PM, Reed Rothchild said:

Alright, I grabbed the list of "hardest" games on gameFAQs, and weeded out the smaller sample sizes, and got rid of the duplicates.  So, highlighting anything I've cleared in pink...

1	Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes WII	4.45	4.93	80.00+
2	Ghosts 'n Goblins NES	3.16	4.75	14.46
3	Battletoads NES	3.67	4.68	22.64
4	Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels FDS	3.61	4.64	11.13
5	Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts SNES	3.70	4.62	14.77
6	Darkest Dungeon PC	3.92	4.61	62.53
7	Super Meat Boy PC	4.00	4.59	28.37
8	Ninja Gaiden NES	3.94	4.56	12.15
9	Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice PS4	4.17	4.49	50.78
10	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 WII	4.27	4.44	78.21
11	Dark Souls III XONE	4.30	4.37	67.44
12	Dark Souls II X360	4.36	4.34	72.22
13	F-Zero GX GC	4.20	4.33	44.64
14	Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate 3DS	4.56	4.30	80.00+
15	Dark Souls X360	4.35	4.30	70.39
16	Contra: Hard Corps GEN	4.22	4.27	15.87
17	Bloodborne: Complete Edition PS4	4.32	4.26	65.24
18	Ninja Gaiden II X360	4.10	4.25	26.80
19	Cuphead PC	4.16	4.25	20.25
20	Ninja Gaiden Sigma PS3	3.97	4.25	25.92
21	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles NES	3.18	4.25	14.26
22	Demon's Souls PS3	4.33	4.22	60.18
23	Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos NES	4.06	4.22	11.04

25

Contra III: The Alien Wars SNES

4.11

4.18

11.29

27	FTL: Faster Than Light PC	4.06	4.16	30.61
28	Zelda II: The Adventure of Link NES	3.66	4.15	21.70
29	Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse NES	4.11	4.14	12.59

32	Black PS2	4.11	4.10	54.39
33	Castlevania: The Adventure GB	2.71	4.10	6.10
34	Castlevania NES	3.90	4.09	9.22
35	Celeste NS	4.27	4.09	21.71
36	God Hand PS2	4.21	4.09	27.59
37	Trauma Center: Under the Knife DS	3.84	4.09	16.83

39	Monster Hunter Freedom Unite PSP	4.43	4.05	80.00+
40	Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! NES	4.12	4.03	11.85
41	Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne PS2	4.36	4.03	72.68
42	Hollow Knight NS	4.31	4.02	52.02
43	Rayman PS	3.74	4.02	22.93

47

Etrian Odyssey DS

3.84

4.00

60.43

49

Super Star Wars SNES

3.52

4.00

9.76

51	Mega Man NES	3.74	4.00	7.63
52	The Binding of Isaac PC	3.93	3.99	46.79
53	Dota 2 PC	3.73	3.99	80.00+
54	Nioh PS4	4.19	3.99	74.98

56	Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories PS	3.56	3.97	45.67
57	Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number PC	3.87	3.97	14.49
58	Mega Man 9 WII	4.28	3.96	9.13
59	Gradius NES	3.64	3.96	9.29
60	Adventure Island NES	3.31	3.95	10.74
61	Castlevania Chronicles PS	3.79	3.94	11.53
62	Kid Icarus NES	3.54	3.94	11.47
63	Ecco the Dolphin GEN	3.60	3.94	16.54
64	Batman: The Video Game NES	3.77	3.94	8.33
65	Catherine PS3	4.11	3.94	22.46
66	Phantasy Star II GEN	3.76	3.93	41.83

69	Rogue Legacy PC	3.89	3.92	27.69
70	Castlevania: Dracula X SNES	3.59	3.92	9.94
71	Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City DS	4.21	3.92	69.38
72	Comix Zone GEN	3.91	3.91	8.28
73	Metroid NES	3.81	3.90	13.34
74	Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy PS4	4.09	3.90	38.04
75	Alien: Isolation PS4	4.02	3.89	25.26

78	Monster Hunter Freedom 2 PSP	4.31	3.89	79.04
79	VVVVVV PC	3.92	3.89	5.77
80	Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge GB	3.47	3.89	5.82
81	Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate NS	4.29	3.89	80.00+
82	Contra NES	4.15	3.88	8.54
83	Zombies Ate My Neighbors SNES	3.91	3.88	22.67
84	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze WIIU	4.24	3.88	25.72
85	Blaster Master NES	3.93	3.88	14.22
86	Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee PS	3.95	3.88	20.10
87	Mega Man Zero GBA	3.93	3.88	16.45
88	Don't Starve PC	3.75	3.87	49.19
89	Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 3DS	4.39	3.87	80.00+
90	Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest 3DS	4.12	3.87	56.04
91	Life Force NES	3.89	3.86	8.87
92	Super C NES	4.07	3.86	6.63
93	ZombiU WIIU	3.68	3.86	20.32
94	The Evil Within PS4	3.77	3.86	23.37
95	Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey DS	3.77	3.85	62.52
96	Bayonetta WIIU	4.30	3.85	28.60
97	Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D 3DS	4.01	3.85	23.66
98	Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening PS2	4.23	3.85	29.78
99	Metal Gear NES	3.42	3.85	18.44
100	Dragon Warrior II NES	3.67	3.85	37.39

 

 

I understand this was the first list.... but why is Super C on there?         Reputation I assume.

I don't recognize a lot of the games on the list, so it's hard to comment, though...

Edited October 23, 2022 by AirVillain

[AirVillain | 489]

Double post, sorry...

Edited October 23, 2022 by AirVillain

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

I did NOT 1CC GnG.  My best run was a hair away (I got nailed near the end of climb on level 6 on loop 2)

 

That being said, I got credits, I beat the game.  Purists can scoff at that, but I don't give a shit.  I go loosely by how backloggery defines it:

Credits rolled = Beat the game
1CC = Completed the game

 

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

1 hour ago, AirVillain said:

Someone mentioned a newer game on the "difficult" list. I would agree that any game that has essentially unlimited lives should not be on the list.

I took me less than a week (let's say 10-20 hours) to no death Contra.  From scratch.

It took me 50 hours to clear Dark Souls my second time through.

One has unlimited continues, one does not.  Does that make Contra harder than Dark Souls?

 

I'd also say games like Championship Pool are harder than all of the above.  But if it's a hard game that no one gives a shit about, that's hard for all the wrong reasons...

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,105]

On 10/18/2022 at 10:45 PM, Gloves said:

Come to think of it, the bulk of the games on that list are not difficult.

 

[Sumez | 2,951]

21 minutes ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Credits rolled = Beat the game
1CC = Completed the game

Feels like it should be the other way around, no? 

Just played through all of the game = completion

Actually won over the game = beating it

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

6 minutes ago, Sumez said:

Feels like it should be the other way around, no? 

Just played through all of the game = completion

Actually won over the game = beating it

I dunno, I think I agree that "completion" would imply you did everything.

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,105]

31 minutes ago, Reed Rothchild said:

I did NOT 1CC GnG.  My best run was a hair away (I got nailed near the end of climb on level 6 on loop 2)

 

That being said, I got credits, I beat the game.  Purists can scoff at that, but I don't give a shit.  I go loosely by how backloggery defines it:

Credits rolled = Beat the game
1CC = Completed the game

 

I've always called it completing a game if you finish it. If you 1cc it, beat it on one life, get 100%, etc, that's just an added bonus.

Edited October 23, 2022 by Bearcat-Doug

[mbd39 | 2,020]

Ghosts n Goblins is brutal even with infinite continues.

Beating GNG with continues is a greater accomplishment than a 1CC of something like Contra or SMB.

 

 

 

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,105]

Just now, mbd39 said:

Ghosts n Goblins is brutal even with infinite continues.

Beating GNG with continues is a greater accomplishment than a 1CC of something like Contra or SMB.

 

I've never even heard of the game that's number one on the list, so Ghosts n Goblins might as well be there as far as I'm concerned.

[AirVillain | 489]

7 hours ago, Reed Rothchild said:

I did NOT 1CC GnG.  My best run was a hair away (I got nailed near the end of climb on level 6 on loop 2)

 

That being said, I got credits, I beat the game.  Purists can scoff at that, but I don't give a shit.  I go loosely by how backloggery defines it:

Credits rolled = Beat the game
1CC = Completed the game

 

6 hours ago, Sumez said:

Feels like it should be the other way around, no? 

Just played through all of the game = completion

Actually won over the game = beating it

This is exactly what I was thinking.

When I say "beat the game" I mean actually finish it without continues/cheats. 

Getting the credits to roll can be done through many ways of cheating, so when I play through a game just because I want to see it in its entirety (using a games genie, etc.) I would then say I played completely through it, or completed it.

When you "beat" a game, you do literally that. Kick its ass and take no prisoners. 

Saying "I completed a game" doesn't sound nearly as badass. 

 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Reed Rothchild said:

I took me less than a week (let's say 10-20 hours) to no death Contra.  From scratch.

It took me 50 hours to clear Dark Souls my second time through.

One has unlimited continues, one does not.  Does that make Contra harder than Dark Souls?

 

I'd also say games like Championship Pool are harder than all of the above.  But if it's a hard game that no one gives a shit about, that's hard for all the wrong reasons...

I get what you're saying... it brings up a good question.

I think we're talking about two different ways to determine "difficulty", though. The time to beat Contra was TOTAL time, it wasn't one single playthrough.

That's why I think it's difficult to compare the two different types of games.

Some of these newer games just let you play forever. So yeah, you played for 50 hours, but were those 50 hours AS difficult as Contra is?

Or, if you die in Dark Souls do you have to start the game from the beginning? Or just the last checkpoint/save point (whatever function it is in that particular game)?

Contra, there's no let up..... in this Dark Souls game is there any down time? See what I'm saying?


 

6 hours ago, mbd39 said:

Ghosts n Goblins is brutal even with infinite continues.

Beating GNG with continues is a greater accomplishment than a 1CC of something like Contra or SMB.

This makes me feel better about getting through it. Now I'm interested to do it again and actually count how many times I continue, haha. 

I don't really find Contra or SMB THAT difficult (maybe based on the sheer amount I've played them?) so I think I would definitely agree. Either game I can beat first try, and I know even after TONS of practise, there's no chance in hell I could even get through ONE LEVEL of GNG on the first try. 

[Reed Rothchild | 9,528]

I think of it as a completion because you're a "completionist."  You do all of the things.  Including a 1CC, if that's a part of it.

But yes, it could go either way.

[Dr. Morbis | 2,088]

"I beat the game but I used continues."

vs

"I completed the game but I used continues."

 

I've heard the former spoken countless times in my life, whereas the latter I've never heard, nor does it even sound right.  So I'm going to have  to side with backloggery...