Summary
It’s a common trope among players to say that older games used to be more difficult. This could be simply due to nostalgia goggles, but there’s some truth in the fact that there were some infamously difficult games released during the 80s and 90s. Nintendo’sSNESwas home to many difficult games that are surely still haunting every player who was brave enough to try and beat them.
Platformer games were no exception.SNEShas some ludicrously hard platformers in its library, some of which are arguably almost impossible to beat unless the player is ready to devote dozens and dozens of hours to perfecting their abilities. But which were the most difficult platformer games on the SNES?
7The Lion King
The Lion Kingstarts as a relatively simple game, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, given thatthe game was primarily marketed to young kidswho enjoyed the movie. After the first few stages though, the game starts to ramp up in difficulty, and it keeps on like that until the very end.
The Lion Kingdoes not only provide some tough platforming stages but there are also some challenging boss battles thrown in the mix, as well as some instances which require perfect timing to avoid obstacles, something which wasn’t always possible because the game sometimes has a small input lag. Beating the game nowadays won’t be too taxing, but this game provided countless nightmares for children of the era.
6Donkey Kong Country 2
Donkey Kong Country 2is the second game in the SNESDonkey Kong Countrytrilogy and isrightfully considered one of the best games in the series. Players take the role of Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong as they prepare to face King K. Rool once again, who’s managed to kidnap the titular Donkey Kong this time around. While the game starts relatively easy, it becomes more and more difficult as players progress through the stages.
Of course, the toughest challenge comes in the form of extra stages, which come in the form of a secret world that can be unlocked after beating the main game. Even more seasoned players will have a hard time completing the game, let alone reaching 100%, which involves getting every collectible as well. Sure,this is still one of the best 2D platformers of all time, but players must be warned: this is not an easy journey to undertake.
5Earthworm Jim 2
Earthworm Jim 2may seem like a beginner-friendly game thanks to its titular protagonist, but a little bit into the gameit will be clear that the game isn’t meant for casual players. The basic side-scrolling stage involves some tight platforming, as well as hordes of enemies players need to blast off to survive. It might not seem difficult on paper, but it’s far from being an easy challenge, even for more seasoned players.
If that wasn’t enough,Earthworm Jim 2throws more challenges to the players in the form of “minigames,” which could serve as a nice change of pace between platforming stages if they weren’t even harder than regular levels. From this game onwards, every title should be viewed as a test that should be taken only by true platforming masters.
4Prince Of Persia
As for many other platforming games of the SNES era,Prince of Persiais made difficult by the insane amount of precision a player needs to have in every movement. It’s not just for platforming bits: combat and overall movement also require a spotless command of the protagonist, otherwise players will easily get to the game over screen.
The worst part of the game is the fact that there’s a time limit to complete the adventure. And it doesn’t reset after a game over, which means that dying multiple times will likely result in the player not being able to complete the game before the timer runs out. It’s a fun challenge for dedicated players, but there’s a reasonwhy the series quickly abandoned this formula in subsequent entries.
3Castlevania: Dracula X
Castlevania: Dracula Xis probably one of the toughestCastlevaniagames ever.Castlevaniahas aconsistent history of providing difficult experiences for its fans. While the series has undergone a massive change following the release ofCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, earlierCastlevaniatitles relied much more on platforming bits when compared to most recent entries.
Castlevania: Dracula Xdoesn’t do anything different from its predecessors. If anything, players have more abilities than in the past, which could make the game easier than earlier games. But that it’s not the case: the game just loves throwing dozens of enemies and hazards at the players, and it requires pixel-perfect precision in every movement to be completed. This might not be one of the best entries in the franchise, but it’s still a game that every fan should try at least once.
2Hagane: The Final Conflict
Hagane: The Final Conflictis a side-scrolling platformer that craftily combines traditional Japanese ninja and samurai aesthetics with a futuristic setting. Players take the role of the titular ninja cyborg Hagane, who’s able to use four different weapons: a sword, a chain, shurikens, and grenades. While its popularity has surely faded over time, the game is still a great choice forall those who love playing as a ninja.
Despite having multiple weapons to choose from, beating the game is far from being an easy task. Other than tight platforming sections, the adventure is riddled with enemies, who will knock the player out after three hits. To make things even more complicated, there are few checkpoints among the levels, and the game has no saving system, which makes beating the whole adventure an experience only platforming veterans can handle.
1Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghostsis the third game in theGhost ‘n Goblinsseries, which was already famous for its challenging stages before the release of this entry. The game brings back the series’ infamous health system, which only allows for the protagonist, knight Arthur, to receive just two hits before succumbing to his injuries. Every stage is riddled with hazards and enemies, and players require pixel-perfect precision in every movement to make it alive to the end of the level.
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghostshas everything that makes a typical SNES platformer difficult, times ten. That being said, the challenge provided never seems unfair. The game can indeed be beaten, but that quest will take dozens upon dozens of hours spent perfecting reflexes and muscle memory. There are four difficulty settings, but the game is challenging in every mode nonetheless. However, hard mode truly sticks out for making an already difficult game one of the hardest experiences players will ever face in gaming.
