These arcade classics will show you just how difficult video games can be.
If you think modern microtransactions are bad, check out a few classic arcade games sometime.
As soon as you run out of lives, its time to feed the machine again.
In theory, you might be able to beat an arcade game for just a quarter.
Actually getting there took weeks or months of practice.
And of course, that was just for one playthrough.
Much of the challenge stems from the surprisingly complex gameplay of the era.
But to do this, you have to avoid guards, carts, and elevators.
you might even fight back with a pickaxe, though that requires setting down a bag of cash.
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In theory, this should be a classic game.
So why isnt it more fondly remembered?
Well, the high difficulty keeps it from being very enjoyable.
In many ways,Haunted Castleexemplifies some of the worst excesses of arcade game design.
The controls are overly stiff and were probably made that way on purpose.
This is clearly a game more interested in sucking quarters out of you than actually being fun.
Smash TV
At the time of its release,Smash TVwas something of an anomaly.
But man, is it a difficult game.
The enemies are just relentless, and picking up the wrong weapon can quickly end a run.
Adding to the difficulty is the games length.
Even a good run will take you around an hour to see the credits.
If youre not good at the game, youre going to spend a small fortune getting to that point.
Oh, and that goes double for any ports or emulated versions that mess up the controls even more.
Donkey Kong
You might be wondering howDonkey Konggot on this list.
After all, hasnt pretty much everyone gotten through its four stages and rescued Pauline by now?
Almost anyone can do that in an afternoon.
But thats not really the end of the game.
Beat the game again, and the obstacles speed up even more.
And this just continues until Donkey Kong becomes one of the most hellacious digital experiences ever devised.
Its beautifully animated sequences still hold up better than those of many modern games.
Defender
Side-scrolling shooters have always been known for their high difficulty.
Thats been a feature since the very first game in the genre,Defender.
In theory, this should be an easy mission.
Shoot alien invaders and rescue astronauts.
But the enemies come fast and are increasingly unpredictable.
And the hyperspace feature is no guarantee of safety.
It might move you to a more advantageous part of the screen, or result in instant death.
But for the most part,Defender is at least fair.
And death is usually the result of your own dumb mistakes rather than unfair AI.
Its still a really fun, quirky game, though.
Tempest
Tempestremains one of the more unique experiences arcades have ever offered.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Fighting games have always been known for their brief story modes.
If youre decent, you’ve got the option to breeze through most of them in 10-15 minutes.
PlayingUltimate Mortal Kombat 3is akin to playing a slot machine.
You pretty much just win when the AI randomly decides its time for you to win.
Its dumb and manipulative.
Thankfully, such shenanigans are now much rarer as fighting games have moved out of the arcades.
Missile Command
Missile Commandis still one of the most stressful games ever made despite its apparent simplicity.
Youre in control of three anti-missile batteries.
But the incoming missiles are imminently approaching, and your ammunition is limited.
Of course, youll be able to stop some of these missiles, but not all.
Devastating defeat is certain.
Its just a matter of how soon it arrives.
Most players havent gotten anywhere close to that.
If your skills are lacking in that area, youre always going to have trouble getting a high score.
Ghosts N Goblins
Where would any list of difficult games be without an appearance fromGhosts N Goblins?
The NES port may be better known nowadays, but the franchise actually got its start in arcades.
That original arcade game is just as ridiculously difficult as its console brother.
Either you got good enough to beat the game, or you died.
And just kept paying more to keep going.
Two hits result in death.
Enemies randomly spawn from all directions.
Projectiles can fill the screen, and there are plenty of tricky jumps you have to nail just right.
And you have to go through all of this twice to see the games true ending.
That alone should tell you almost everything you gotta know about its ridiculously high difficulty level.
Everything about this game is meant to test your patience.
First, theres the thruster controls.
You then have to consider how important gravity is to the gameplay.
But thenGravitarjust starts messing with you by adding reverse gravity, and, eventually, invisible landscapes.
Finally, you will encounter the joys of reverse gravity in invisible landscapes.
Sinistar
Beware, I live.
Those iconic words from Sinistar have spelled almost instant doom for countless gamers over the years.
Youre placed in an open area of space and need to start collecting Sinibombs by shooting planetoids.
These are the only weapons that can actually defeat Sinistar once it awakens.
Oh, and if you dont take it out quickly enough, its minions can repair themselves.
While Sinistar actually isnt on the board at the start of each level, its quickly assembled.
When its ready, it comes speeding toward you with all the rage of a pissed-off grizzly bear.
One hit and your ship is destroyed.
Its rare for any run to last more than just a few minutes.
