Summary
A long time ago in the 1980’s, Nintendo was renowned for producing difficult video games; notoriously difficult. The term ‘Nintendo Hard’ came from the brutal challenge of NES games likeBattletoads,Ninja Gaiden,andGhosts ‘n Goblins. Part of this was down to hardware limitations; a relatively short game on a single cartridge needed to last as long as possible, so developers would raise the difficulty. Part of it was down to the arcadegame scene of the 1980swhere difficulty was intentionally implemented to swallow as many coins as possible. However, since the Super Nintendo, difficulty in Nintendo games has considerably decreased. If anything, Nintendo has since been synonymous with easy, family-friendly gaming.
On occasion, though, they have produced titles with a surprising level of frustration or challenge. Here are some brilliant Nintendo titles with a surprising amount of frustrating challenge within them.
A GameCube launch title in 2002,Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leaderarrived to critical acclaim. Despite an extremely short development window of 9 months,Rogue Leaderwould release boasting the very best performance of the 6th generation. Featuring 480p visuals, incredible bump mapping, and aStar Warssound library all in Dolby Pro Logic II, there had never been a more sensorial, immersiveStar Warsexperience. Taking place across the originalStar Warstrilogy, the player is placed in the role of either Wedge Antilles or Luke Skywalker as they conduct flight missions across various film locales.
Engrossing and engaging as it is,Rogue Squadroncan also be a fiendishly challenging game. Only three attempts before a full-level restart and an increasing difficulty level leave this superb Star Wars experience surprisingly frustrating.
Although not published or developed by Nintendo,Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leaderis only available on Nintendo consoles; consequently, it warrants a mention here.
The first series entry in 14 years,Donkey Kong Country Returnsdropped on the Wii in 2010. In a radical departure, the game would be developed by Retro Studios and not Rare the developers of the original SNES trilogy. Taking on the Tiki Tak Tribe on Donkey Kong Island, the player is once again in the role of Donkey and Diddy Kong, traversing their way across numerous locations. Receiving numerous awards in 2010,Donkey Kong Country Returnsisone of the Wii’s best titlesand would receive a 3DS port and critically acclaimed sequel.
However,Donkey Kong Country Returnsdemands tight platforming to a dispiriting extent. While pleasing long-time fans of the series, some levels have such a sharp difficulty spike that even the most dedicated players will find themselves being offered a “super guide” some 8 deaths in.
Dropping in 2003, theF-Zerofranchise would hit its pinnacle with the GameCube releaseF-Zero GX. A major and defining collaboration between Nintendo and Sega would lead to one of the greatest Sci-fi racing games ever made. Promising rip-roaring speeds at a staggering (for the time) 60 frames per second, this GameCube title would expand on its N64 game to critical acclaim. Consideredone of the platform’s very best,F-Zero GXis a must play, but it’s not without its frustrations.
As well as some jarringly difficult Grand Prix cups, the campaign of this game is infamous. Featuring some timed challenges and levels that beggar belief,F-Zero GX’s campaign has likely been completed by seldom few.
On the platform where they would develop some of the best video games ever made, Rare brought the first and so far only 3DDonkey Konggame to the Nintendo 64. Following the success ofBanjo-Kazooiesome 16 staff put togetherDonkey Kong 64across 2 years from 1997 to 1999. Featuring an infamous rap, the action-adventure platformer puts the player in the role of Donkey Kong taking on the wicked King K. Rool. Despite using theBanjo-Kazooieengine, Rare was somewhat victim to their success.
Since named as the 3D collectathon that took the genre too far,Donkey Kong 64is a massive game that puts the player through protracted backtracking and some exhaustive item collection.Despite its acclaim,Donkey Kong 64did not reinvent the wheel and became repetitive quickly.
The game that wouldrevolutionize console FPS gamesand make Rare the leading video game developer of their time,Goldeneye 007arrived on the Nintendo 64 in 1997. Despite arriving two years after the film it was based on, and facing low expectations, this remarkable James Bond game went on to sell 8 million copies. Inspiring many a game since,Goldeneye 007was the first console shooter to have stealth elements, destructible environments, and most memorably, a multiplayer deathmatch mode. Yet despite the multiplayer fun fondly remembered by many,Goldeneye’scampaign, when played as it was designed to be, is far from an easy time.
On the hardest difficulty “00 Agent,” Goldeneye is an unforgiving peek-roll and headshot-dependent stealth shooter. Not a shot can be wasted and Bond is far from his indestructible movie counterpart in a sea of enemies with pinpoint fire accuracy.
2Super Monkey Ball 2
Puzzle-Like Platforming That Isn’t Quite Optimized
Starting as a charming Sega Arcade cabinet with a banana for a joystick,Super Monkey Ballwould make its way over to the Gamecube in 2001 followingthe Dreamcast’s collapse. Its sequel,Super Monkey Ball 2,would arrive a year later and would be the first in the series to be given an exclusive home console release and a storyline. Receiving equal critical acclaim,Super Monkey Ball 2would expand the core physics-based single-player experience and add a fantastic party/multiplayer one, winning rave reviews from many commentators.
This being said,Super Monkey Ball 2upped the difficulty of the campaign to a considerable degree. Switches, obstacles, and corkscrews across stages give the game a surprising puzzle-solving quality and a frustrating one at that.
A winning IPthat produced re-releases on the next 3 Nintendo platforms,Pikmindebuted on the Gamecube in 2001. The real-time strategy puzzler would open to critical acclaim and be followed up with its sequel,Pikmin 2,in 2004. Players control Captain Olimar as he orchestrates Pikmin to explore and collect objects across the planet’s surface. This sequel would remove the 30-day time limit of the original, making it a more expansive and longer game. However, despite a time limit being removed, this more expansive Pikmin game was considerably more challenging and frustrating.
The new hostiles and obstacles mean there are numerous more ways for Pikmin to die. Furthermore, the dungeon-style underground caves give the player and their band of Pikmin something of a survival gauntlet.Pikmin 2is a brilliant game but a surprisingly frustrating experience.
