[General Discussion] The Wonderful World of Annoying Levels, Stages & Dungeons

Originally Posted by Shin

I would say the most frustrating level of all time is Jet Set Willy's Banyan Tree:



In a game so tough it needed patching to actually be finishable, this is the hardest screen by far. You need to get the timing spot on and the positioning pixel perfect to get through, it's just not fun.

Do you know anyone who actually managed to complete even the patched version? I know about the patch and that it was theoretically possible with a fixed version, but still... that person would have to be superhuman.

Not sure if this counts or not, but I nominate the Sleeping Table boss in Persona 3. By the time you get there you've despatched a whole lot of bosses, and you're starting to get complacent. Sure the last couple of fights were tough, but you found a strategy that worked for you, and you kicked some Shadow arse.

Then you reach floor 135, somewhere in the middle of September. You're probably thinking that the end of the game is in sight by now, since you've already done about 3/4 of the year that the game lasts for.

You get annihilated by some of the strongest attacks that you've faced up to that point. The damn thing has no real weaknesses, and it can kill several of your characters in one shot if you're just a hint underlevelled. By the time you've done a few hours of grinding, you can take it down, but it's not something you'll forget in a hurry.

I would also like to mention the Bevelle Cloister of Trials from Final Fantasy X. I'm not the world's biggest fan of said game to begin with, but that dungeon was just punishment masquerading as gameplay. I'm talking about the one with all the moving floors, in case your memories have gone a bit hazy. It isn't hard in the sense of battles, it's just hard to figure out exactly what you need to do. I don't mind admitting that I referred to a guide for that part of the game.

Whoever designed that dungeon? Die in a fire. Please.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Shin

As with any fight in Nocturne it's emminently do-able once you're set up right but this particular one takes a fucking age to prepare for and can still go wrong thanks to the game being over if your main character gets killed. I think I beat Lucifer in fewer attempts than I took to beat that guy.

The Matador's quite a cunt too, in fact that game is chock full of hard bastards, certainly compared to most other jrpgs where you have to go out of your way to get killed.

I see I've got quite something to look forward to, then. Prior to trying Persona 3, I hadn't really bothered with the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, despite knowing it to be considered quality. I've picked up Nocturne since, but I haven't actually plauyed it yet.

I should probably also add the Sealed Cavern from Star Ocean 3 to the list. I don't know if I was underlevelled, or what... all I know is that I kept dying and dying and dying. No specific reason, just that the enemies in that area were so powerful that I literally couldn't carry enough healing items to keep my party alive. After a while it pissed me off and I just didn't continue with the game... I might return to it eventually though.

How ya doing, buddy?