The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse didn't come from hell. They came from the NES... If you thought Soulslikes were challenging? Oh my sweet, sweet friends. Try one of these and get back to me. 😈
Replies
There's also Lion King which was made intentional hard enough that kids would have to rent it multiple times.
jul 23, 2025, 10:16 am • 0 0 • view
Ninja Gaiden, Mega Man 1 and the NES Castlevania games you forgot to put there.
jul 22, 2025, 6:04 pm • 0 0 • view
Man this brings back the feels
jul 22, 2025, 9:43 pm • 0 0 • view
I've beaten Bart vs. the Space Mutants. It took me a long ass time. But I did it!
jul 22, 2025, 8:42 pm • 0 0 • view
I said: "The day I beat Battle Toads NES is the day I'll get a Battletoads logo as a tattoo because I've a love hate relationship with it" I'm now 40 I still don't have the tattoo People say GEEEET GUUUUD Ya know what? I'm trying my best 🫠👍
jul 22, 2025, 2:13 pm • 5 0 • view
Half of those games are on this list. Ironically is the 2 most notorious ones. Battletoads was just that one level really. I thought he did the Simpsons game too, I was mistaken. www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
jul 22, 2025, 2:10 pm • 0 0 • view
I don't think I'm good enough - yet - to play these on stream. I have standards. Now, since someone said Mega Man in your comments, those I've done... 15 of on stream? (2-7, X1-X3, I-IV, MMBN1-2)
jul 22, 2025, 7:06 am • 1 0 • view
Bart vs the Space Mutants was one of the pack-in games with the Amiga 500+ bundle, and it was fucking hard as nails.
jul 22, 2025, 9:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Don't forget Ninja Gaiden and Solar Jetman!
jul 22, 2025, 5:58 pm • 1 0 • view
I can beat Battletoads (with warps) and Silver Surfer is not so bad with a turbo button controller, esp compared to shmups on Genesis. Bart vs Spacemutants & GnG are both janky and crazy punishingly difficult, still havent beat those ones...
jul 22, 2025, 2:14 pm • 0 0 • view
Back when gaming was fun.
jul 22, 2025, 1:56 pm • 2 0 • view
I think Battletoads on Gameboy was somehow even harder! There was a fast-paced auto scrolling level that seemed literally impossible due to the limits of the Gameboy screen.
jul 29, 2025, 10:48 am • 1 0 • view
I think Battletoads on Gameboy was somehow even harder! There was a fast-paced auto scrolling level that seemed literally impossible due to the limits of the Gameboy screen.
jul 23, 2025, 2:35 am • 1 0 • view
While I absolutly love Battletoads, I still angry at the Simpsons' one even after all this years: I was totally unable to complete it and I've given up out of frustration.
jul 22, 2025, 9:40 am • 4 0 • view
I feel like the family really redeemed themselves on the 360, but yeah, Bart v Space Mutants was a hot mess
jul 22, 2025, 12:25 pm • 2 0 • view
Surprisingly, the arcade version of Ghosts n' Goblins is easier than the NES port. Still hard, but not impossible.
jul 22, 2025, 7:32 pm • 1 0 • view
"Old skool hard" is still the hardest there is, because those 80s game devs REALLY didn't want kids buying games, beating them and then returning them! The Beast following those horsemen: Ultra's TMNT NES game, an antichrist if ever saw one! The Devil himself: Legacy of the Wizard on the NES
jul 22, 2025, 1:18 pm • 2 0 • view
Arcades were brutal There was a battle toads arcade game and Rare was one of the first devs to pull this cheeky trick The boss didn't tell you that it was invincible for like the first minute of the fight. You just slugged away hoping it did something but nope!
jul 22, 2025, 2:17 pm • 2 0 • view
Even so, that arcade game is probably the best version of Battletoads! As a kid, I wanted to love the NES game so much, but it was just so flippin' hard to get past that hoverbike stage!
jul 22, 2025, 5:44 pm • 2 0 • view
Yeah, the arcade version was dope Me n friends used Battletoads as bragging rights to see who could get the furthest.... But can't say I beat the bikes as a kid either lol I have come back to it every other year since and I'll say, sadly... The hover bikes are one of the LEAST dickish levels 🫠
jul 22, 2025, 5:48 pm • 3 0 • view
I got Bart vs. the space mutants for Christmas cause I loved the simpsons…. Took me weeks to get past the first level. I never finished farthest I ever got was the museum level. Now Bart vs. the world was a new type of hell on the nes.
jul 22, 2025, 6:12 pm • 3 0 • view
I think I rented bart because I took liked the Simpsons... And loved the Simpsons arcade and I guess I kinda expected more of that? Nope, rented it, got my ass beat, never again have I played it. Same with ghosts and goblins..... I dunno why when I kept at Battle Toads and Ninja Gaiden lol
jul 22, 2025, 7:22 pm • 3 0 • view
Ghost and goblins I can get to the 2nd or 3rd area but still very difficult. Battletoads I get to the obvious speeder bike level. Ninja gaiden never beat it without cheats/game genie. Safe to say I’ve never played silver surfer and very much don’t want to lol
jul 22, 2025, 7:48 pm • 4 0 • view
Silver surfer was up there with Bart in the sense that I played it at a friend's house or rented it and went NOPE!!! I was already playing games like Gradius and TaleSpin so I got my shooter fix
jul 22, 2025, 8:13 pm • 2 0 • view
Where Mega Man
jul 22, 2025, 7:02 am • 1 0 • view
Brutal, but I never had as much trouble with those as with these.
jul 22, 2025, 12:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Yeah, man Ghosts & Goblins was just THE WORST Especially playing it in the arcade. It was a quarter to die in 7 seconds.
jul 22, 2025, 12:57 pm • 1 0 • view
My childhood trauma resurfaces once more... Damn those toads who do battle. Damn them all to heck! Fun game, though.
jul 22, 2025, 6:56 am • 2 0 • view
Ghosts ‘n Goblins was fun and freaking hard. I only played and somewhat enjoyed The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants as I was/am a massive Simpsons fan. Haven’t tried the other two but saw many YouTube videos re how monstrously difficult they are.
jul 22, 2025, 4:38 pm • 2 0 • view
Silver Surfer was made hard by the developers they didn’t want the game to be easy.
jul 22, 2025, 12:52 pm • 2 0 • view
jul 22, 2025, 5:51 pm • 2 1 • view
I remember seeing a video on it by this guy but I can’t remember the video. Also his profile picture is that game over screen. youtu.be/V3bu8ZNznTE?...
jul 22, 2025, 6:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Honorable mention to the snes Super Ghouls N Ghosts
jul 22, 2025, 1:07 pm • 1 0 • view
Battletoads almost cured my gaming addiction. Almost...👀
jul 22, 2025, 9:31 am • 1 0 • view
Back then it was just referred to as "hand-eye coordination" and not "skill issues."
jul 22, 2025, 7:12 am • 4 0 • view
Beaten them all and Silver surfer is under rated but no less tough.
jul 22, 2025, 2:13 pm • 0 0 • view
I've completed Bart Vs the Space Mutants several times. But none of the others.
jul 22, 2025, 10:18 am • 1 0 • view
Bart vs The Space Mutants was... extraordinarily punishing. In a fun way, though.
jul 22, 2025, 12:48 pm • 4 0 • view
The truth is... a Souls-like is at least MEANT to be beat. ...they sometimes didn't program that feature into older games.
jul 22, 2025, 12:53 pm • 1 0 • view
There is a difference between fair difficulty and get-fucked-loser-start-back-at-the-very-beginning-of-the-game-cause-the-NES-contoller-didn't-respond-to-your-iinput difficulty Amazing that i've never broken a controller haha
jul 22, 2025, 12:34 pm • 2 0 • view
Bart vs Space Mutants is that hard? I kinda wanna try it now
jul 22, 2025, 8:40 pm • 2 0 • view
I had it as a kid and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. It’s impenetrable as much as it is challenging, at least in my memory
jul 22, 2025, 8:46 pm • 1 0 • view
It was that more than the difficulty I think. I remember running around a pirate ship for hours with no way to progress the level and no clear direction as what to do
jul 22, 2025, 9:03 pm • 1 0 • view
I think the pirate ship is from Bart vs the World, unless they did it twice
jul 22, 2025, 9:04 pm • 1 0 • view
Hah, nope I think you’re right. It’s been about 25 years since I played it, my mistake
jul 22, 2025, 9:06 pm • 1 0 • view
I have a really specific memory of the first level of vs aliens and the pirate ship of vs the world so I think those must have been where I got stuck in the respective games haha
jul 22, 2025, 9:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Great memory! I was a huge Simpsons fan especially of Bart as a kid, and those games really bummed me out 😂
jul 22, 2025, 9:14 pm • 1 0 • view
The SNES games sucked too. At least Bart’s Nightmare. Never played Virtual Bart
jul 22, 2025, 9:26 pm • 1 0 • view
I don’t think I enjoyed a Simpson’s game until hit and run. I don’t think I played Virtual Bart either, I had been disappointed enough by then
jul 22, 2025, 9:27 pm • 1 0 • view
I never played Hit and Run unfortunately So the only good home “game” I had was Virtual Springfield on pc which was more like an adventure game with no adventure haha
jul 22, 2025, 10:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Battletoads is where true warriors were forged
jul 22, 2025, 3:58 pm • 0 0 • view
I've beaten Bart vs. The Space Mutants. I got to stage 4 of Ghosts N Goblins. I've only beat one level of Silver Surfer. I've made it past the turbo tunnel once on Battletoads (the Genesis version)
jul 22, 2025, 8:44 pm • 1 0 • view
Curious how this ball busting one didn't make the list. If there was a 5th Horseman it would truly be this
jul 22, 2025, 12:07 pm • 10 0 • view
Giving a cursed legacy to water levels ever since
jul 22, 2025, 2:18 pm • 1 0 • view
Pretty much it'd be the 5th lol. This game wrecked me as a kid too.
jul 22, 2025, 12:47 pm • 2 0 • view
It taught me not to trust water levels, that's for sure
jul 22, 2025, 3:37 pm • 2 0 • view
I think that I thought "Gaiden" just meant "extremely hard" when I was a kid
jul 22, 2025, 3:36 pm • 2 0 • view
The sequel had a difficulty disclaimer on the box.
jul 22, 2025, 2:19 pm • 1 0 • view
As well it should
jul 22, 2025, 3:38 pm • 2 0 • view
The first three took so much out of me I had nothing left for Silver Surfer. Even though I never played it I have seen it on AVGN. It it looks painful.
jul 22, 2025, 12:05 pm • 1 0 • view
I have both Simpsons and TMNT. Never beat either of them, and I played the fuck out of the Simpsons. Never found the last rod in the Power Plant. On the other hand, I absolutely killed Super Mario Bros. 2 all the time.
jul 22, 2025, 12:51 pm • 1 0 • view
I completed ghosts n goblins once. It was not fast. It was not easy. It was not a single sitting, breaks were taken often. Ive never even attempted it again. I can't be fully sure it wasn't just a fever dream.
jul 22, 2025, 8:22 pm • 1 0 • view
4 games i could never beat
jul 22, 2025, 8:37 pm • 0 0 • view
I got Silver Surfer on my victory list.
jul 22, 2025, 3:36 pm • 1 0 • view
ghosts n goblins is darksouls grandfather imo
jul 23, 2025, 11:03 am • 0 0 • view
Bart vs The Space Mutants was a vibe, that's for sure.
jul 22, 2025, 12:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Those lollypop 'platforms' still cause flashbacks.
jul 22, 2025, 12:52 pm • 2 0 • view
In a previous post when you mentioned playing games on Easy Mode, Ghosts N Goblins was the first game that game to mind. If only.
jul 22, 2025, 3:40 pm • 0 0 • view
I’ve beaten all of these, but it’s Bart vs. The Space Mutants that really killed a part of me 😅
jul 22, 2025, 6:41 am • 1 0 • view
That one was a rental and I was so excited for it because I loved the Simpsons Arcade... I had no idea what was in store for me that morning lol.
jul 22, 2025, 12:46 pm • 1 0 • view
Same! Simpsons Arcade was a bonafide legendary game for me that I HAD to play whenever I happened to see one. Space Mutants was…not that, lmao
jul 22, 2025, 12:48 pm • 0 0 • view
I played Battletoads on a NES at last years PAXAU and got to The Dark Queens but couldn’t reach the top. I’ve gotten rusty.
jul 22, 2025, 2:14 pm • 2 0 • view
I’ve never beaten the first level on Ghosts n Goblins. Maybe I will one day and that will be enough of an accomplishment for me. 😂
jul 22, 2025, 8:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Yep. Then tell 'em to pick up TMNT and Bayou Billy if they're still feelin' froggy.
jul 23, 2025, 4:52 am • 1 0 • view
I own all these but Surfer is the only I’ve never beat. Still have childhood copy in the box.
jul 22, 2025, 11:33 am • 2 0 • view
lol harsh raging childhood memories playing those
jul 22, 2025, 11:09 pm • 0 0 • view
F$%€ing Silver Surfer! This game made me hate the weekend I rented it.
jul 22, 2025, 11:59 pm • 0 0 • view
I've finished Bart vs. The Space Mutants. The others, not even close.
jul 22, 2025, 2:47 pm • 3 0 • view
Ah, Ghosts n' Goblins. I remember you all too well. One hit: undies. Two hits: dead. No saves. No continues. Game over. Go all the way back to the start & try again. And that kind of thing was standard for games in the 80s. You young whippersnappers have no idea what hard really is. 😜
jul 22, 2025, 12:59 pm • 1 0 • view
AGH! SPACE MUTANTS! 😧 This one was also the source of my retro gaming PTSD.
jul 22, 2025, 5:50 pm • 1 0 • view
Battletoads was made in the 50th level of hell, which I didn't know existed until I played the game.
jul 22, 2025, 8:15 pm • 0 0 • view
I really did try to play battletoads but that tunnel level played me instead.
jul 22, 2025, 6:41 am • 1 0 • view
Most of those simpsons: Bart’s…. Games gave me those feelings id also put in total recall,deadly towers, bayou billy(even though i love it) 8 eyes, or this one weird scifi game we rented once that i can’t for the life of me recall.
jul 22, 2025, 8:58 pm • 0 0 • view
Only ONCE did I beat that damn speeder bike level. ONE time. And I died at the beginning of the next stage.
jul 22, 2025, 11:11 am • 1 0 • view
Battletoads and G&G I swear have cut back my life by about 10 years.😄
jul 22, 2025, 9:18 am • 3 0 • view
Thank you so much for reminding me of a big part of my generational trauma!
jul 22, 2025, 8:43 am • 3 0 • view
I absolutely REFUSE to play Battletoads without an infinite lives code. Game's too sadistic.
jul 22, 2025, 11:11 pm • 0 0 • view
Battletoads is a game where you quite literally would prefer to snap your controller in half than finish the game
jul 22, 2025, 7:51 pm • 0 0 • view
I have never played Silver Surfer but the other three I both love and fear. Never finished them, but still have fond memories of the level or few that I got through. Great music too! 🎶
jul 22, 2025, 1:29 pm • 1 0 • view
jul 22, 2025, 8:07 pm • 2 0 • view
If all you had was two games, you'd play both of them back then even if one was horribly difficult. Me and my brother got really good at Bart Vs The Space Mutants and TMNT because of this.
jul 22, 2025, 8:04 am • 2 0 • view
You're absolutely right, I've brought that up on the podcast a few times. We played what we had and we got really good!
jul 22, 2025, 12:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Have seen a few streamers crack battletoads. Have seen Ghosts and goblins Never heard of the other two games hard to imagine a Simpsons game being as difficult as these haha but it probably is
jul 22, 2025, 8:37 pm • 0 0 • view
But lo there is a 5th horseman. It was right up there with them in the list of "games that kicked my ass". That stupid bike level in Battle Toads...Ghouls and Ghosts...the whole damn thing... upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en...
jul 22, 2025, 11:23 am • 1 0 • view
I will die on the hill that Battletoads would have become a standout franchise that didn't fade away for decades if they just eased up on the difficulty. Same with several other 8-bit/16-bit franchises.
jul 22, 2025, 7:31 am • 1 0 • view
At least the top two are because of actual punishing difficulty and not shoddy game design like the other two. Also, Ninja Gaiden should absolutely be one of these.
jul 22, 2025, 12:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Bart vs. the Space Mutants… I pretty much perfected the first level, but the mall usually wrecked me after that. I think I made it to Krustyland a handful of times, but that’s the furthest.
jul 22, 2025, 11:43 pm • 0 0 • view
Omg Battletoads. Never finished that game. 🤣 Saw my brother beat Ninja Gaiden after years of trying. He beat the whole series. Had a great storyline too!
jul 22, 2025, 2:30 pm • 2 0 • view
Same, I dont think I've ever seen footage either, so I just assumed if anyone ever completed it, they just got taken away 🤣
jul 22, 2025, 7:43 pm • 2 0 • view
They ascend to the havens and make fun of us trying to beat it
jul 22, 2025, 8:32 pm • 1 0 • view
Judgemental bustards!!
jul 22, 2025, 8:57 pm • 1 0 • view
Literal hell on earth 😅
jul 22, 2025, 7:41 pm • 4 0 • view
Volkmires Inferno dials it up further. Also, silver surfer is just bullshit.
jul 22, 2025, 8:18 pm • 2 0 • view
I never had the skills then, I’m sure I don’t have them now
jul 22, 2025, 8:34 pm • 3 0 • view
I think i beat it once in my life and have zero interest in trying again. I swear its why my patience for hard games is so long. Bad games however...
jul 22, 2025, 8:36 pm • 2 0 • view
Later on there's a level that makes the hoverbike section seem easy by comparison.
jul 22, 2025, 7:47 pm • 1 0 • view
The rest of the game is wasted on me
jul 22, 2025, 8:33 pm • 1 0 • view
I only know because the Rare Replay version has rewind. Although the buzzsaw level is still extremely difficult with that.
jul 22, 2025, 8:58 pm • 1 0 • view
Rumor has it whoever finishes the level inherits their chocolate factory.
jul 23, 2025, 3:57 am • 1 0 • view
It takes forever but there's more hell lmao
jul 22, 2025, 8:12 pm • 3 0 • view
I don’t want more of this, I just want it to stop
jul 22, 2025, 8:33 pm • 3 0 • view
It's fun 🤓
jul 22, 2025, 8:38 pm • 2 0 • view
It’s mental torture and I don’t want it in my life
jul 22, 2025, 8:39 pm • 3 0 • view
jul 22, 2025, 8:46 pm • 2 0 • view
Turbo motherfucking tunnel.
jul 22, 2025, 8:59 am • 4 0 • view
Eventually you vibe with the tunnels It's like tunnel 4? The psycho ball tunnel that made me rage quit.... Frame perfect inputs are you joking me!?
jul 22, 2025, 2:20 pm • 0 0 • view