Mrs Nesbitt from GamersFTW writes:"There has been criticism over the last few years that games have become too easy. The gamers of today are pampered, and solutions to levels, puzzles and bosses are readily available at one click of a mouse. The internet is not the only factor that makes games today so easy to get through; many titles also have, helpful hints, tips and tutorials.
It very common these days that games also provide a difficulty option meter, meaning you can opt for a ‘very easy’ experience. However, with the release of the successful Bloodborne last year, we were reminded that there are indeed games that will cause players to throw their controller at the screen.
"Dark Souls: Archthrones is like playing a brand new FromSoftware game, and that speaks volumes about just how much good modding can do," says Hanzala from eXputer.
Parrying has been creeping into more games, with almost every high-profile title of the last few years featuring it in some way. Why?
i understand the authors frustration i'm not the best at parrying in games. not that i can't complete a game that requires it but it is a definite harder thing for me than other kinds of techniques in games. which might be the main reason it's so heavily added in games nowadays. want to make your game challenging without having to do a lot of work? just add a parry boss. (what i mean by parry boss is a boss you have to beat by parrying such that their attacks will kill you otherwise)
I always think it's fine as long as such games also have the roll/dodge panic button. But I understand the will to parry, it seems so cinematic in a fight when you pull it off.
TheGamer writes, "Some weapons resist the test of time."
The NES: the system which turned you into a gaming master, or chewed you up and spat you out.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
You mention Contra, which is crazy hard. My personal hardest game I have ever played is actually one of the sequels: Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS.
I picked it up for shits and giggles. I loved the original Contra, and I wanted to get a copy for me to carry around with me. What followed was hours of masochistic gameplay. Normal difficulty is described to be as hard as the original, which is brutal. But there is a Hard difficulty. Let that sink in for a moment. I got to Stage 3 on Hard. I cheated like a wimp, and I don't even care because I was ready to throw my device at a wall.
I found Alex the Kidd quite difficult .. Especially in the castle with spikes on the roof and floor. Games were a lot harder back then ..
Super Ghost N Goblins on the SNES
Dark Souls and Bloodborne is a Cakewalk in comparison.
Also Mega Man Dr Wileys Revenge on the Game Boy.