Faxanadu as a 6 or a 7 -- you lose experience when you save-and-quit, which limits upper level grinding, and the value of grinding caps out fairly low, anyway, as I recall.
Hudson Hawk is around a 5 -- it is a really short game, but some of the mechanics and sections are frustrating, late-game, where you can't get a lot of practice before getting a game-over
Wrecking Crew is definitely a 7+ depending on your criteria -- It's a LONG game to actually complete.
Yoshi's Cookie -- like Tetris this one is about the criteria you choose -- you can play through most of the game trivially easy... but securing a good score AND completing 100% of the available levels is genuinely tough, even for a serious puzzle player, given how the speed scales.
Adventure Island was a solid 8.5, maybe a 9 even. The platforming on the later stages can get quite tricky and it has the most slippery ice physics I have ever dealt with in a NES game so far.
I could get behind that rating for Adventure Island.
Once you are into world 6, the "Gradius Syndrome" really shines on this one, where you are faced with the difference between navigating a level with fire-bola's blazing... or navigating entire levels as a total pacifist, because "bumped" eggs go off ledges in stages like 6-2.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
In that case, it may well earn the rating.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
In that case, it may well earn the rating.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
Very few games in the contests earn that honor.
This year Bea beat the game without dying. She was the only one.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
Very few games in the contests earn that honor.
This year Bea beat the game without dying. She was the only one.
Nice. I wasn't able to stay abreast of this season's results, but that would make this at least the second, if not the third/fourth time the game has been in the contests in some form, and it's likely the first win in any of them.
I'd consider giving it an 8. Not just because of the no extra life and no continue thing, which isn't entirely true as you gain lives by being able to play as two of the bosses, and if you get to the last couple of levels you get an extra continue. To me its an 8 because the last boss. She's extremely difficult, and you have to play flawless to get to her with a shot of beating her. Took me many tries to beat her.
Double Dragon 2
I beat it with a friend yesterday. Remember beating it as a child too. This one is a LOT easier than the third. You have 3 lives, and you can gain more, something you can't on DD3.. and there's seemingly endless continues(?). I'd give it a 5 personally, although there's some annoying platform puzzles so I won't argue if someone insisted 6. The DD game is not easy for platform.
Felix The Cat
Very, very easy game for the most part, although still a bit lengthy, and the last boss at least gives a little bit of a fight, but I beat it within a single session and had over 20 lives to spare. 2.5 is probably fine as it is. Compared to Kirby's Adventure I'm not sure. Both easy games, but Kirby's bosses were more of a challenge. Most of the one's in Felix are pushovers. Felix has clunkier controls though, but its still easy.
Silver Surfer
No no no no.. I beat it with a regular controller and a 10 it is definitely not.
Battletoads and Ghost N Goblins are both a LOT more difficult. Silver Surfer is a tier down from them. Silver Surfer immediately might seem like a very hard game, and your first rounds playing might can seem unforgiving, and but as you learn the level patterns more and more and manage to keep your powerups a little you'll find that it suddenly gets a LOT easier. Its just the steep learning curve. Still its a challenging game, but its nothing like Starship Hector. I say 8 or 8.5 at most.
Tiny Toons Adventures
This one is tricky to rate. Most of the game is quite easy. Like a 3 or 4.. but then on the last couple of levels I remember the difficulty level turning quite devious. Like a 7 or 8. It really took me by surprise. Its been a while, but there was something about sending you back like in Ninja Gaiden. So I'm not sure how to rate it. I suppose 6. I'd like to hear someone else's view on it though. Perhaps I just didn't play it well back then. Not sure. I'd need to re-play it.
Solomons Key
Well. It might be a 10 if you wanna beat it with the best ending. You can beat it with the minimum ending, which is the one I did, and I'd say thats around 9. I'm not sure. Its at least 9 or 10.
Castlevania
Yeah, 6 is probably fine. Its Dracula that to me drags it up to a 7, because I sure sucked when I got to him. I did find a better strategy with him eventually, but for a while I found him pretty near impossible. I spent hours on him I think.
Kid Icarus
I'd say 7 or 7.5. Its a game that starts off hard, perhaps a bit too hard(as I suspect it would have been more popular if it was balanced down a notch..) but eases a little when you get the powerups and so on. I think the maze like levels were tricky. Very large. I wrote those levels down on paper. Its lengthy game too.
Contra and Super C
I'm not sure. Most people seemed to have played these to death as a child, which always affects things when they rate. I think they are probably more than 5 though, without the codes that is. More around 6 perhaps. The spread is a bit overpowered though. I'd argue for a 7 if the spread wasn't a part of the game.
Ninja Gaiden 1
6.5? Wow.. Considering its reputation that seems a bit low, doesn't it? Some good players that seems to have rated this. I'd say 8 or 7.5. Its not among the hardest games on the system, as someone seems to suggest, not by far... but its still pretty hard. To put it below 7 is a bit absurd to me.
Ninja Gaiden 2
6.5 or 7? I thought it was easier than the first one, but not by that much. They seem about the same, but I still found the sequel easier. I played it straight after the first one though, so its possible I got a lot free as they're quite similar in gameplay, its just other levels. I have never played the third one. By reputation its supposed to be the hardest one of them.
TMNT
The first Turtles game. Ah, yes. I actually agree with an 8. Its a looong game, has many large levels and has challenging parts, somewhat clunky controls.. and the Techmodrome is difficult. Those astronaut-ghosts... I wonder if they got passed some test-players. The game seems unbalanced. I think this was a game many many children bought back in the day, but very few got very far into. It probably should have had limitless continues.
TMNT 2
Yes, a 5 is perhaps about right. Or 5.5/6 maaaaybe. Some bosses are not a breeze, especially Shredder who can shoot you once and you lose a whole life... I don't know. I suppose its very straightforward.
Punch Out
OK, look... I can beat this game quite easily, as I played it to death as a child.. but I think 7 is probably more fair. Many people can't beat Tyson/Mr Dream. And Super Macho Man and some of the later boxers are also quite a challenge. Lots to memorize. As with Ninja Gaiden and Contra though, its fun factor probably makes it easier to persist despite that its fairly hard. Most people have played themselves blind on some of these games.
Bart Vs The Space Mutants
Well, 8 seems a bit high.... I'd say 7 maximum.
There's some tricky things in the game, but I didn't find it anything brutal.
To make a game where the speed button and jump button is the same is a terribly clunky choice though... I got used to it though.
Battletoads
This one we probably need to talk more about. I think Battletoads probably should be 10. I still think its the hardest NES game I have beaten. Even if its a bit of cliche that its the «hardest NES game», as all lists usually lists it as 1 or 2... I agree there are less played games on NES that are harder(like Q*Bert, Arkanoid and Ikari Warriors), but in my opinion it still probably deserves a 10. My opinon though.
Ghost N Goblins
I want to say 10 on this one too, but I'd accept a 9 or 9.5. As with any game you've beaten though it seems weird to say 10, because it means maximum difficulty, which never really computes if you can beat it... But really, while I agree Ninja Gaiden and Silver Surfer have an exaggerated rumor for being Tier 1 hardest games, Battletoads and G'N'G I think probably deserves to be up there. But thats me.
Q*Bert
I think this one is a 10 too. Most people can beat the first levels without too much hassle, but the later levels really is a nightmare, and YES it does have an actual ending after 9-4 on NES, unlike in the Arcade machines where it just loops forever. My record is level 6-1 I think. Very few people can beat this game.
Ironsword W&W 2
Well, I'd say 7. Maybe? Last bossfight is quite hard. It has an annoying thing about sometimes touching certain enemies, getting stuck in them and just dying immediately. Its a bit buggy, although I still like it.
Little Nemo
I agree with 7. LOL. On the last level I didn't realize you could shoot with the wand. I thought you could only hit with it. To not know that made the game probably around 9 or even 10... but then again, joke was on me in the end.
Total Recall
Maybe 6? At least 5? I struggled a bit with the last stage I remember.
The Legend Of Zelda
3.5? Thats surprsingly low. Might be that I never played it as a child as everyone else, but as someone who didn't play it before getting older I sure didn't find it THAT easy. I'd say 5.
Trojan
Ehh, well, 5 or 6 maybe. Its a quite short game really, but I found it difficult to master even though I managed to beat it.
Top Gun
Um. This one is more than 5 surely?. I haven't beaten it yet, but I thought at least 7 or even 8. If not even 9.. I actually find this game hard. And its reputation is its hard.
Little Samson
3 is probably too low. This is not an easy game like Kirby, Duck Tales or Felix. Its medium. And its quite lengthy too. I'd say 6 personally. At least 5. Its a game where some of the levels and bosses are quite hard in themselves, but its contrasted with being a bit overpowered as a player. I'm surprised someone seem to think its a breeze.
Flintstones Dinosaur Peak
I'd might give it 5.5 or 6 as the last level inside that volcano is actually quite hard. The final boss is also quite tough. Its weird since the rest of the game is really quite easy. They made an easy game with a very hard last level.
Deja Vu/Shadowgate/Uninvited/Maniac Mansion
These games of course should be rated by playing them the first time. If these games are rated by playing through them a second time that is wrong. If you have a beaten a point-&-click game, no matter how hard it was, lets say even a 10, the next time you play it is automatically a 1. Its the nature of these games. Once you know the answer to a riddle you know it.
Now I've played tons of point-&-click games and I think all of these are truly difficult games of the genre. There are many non-sensical puzzles in these games. I haven't played Deja Vu, but the others I think at least is 7.
I'd say 7 or 7.5. Its a game that starts off hard, perhaps a bit too hard(as I suspect it would have been more popular if it was balanced down a notch..) but eases a little when you get the powerups and so on. I think the maze like levels were tricky. Very large. I wrote those levels down on paper. Its lengthy game too.
Little Nemo
I agree with 7. LOL. On the last level I didn't realize you could shoot with the wand. I thought you could only hit with it. To not know that made the game probably around 9 or even 10... but then again, joke was on me in the end.
Trojan
Ehh, well, 5 or 6 maybe. Its a quite short game really, but I found it difficult to master even though I managed to beat it.
To piggyback off of this:
Kid Icarus -- if you know what to do, the difficulty of Kid Icarus can be reduced VERY early on in the game. If you don't know what to do, the game is challenging for a lot longer.
The rating on this one is going to hinge on opinions of whether we factor in an "ignorant" player that just picks up a controller, or an "informed" player that has some knowledge of the game mechanics.
If you know how to play it, that game is < 5 on the scale.
If you don't know how to play it, that game is a solid 7, or higher.
Little Nemo -- another vote for a 7. Even if you know how to play the game, there are some stages that are genuinely tough to master.
Trojan -- no higher than a 5. In the weekly contests awhile back, numerous of us were able to pretty much 1-life the game within a week of play (without ever having played it before) Just beating it is a much lower barrier to entry, so a 5 is fair.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console. Thats what made me check it out again.. I think 7, but I have no doubt some players find it easier than others... thats the way it always is.. Another way of putting it the same thing you're talking about is that the game has a bit of a learning curve perhaps. When you get the hand of it it gets easier. A little bit like Silver Surfer which I argue even more just needs some playing and then it gets a lot easier.
Trojan, yeah. Its weird.. I found it both easy and a bit hard at the same time. Sometimes it was easy other times it wasn't. It was very inconsistent. Like, first time I reached final boss I beat him, later I couldn't even get a hit in. Either way, its a quite short game. But there's few lives and no continues still. Its harder than a 4. Perhaps 5 or 5.5. If its max 5 for you we aren't disagreeing much though! No big deal. Perhaps you're just better at it than me.
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
Oh yeah, totally. I think I may have beaten that level once (barely), but I do recall it getting quite difficult after that.
I have yet to beat the game, but y'know... life goals.
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
Oh yeah, totally. I think I may have beaten that level once (barely), but I do recall it getting quite difficult after that.
I have yet to beat the game, but y'know... life goals.
I remember making it all the way to Nightmare Land as a kid and thinking that the Penguin boss was some kind of unbeatable last boss. (first boss you fight with the wand)
Little did I know... he wasn't the last boss, at all, and there was an even tougher stretch of Dream 8 to come!
I remember making it all the way to Nightmare Land as a kid and thinking that the Penguin boss was some kind of unbeatable last boss. (first boss you fight with the wand)
Little did I know... he wasn't the last boss, at all, and there was an even tougher stretch of Dream 8 to come!
Yes, I agree with this as I had a similar experience. Little Nemo starts out very easy but in the end it gets quite tough. I really like the Nightmare Land levels.
I'm still wondering if anyone else had a similiar experience with Tiny Toons? I thought the last level or two was a large steep from the pretty easy-going game up to that point.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
No, its not one of the hardest.
I remember being confused by what the items in the store was, as they were often so expensive you had to grind to be able to afford them, and there was no way to know what they were for first. The eggplant things often meant backtracking a lot. There's actually a game that is a bit of a troll often. I think its the length however that is its biggest obstacle. Its a game that need some concentration. I still think 7 is a fair rating.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
No, its not one of the hardest.
I remember being confused by what the items in the store was, as they were often so expensive you had to grind to be able to afford them, and there was no way to know what they were for first. The eggplant things often meant backtracking a lot. There's actually a game that is a bit of a troll often. I think its the length however that is its biggest obstacle. Its a game that need some concentration. I still think 7 is a fair rating.
Pretty sure the instruction manual actually contains this information in a clear way.
At least, the GB version had clear instructions (only the significance of the credit card is left ambiguous).
I never saw the instructions for the NES version, but I'd assume they were similarly descriptive.
The eggplant this is definitely annoying, but it's the only "hard part" of the palaces, in terms of needing to plan a route (to avoid getting auto-transformed coming down the wrong ladder, for instance)
Not sure how "length is the biggest obstacle", though, since the game supports passwords if you can't finish it in one sitting.
Pretty sure the instruction manual actually contains this information in a clear way.
At least, the GB version had clear instructions (only the significance of the credit card is left ambiguous).
I never saw the instructions for the NES version, but I'd assume they were similarly descriptive.
The eggplant this is definitely annoying, but it's the only "hard part" of the palaces, in terms of needing to plan a route (to avoid getting auto-transformed coming down the wrong ladder, for instance)
Not sure how "length is the biggest obstacle", though, since the game supports passwords if you can't finish it in one sitting.
Right. I never saw the manual.
Yes, passwords help. I was thinking about doing it all in one sitting.
I do think that 9 is way too much for Ghosts 'n Goblins and 9.5 too high for Battletoads as well.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
.
I think you need to accept that you have a "unique perspective" on that one...
A lot of people were able to 1CC it this year at the contest and then post impressive scores, with barely any external help or input!
It is an easy game.
I don't think anyone other than you actually 1CC'd it. Toxie might of been close, and I got really close, all the way to the level 6, loop 2 bosses a couple times, but couldn't quite seal the deal. It took me about 30 credits last night to shake off the rust and beat it again.
Kickle Cubicle- I'd give it a 6. The main game is probably a 4 but the bonus levels had me pulling out my hair for the longest time. We'll compromise on the final tally.
Yoshi- Give it a 2. After getting used to it, I could go infinite within about 20 minutes, note: i'm good at puzzle games.
Roger Clemens MVP Baseball- 4. Pretty good AI for an NES baseball simulator, but theres only so many tricks a good CPU can do to confuse you on pitches.
- Game might need a lot of memorization but the sluggish controls and the fact you basically have to no death it in order to actually beat it makes this also a 9.
Bionic Commando 7
- What? No way, this isn't as hard as Adventure Island. This is a 4.
Blaster Master 9
- Same as above. Not even a 9. Hardest part of the game is the VERY end when you're stuck against the walls and cant jump over the spikes. Even tho its long, its no 9... Its a 6.
Boy And His Blob, A 9
- What?!?!?!?!?! NOT EVEN CLOSE. 5.
Bucky O'Hare 6
- Infinite Continues that allows you to continue right where you left off? Nah, more like a 4.
Silver Surfer 10
- A 10 if you're not using a turbo controller. If you are, its a 5.
I'll add my input on some of your suggestions!
Abadox is either 8 or 9. I have beaten it with deaths even though it took a lot of attempts and skill to manuever with some areas powered down. However I haven't played through it in many years. One of the few games that stays challenging with unlimited continues!
Bionic Commando is a 7, maybe even 8. I believe the swinging mechanics take some getting used to and it makes the game challenging until you get the hang of it. You can eventually grind for unlimited continues which diminishes the difficulty a bit. I think 4 is awfully low however.
Blaster Master is definitely a 9, maybe even a borderline 10. This game is very long, has limited continues, requires repeated exploration to learn the shortest path, and difficult bosses. I know everyone knows the cheat for half of the bosses, but trying to beat them without it is a hefty challenge. The Area 5 Lobster boss is still a bottleneck for me even though I've beaten the game several times. The final boss is no joke either.
Boy and his Blob I'll say 6. Most of the difficulty is figuring out the mechanics and navigating the caverns. It gets easier when you get into it a bit, though I still have issues in the second half of the game.
Bucky O'Hare is still a 6 for me. Passwords ease the difficulty a lot but there are enough difficult areas to put it slightly above average.
Silver Surfer is a 9 for me. Maybe an 8, but not a 10 for sure. I picked it up casually some time ago and I cleared four of the initial five stages on my only try. It is tough though ... the huge hitbox often griped about is definitely an issue and my fingers hurt a bit from playing it with all the required mashing. This one is almost always a 10 by reputation but it falls short for me.
Comments
I'd rate:
Faxanadu as a 6 or a 7 -- you lose experience when you save-and-quit, which limits upper level grinding, and the value of grinding caps out fairly low, anyway, as I recall.
Hudson Hawk is around a 5 -- it is a really short game, but some of the mechanics and sections are frustrating, late-game, where you can't get a lot of practice before getting a game-over
Wrecking Crew is definitely a 7+ depending on your criteria -- It's a LONG game to actually complete.
Yoshi's Cookie -- like Tetris this one is about the criteria you choose -- you can play through most of the game trivially easy... but securing a good score AND completing 100% of the available levels is genuinely tough, even for a serious puzzle player, given how the speed scales.
Adventure Island was a solid 8.5, maybe a 9 even. The platforming on the later stages can get quite tricky and it has the most slippery ice physics I have ever dealt with in a NES game so far.
I could get behind that rating for Adventure Island.
Once you are into world 6, the "Gradius Syndrome" really shines on this one, where you are faced with the difference between navigating a level with fire-bola's blazing... or navigating entire levels as a total pacifist, because "bumped" eggs go off ledges in stages like 6-2.
I like how he makes it to the end with only one bar of health.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
In that case, it may well earn the rating.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
Very few games in the contests earn that honor.
I really have no idea on Adventure Island but I'm already preparing to give it a 10 whenever it comes up for my project.
To give some more Adventure Island perspective, I'm sure you recall it being the final game in the forum high score contest a couple years ago.
BriGuy won by managing to make it to one of the later Stage 6 stages, I think.
I got stuck on 6-2, since I went from a fully powered-up run... to trying to navigate that level naked, having managed to no-death the game up to that point.
The end-game is brutal and a huge step up in difficulty from the rest of the game.
That said, though... you beat Ikari Warriors.
I'm sure you could fairly give Adventure Island an 8.5 or even a 9. But 10 is a special hell of gaming difficulty.
I have some ideas but I am not entirely committed yet to how I am going to approach handing out 10s after subjecting myself to Ikari Warriors. Miracle Piano will certainly be a 10 because I am having to learn a completely new skill over a very long period of time. I have a short list in my mind of other games that are going to take a lot of time to finish that require pure skill that are candidates for a 10 difficulty, even if they don't turn out to be as difficult as Ikari Warriors.
In that case, it may well earn the rating.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
Very few games in the contests earn that honor.
This year Bea beat the game without dying. She was the only one.
It took me a REALLY long time to no death it.
In that case, it may well earn the rating.
It was definitely on the short-list of contest games that nobody was able to beat within a week of hardcore competition play.
Very few games in the contests earn that honor.
This year Bea beat the game without dying. She was the only one.
Nice. I wasn't able to stay abreast of this season's results, but that would make this at least the second, if not the third/fourth time the game has been in the contests in some form, and it's likely the first win in any of them.
I'd consider giving it an 8. Not just because of the no extra life and no continue thing, which isn't entirely true as you gain lives by being able to play as two of the bosses, and if you get to the last couple of levels you get an extra continue. To me its an 8 because the last boss. She's extremely difficult, and you have to play flawless to get to her with a shot of beating her. Took me many tries to beat her.
Double Dragon 2
I beat it with a friend yesterday. Remember beating it as a child too. This one is a LOT easier than the third. You have 3 lives, and you can gain more, something you can't on DD3.. and there's seemingly endless continues(?). I'd give it a 5 personally, although there's some annoying platform puzzles so I won't argue if someone insisted 6. The DD game is not easy for platform.
Felix The Cat
Very, very easy game for the most part, although still a bit lengthy, and the last boss at least gives a little bit of a fight, but I beat it within a single session and had over 20 lives to spare. 2.5 is probably fine as it is. Compared to Kirby's Adventure I'm not sure. Both easy games, but Kirby's bosses were more of a challenge. Most of the one's in Felix are pushovers. Felix has clunkier controls though, but its still easy.
Silver Surfer
No no no no.. I beat it with a regular controller and a 10 it is definitely not.
Battletoads and Ghost N Goblins are both a LOT more difficult. Silver Surfer is a tier down from them. Silver Surfer immediately might seem like a very hard game, and your first rounds playing might can seem unforgiving, and but as you learn the level patterns more and more and manage to keep your powerups a little you'll find that it suddenly gets a LOT easier. Its just the steep learning curve. Still its a challenging game, but its nothing like Starship Hector. I say 8 or 8.5 at most.
Tiny Toons Adventures
This one is tricky to rate. Most of the game is quite easy. Like a 3 or 4.. but then on the last couple of levels I remember the difficulty level turning quite devious. Like a 7 or 8. It really took me by surprise. Its been a while, but there was something about sending you back like in Ninja Gaiden. So I'm not sure how to rate it. I suppose 6. I'd like to hear someone else's view on it though. Perhaps I just didn't play it well back then. Not sure. I'd need to re-play it.
Solomons Key
Well. It might be a 10 if you wanna beat it with the best ending. You can beat it with the minimum ending, which is the one I did, and I'd say thats around 9. I'm not sure. Its at least 9 or 10.
Castlevania
Yeah, 6 is probably fine. Its Dracula that to me drags it up to a 7, because I sure sucked when I got to him. I did find a better strategy with him eventually, but for a while I found him pretty near impossible. I spent hours on him I think.
Kid Icarus
I'd say 7 or 7.5. Its a game that starts off hard, perhaps a bit too hard(as I suspect it would have been more popular if it was balanced down a notch..) but eases a little when you get the powerups and so on. I think the maze like levels were tricky. Very large. I wrote those levels down on paper. Its lengthy game too.
Contra and Super C
I'm not sure. Most people seemed to have played these to death as a child, which always affects things when they rate. I think they are probably more than 5 though, without the codes that is. More around 6 perhaps. The spread is a bit overpowered though. I'd argue for a 7 if the spread wasn't a part of the game.
Ninja Gaiden 1
6.5? Wow.. Considering its reputation that seems a bit low, doesn't it? Some good players that seems to have rated this. I'd say 8 or 7.5. Its not among the hardest games on the system, as someone seems to suggest, not by far... but its still pretty hard. To put it below 7 is a bit absurd to me.
Ninja Gaiden 2
6.5 or 7? I thought it was easier than the first one, but not by that much. They seem about the same, but I still found the sequel easier. I played it straight after the first one though, so its possible I got a lot free as they're quite similar in gameplay, its just other levels. I have never played the third one. By reputation its supposed to be the hardest one of them.
TMNT
The first Turtles game. Ah, yes. I actually agree with an 8. Its a looong game, has many large levels and has challenging parts, somewhat clunky controls.. and the Techmodrome is difficult. Those astronaut-ghosts... I wonder if they got passed some test-players. The game seems unbalanced. I think this was a game many many children bought back in the day, but very few got very far into. It probably should have had limitless continues.
TMNT 2
Yes, a 5 is perhaps about right. Or 5.5/6 maaaaybe. Some bosses are not a breeze, especially Shredder who can shoot you once and you lose a whole life... I don't know. I suppose its very straightforward.
Punch Out
OK, look... I can beat this game quite easily, as I played it to death as a child.. but I think 7 is probably more fair. Many people can't beat Tyson/Mr Dream. And Super Macho Man and some of the later boxers are also quite a challenge. Lots to memorize. As with Ninja Gaiden and Contra though, its fun factor probably makes it easier to persist despite that its fairly hard. Most people have played themselves blind on some of these games.
Bart Vs The Space Mutants
Well, 8 seems a bit high.... I'd say 7 maximum.
There's some tricky things in the game, but I didn't find it anything brutal.
To make a game where the speed button and jump button is the same is a terribly clunky choice though... I got used to it though.
Battletoads
This one we probably need to talk more about. I think Battletoads probably should be 10. I still think its the hardest NES game I have beaten. Even if its a bit of cliche that its the «hardest NES game», as all lists usually lists it as 1 or 2... I agree there are less played games on NES that are harder(like Q*Bert, Arkanoid and Ikari Warriors), but in my opinion it still probably deserves a 10. My opinon though.
Ghost N Goblins
I want to say 10 on this one too, but I'd accept a 9 or 9.5. As with any game you've beaten though it seems weird to say 10, because it means maximum difficulty, which never really computes if you can beat it... But really, while I agree Ninja Gaiden and Silver Surfer have an exaggerated rumor for being Tier 1 hardest games, Battletoads and G'N'G I think probably deserves to be up there. But thats me.
Q*Bert
I think this one is a 10 too. Most people can beat the first levels without too much hassle, but the later levels really is a nightmare, and YES it does have an actual ending after 9-4 on NES, unlike in the Arcade machines where it just loops forever. My record is level 6-1 I think. Very few people can beat this game.
Ironsword W&W 2
Well, I'd say 7. Maybe? Last bossfight is quite hard. It has an annoying thing about sometimes touching certain enemies, getting stuck in them and just dying immediately. Its a bit buggy, although I still like it.
Little Nemo
I agree with 7. LOL. On the last level I didn't realize you could shoot with the wand. I thought you could only hit with it. To not know that made the game probably around 9 or even 10... but then again, joke was on me in the end.
Total Recall
Maybe 6? At least 5? I struggled a bit with the last stage I remember.
The Legend Of Zelda
3.5? Thats surprsingly low. Might be that I never played it as a child as everyone else, but as someone who didn't play it before getting older I sure didn't find it THAT easy. I'd say 5.
Trojan
Ehh, well, 5 or 6 maybe. Its a quite short game really, but I found it difficult to master even though I managed to beat it.
Top Gun
Um. This one is more than 5 surely?. I haven't beaten it yet, but I thought at least 7 or even 8. If not even 9.. I actually find this game hard. And its reputation is its hard.
Little Samson
3 is probably too low. This is not an easy game like Kirby, Duck Tales or Felix. Its medium. And its quite lengthy too. I'd say 6 personally. At least 5. Its a game where some of the levels and bosses are quite hard in themselves, but its contrasted with being a bit overpowered as a player. I'm surprised someone seem to think its a breeze.
Flintstones Dinosaur Peak
I'd might give it 5.5 or 6 as the last level inside that volcano is actually quite hard. The final boss is also quite tough. Its weird since the rest of the game is really quite easy. They made an easy game with a very hard last level.
Deja Vu/Shadowgate/Uninvited/Maniac Mansion
These games of course should be rated by playing them the first time. If these games are rated by playing through them a second time that is wrong. If you have a beaten a point-&-click game, no matter how hard it was, lets say even a 10, the next time you play it is automatically a 1. Its the nature of these games. Once you know the answer to a riddle you know it.
Now I've played tons of point-&-click games and I think all of these are truly difficult games of the genre. There are many non-sensical puzzles in these games. I haven't played Deja Vu, but the others I think at least is 7.
Kid Icarus
I'd say 7 or 7.5. Its a game that starts off hard, perhaps a bit too hard(as I suspect it would have been more popular if it was balanced down a notch..) but eases a little when you get the powerups and so on. I think the maze like levels were tricky. Very large. I wrote those levels down on paper. Its lengthy game too.
Little Nemo
I agree with 7. LOL. On the last level I didn't realize you could shoot with the wand. I thought you could only hit with it. To not know that made the game probably around 9 or even 10... but then again, joke was on me in the end.
Trojan
Ehh, well, 5 or 6 maybe. Its a quite short game really, but I found it difficult to master even though I managed to beat it.
To piggyback off of this:
Kid Icarus -- if you know what to do, the difficulty of Kid Icarus can be reduced VERY early on in the game. If you don't know what to do, the game is challenging for a lot longer.
The rating on this one is going to hinge on opinions of whether we factor in an "ignorant" player that just picks up a controller, or an "informed" player that has some knowledge of the game mechanics.
If you know how to play it, that game is < 5 on the scale.
If you don't know how to play it, that game is a solid 7, or higher.
Little Nemo -- another vote for a 7. Even if you know how to play the game, there are some stages that are genuinely tough to master.
Trojan -- no higher than a 5. In the weekly contests awhile back, numerous of us were able to pretty much 1-life the game within a week of play (without ever having played it before) Just beating it is a much lower barrier to entry, so a 5 is fair.
Trojan, yeah. Its weird.. I found it both easy and a bit hard at the same time. Sometimes it was easy other times it wasn't. It was very inconsistent. Like, first time I reached final boss I beat him, later I couldn't even get a hit in. Either way, its a quite short game. But there's few lives and no continues still. Its harder than a 4. Perhaps 5 or 5.5. If its max 5 for you we aren't disagreeing much though! No big deal. Perhaps you're just better at it than me.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
Oh yeah, totally. I think I may have beaten that level once (barely), but I do recall it getting quite difficult after that.
I have yet to beat the game, but y'know... life goals.
I know this stuff is quite difficult to evaluate since everyone has different skill levels and such, but overall I agree with most scores so far.
I feel as if Little Nemo though... Starts off like a 3-5 then jumps to a 7+ (Dang train level, man. lol)
Of definitely. Little Nemo is light-hearted and easy going until the train.
I don't think the Train, itself, jumps to a 7, but it's a BIG step up, and it only gets harder from there.
It's neat in that respect.
The game is hard to actually BEAT, but offers enough early levels that are accessible and fun without being intimidating, so people of all skill levels can at least enjoy the game.
Oh yeah, totally. I think I may have beaten that level once (barely), but I do recall it getting quite difficult after that.
I have yet to beat the game, but y'know... life goals.
I remember making it all the way to Nightmare Land as a kid and thinking that the Penguin boss was some kind of unbeatable last boss. (first boss you fight with the wand)
Little did I know... he wasn't the last boss, at all, and there was an even tougher stretch of Dream 8 to come!
I remember making it all the way to Nightmare Land as a kid and thinking that the Penguin boss was some kind of unbeatable last boss. (first boss you fight with the wand)
Little did I know... he wasn't the last boss, at all, and there was an even tougher stretch of Dream 8 to come!
Yes, I agree with this as I had a similar experience. Little Nemo starts out very easy but in the end it gets quite tough. I really like the Nightmare Land levels.
I'm still wondering if anyone else had a similiar experience with Tiny Toons? I thought the last level or two was a large steep from the pretty easy-going game up to that point.
1943 - 9
Legendary Wings - 3
Gyruss - 6
Isolated Warriors - 5
Roadblasters - 5
Double Dragon - 6
Battletoads - 8
Rollergames - 4
Kick Master - 5
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
No, its not one of the hardest.
I remember being confused by what the items in the store was, as they were often so expensive you had to grind to be able to afford them, and there was no way to know what they were for first. The eggplant things often meant backtracking a lot. There's actually a game that is a bit of a troll often. I think its the length however that is its biggest obstacle. Its a game that need some concentration. I still think 7 is a fair rating.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
Battletoads gets an 7 to 8 at most. It is mostly memorization. My mum can 1CC Battletoads.
Now, Mutant Virus is another 10. Gods, that game sucks.
I see. I remember Mike from Cinemassacre saying Kid Icarus being one of the hardest games on the console.
I would have a hard time disagreeing more with a review of that game, but then again, I understood the power-up mechanics, so that I wasn't at a disadvantage in the later levels.
If you power up appropriately, the game gets easier with pretty much every level, rather than harder.
Granted, it does require you to actually draw maps of the boss levels, and probably play through the game more than once to fully benefit from that knowledge.
But mapping requirements in an NES-era game don't really bump the difficulty that dramatically, IMO, since they are par-for-the course.
No, its not one of the hardest.
I remember being confused by what the items in the store was, as they were often so expensive you had to grind to be able to afford them, and there was no way to know what they were for first. The eggplant things often meant backtracking a lot. There's actually a game that is a bit of a troll often. I think its the length however that is its biggest obstacle. Its a game that need some concentration. I still think 7 is a fair rating.
Pretty sure the instruction manual actually contains this information in a clear way.
At least, the GB version had clear instructions (only the significance of the credit card is left ambiguous).
I never saw the instructions for the NES version, but I'd assume they were similarly descriptive.
The eggplant this is definitely annoying, but it's the only "hard part" of the palaces, in terms of needing to plan a route (to avoid getting auto-transformed coming down the wrong ladder, for instance)
Not sure how "length is the biggest obstacle", though, since the game supports passwords if you can't finish it in one sitting.
I do think that 9 is way too much for Ghosts 'n Goblins and 9.5 too high for Battletoads as well.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
.
I think you need to accept that you have a "unique perspective" on that one...
Pretty sure the instruction manual actually contains this information in a clear way.
At least, the GB version had clear instructions (only the significance of the credit card is left ambiguous).
I never saw the instructions for the NES version, but I'd assume they were similarly descriptive.
The eggplant this is definitely annoying, but it's the only "hard part" of the palaces, in terms of needing to plan a route (to avoid getting auto-transformed coming down the wrong ladder, for instance)
Not sure how "length is the biggest obstacle", though, since the game supports passwords if you can't finish it in one sitting.
Right. I never saw the manual.
Yes, passwords help. I was thinking about doing it all in one sitting.
I do think that 9 is way too much for Ghosts 'n Goblins and 9.5 too high for Battletoads as well.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
.
I think you need to accept that you have a "unique perspective" on that one...
A lot of people were able to 1CC it this year at the contest and then post impressive scores, with barely any external help or input!
It is an easy game.
I do think that 9 is way too much for Ghosts 'n Goblins and 9.5 too high for Battletoads as well.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
.
I think you need to accept that you have a "unique perspective" on that one...
A lot of people were able to 1CC it this year at the contest and then post impressive scores, with barely any external help or input!
It is an easy game.
Well that's certainly a mystery of the universe that I'd like to unlock!
I do think that 9 is way too much for Ghosts 'n Goblins and 9.5 too high for Battletoads as well.
GnG is a 5 or 6 at worst. Very easy game to no death.
.
I think you need to accept that you have a "unique perspective" on that one...
A lot of people were able to 1CC it this year at the contest and then post impressive scores, with barely any external help or input!
It is an easy game.
I don't think anyone other than you actually 1CC'd it. Toxie might of been close, and I got really close, all the way to the level 6, loop 2 bosses a couple times, but couldn't quite seal the deal. It took me about 30 credits last night to shake off the rust and beat it again.
Yoshi- Give it a 2. After getting used to it, I could go infinite within about 20 minutes, note: i'm good at puzzle games.
Roger Clemens MVP Baseball- 4. Pretty good AI for an NES baseball simulator, but theres only so many tricks a good CPU can do to confuse you on pitches.
This are things i've taken umbrage with
Games I havent beaten:
Abadox 7.5
- Game might need a lot of memorization but the sluggish controls and the fact you basically have to no death it in order to actually beat it makes this also a 9.
Bionic Commando 7
- What? No way, this isn't as hard as Adventure Island. This is a 4.
Blaster Master 9
- Same as above. Not even a 9. Hardest part of the game is the VERY end when you're stuck against the walls and cant jump over the spikes. Even tho its long, its no 9... Its a 6.
Boy And His Blob, A 9
- What?!?!?!?!?! NOT EVEN CLOSE. 5.
Bucky O'Hare 6
- Infinite Continues that allows you to continue right where you left off? Nah, more like a 4.
Silver Surfer 10
- A 10 if you're not using a turbo controller. If you are, its a 5.
I'll add my input on some of your suggestions!
Abadox is either 8 or 9. I have beaten it with deaths even though it took a lot of attempts and skill to manuever with some areas powered down. However I haven't played through it in many years. One of the few games that stays challenging with unlimited continues!
Bionic Commando is a 7, maybe even 8. I believe the swinging mechanics take some getting used to and it makes the game challenging until you get the hang of it. You can eventually grind for unlimited continues which diminishes the difficulty a bit. I think 4 is awfully low however.
Blaster Master is definitely a 9, maybe even a borderline 10. This game is very long, has limited continues, requires repeated exploration to learn the shortest path, and difficult bosses. I know everyone knows the cheat for half of the bosses, but trying to beat them without it is a hefty challenge. The Area 5 Lobster boss is still a bottleneck for me even though I've beaten the game several times. The final boss is no joke either.
Boy and his Blob I'll say 6. Most of the difficulty is figuring out the mechanics and navigating the caverns. It gets easier when you get into it a bit, though I still have issues in the second half of the game.
Bucky O'Hare is still a 6 for me. Passwords ease the difficulty a lot but there are enough difficult areas to put it slightly above average.
Silver Surfer is a 9 for me. Maybe an 8, but not a 10 for sure. I picked it up casually some time ago and I cleared four of the initial five stages on my only try. It is tough though ... the huge hitbox often griped about is definitely an issue and my fingers hurt a bit from playing it with all the required mashing. This one is almost always a 10 by reputation but it falls short for me.