Lunar Threads

I was playing Mega Man X2 recently and I was thinking of something. Everyone has that one stage that was always, no matter how much better you improved or how well you did previously, they couldn't get past. Not to say that MMX2 was unforgiving, nor that it was easy, but it was challenging in its own right to sometimes bring me to controller shattering frustration until I finished the level. Frankly, I couldn't reach for the pad and paper faster as a kid to scribble down the password.

So now, I wonder, what was that one stage that always made you want to throw the game out the window and curse its name. What was that one little bit that even when you went back through to play through you sighed to yourself and steeled your nerves because you knew you had to get through this hurdle if you wanted the end of the game greatness and the right to brag to your friends you saw Samus is a woman or that Arthur finally gets the princess.

Ninja Gaiden always comes to mind because of the fact that even on console it was balls-shatteringly hard. Those birds man, those birds. Especially the level in which you have to jump from floaty platform to floaty platform and some how dodge birds that have spawned right on top of you.

I can't beat the 1st castle level in Megaman 4.

It took me a really long time to beat the witch in Banjo-Kazooie.

In Sonic 3, it took me 8 years to figure out how to get past a certain part of Carnival Zone Act 2. It's still my least favorite part of the level.

Also, one of the later Homeworld levels.

Going way back.... There was this one stage on Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle that I could never get past, I swear my game must have been jacked.

Two levels in Donkey Kong Country 2, though I'm pretty sure I could do one of them now that I realize I was letting go of a button between jumps that I should've been holding. That level is Toxic Tower, one of my least-favorite types of level (outrunning a deadly environment). The other one I've never made it past is Animal Antics, specifically the bird section. I've never gotten to play the real last stage myself because of that.

The GBA remake of DKC 3 has me stuck in one level (Barrel Drop Bounce, or something like that) which was only tedious in the SNES version rather than impossible. It feels like the physics are just a little different, such that when playing as Kiddy I can't enough height for this one jump -- and since this version remembers forever and ever that you're at the halfway point in a level and with which character, I'm stuck only having him. It's probably not as hopeless as all that, but I got annoyed enough with it to give up for a few years. That version changed all the music for the worse anyway, so it's not as much fun to play. The SNES version has been my "comfort game" for years, the one I play when I just want to have fun without frustration, making this doubly annoying.

In Sonic 1. Labyrinth Zone Boss. I have never beat him. Had to use codes to skip him. I frankly think its impossible and anyone who says they have beat him is lying to you.

Sonic# wrote:In Sonic 3, it took me 8 years to figure out how to get past a certain part of Carnival Zone Act 2. It's still my least favorite part of the level.

THIS!
I was definitely going to say this one. I've always had trouble with the classic Sonic games. (Save for Sonic 2) Other than that, nothing else really comes to mind... I'll have to think on it a bit more.

You're going to hate me but I've beaten him several times. You have to rush your ass off and make no mistakes.

I've beaten him too, but I'm not so sure I could do it now. I'm not quite as skilled as I used to be w/ those type of games.

lol, WD. I've had some trouble with that one in the past, and even recently when I tried the fight, I got a game over once before I could do it.

Amber Garden in Recettear. I hate using Louie ever since I got Charme because she's so much faster and hits faster and I love it. However, this FSKIN' place...Almost every single time I go in there I get screwed on the little double abilities. "Enemies hit twice as hard!" Sh-fine, they just wont hit me. "Enemies have double defense!" Ffff, okay, fine. "Adventurer's defense halved!" *Drop controller after this is the fifth time to attempt the dungeon.

Not to mention that some of the people that go into my shop and grab expensive items then can't afford even the base price can get right out. I'm sorry do they have a lofty debt to pay back for their dad? No. Get the hell out of my store. Jackasses...

I beat Sonic the Hedgehog... so I'm assuming I beat that boss.

Werefrog wrote:I beat Sonic the Hedgehog... so I'm assuming I beat that boss.

If I remember correctly, that boss was more a race against the rising water then it was defeating Eggman. I know I beat the stage, but never the boss. Though I still have yet to beat any Sonic game.

As for me....




Then there is the escort mission in Metal Gear Solid 3. Probably the only thing that keeps me from replaying that game.