There are some levels or boss fights in games that are just well-known across the gaming community for being outrageously difficult. They are so hated by the fans that new players can actually get spooked out of playing the game entirely or having even the most do-it-yourself types pulling up a guide.
The good news is that every one of the levels and boss-fights are beatable, and some even have generally accepted tips and tricks that just help players get through them just a little bit easier. While skill plays a big part in a lot of them, most of that is gained by the time the player gets to that point. There might just need to be a little honing to get it perfect.
10 The Ornstein & Smough Fight In Dark Souls Is More Painful Than It Should Be
Dark Souls is a hard enough game as is without the Ornstein and Smough fight, yet there it is being a pain. Unlike most bosses, these guys come in a duo and are built to complement each other perfectly. The problem is that if one dies first, the other will absorb the power and become stronger.
The best bet is to focus hard on Ornstein due to them being fast and harder to dodge than Smough, then kiting to victory against a beefed-up yet still slower boss instead of one that's lightning-fast and long-ranged. Another option is to try and murder them both at the same time so that they can't power each other up, but that's ridiculously difficult due to their speed and fighting differences.
9 Guitar Hero III's Through The Fire And Flames On Expert Mode Is Definitely Tough
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is notorious for having the most difficult song to play of any plastic band game. It's considered impressive to be able to successfully pass "Through the Fire and Flames" on Expert alone, so those few who can actually make it perfect are godly by comparison.
The good news is that it's an entirely optional song, not something that will have to be played during the actual game. However, it is the credits song so it just feels like it should be something to do. It takes a lot of skill, but there is a solid trick to help at least get a passing score: Turn off the sound. That way, the beat of the music— which doesn't always match up to the timing of the buttons— will not distract from the motions.
8 Chamber 18 In Portal Threatens To Have Players Eating Cake Just Out Of Spite
Chamber 18 of the original Portal game has many fans stopping there with GLaDOS's taunt about baking them into cake looming ever-present in their minds. It's a disastrously difficult level, but unless the player is playing in advanced mode, it can be completed fairly quickly.
Especially once the player realizes they can shoot a portal into the ceiling. In advanced mode that is taken away, but a similar effect can happen by shooting a portal at the top of the wall to help launch Chell where they need to go.
7 Lugdunum In Caesar 3 Is Hated Among All City Builder Fans
Lugdunum is a mission that has most players questioning their peaceful route choices for Caesar 3. It really forces the player to master distribution in a way no other level really does, due to its spiraling map and difficulty getting food to the masses. There's also the issue of the natives who will just love to destroy things if not pacified.
There are actually a few tricks that will make players' lives infinitely easier. One is that there is a single space on the low ground where a farm can be placed. Another is that there is always a space where a mine can be placed next to the signs where people come in and out of, which will help free up space. However, the most useful piece of advice is to not supply plebs with furniture. There's no reason to, and it will help keep a steady stream of resources going to the rich folk to keep that ungodly prosperity up.
6 Darkness In Don't Starve's Adventure Mode Is The Reason So Many Cheat Maxwell In
Most of the levels in Don't Starve's Adventure mode have a random chance to be one of a few levels. The exception is the final level, which will always be Permanent Darkness. This level is such a pain due to constant sanity drain, resource use, and lack of food that it makes King of Winter look like a walk in the park.
Preparation and then rushing this level is key to making it a breeze. This is not a level to camp in, so be prepared to never stop moving. Keep around a Tam O' Shanter to combat sanity drain if possible, otherwise there's going to be a lot of mushroom munching for anyone who isn't Wigfrid. Bring about enough spider silk and a stack of gold to make bug nets and Miner's Hats or there's going to be a ton of torch consumption. A Walking Cane is also ideal to just bolt through the level as fast as possible, and a stack of Jerky brought over will keep most characters well-fed with plenty to spare.
5 Chocobo Racing To Get A Golden Chocobo In Final Fantasy VII
The Golden Chocobos in Final Fantasy VII are the epitome of perfect travel. They can go over everything and get everywhere, but they are an absolute pain to get. Not only does the player have to catch wild Chocobos, but they also have to keep breeding them and racing them in order to get their stats good enough to breed new kinds.
It's going to be a lot of grinding no matter what way it's sliced, but doing it back to back will really help get the player into the groove. Take breaks from the game once it gets frustrating or tiresome, but just keep going at the cycle so that the route gets memorized and the motions stay honed.
4 The Golem King In Moonlighter Has A Vice Grip On The First Dungeon
Moonlighter can get extremely unforgiving in its roguelike dungeons. Despite the fact that it is the first dungeon boss, the Golem King is painfully difficult and has many players rage quitting right there.
The good news is that if the Between Dimensions DLC is installed, there is the opportunity to fall through special levels which may result in a trick weapon. These trick weapons will disappear regardless of what the player does to keep them once they leave the dungeon but will be instrumental in killing off that obnoxious boss in seconds flat.
3 Skyrim's No Stone Unturned Quest Rarely Gets Completed
Skyrim is a massive game with tons of quests. One of these is the No Stone Unturned quest which triggers the second the player picks up one of the Stones of Barenziah. It's a long collection-style quest that is ridiculously frustrating, as it doesn't mark the locations of the other stones without mods. That's a little weird considering Skyrim loves to mark everything.
The easiest way to complete it is actually to not think about it. Most of the stones are hidden in quest-relevant locations, so just playing the game and exploring is more than adequate to collecting them all. They're bright pink in a world that tends to be more gloomy and grey, so just training the eye to see them will make it a cinch.
2 Fighting Edgar & Lina In Star Stealing Prince Is A Major Difficulty Spike
Indie games, especially ones using a Maker engine, are often considered to be too easy and of poor quality. Star Stealing Prince tends to be one of those games where the story takes center stage and the fights aren't typically too difficult. That is until the Edgar and Lina battle, a typically painful double boss battle— but this one also does the thing where if one dies the other goes berserk.
Thankfully, there is an item that can be found just outside the castle that protects one party member from electric attacks. It seems pointless until Edgar mauls the player with it, constantly adding up status effects. Slap that thing on Snowe and wail on Lina, taking her down first. That way when Edgar loses it, the party healer is safe. Have Hiante constantly spam his ability that has the chance to cause silence, as both of the bosses are heavy magicians. Be warned though that Edgar is much easier to take down than Lina, and might accidentally be killed first if too many multi-hitting moves are used.
1 Tree Tops In Spyro The Dragon Is The Bane Of Completionists Everywhere
The Flight/Speedway and water levels of Spyro might be obnoxious due to the sudden swap to pilot controls, but Tree Tops takes the cake for being over-the-top difficult. Not only is the game covered in supercharge ramps leading to bottomless pits, but the most difficult to rescue dragon and the last of the level's treasure requires the use of multiple supercharge ramps and a well-placed glide to get to.
There's no getting around the intense skill requirement, but there are a few little shortcuts to help. First up, the player is going to want to walk across Lyle's pad in order to make it a checkpoint since this is going to fail a few times. Walk as much of the route as possible to get used to it, though some supercharging is going to be required to get from place to place. Never stop holding down the charge button or the supercharge will lose its extra effects and give that needed final height. Jumping onto the second ramp can be done from either of the points on the island, but that ramp needs to be jumped off right at or right before the top right corner so that the player can make a U-turn to hit that third ramp and go up it backward. Jump to the final plain ramp and hit a glide at the top of the very last jump in order to not slam into a wall that close to the end.