BattleToads

[Navaros]

I used to play it on NES when I was a kid. Needed to buy a joystick just to have any chance whatsoever to succeed on the third level or so, the one where you are riding a hover car over some gooey platforms and having to dodge rock pillars. That was extremely annoying. After finally learning how to beat that level with the joystick (couldn't even get to the warp point in that level without it, I wonder if it's even possible...) eventually I learned how to beat the game up to the elevator level where IIRC you fight a rock soldier boss at the end. Then after that there is a level where IIRC you are on a unicycle and have to race around the level faster than a swirling rock coming after you. I could never ever beat the last 1/3rd of that level.

Would have been a lot better of a game if they lost those 'you are stuck on a vehicle with horrible play control' gimmick levels. I do not attribute my inability to succeed with them as me being bad at the game, but rather that the play control is so absolute crap on those levels that it's a problem with inherently bad game design. It also reminds me of trying to play any GTA game level on the PC where you are operating a remote-controlled vehicle, often whilst on a timer and/or with limited fuel. Those are likewise some of the worst-designed levels in history, because horrible play control is not equal to legitimate challenge IMO. It does equal legitimate immense aggravation though.