10 Most Insanely Difficult Video Games Ever Made

9. Castlevania (NES)

Castlevania set a kind of standard for insanely difficult games, a standard that kept on moving through the retro era like a never-ending gauntlet of razor-sharp rotor-blades. And though Castlevania is undoubtably a difficult game (and an influentially difficult one at that), you get a sense that it takes a real pride in its difficulty. And at least it's semi-fair.

Well, sort of. Take a look at the way each level is laid out - perfectly so, as if to ensure that every single touch of your controller is perfectly timed. Then there's the endless array of enemies designed purposely to give you brain ache. We won't mention that the same endless array of enemies will knock down half your health should they hit you, or the fact that you can't move whilst jumping.

Oh, we mentioned it? Sorry: we've got to stop doing that.