10 Video Game Moments So Difficult They Were Just Unfair

Looking at the video game levels and bosses that justified you smashing your controller.

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Video games tend to start as simple as possible to help the player ease into the controls and gameplay. The game gradually gets more and more difficult and the final level forces the player to utilise all the skills they have perfected throughout their playthrough.

This concept may sound straightforward but you would surprised how many games don't follow it. We've all been there. You're playing a game and you start to get the hang of the controls and then BAM! The difficulty spikes with no warning.

This list will be looking at levels, mini-games, or bosses where the difficulty suddenly surges, which totally throws off the player. Sometimes, this can happen in the middle of a game. It can happen in the first level. It can happen in the first five seconds!

I know a lot of games have a secret level or boss that is designed to challenge hardcore players (Sans in Undertale, Stormy Ascent in Crash Bandicoot, etc). However, this list will only be looking at levels in the main story mode, meaning that most of these levels are unavoidable, and there is no way to win the game without completing them.

10. Donkey Kong 64 - Beaver Bother

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In this bonus stage, you take control of a little crocodile who has to bite at beavers, forcing them to run away. If the little rodents run into the hole in the centre of the room, you get a point. You need to make a certain amount of beavers fall into the hole before the time limit runs out in order to win a Golden Banana.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But it isn't. Not even a little bit.

In fact, I have a theory that this bonus stage was only inserted into Donkey Kong 64 because the game hates you. First off, the timer is really tight. Even speed-runners tend to complete it with a second or two left on the clock.

The other problem is that the beavers don't always respond to your character. Most players lose the mini-game repeatedly with only one beaver left who refuses to fall into the hole no matter what you do.

Luckily, you don't need to complete this mini-game to win Donkey Kong 64. But if you are a completionist, I vow that Beaver Bother will be the bane of your existence.

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James Egan has written 80 books including 1000 Facts about Superheroes Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about TV Shows Vol. 1-3 Twitter - @jameswzegan85