10 Brutally Hard Areas Hidden In Video Games

Super Mario World's Special Zone can only be accessed by completing Star World and using the final level's secret "keyhole exit."

But even for Mario hardcores, the Special Zone is no picnic, with each of its eight stages touting a difficulty level far above anything else the game - or arguably any other Mario title, really - throws at you.

Though each of the levels will test your platforming mettle, none proves more aggravating than the second stage, "Tubular" - yes, all the levels are named after outmoded '80s slang - with players using either the Power Balloon or Cape Feather to traverse a frankly obscene number of enemies and projectiles.

The good news is that beating Tubular makes the six remaining levels seem positively reasonable by comparison, even if only the most dedicated Mario fans need even bother giving Special Zone a go.