10 Insanely Confusing Video Games Levels You Got Totally Lost In

5. 8-4 - Super Mario Bros

Nintendo
Nintendo

Once you've nailed the path here that ensures you won't get stuck in an endless loop on the final level of Super Mario Bros, finding your way out of is something you could do blindfolded. But come into it fresh, and you'll be left scratching your head as the level timer ticks down, before freaking out when you get the dreaded noise to indicate that your time is running out.

8-4 looks like your typical Bowser castle - all white brickwork, black backgrounds and red lava, but it's not a simple matter of just traversing it from left to right like other Mario levels, as it'll keep you coming back to the same places unless you jump into the correct pipes. There's no real way of knowing which pipes you're supposed to jump into, because nothing says good level design like goddam guesswork, right?

To make things even more confusing, there are two Bowsers on this level, but one of them is a fake one you need to fight if you go the wrong way. How lovely.

In this post: 
Max Payne1
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Gamer, Researcher of strange things. I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.