10 Super Mario Levels That Were Just Plain Unfair
1. World 8-4 - Super Mario Bros.
Right from the very first jump, that will kill every player that doesn't take it seriously enough without fail, world 8-4 establishes itself as a criminally unfair slog fest. The final level in the original game that culminates in a final showdown with the Koopa King himself, this castle features long corridors designed to get players moving as fast as possible, only to hit them with a variety of enemies that come out of nowhere.
As well as the Goombas, Piranha Plants and Koopas, the level also features some pretty nerve-jangling trips across lava lakes, underwater sections and secret Warp Pipes needed to navigate to the end.
What makes 8-4 so tough is just how fast it is. The original game is known for being quicker than most in the series, mainly due to its simplistic and less polished movement mechanics, but this level still stands out even when that's taken into account. There are once again no checkpoints, meaning players can spend all of their allotted time jumping through some pretty nasty jumps and locating random Warp Pipes, only to be hit by a rogue hammer thrown by Bowser right at the end and immediately lose all of that hard work.