10 Unexpected Video Game Difficulty Spikes That Brutalised Players

As many of us found out the hard way thanks to the glorious N. Sane Trilogy Remaster, Crash Bandicoot was a title that took no prisoners. While the series softened as it went on and became a brilliant balance of challenge and fairness, the original game had spikes you could impale yourself on when it came to difficulty. Native Fortress was the first sign of things to come.

The opening levels were simple run and jump affairs with little in the way of real threats, but here? WOOF. The traps alone would see veterans of platformers begin to sweat, but coupled with enemies that could force you off the platforms made for a pretty shocking experience.

While we love to moan about The High Road and those devilish dark castle stages towards the end of the game, to hit the player with a roadblock this vicious so soon bordered on the cruel.