Gamefaqs' "Top 10 games you NEED a Game Genie for"

[BIL]

The US version of Ninja Gaiden III is indeed harder than the first two, thanks to increased damage from enemies and limited continues. The JP version is much easier than the US, due to reduced damage, unlimited continues (as in NGI&II) and a password system.

[Ed Oscuro]

NGIII is also my favorite due to the extra surrealism of the environments. Gotta get a copy sometime. JPN version is indeed much easier.

I've always had a bit of trouble with the first two games.

[BIL]

One thing I really love about it is the music (being fond of the ol' FC sound). Some of its songs have this off-kilter, stop-start pace, combined with some nice minor-key tunes. Sounds about as aggressive as vanilla FC music can.

NGII is probably easier than the others, thanks to all the concessions. Two "option" shadows, a diagonal-downward subweapon, portable shield, EZ wall climbing and no nerfed default sword... impressive that it's still a decent challenge despite all the advantages it gives compared to other NES NGs / CVs.

[Mortificator]

Difficulty-wise, it'd go NG III [US] > NG > NG II > NG III [Jpn]

The original game would be my favorite, and I like II and the Japanese III (and the Master System title) pretty equally.

I have to confess that the last few times I've played the game, I used a save state before the final boss marathon so I wouldn't have to redo the previous stages if I lost, but I feel a little justified after finding out that the whole thing is just a bug Tecmo didn't bother fixing.

[Udderdude]

Difficulty-wise, it'd go NG III [US] > NG > NG II > NG III [Jpn]

The original game would be my favorite, and I like II and the Japanese III (and the Master System title) pretty equally.

I have to confess that the last few times I've played the game, I used a save state before the final boss marathon so I wouldn't have to redo the previous stages if I lost, but I feel a little justified after finding out that the whole thing is just a bug Tecmo didn't bother fixing.

It sounds less like a bug and more like "We'll just keep it that way anyway."

Personally I think sending the player that far back is way too punishing, but everyone has their opinions on these things ..

Ninja Ryuukenden 1 is (in)famous for its extreme difficulty. Especially after losing against the last boss, and having to start at the beginning of the whole chapter, a lot of gamers where faced with despair. At that time, was it your conscious aim to create such a hard game?

Mr. Yoshizawa directed the action part for the first game, but that was actually something a programmer had implemented this way accidentally. However, it wasn't tried to fix it. They where like "hey, that's not bad, either". *laughs

[BIL]

Actually, I was surprised (and elated, being ten years old or so) that NGI&II did players the favour of skipping any of the end boss trio you'd killed, once you fought your way back. Jaquio (NG1) was a real biatch with his vague hit area that'd get me smacked when going for a jumping attack.

[Ed Oscuro]

One of the things I find striking about NG1 is that yes, it's quite fluid to play when you know what you're doing, but fuck up and some of the sloppiness of the game becomes apparent. For example, that early outdoor section with the cloaked guys that throw knives in short arcs, stage also has the gridiron football helmet guys and the first machine gunners. I haven't played enough of NG II and III to really compare, though the production values seem improved in both of those a bit...and options, FUCK YEAH. SMS NG seems pretty cool but a totally different game, seems a bit more like a GG Shinobi for some reason (probably just the palette; level structure is obviously totally different - okay, maybe more like Revenge of Shinobi).

[doctorx0079]

Now if Super Ghouls n ghosts was on there, Id give them a bit of credit. That game/series is sadistic in nature, and the whole "need the weapon to win this" is stupid.

SGnG is the easiest in the series. I could 1-life it on Professional level in high school. I use to play it while listening to the college radio station. I'm not that good at it now though. You definitely don't need a Game Genie for it.

Was the NES version of Gradius easier than the arcade version?

Having 1CC'ed both I would have to say the NES version is MUCH easier. But by the arcade version I mean on DS, so YMMV.

I'm surprised at all the ppl who said NGIII is the hardest. I thought it was a pushover. The bosses were easy. I rank them NGI > NGII > NGIII. Mostly NGI is hard because of Jaquio, and because you have to land just right on platforms or you get knocked in the pit. It's like Castlevania except you can jump like Sonic. In NGIII you can hang from platforms which I though made it way easy. Not saying you shouldn't be able to that because it's cool, but they should have designed the game better around it. I really should play the new ones though because it sounds like they are way harder than the NES ones.

[Deathgeese88]

I really should play the new ones though because it sounds like they are way harder than the NES ones.

I believe it. I haven't played the NES games, but I find it hard to believe they can compare to playing Ninja Gaiden 1 or 2 on Very Hard or Master Ninja difficulty.

[ShmupSamurai]

WHO needs Game Genie to beat Alien Solder?!

I sure don't.

[No_not_like_Quake]

Back then, when I was young and stupid (now just stupid), I remember using the game genie to cheat and see all of Conquest of the Crystal Palace by Asmik. Otherwise, of my own skill at the time, I couldn't beat the stage 2 boss. I'd like to give the game a go now.

[doctorx0079]

I really should play the new ones though because it sounds like they are way harder than the NES ones.

I believe it. I haven't played the NES games, but I find it hard to believe they can compare to playing Ninja Gaiden 1 or 2 on Very Hard or Master Ninja difficulty.

No, I don't believe they do either. In fact there are lots of NES games that are harder, like, too hard.

[ShmupSamurai]

I miss the days when games WERE too hard..

You had to WORK your way through gaulets of epicness, and if u died, did the game say "Oh sorry, need a hand? Here's a nice big fat regerating shield/lifebar with no intsa-death"?....

NO!

It said "In your face, git! You fell right into that, now go back to the rockwall near the trees with life-sucking buttmonkeys...oh and take that pathetic 2 lives and 3 credits with you!"

[doctorx0079]

The bad ones are the ones that are really hard until you figure out how to get around the crappy controls, and then you realize that there's only 4 levels and the last boss sucks.

[EinhanderZwei]

The bad ones are the ones that are really hard until you figure out how to get around the crappy controls, and then you realize that there's only 4 levels and the last boss sucks.

NES Double Dragon 2 anyone?

[Sobek]

I can beat Super C on one life pretty reliably. I can see Gradius being tough if you aren't used to shmups though.

I believe it. I haven't played the (Ninja Gaiden) NES games, but I find it hard to believe they can compare to playing Ninja Gaiden 1 or 2 on Very Hard or Master Ninja difficulty.

2 and 3 on the NES are beatable, but 1 is too difficult for me, mostly due to the infinitely respawning enemies.

[BrianC]

The bad ones are the ones that are really hard until you figure out how to get around the crappy controls, and then you realize that there's only 4 levels and the last boss sucks.

NES Double Dragon 2 anyone?

Huh? The controls for that game aren't crappy and there are more than 4 levels. It's longer than the arcade version.

[EinhanderZwei]

The bad ones are the ones that are really hard until you figure out how to get around the crappy controls, and then you realize that there's only 4 levels and the last boss sucks.

NES Double Dragon 2 anyone?

Huh? The controls for that game aren't crappy and there are more than 4 levels. It's longer than the arcade version.

Dunno. Every time I play it, half of the game I'm getting used to the kick

[BrianC]

Dunno. Every time I play it, half of the game I'm getting used to the kick

The controls seem strange at first, but I found the moves to be no harder to pull off than other NES DD games and, in some ways easier (easier to get multiple hits on enemies and punch and kick aren't nerfed like they are in DD3 NES). Jumping takes a bit of getting used to, but overall, they aren't bad.

[doctorx0079]

I can beat Super C on one life pretty reliably. I can see Gradius being tough if you aren't used to shmups though.

I believe it. I haven't played the (Ninja Gaiden) NES games, but I find it hard to believe they can compare to playing Ninja Gaiden 1 or 2 on Very Hard or Master Ninja difficulty.

2 and 3 on the NES are beatable, but 1 is too difficult for me, mostly due to the infinitely respawning enemies.

The trick is jumping to exactly the right spot so that the enemy doesn't hit you. Sometimes you have to immediately duck so the enemy will miss you. Once you learn to do that the game is quite beatable. I've done it many times. There is also a trick to beating the Jaquio but I don't want to give it away.

The bad ones are the ones that are really hard until you figure out how to get around the crappy controls, and then you realize that there's only 4 levels and the last boss sucks.

NES Double Dragon 2 anyone?

I think what I had in mind was Karate Kid, Fist of the North Star, crap like that.