There are gamers out there who crave challenge when they take on a new gaming venture, which is the main reason why Souls games have had such success in recent years. But there are people on the other side of the equation who just don’t need that level of stress.
These players want games that provide a moderate level of challenge, require a certain level of mastery, but overall, aren’t overly taxing. These games are geared toward the casual player who prioritizes fun above all else and avoids grueling, punishing mechanics that would have them chucking controllers at walls.
However, on occasion, a low-key, generally easy game will have one standout moment that forces the player to sit up in their seat and work harder than they had originally planned.
Why they are quite as tough as they are, we will never know, but regardless, here are some crazy skill checks in games that really don’t warrant them at all.
10
Treasure In The Depths
Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus
To work your way through the breakout game in the Sly Cooper trilogy, you need to collect keys to open up the boss areas that serve as the finale for each hub area you inhabit in the game.
A lot of the time, you will collect these for completing traditional levels filled with platforming, sneaking, and swiping enemies with your cane. But, occasionally, you’ll need to partake in a mini-game like this one. However, none are anywhere near as taxing as this.
The goal here is to smash forty treasure chests in a short time frame, while also avoiding a slew of crab enemies that actively work against you by pulling the treasure chests off the map, and if even one succeeds, you’ll need to start again.
It was a close call between this one and a similar chicken-based mini-game later in this mascot platforming epic, but for me, this one takes the cake.
9
Croustalion
Sea of Stars
One of the reasons why I have such a soft spot for Sea of Stars is that it aims to be a super accessible JRPG with boiled-down and basic systems, manageable boss fights, and Crono Trigger levels of difficulty. However, there is one exception to this approach, and that’s Croustalion.
This boss is encountered in the Coliseum challenge when the player returns to Brisk with a new band of party members, and packs more of a punch than any other boss within the game.
He hits hard, has a number of gimmicks that allow him to spawn minions that can heal and attack if left on the field, and has rather intricate locks that can spell certain death if not dealt with fast. As Thunder, Bubble Drop, and Kondo Throwdown all deal huge damage.
Even your second, true encounter with Aephorul isn’t quite as hard as this fight, which goes to show just how much of a skill check Croustalion is.
8
Lady Comstock’s Grave
Bioshock Infinite
BioShock Infinite is certainly a more traditional FPS than its predecessors, and leans into action to great effect. However, even with this in mind, it would be a stretch to call this game overtly hard outside of the game’s 1999 Mode.
But, if you just jumped into the game to play the section that takes place at Lady Comstock’s grave alone, you could easily be fooled, as this section is significantly harder than anything else this game has to throw at you.
The reason for this elevated difficulty is Lady Comstock’s ability to regenerate ghost enemies, elongating the fight, chipping away at your health and resources, and ensuring you never have a clear shot at her for long.
This can be sidestepped with some clever use of vigors like Charge, Return to Sender, or Devil’s Kiss. But, even with that knowledge, it still takes a lot of skill and precision to pull off, and careful management of resources. Just shoot for the head, keep those ghosts in check, and you just might make it out alive.
7
Grand Master Challenge
Astro Bot
It may be the final thing you do in Astro Bot, and a portion of the game some players may opt to miss, but it still bears mentioning, as this level is a true test of your platforming prowess.
As players near the end of this mascot platforming masterclass, you’ll gain the option to partake in the final level of Astro Bot, which only unlocks when you have found all 300 Bots and all 120 Puzzle Pieces.
You would think, based on the happy-go-lucky nature of the game to this point, that this would be a victory lap and nothing more, but instead, it happens to be one of the most demanding platforming segments you can imagine.
It requires an acute understanding of the level’s layout, well-timed leaps and glides, and perpetual motion, as slowing down almost always leads to you entering back at the start again.
In short, if you manage to beat this level, then you can consider yourself an Astro Bot master, but it’s a lot easier said than done.
6
Maleficent Dragon Boss Fight
Kingdom Hearts
While a lot of the optional content in the original Kingdom Hearts ranks high as some of the hardest content the series has to offer, if you stick to the main story content, there is very little that will ruffle Sora’s feathers. Especially if you take the time to grind some levels and synthesize some top-tier items.
However, there is one fight among all the mandatory bosses that will give you more trouble than most, mainly because it’s a two-phase boss akin to Dark Souls that makes you think it’s all over before heaping on some more punishment.
The first phase isn’t too tough, but her floating platform makes her a nightmare to actually hit, but it’s light work compared to her Dragon Form, which hits hard, covers a lot of area with its attacks, and she has a mountain of health, which leaves little room for mistakes.
Spamming Stop and using Tinkerbell can be a huge help in this fight. But even with that in mind, it’s a seriously tough fight, especially considering it’s essential for progression.
5
The Time Trail
Viewfinder
I know I’m in the minority when I say this, but I was one of the few who felt Viewfinder wasn’t quite as phenomenal as others seemed to believe this indie puzzler was. The concept was genuinely astonishing, but the execution left a lot to be desired for me, as the puzzles, minus a few, were all pretty lackluster.
However, the game really came into its own right at the end when the game slapped a timer on screen and asked you to complete a series of intricate puzzles back to back before the clock hit zero.
It added stakes to proceedings, created a sense of urgency, and effectively made the closing stages of the game into one big puzzle-fuelled Speedrun.
A speed run that isn’t exactly a walk in the park and requires an acute understanding of the game’s perception-based mechanics. Which is a real change of pace, but one I personally really appreciated, even if it was a little out of left field.
4
The Destroyer
Borderlands
This one might be a little controversial, as it really depends on what you deem difficult when it comes to boss fights. You see, in actuality, The Destroyer in Borderlands is probably one of the most lukewarm and easy bosses to deal with in the entire game, with a simple moveset and a lack of gimmicks. But the issue is that the thing has a gargantuan health bar.
This means that even if you go in there with a monumental stockpile of weapons, ammo, explosives, and more, you might come up short, especially if you are playing solo. Which can lead to a long war of attrition hiding behind cover and waiting for cooldowns to expire.
Essentially, The Destroyer in solo is a test of your build, and only something with a very high damage output will see you through to the end. But, even then, you still need to dodge tentacles, make the most of tiny critical zones, and move around constantly to avoid being sent back to a New-U Station.
3
Demolition Man
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
The GTA series has always been one where the missions are On-Rails more or less, and the set pieces and storylines are given the breathing space they deserve to do the heavy lifting. However, on occasion, there will be a mission that requires a little bit more finesse from the player than simply driving to a place, shooting a few dudes, and then getting out of dodge.
One fine example of this is Demolition Man, a mission where you need to operate an RC helicopter and use this to navigate a building site and plant bombs in three separate locations while keeping the thing from free-falling and exploding into one million pieces.
It’s a tricky mission not only because the helicopter handles terribly, but also because the ‘builders’ on the site are prime marksmen and can shoot you out of the sky with ease. Then add in the additional jeopardy of needing to do this all within a tight seven-minute window, and you have a recipe for one of the most troublesome, notorious, and infuriating missions across all the GTA games.
2
Hand Over Fish
Jak And Daxter: The Precursor’s Legacy
Much like the original Sky Cooper outing we mentioned earlier, this fellow PS2 mascot platformer offers typically easy gameplay with a handful of standout difficult mini-games to infuriate those in search of Power Cells.
But, of all those, none is as irritating as the fishing mini-game. This one has you sitting with a net downstream, and your goal is to catch 200 pounds of fish, which sounds easy, but the difficulty comes from the fact that you can’t miss 20 of the buggers, nor can you catch a poisonous fish, as that will spoil the whole batch.
It requires fast reactions, a keen eye, and a little bit of luck, but if you can manage to catch 200 pounds worth of seafood, you’ll get a classic laugh from the voice of Batman once upon a time, Kevin Conroy, and that should be motivation enough.
1
Lawrence Barrett Boss Fight
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
If you love stealth games, then you’re probably well-versed in all things Deus Ex, as this series is an immersive sim that truly allows you to play your way, with stealth being a very viable option. Which is why your first boss fight in Human Revolution may knock you for six.
You see, the middle child of the series is a game that really pushes a lot of stealth-based augments on the player, with the loud and boisterous approach actively being discouraged by the game.
However, this comes back to bite the player when they come up against Barrett. You see, they have crazy firepower, are relentless on the offensive, have you trapped in a small arena where there’s hardly anywhere to hide, and you’re stuck in there with non-lethal options that will do you no good, and likely no ammo because the boss fight starts so suddenly.
This then turns this fight into a war of attrition where you need to use the environment to your advantage and hope that it’s enough to put this bullet sponge in the ground. But fair warning, expect to die, a lot.
