Are there any Sega-published games more difficult than Ecco?

[Original_Name]

I mean honestly! I'm playing Ecco the Dolphin CD and it is absolutely KICKING MY ASS!! I mean, imagine if this game didn't have a password system! Ecco with a lives system would be horrifying! I've been playing for about four hours and have beaten like, five levels. I must to say that this is a spectacular game, but my God, Sega/Novotrade wanted you to spend some TIME with this one.

The only other one I can think of around this level of difficulty is Phantasy Star II, but most problems with that one can be remedied simply by level-grinding. Can you guys think of any other Sega titles that are similarly crushing in their difficulty?

[Ivo]

There's probably something harder than Ecco, but Ecco is really rather hard. I remember a jump that I believed was compulsory that I failed so many times I started wondering if it was a bug (you need to jump really high, almost vertically, and still go a bit sideways to land on the elevated floor, and sort of slide right and fall on the other side).

I think it is the first one of three in City of Forever (the first was the hardest due to lack of space to gain speed). I can't find videos of it as everyone is taking a shortcut (that I did not know about when I played).

The Dreamcast game in 3D is also hard (perhaps harder) - but at least the hardest parts were optional to get some small HP increases (Vitalits, I think). I had so many drops in the "Sky airways" sort of level... Remembering the stupidly hard jumps I made through all Ecco games, I see a Vitalit rather high above water under a waterfall right at the start of a level. I make an absolutely epic jump (after several tries) to get it. After finally succeeding and continuing the level, I raised the water level twice (part of the mission), which would make the (already obtained) Vitalit much, much easier to get. Argh!

Ivo.

[Original_Name]

Yeah, I honestly think Sega/Novotrade/Appaloosa should have bundled the game with a free strategy guide or something as a "We're SO sorry" for the people who came for the beautiful ambiance and story over the brain-stomping gameplay.

[Mathius]

I could never beat Ecco. It was one of those games that are so demanding that I just threw it down, and never picked it up again. I hate that game. I can't think of any other Sega made game that is more difficult.

[Xonticus]

Yeah I remember getting to the space ship in the first game as a kid... it took me weeks to accomplish... but never beat the game without Game Genie

[vejita]

Apparently the Gamegear version was easier, but I'm not sure why. Ecco is a damn hard game- I've now allied with another ecco fan to try and beat it together, trading off on sections or levels when one is too frustrated to continue. I haven't beaten it either but I've come rather close. I really just like the gameplay and art, like in OoT I liked just riding around on Epona for a while... yeah, I'ma little girly >P

[Pulsar_t]

[Wurp]

Cool Shinobi Cover Art

Oh, I hate that game so much. It's just so unforgiving.

[Original_Name]

I've committed myself to walkthrough videos on Ecco whenever I get stuck, but the game has become MUCH easier now that I know you can bring up a map by holding the "A" button. I'm at Trilobite Circle now (a couple levels after you time travel), and am REALLY enjoying the game. It really is an incredible game; very creative gameplay and storyline. I wish Sega/Novotrade had made the game's difficulty a bit more practical than what they did, but with a little help you can see the brilliance of this title. A few things, like the aforementioned jump in City of Forever should have been entirely reworked, but the game is mostly manageable. There's a fucking TON of bad guys in the jurassic levels, though.

I never played the Shinobi for PlayStation 2. There had been alot of hype about a Shinobi game on the Dreamcast (as well as Panzer Dragoon Orta and a new Shining Force; unfortunately the latter never materialized on any console), so I'd been looking forward to a Shinobi title on the Dreamcast. I remember thinking it was really neat when the rumors had basically been confirmed that a new Shinobi had been being worked on by Sega (likely since the Dreamcast's lifespan) and it got ported to the PlayStation 2. I never did get a chance to play it, though. Maybe that's for the best, 'cause overly difficult games aren't really something I typically enjoy. Then again, it's a Shinobi game, so that's how it should be.

[executioner]

Cool Shinobi Cover Art

Oh, I hate that game so much. It's just so unforgiving.

I hate it too!!! Damn difficult game, die and go back to the beginning. On the last levels there is no ground practically.