Most difficult non-cheap Genesis game?

[Pingfa]

Gunstar Heroes on Expert Mode comes to mind. Stage 5 is craziness! Although I feel Tails Force might be a little cheap in the sense that getting hurt by him couldn't have been avoided unless you knew his pattern.

I considered Contra: Hard Corps but there are definitely times the bosses are rather cheap. Cases in which you just happened to be in an unlucky spot where the boss is going to land. Once you see it landing, it's unavoidable.

There are definitely more difficult games than Gunstar Heroes on Expert, though. But what?

[SpaceBooger]

Adventures of Batman and Robin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6z5s_d5CU
I can not beat that game... even with cheat codes (game genie.) I still die too much that it gets annoying so I give up.
That game is one of the most challenging and cheap (local store has it for $4) for the Genesis

[Ivo]

Maybe an arcade port, perhaps Ghouls and Ghosts? Or does that count as "cheap"?

Ivo.

[Pingfa]

Adventures of Batman and Robin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6z5s_d5CU
I can not beat that game... even with cheat codes (game genie.) I still die too much that it gets annoying so I give up.
That game is one of the most challenging and cheap (local store has it for $4) for the Genesis

Of course! That game is great, too. A real adrenaline rush - although some people view the music as one of the best on the Genesis, I'm not particularly fond of it myself. It's definitely beatable, but real hard - and I don't recall any cheap moments.
Although, I've heard that getting certain powerups is required to beat the game - I haven't beaten it myself so I can't say.

Maybe an arcade port, perhaps Ghouls and Ghosts? Or does that count as "cheap"?

I'm not sure - how might it be cheap? I haven't played much of Ghouls 'n Ghosts, but I played a few levels on an emulator to see if it was worth buying once; from what I played, I don't understand why people view it as one of the most difficult games. I found it rather easy, but I suppose it gets much harder later on.

What I personally count as cheap in a game are moments where losing was unavoidable by skill alone and require memorization. In that regard, much of Revenge of Shinobi is cheap because many levels require either memorization or simply shooting shurikens every step you make. Despite this, I'm actually pretty good at the game but I acknowledge it as cheap.

[timewarpgamer]

I'd have to put Comix Zone on the list. When you reach points in the game where you have to punch through obstacles to progress, which actually depletes your life bar, I'd call that a little cheap.

Though I haven't played it since around the time I bought the original cart, I remember Jungle Strike ramping up in difficulty quite a bit once you got about half-way though.

[Scooter]

Splatterhouse 2 is pretty tough, I've never finished it yet.

Bart vs. The Space Mutants is tough, but mostly because it is so horribly designed and has slow controls. Pretty much the same for any of the Flying Edge/Acclaim Simpsons games.

Krusty's Super Funhouse is tough, but I have beat it twice. Great game.

[BogusMeatFactory]

ToeJam & Earl. The game is incredibly difficult to beat, but by no means cheap. Add to it the two player split screen play, also the ability to randomize the levels, loads of fun and infinite play.

[samsonlonghair]

Marvel land (a.k.a. Talmut's adventure) is a very hard game, but not cheap. It's the kind of game where one hit kills you, and there are a million enimes coming for you.

[Funk, E]

Sub-Terrania.

[JDMThoughts]

Try Golden Axe on hard by yourself, give me a call when you complete that miracle.