Which Atari 7800 Game is the Toughest to Beat?

[Funkmaster V]

After several heated debates, here is the final list we came up with. I would love to hear people's opinions on the matter. 

Which Atari 7800 Game IS the Toughest to Beat?

http://www.atari7800forever.com/badd.html

[DegasElite]

No holds barred, Impossible Mission. It's tough to time the obstacles correctly. I would like to get the possible version. At least it's beatable.

[dauber]

Unless you count Impossible Mission, then Fight Night. The computer player has special moves, while the human player does not.

[Funkmaster V]

1 hour ago, dauber said:

Unless you count Impossible Mission, then Fight Night. The computer player has special moves, while the human player does not.

Oh, but the player has the most powerful punch in the game!!!

[RickR]

I remember buying Fight Night for the Atari 8-bit computer and being so disappointed.  I was expecting something more arcadey like "Punch-Out".  But the game was terrible.  Difficult to control and not fun.  It boggles the mind why they chose this game to port to the 7800.  The least they could have done is make the controls more responsive.  

Karateka was awesome on the 8-bit computers.  But they screwed the controls on the 7800 port.  You'll fight the controls the whole game, and it's frustrating to make progress at all.  This is a game in which they should have simplified things.  

In both cases, I don't think the games should count as "tough to beat".  Bad controls should not count.  

I think a game like "Joust" should be on the "tough" list because it really does play and feel like an arcade game.  You'll be lucky to play for more than 10 minutes.  

 

[Funkmaster V]

On 2/15/2021 at 7:40 PM, RickR said:

i"Joust" should be on the "tough" list because it really does play and feel like an arcade game.  You'll be lucky to play for more than 10 minutes.  

 

This list is only for games where you can "win".

Joust is stout, however, for sure

[7800 Pro Gamer]

I've beaten some of the 7800 games. Bentley Bears crystal quest, super skateboardin', Double Dragon, Ninja Golf in all modes but kamikaze, and Scrapyard Dog. I've been trying to beat some others but either just haven't gotten time to finish them yet or ran into issues.  But of all the ones I've tried to beat to this point, I have to say that Water Ski is the most difficult. I've made it to the beginning of the second stage but that's about it.

I also give Scrapyard Dog the nod for the hardest game I have beat, and honorable mentions to Possible Mission and Ikari Warriors as hard games I haven't completed yet. 

Edited March 7, 2022 by Silver Back
Grammar

[CrossBow]

For me it might just be Bentley's Crystal Quest. I've only managed to get past the first boss maybe twice ever?! It is more a game of frustration for me than anything so I tend to move onto something else honestly. 

Scrapyard Dog is another that I've never been able to get far in. Not even sure I've ever beaten the first level come to think of it?

Ikari Warriors is difficult for me, but I feel that I just need to spend more time with that one but for some reason, it doesn't hold me interest as long as say Commando does which, I feel is the better game between the two.

 

[7800 Pro Gamer]

Is Crystal Quest really that hard?  I've beaten it twice now and while I admit the final bosses are the most difficult part, I was able to power through them. I'm not trying to be a smart ass or anything but I felt that Crystal Quest was pretty manageable to beat. Am I in the minority?

[CrossBow]

I just couldn't get any timing down for the first level boss and pretty much lose all my lives to her. Couldn't figure out the pattern if there was one. And after that the levels were much more difficult for me at least. Then again, I never really played adventure island as a kid. I guess maybe I just wasn't really able to get into that much to want to keep at it?

 

[7800 Pro Gamer]

Unfortunately I found a way to cheese the bosses, especially the first 2. The last 3 are difficult even when using the method I'm about to give you. 

When your close to the boss slowly scroll the screen to the right until she appears and immediately go back to the left.  She has a tendency to rush you as soon as you trigger her so be careful.  She can not reach you when your on the far left and when she rushes towards you, jump up and throw crystals at her. She may stop rushing you for a while but don't be tempted to move out of the safe area. After a bunch of hits she will float up leaving a red crystal behind. Collect it and move forward!  The second boss can be done much the same, but the 3rd 4th and 5th bosses add projectiles to the mix that makes it difficult to cheese her as easily, but it can be done!  I'll make a video of how to do it sometime. 

[CrossBow]

Either way, Bentley won't be getting played much around my collection and not anytime soon as I'm pretty deep into Horizon Forbidden West as my current gaming addiction LOL!

But to get back on top, I think my favorite 'brew of Bob's is actually Astroblaster and I play that one pretty often because he really did a good job of getting it near arcade quality on that release!