Games you must cheat to beat.

[Naniyue]

  All of us have them.  The games that, no matter if we played them every day for ten years like some martial arts student, we will NEVER beat. And so, time to cheat!!

Just a few examples from me:

  Undead Line (ANY VERSION) and Elemental Master (Genesis) - DAMN!!  Hard as F#$R$@!

  Lightning Force (Genesis) - Couldn't get past 2 or 3 stages as a teen, and can't even get past one now.
 
  Bucky O'Hare (NES) - NOT happening.

  Super C (NES) - Though I can legitimately beat the first one no problem . . .

  What are some of yours?

[xelement5x]

Exile Wicked Phenomenon comes to mind for me.  I think the only way to get through certain area is to actually get hit in just the right way to move forward and avoid the enemies.

[Naniyue]

I remember near the end using Rumi and SLOWLY moving forward while constantly firing.  That was the only way I could get to the final boss.

[Paranoia Dragon]

I remember near the end using Rumi and SLOWLY moving forward while constantly firing.  That was the only way I could get to the final boss.

Pretty sure that was one of my tactics as well. Got to be the hardest game of actually ever beaten! I also remember using Fahkyle for level grinding in the final level with his lightning attack.

As far as cheating, maybe more than anything, Battletoads. Definitely remember cheating on that game with the game genie.

[Naniyue]

    Fu$@% Battletoads!!! 
 
Warning:  Much cursing and anger!  But he speaks the truth! 

Levels from Hell, Battletoads (NES), Stage 3:

[Naniyue]

Also, there are games that one cheats in just because they like the graphics or presentation or whatever, but don't care to actually challenge the game.  Examples from me:

Bio-hazard Battle (Genesis)
Various arcade shooters

[majors]

Bosses in Neo Geo fighters.

[Naniyue]

Sooo true!  Even with adjusting the difficulty down!  More likely to win, but still a pain in the @(*&*&!

[Naniyue]

xelement5x,
  Have you tried the Unworked Designs version of Exile II?  That should help with the difficulty.  Now, if only they would correct that late scrolling, we'd have a nice game!

[DarkKobold]

    Fu$@% Battletoads!!! 
 
Warning:  Much cursing and anger!  But he speaks the truth! 

Levels from Hell, Battletoads (NES), Stage 3:

This game gets so much harder than the turbo tunnel. Hell, that level can be beaten blindfolded.

[Naniyue]

A few years ago I cheated and abused save states to see the whole game, and even THEN it was HELL!!!!!!  I don't plan to EVER play it again!

EDIT:

  People who take on such tasks have CRAZY skill I NEVER will!  So, as far as I'm concerned, it's still an impossible game.

[seieienbu]

I never thought the Turbo Tunnel was that bad.  In 3rd grade I got past it in a rental.  The real thing is, Battletoads plays like the 3rd level from some degree on every subsequent level.  You have to learn a little bit more of the next level before dying, then a little bit more on the next life.  If you want to beat the game legitimately, you have to put in the time to memorize what you do at what point.  The level that gave me the most grief was the second to last when you're riding the "Clinger Winger" bike things and have to press the direction that you're trying to go.

Either way, beating Battletoads reminds me of beating a shooter.  There's a lot to learn and to react to and then once you've learned it all, you still have to not mess up but it's totally beatable.

[Naniyue]

I think you forget, or do not know, how much I HATE most platformers!  The stress is not worth it for me!  So yeah, Battletoads can go suck a ... 

Shooters are different from platformers, especially for me.  The fact that I don't have to JUMP in a shooter gives me great advantage.  I've legitimately beaten more shooters than I ever will platformers.  And I suck at shooters, too!