Ten most difficult Mario levels.

[Kugyince]

If a random (preferably attractive) person on the street approached me and asked me if I thought the Mario platformers were difficult games, I would most likely answer “no.” Granted, I am a super mega-fan of the Mario series, so my years of experience may make the games feel easier than they really are, but, when you think about it, the Mario games are actually designed to be accessible to everyone. Why do you think the original Super Mario Bros. was so popular in the first place?

Because of this flawless, revolutionary design, the Mario series can sometimes be viewed as kids’ stuff, too easy for the “hardcore” gamers of today. But to this I say “HOGWASH!” Sure, there are plenty of stages I can breeze through with my eyes (half) closed, but every once and a while a Mario level comes along that is so brutal -- so infuriating! -- that it continues to challenge me no matter how many times I play it.

This feature is all about those levels. Those magnificent, @#!#$-inducing levels.

Oh, and a quick disclaimer: These are my picks for the top ten most difficult levels from actual, Nintendo-approved Mario platformers -- none of those crazy, masochistic ROM hacks or mods. As cool (and crazy) as they are, I am sticking to the official levels in the Mario series.

Grab onto a stress reliever and hit the jump for the ten most beautifully difficult Mario levels ... EVER!

The ten most difficult Mario levels EVER! - Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/the-ten-most-difficult-mario-levels-ever--172316.phtml)

[Dudebro]

Any ice level.

[Slime Slayer]

The levels that scrolled on their own used to take the wind out of my sails. (still do with nsmb wii)

[samejamesbond]

Sunshine is a brutal 3D platformer, I'm suprised there were no more mentions.

[Seahawk]

#6 and #4 can be beaten easily with tricks. On #6 have a blue Yoshi and cape and run and jump forward, then grab a koopa in midair and away you go. On #4 most of the tricky jumps can be beaten with INSANELY GOOD timing on triggering the flutter jump. Hard, but not impossible.

As for #1, what a wuss, that level wasn't that hard. #2 or any stage from The Lost Levels would have been better.

On the other hand, I have to agree with the statement "this list could have included every level from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and still be completely accurate." No flipping joke, that game is a nightmare. Stage 2-2 has one of the most hardest jumps in any game EVER.

Nintendo should seriously make a game called "Super Mario's Super Challenge" filled with nothing but diabolical levels like these. I certainly hope Super Mario Galaxy 2 does not disappoint on the difficulty, as Miyamoto said it would be harder =).

[david man45]

I agree with #'s 10, 8, 6, and 2. I thought outragous and the Impossible? Maze weren't that hard. The others I havent played.