Holy Diver for Famicom-One of the hardest games of all time...
There isn't a lot of info on this game online...none that I could find, anyway. There's a faq on it, but that's about it. It's not even a very good one, leaving out many details about how to get past the most difficult parts. Those that have played it know of its legendary difficulty...some say it makes Battletoads or Ghosts and Goblins look easy. But, like those two games, you want to play it over and over, even though you are screaming obscenities in frustration. The game is beautiful for its time, has great music and play control, and it owns your ass every step of the way. Like Castlevania or Blaster Master, or G&G, you fight demons and such, and there's a devilish motif in the game, with crucifixes and pseudo-pentagrams strewn about.
I can only think of a few reasons this didn't make it here, and they aren't even good ones. The whole game is in English, save for Romanji level names. If they changed a few sprites here and there, I'm sure NOA censors would have allowed it. The only reason I can think it didn't make it here is it's extreme difficulty, but that didn't stop other games from making it here, so whatever.
There are cheap deaths galore. There are patterns that must be tested hundreds of times before you get them down...then they change on you. There is no battery save, there is no password, but there are unlimited continues that put you back at the beginning of the level you are on. I don't know of anyone that has ever beaten this game outside of using an emulator using save states, and even then it's extremely difficult! In fact, I had made it to the fourth level boss before, but I gave up. There's six levels, and I just beat the rest with save states. This was a couple years ago, and I decided it was just a game I would never beat legitimately, nor would any other normal human that I knew of.
Fast forward to last week. It was my last week at my job and I knew I'd have this week off before I started my next one. For about 10 days I played it relentlessly. Finally, today I beat it legitimately. That last level was enough to make me really want to give up. They just throw so much crap at you, you would swear it was impossible. But I finally did it!
I just wanted to share this review/story of victory with you folks. It's one of the best NES games ever, and I pity the fool who doesnt at least try it, and I also pity the fool who dares attempt. Good luck, and if anyone needs tips, I'll be glad to lend a hand!
-Rob
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Originally Posted by vintagegamecrazy
I have a new most wanted game now!
