Frustrating levels/quests and how you finally solved/passed them

[Via]

Majesty 2 has (among others) a really frustrating quest in which you have to kill a dragon while fending off tons off flying, fire-breathing serpents and minotaurs. I tried every combination of guilds, but none seemed powerful enough to combat the serpents effectively. Most heros would die before they reached any sort of higher level, and building marketplaces and blacksmiths for potions and weapons was usually futile - they'd get destroyed before doing any good. I tried the Hall of Lords, but with only 4000 starting gold you only have enough to hire a single hero, and that's not enough. I failed this scenario at least 10 times anfd had quit playing Majesty 2 because of it.

Yesterday, on a whim, I loaded it up and tried something slightly different, and won on the first try:

Spoiler

I built a hall of Lords as my only building and hired the best fighter I could. A decent fighter can one-shot the serpents, so he was enough to thin the waves that would attack from all sides. I had a few hairy moments while my castle was crumbling and the guy was off exploring, but he always got back in time to save it. So I twiddled my thumbs and watched while my tax collectors slowly gathered enough gold to hire another lord. My second hire was a ranger, who was also able to one-shot the serpents. Two heroes had a much easier time of it. So I sat back some more until I had enough gold to hire another fighter. With three lords the scenario became pretty easy, as I was able to build all of the guilds I needed. Why didn't I think of that before?

I'm sure this was probably obvious to some people, but it sure wasn't to me. It felt good to solve it without looking on the net for a solution.

What were some of the frustrating quests/scenarios that had you stumped for a while, and how did you finally get past them?

 

[PrayForDeath]

I've had lots of frustrating moments/bosses in games over the years. Can't really remember any at the moment, would have to think about it. Some of the giants in Shadow of the Colossus were tough (and extremely satisfying to beat), such as the sandworm, and the last boss.

 

[Sulaco]

GameFaqs

 

[marmasatt]

I was playing Dead Space (1) three months ago and enjoying it thoroughly. However, the dreaded turret level was killing me. I could not get by it. Read a few faqs, even posted on here in the console forum. Went back one more time and still couldn't do it. After googling I found out I seriously am not alone on this. Put the game up on the shelf and haven't touched it since. Shame.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

If the game is fair then usually keep dying over and over a lot until I've actually learnt how exactly the game mechanics work, I see a lot of moaning about things being too hard by people who clearly don't understand the complexities of the game mechanics.

Like recently I got stuck on the PS3 trying to complete Burnout: Crash trophies and that lead eventually to a much better understanding of the game mechanics because I paid attention to certain bonus points and how you achieve them and built strategies around that, some of the trophies appear impossible at first but once you've got a good understanding of the details of the game mechanics they become do-able, and even easy.

Some games are just flat out unfair though, those just take repetition, stamina, often luck, and most of all patients and a cool head, when you get angry it just gets worse.

 

[Northern Lawn]

I love Far Cry 1 PC but there was a Boss later on in the game against krieger. You were trapped inside a corridor and couldn't go back, he would run up and jump on a desk right above you then run in the little ante chamber. It was so hopeless trying to kill him then finally I did it on Hard. When I went through the game on the hardest difficulty level called Veteran, I couldn't beat him, I think I tried for 4 hours, I didn't know what I was doing, I would just shoot him and shoot him and nothing happened. So I googled it and it turns out you had to shoot him in the balls.
So I go into the corridor, door shuts behind me, I run up to the desk and hide. Krieger runs up and jumps on top, I shoot him in the balls and he's dead, LOL.

I googled the you tube video of that same situation except this guy handled it differently he must be playing on easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUvnZ3N4ysA
I spent 4 hours on veteran trying to get past this guy lol.

 

[Rifter]

Emerald Weapon in FF VII. Solved with lots and lots of attempts, like over 500.

 

[lavaheadache]

I too came in here to talk name a Far Cry 1 part that had me trumped for a while. I actually tried off and one for about a month and finally got through it. It was the helicopter part probably about 3/4 the way through the game. OMG, was that such a pain in the ass. I think I just had no ammo at the auto save. Can't really remember what the troubles were exactly but man was I having a hard time.

 

[CPA]

Darksiders, last boss, had to google the proper sequence.

Currently trying to beat Civ IV on Noble. Reading up on all kinds of strategies on Civfanatics. Still not able to beat the AI at that level. I can't believe people have won on Diety.

 

[rudder]

this bastard

and this bastard...

dungeon siege 2 .... never had the patience.

 

[dpodblood]

I can't even count the number of times I have gotten to the point of "rage-quit this is f**g impossible" just to come back a day later and beat that same part in my first try. It's almost always a matter of thinking of a better way to approach the problem, rather than beating your head against the wall using the strategies over and over. If I get truly desperate I will look to Gamefaqs or Youtube, but normally I like to solve things on my own.

 

[JTsyo]

GameFaqs

yea, these days I won't spend more than 15 mins stuck before I go look it up. Don't have time to waste for just running around.

 

[Anomaly1964]

I play EVERY game I pay on the hardest setting available with the mentality that "I am NOT going to let a GAME beat me!"

Currently playing RAGE on NIGHTMARE and love it...

 

[cronos]

GameFaqs

This.

I used to be pretty idealistic about solving games on my own/the pride and glory of figuring things out by myself/etc, but nowadays I don't want to waste my precious gaming time to get stuck on stuff

 

[slag]

Back in high school when Nintendo first came out, I was the king of keeping a game on pause for days at a time while I stopped being pissed and frustrated and could finally go back and play it. I kept ghosts and goblins on for almost a month before I beat it all the way through. Karnov was a 2 day game as well. Sucked because my parents live in the country and the electrical service isnt that great. Many days I would come home from school and find out we had a power surge and the game was reset.

 

[Corporate Thug]

the music box level in the new castlevania...ign guide

I hate when one level ruins an otherwise good experience

 

[Maximilian]

Splatterhouse 2 end boss, and i thought the fking octopus before it was tough.... to beat this boss i used emulator + cheats :thumbsup:

Sonic 2 end boss, i was hitting him in the crotch for so long before i watched my friend beat it properly... full of innuendo there but you get what i mean :awe:

 

[Daverino]

Dead Souls: Blighttown mosquitoes.

The answer was: Halberd. Dash in, dash back, stab. Works every time.

 

[Jeffg010]

Most Frustrating boss ever was Phinigel Autropos "Phinney" from ever quest. I was a wizard and was trying to get that drop for my epic staff. How did I get this? luck! I killed him over 100 times looking for that drop.

 

[Aikouka]

Sometimes it's just repetition trying to learn how to do it. The largest problem that I usually have is in challenge modes that some games implement, which usually requires pinpoint accuracy and timing. A good example is "Mega Man Powered Up!" (PSP), which features (10) challenge levels for Mega Man and all the robot masters. I've literally died on... Ice Man #8 (I think it was #8) about 100 times, and I'm still not sure if I've beaten it yet!

I have certainly heard his death sound effect ("Soooooldier down!") way too much.