Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

There are hard games, and then there is Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts — a title whose very name can give veterans phantom thumb pain. In 1991 Capcom delivered not just a beautiful gothic platformer, but a ritual trial of patience that will teach you to swear in several languages at once.

You take on the role of the knight Arthur, who in full armour sets out against hordes of the undead, demons and flying monsters. The series' signature element is the damage system: after the first hit your armour falls off and you're left in just your underpants, and a second hit means death. On top of that you collect various weapons and new armour with magical abilities. The game uses Mode 7 effects and gorgeous darkly fairy-tale graphics with graveyards, castle ruins and stormy skies, so despite the frustration it's a joy to look at.

Its most infamous feature is the ending. To reach the true finale and defeat the main villain, you have to complete the game twice, and the second time with a specific weapon, without which the final boss is invulnerable. It's a design that today feels almost sadistic, but it perfectly captures the ethos of the arcade era, when difficulty was worn as a badge of honour.

The Ghosts 'n Goblins series, to which this instalment belongs, is legendary precisely for its brutality and became a symbol of the hardcore challenge. Capcom was among the best action-game makers of the time, and Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is still regarded as the benchmark of fair, if merciless, difficulty. Arthur later appeared in other games too, including the Marvel vs. Capcom series.

Why play it: If you're looking for an honest, uncompromising old-school challenge and a beautiful gothic platformer, this is the true test — and the satisfaction of finishing it is all the greater for how hard the road there is.