Well that was easier/harder than I remember.

[Xeros]

Search Bar Approved (as far as I could find)

Spoiler: Back story if you're interested

So a few days ago, while talking to my friends, the conversation went to "what do you think is the best game ever?". They went back and forth for a bit before turning to me upon which I responded "Syphon Filter". Being that I never shut up about Syphon Filter, especially when this type of conversation pops up, they called me out on my claim. After throwing various insults at me all pretty much stating that it's nothing but nostalgia, they told me to play them again to see if I was still singing the same tune. So I did, I played them again, and I loved every second of it. However I will give them one thing, they're a hell of a lot easier than I remember. Maybe it's because I remember where most of everything is, but I remember these games being a pain in the ass, especially 2.

So, have you every replayed a game that you remember being difficult as hell, and find that it's much easier than you remember?

EDIT: I'd like to add Half-Life 1 to this list. Granted I never finished it when I was a kid, but at least I made it to Xen, I just couldn't beat the Nihilanth (I got my brother to do it for me). Now I can't even get passed Surface Tension.

Alternatively:

Spoiler: Back story if you're interested

I recently dusted off my SEGA Genesis, and began to play my old favorites like Sonic and Streets of Rage. While going through my collection I stumbled upon my Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers game. So I dusted it off and started it up. I then proceeded to get my ass handed to me. I remember this game being absolute ***** mode when I was a kid, now I can't touch it. I can hardly get passed Minotaur.

So, have you ever replayed a game that you remember being ridiculously easy, and find that you can hardly get passed stage 1? (or is just a lot harder than you remember?)

 

[Torque669]

I bought the first Crash Bandicoot, a game I hadnt played since I was 8 and thought it was incredibly hard and was unable to complete even the tenth level. I completed it three hours after Id bought it. I was shocked by how much of a "Noob" I used to be.

Also if Im struggling on a game I will turn it off for a day, come back next day, start a new game and when I get to the level I was stuck on I usually shoot straight past it.

 

[Sebenko]

Jungle Strike. How the hell I ever completed that game, I don't know. I can't even do the first level nowadays.

 

[haruvister]

Obviously 8-bit games were harder because they were smaller and had to fit within, like, a megabyte. But this probably exacerbated the piracy problem, because anyone who had an Amiga will know how soon after starting a game of Gods or Rick Dangerous you got fucked off by the hand-chewing impossibility of it all and felt the need to boot up a different game.

So yeah, by now I've become so used to having infinite lives that games like Treasure Island Dizzy, with its instant-death-then-back-to-the-start-of-the-entire-game policy, seem pretty harsh.

 

[Leftylol]

Its been a long time since playing it and I haven't played it recently but one thing this topic brought to mind was Panzer Dragon for the Sega Saturn. So back when I played it I was like 8-9 and I played it multiple times, but I only EVER completed it once.

No matter how much practice I made no matter what I already knew I could never complete, it just became simply impossible for me to do.

So yeah, I'd like to give it another shot but maybe in another 50 years time.

 

[Urgh76]

mostly any game that you get stuck on, you can complete the next day.

For me, Dr. Wily on Megaman 8

........

What?! DONT LAUGH I WAS YOUNG!!

 

[captainwolfos]

Dig Dug. Jesus H. Christ I don't know how I played that as a kid.

I recently bought a plug and play arcade thing (from a carboot sale. God I love carboots) with 4 8-bit games which were popular back in days gone by, and it had Dig Dug on it, and I get owned every time I play it now XD It's actually quite embarrasing XD
But on the other hand, it's the perfect emulator, right down to the annoyingly sticky joystick XD

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

How the bloody Hell did I complete the Gran Turismo 2 liscenses?

Also, Rayman is easier than I remember, but barely. I still have to enable unlimited continues.

 

[ThatStrangeDude]

Hercules for the PS1. I completed it as a kid - But now where I've repurchased it I can't even pass the third stage. O.O

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Hmm...For easier:

Well, Gun is a shit ton easier than it was long ago. Then again, I didn't get good at action games until this gen. With my first FPS ever actually being "Prey".

And Prey was a cakewalk on hard mode when I picked it up again a few months ago, too. Even before you get the infinite lives ability.

All the Ratchet & Clank games are easier than I recall, too.

As for harder...

Sonic 1. Boy, Sonic sucks without spin dash.

Jak 2. Mostly because I can't invert the left/right camera.

I never go back to old games, much. At least, nothing pre-PS2.

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

Hugo's Horrific Adventure springs to mind.

 

[slipknot4]

Pokemon, oh god, Pokemon blue
Hardest game ever!

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

I used to be so frighteningly good at GTA Vice city. Now I forget where everything is.

 

[Proteus214]

I beat God of War 3 for the first time a few weeks ago on Normal mode, then I did Hard mode last weekend for the trophy and I got stuck in so many different sections that I had zero trouble with on Normal (the epic swan dive in particular) and I annihilated the final boss easily (that I had serious issues with on Normal).

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Kinda happened to me last week. I was playing Mass Effect (1) and I got stuck at the part where you battle Matriarch Benezia and her squad of Asari Commandos. I tried for a half-hour and could not even touch her. I saved and quit, came back two days later, and beat it in three tries with little frustration. Maybe I just needed to clear my head. Because I was so high...

 

[Xeros]

Also if Im struggling on a game I will turn it off for a day, come back next day, start a new game and when I get to the level I was stuck on I usually shoot straight past it.

mostly any game that you get stuck on, you can complete the next day.

I'm far too stubborn to do that. If I'm stuck on something I will keep at it until I'm victorious, or I rage out.

For me, Dr. Wily on Megaman 8

I don't know about 8 as I stopped at 7 because the robot masters were getting so stupid, but I got stumped on Dr. Wily in each and every one of them. His castles were always a pain.

Sonic 1. Boy, Sonic sucks without spin dash.

Definitely, Scrap Brain Zone used to take me forever to get through. Still one of my favorite levels though.

I used to be so frighteningly good at GTA Vice city. Now I forget where everything is.

Yeah, I used to know my way around San Andreas like the back of my hand, now I can't find a damn thing.

 

[McNinja]

God of War I and II. For some reason, I remembered them both being extremely fun and easy. However, I got the GoW collection for Christmas, and I replayed both games. Actually, I got so fed up with the first GoW that I never finished it, and I nearly didn't finish the second one.