Most difficult game

[paigeoliver]

What arcade game do you find to be the most difficult. What are those instant death games?

My two votes are both Sega games

Super Zaxxon - A note in Mame says

The game goes way too fast, making it impossible to play. The speed has been checked against working boards. It really is supposed to be this fast. It's a very difficult game -- definitely not for a novice gamer!

It is basically just Zaxxon mixed up a bit, at double speed. After some practice, I got to the point where I can beat the dragon sometimes, but never a second time.

Up N' Down - I am not sure if this game is horribly difficult, or if I was just terrible at it when I started? I am pretty good at it now, but I must have played it 100 times before I ever cleared level 1.

[Brax]

Irritating Maze.

The name is no accident.

[kspiff]

Xexex.. likely partially due to incorrect emulation.. but mainly just cos it's hard.  Probably the hardest shooter I've ever played, including GigaWing.. and the creators of GigaWing admitted that they made it excessively hard (to munch more quarters )..

[Magnet_Eye]

have you ever tried  I'm Sorry? now that game pisses me off. pretty funny though...

but i havent got past the second stage!
 

[Thenasty]

The most challenging game I have tried is Chicken Shift. This will screw up your mind. Don't let the game name fool you. They should have taken out the the "f" in Shift to match the game difficulty.You got to have two brains separately to finish this game and there is no continue. I still have to master level 3 and I have no more hair to pull off.

[Smittydc]

Robotron
after wave 8 or so it gets absurdly/hilariously difficult as about 500 little red men all converge on you.

[CitznFish]

Magic Coin...  got too frustrated to finish the first level.


I think this is the game where you roll the quarter down planks...

[Luxury]

Section Z - It just goes on and on, and gets insanely difficult.  

[Thenasty]

Magic Coin...  got too frustrated to finish the first level.


I think this is the game where you roll the quarter down planks...

It is called "Speed Coin" I have tried this and it is hard too.

[Apollo]

I can't remember the name of the game ( it might be Chicken Shift as above ) but you have to direct eggs down pipes. Holy **** that game is hard!!!
Either that or Zaxxon which is just insane.

[Dartful Dodger]

20 years ago I would spend all my quarters on Bag Man and I could almost finish the first level, today I can play the game for hours and I can't even collect all the bags on the second page of the first level.