Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams :P

That does apply to most of the game, yes, well at least from what I've played. What I mostly find insufferable are bosses where I just do keep dying until I figure out how to fight them. Granted, I did not get trough the second one - but I just couldn't muster the motivation to do so after I've had to do the same bit for the third time. Now maybe I'm just terrible at the game, but that's it - I'm perfectly capable of enjoying even games I'm terrible at, as long as they allow me to set my own rules. I want to be the one to decide if I want dying in a game to have a consequence or not. For the Dishonored example, dying had consequence - because I wanted it to work that way. I just dislike when game designers force a manner of gameplay that I do not necessarily enjoy. I can tell you with certainty that I, personally, would have ejoyed DS more with a proper save system. If others wouldn't be able to, well then, I just won't enjoy DS and move on.

Fair enough. What most people don't pick up on when starting Dark Souls is that dodging is miles better than shielding, then they try to turtle and wonder why did they just get wrecked.

As for Taurus Demon, that dufus actually jumped off the bridge and killed himself on first play through. On my second one I was already experienced, so basically ran in 2 handed, dodged everything and sliced him down, so I don't really know your pain on this one.

Anyway, I see it a bit differently, I like when a developer knows how difficult the game is supposed to be and sticks with it. Then it's your turn to show that you're up to the challenge.

+1

Need to have a joystick for that one.

Montezuma's revenge... damn, just damn...
Also
Mechanized Assault and Exploration - the first bleeping lvl already!
Also
Any civilization game, 3 onwards, with Captain Warmongering Lunatic as a neighbour, aka Ghandi...

I've finished Riven about five years ago, but I had to google it to refresh my memory, I still can't recall what was the puzzle about. All of the solutions were possible to find with a little persistence and experimentation, there was enough clues given for each puzzle. I got the game bundled with Myst I and III, the first game had sound corrupted and I was stuck in the third game so I put it back on my shelf, but when got back to it few months later I was able to beat the whole thing without problem.
How about Spelunky, is it modern enough for you?

As I said, I can't remember the puzzle myself other than knowing how it looked after searching for it. Myst III was the only other game in the series that I played so far, while technically more advanced than Riven it's a lot easier and overall much smaller game and not as interesting in world design. Myst III and IV were made not by original developer of first two installments but dev. teams subsidiary of Ubisoft, and while I didn't enjoy Myst III that much I'd very much like to play part IV which is considered to be one of the best in the series (it's also a very pretty game), unfortunately because of whatever legal reason they won't re-release it and it's hard to find a new copy for a reasonable price these days.

Yeah, the Itagaki Ninja Gaiden games were just... cheap. And extremely punishing in that it took away from my real life time by taking away my progress in-game.

The oldschool Ninja Gaiden II on the NES however, I remember were great. I legitimately got all the way to the final boss, then resorted to Game Genie to kill the last boss. Maybe one day I'll go back and do it again, legit.

Now you have done it.
I remember THE HORROR of my childhood.
Endless times i tried to play the game...and endless failures.
You may call it childish behavior....me tossing and smashing everything...than sulking in a corner
only for coming back and try THAT game again and again.
But seriously the enemies were hard...i hated them with a passion.
Just the goal right in front of you and than BAMM...the fiend has slain you again.
No, i will never ever play LUDO again (Mensch ärgere dich nicht für uns Deutsche).