To paraphrase a certain mule: there are two types of hard games: "tough but fair," and "tough but fuck you." Super Castlevania IV manages to be "tough but fun anyway."

It is filled to the brim with undeniable bullshit: platforms that flip over or straight up break when you land on them, knockback into bottomless pits, bosses stunlocking you, instakill spikes, enemies being obscured by the hud and hitting you from above, instances where it's impossible to avoid taking damage, getting stuck on stairs, falling through stairs, the game starving you for sub weapons and meat, those asshole skeletons that jump and throw bones like axes. It is rage-enducingly hard, I put the controller down many times out of frustration, and you can bet your ass I save scummed through the whole thing. And given this game's reputation as "the easy one" in comparison to its predecessors, I don't ever want to play the NES games.

But damn does this game give you such a sense of accomplishment for beating each of its stages. The core platforming, whipping, ghoul-slaying action feels so inherently good, the controls are precise (if a bit stiff), the game's gorgeous and spooky aesthetic and vibey soundtrack are so inviting, and with each death I found myself getting better. This game is constantly taunting you each stage, only to encourage you in equal measure to give it one more go. If you're determined enough, it's more than doable, and it certainly gets my recommendation.