Moments that made you give up/quit playing a game (Spoilers!)

Kane & Lynch. The freacking construction bulldozer that runs over Kane's daughter.
I must have played that mission 15 times. Couldn't crack it. Never tried again.

There are actually few games that i do that. I either try it out for a few hours, don't like it and erase it (area 51, assassins creed), or finish it through.

Yep. Fuck that mission. I didn't even hate the game that much until that part. If you have a busted ass aiming system, levels like that should not exist.

Dead Rising.

After playing for about 5 hours, saving in a random spot, and realizing later that I now had to start over from the very beginning. Why would it let you save anywhere if it just boots you back to the start. Fuck keeping my stats, what about all of the missions I finished. Dammit.

And I know I wouldn't have had this problem if I had read the instruction booklet completely, but come on...

That's a shitty save mechanic.

No, the save mechanic in DR is kind of bullshit.

Damn near gave up on GTAIV a bunch of times because of some bullshit mission Manny sent me on. Follow a train? Kiss my ass. God, I am so losing my patience for games. This never would have happened to me back in the day.

I've been talking to some of my younger co-workers about missions in GTA4 that give me fits. They were looking at me like I had a third eye. For every mission I said took me multiple tries (and there are quite a few) they just gave me a blank stare. Apparently they all blew through them with no problems whatsoever. Either I'm getting old and my reflexes suck, or these kids play too many damn games and are just that much better than me. Or a combo of both. Or they're just lying wankers and I need to dock their pay for being little shits. Get off my lawn!

The San Andreas flying missions made me abandon the game for half a year.

One level in Medal of Honor (not the snipers) made me give it up, where an alarm was tripped and enemies just kept on coming. After a dozen tries I just quit in disgust.

An associated question: what's the longest you've tackled a difficult scenario/mission until you succeeded?

Secret of the Silver Blades (SSI Gold Box), there was a part where you entered a barn full of Drow clerics and mages, with a few efreet for good measure, and they just went to town on your party. I tried different strategies for almost three days before I finally prevailed. Unlike the moments detailed earlier, however, I enjoyed the challenge.

I must have played the last section of the sniper level in COD4 like 25 times. Those damn enemies just kept coming.

I have never finished a GTA game.

Usually I'll quit a game if there's some excruciatingly frustrating boss battle, usually the ones where you assume you've beaten it and then it morphs into a new, even more powerful asshole.

Same. I gave up on the game for a week. Too many times the helicopter was so damn close and then I would die. I have no idea how many times I played that level.

There was a Playstation game called Silverload. It was an adventure game set in the Old West. Whenever you made a wrong move in the game, the hero would say, in a solemn tone, "Nothing happens." Early in the game, I got to a point where, no matter which way I moved, I'd get, "Nothing happens." This went on for several minutes. "Nothing happens." "Nothing happens." Minutes later, my friends and I were laughing as we chucked the game in the trash.

To this day, when I see those friends, one of us at some point will inevitably say "Nothing happens" and start laughing.

Most frustrating game ever is a tie between Way of the Warrior and Road Rash on 3DO. My buddy and I spent SO LONG playing those games and we could NEVER get past the final stage. On way of the warrior you could never beat the end guy, if you did, you would die also and it would just say "Double Death! Try again?". After a couple times of losing you had to start the fucking game over from the beginning!!! What the fuck is that shit?!?! Road Rash just became too impossible where we couldn't make it more than 2-3 miles on the insanely long, like 26 mile track. Fuck those games.

Both those games had soundtracks by White Zombie (Way of the Warrior) and Soundgarden (Road Rash). Everytime I hear Thunderkiss '65 all I can think of is "Double Death"

Ha, I read the review of Alone in the Dark on IGN and they specifically say to start burning those "roots" right from the beginning or you will get so pissed you won't finish the game. I haven't played it but it's kind of funny that it happened to you. Not laughing at you, just that they were right. fuck that shit.

I actually have finished all of the main GTA's, none of the spin offs on PSP or whatever. Workin on IV right now. I have a rule that I have to finish a game before I buy a new one, so that usually forces me to finish a game. Been dying to play Metal Gear, but trying to finish GTA IV first.

My buddies also came up with a phrase, "that hurts", that we use for everything that is insanely frustrating, not just games. It stems from that feeling when you want to just break your controller in half because a game is so hard, for no reason, that it "hurts" you not only mentally but physically. I know, I'm a nerd. Aren't we all though.....

The Mysterio level on the "Spider-Man 2" game, the one where you have to swing out to Liberty Island and disable a forcefield hanging over the Statue of Liberty nearly drove me to suicide. I turned that motherfucker off four years ago and haven't revisited it since.

Oh, hell yes. Rayman Rabbits -- more replay value in my home than any other game. The kids and I love the music challenges (in both games). Hysterical stuff. And I'm so busy laughing with them that I lose concentration.

Yep. I'm with you on this one man. Fuck that level.

Ha, my buddy just bought an Xbox for that game specifically. He said it was exclusive to Xbox, but I've seen that is on PS3 too. That kind of pissed him off after I told him, seeing that he didn't find that out till he bought it, and he already owns a PS3.

Can't wait to get a call about those "roots". Ha!

I never had a SNES, so I was pleased when Actraiser became available via Wii VC download. A couple of the bosses were tough, but nothing ridiculous. I enjoyed the game. Finally got to the end. It's one of those damn "FIGHT ALL THE PREVIOUS BOSSES ON ONE ENERGY BAR" scenarios, and I'm sorry, but I'm not that omniscient. I cannot avoid EVERY hit. I can get maybe 2/3 of the way through the sequence, and maybe there's even something after that?

Jerks. I really would like to see the end, but I don't see it happening.

I definitely want to check out Alone in the Dark, it does sound cool and there hasn't been many good horror games for awhile.

Don't know much about Heavy Rain, but I loved Shadow of the Colossus. That was an amazing game and a prime example of a game that is difficult, but not frustratingly, throw the controller across the room, difficult. Only played ICO for a short time, but it definitely seemed pretty cool. I would definitely check out whatever they put out next.

The first ten seconds of Batman Forever.

Rock band, green grass and high tides, the last 20 seconds. I actually took the game out and threw it behind my dvd case, like I was punishing it. Not one of my most shining moments

I'm enjoying it quite a bit on the pc. Yeah, it can be frustrating as hell, but for me the good has outweighed the bad. Your mileage may vary.

The game, not the movie! ok i kid i kid...ok not really the movie sucks..
is that the game where they filmed actors doing the moves and they just threw that into the game...damn that looked like ass...does know and did then

Alma in Ninja Gaiden. Fuck you, Alma.

After seven years of inactivity, I am purchasing new Sega Genesis controllers to resume my clash with the Sega "X-Men" game. I can destroy the whole thing, but when I get to Magneto in the final battle, I have no clue how to harm him. I've been away for too long- I'm coming for you, Magneto.

I got really pissed off at Oblivion once I got turned into a vampire and have kind of quit playing since then. I pick it up occasionally and try to get another ingredient for the cure.

All I know is that from what I've heard the game is straight up rip off of Mortal Kombat.

I nearly gave up on the sniper level in CoD4, but I didn't. My major give-up was in Farenheit (or Indigo Prophecy if you're weird) with a certain quicktime event that was physically impossible.

After finding a savegame to skip it, I immediately regretted it - the moment I chose to quit was literally the turning point in the game from quality, to utter shit. It's almost intentionally designed to stop you going further.

I remember the sniper level on the original "Metal Gear Solid" for PS1. I had fallen madly in love with that game till that shit-ass level destroyed me for the one billionth time. I didn't even bring the game with me when I moved out of my mom's basement after graduating college. To this day, the game gathers dust alongside all my VHS tapes -- the rotten bastard.

I'm sure there's some way to defeat that sniper fucko that I was just too retarded or incompetent to pull off.

Me neither. I thought I had finished GTA III and Vice City, but I think I actually gave up on the last few missions both times.

Besides GTA, here are the five games that come to mind as being the biggest time-sinks, and which really hurt to give up on.

1.)Ninja Gaiden 2. Ninja Gaiden was hard enough, but the final boss on N.G. 2 is fucking impossible.
2.)Ninja Gaiden Black. I gave up on something like the third level. Too. Hard.
3.)Indigo Prophecy. How could I not see the story-line would turn retarded. Argh. Turned it off towards the end.
4.)Rock Band: I'll give GG&HT another shot in about a year. Maybe.
5.)Tie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) and Battletoads (NES). Both games seem unbeatable.

I should have given up on X:Wing, the game absorbed so much time. YOU PROTECT THE FUCKING FRIGATE, STUPID MISSION-GIVER! Tie Fighter seemed much more balanced.

I feel your pain in this regard. If the cargo is so god damn important, why don't they figure out a way to make the cargo transport move a little faster! I actually hated the 'fly through the rings' training missions as well. Screw you A, X, Y, and B wings!

Of course, I did enjoy single-handedly taking out a Star Destroyer. When you did that you really felt like you'd earned something.

About 2 days into a rental of Lost Planet i got to a mech boss about halfway through the game. I got my ass kicked 2 or 3 times in a row and I just snapped. All the frustration of the game just built up and that one boss sent me over. I returned it immediately after just so I wouldnt be tempted to give it another shot and perhaps end up breaking it.

More recently though, the airship level on Ninja Gaiden 2 has made sure i wont be picking it up again for a long time. Im stuck on the first couple minutes where these spider mech things are shooting me with their minigun. I guess its safe to say i really fucking hate mechs.

Yes. You've finally earned enough peace of mind to go to sleep just before the sun rises.

Oh man. SO MANY hours spent unloading on those shield generators and turrets, then turning tail into space 'til my shields recharged, then turning back and having another run. Mission would already be completed, nobody there but me and that Star Destroyer, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let that fucker get away clean.

The first hurdle in the first stage of Smurfs for the Atari 2600. That bastard.

The "Indiana Jones" knock-off missions from Stuntman for PS2. Most frustrating game I've ever played. GTA and Ninja Gaiden are nothing next to my frustration from that game.

One thing that has given me a little bit of solace after many years of unfinished games is YouTube. Although, finally seeing how a damn game ends (X-Men and the first Spider-Man game for Genesis among the many) after realizing I was so close can be a bitter pill.

It's funny how many times I've shelved a game for a couple months after countless attempts at beating a tough spot only to clear that point with absolutely no difficulty on the first try. Not so with the "bust in/out of the police station" mission towards the end of Vice City, though.

Sniper Wolf? In the showdown in the snow? Yeah, there's a cheap way. Run into the little alcove corner where she can't see you at all and fire Nikita missiles at her, the ones you can steer. I felt like the smartest bastard ever when I first did that.

Psychonauts ALMOST made me give up in anger. The Meat Circus is terrible. And following your "father" doing acrobatic shit as he hurls fireballs at you and the camera fights you every second...godDAMMIT I hated that. I did finally sack up and beat it, though.

Also, Hades in God of War. I'm pretty sure it actually was hell, it was that bad. In fact, it was so bad, that as I was about to load up GoW and give it another sound defeat a week or so before GoW 2 came out, I remembered Hades. I then took it out of the PS2 and went and sold it.

Also, Gears of War. Again, it didn't stop me, but that was only because I would not admit defeat while playing co-op. "Look at all that juice." Fuck. You. Fuck you. FUCK YOU. Fuck you, you fucking suck-ass, shit-ass, terrible motherfucking retarded stupid fucking checkpoints that have unfuckingskippable cutscenes that repeat the same lame dialog over and over and fucking over with enemies that can EASILY one shot you from across the goddamn cocksucking map. That's pretty much stuff that I would say in my more lucid moments of that bullshit underground part.

1. GTA III: The mission where you have to protect 8-Ball as he blows up the freighter. Defeating this one somehow eludes me to this day.

2. The end boss of Perfect Dark: For some reason I am incapable of beating this thing. Been trying for a long time.

3. This might be the one Bees is talking about. The angels in the church in Indigo Prophecy.

4. Also been discussed: the escape from Chernobyl in Call of Duty 4. The difference being that I can beat it on anything except the hardest difficulty. On Veteran (I think?) I can't even make it past the first big group of bad guys. I'm dead in about five seconds flat.

Castlevania. The NES one. Fuck you, Grim Reaper!

*edit- Some of you guys suck at GTA, methinks. I got 100% in III and Vice City without cheating, and I beat San Andreas the same way(too much shit there, I'll never get 100%). The only problems I had in San Andreas were the RC missions and flight school(I had no problems with flight school on the PS2, only on Xbox).
The missions I've played in IV, including the last one, were pretty easy. I spent enough time fucking around with that game prior to playing those missions that I had become a good driver/shooter though.

Yeah, that last bit was straight outta hell. It's to the game's credit that someone like me, who'll happily toss aside a game thats frustration is outweighing its entertainment, stuck it out and finished that crazy ending.

It's always interesting to see how some folks toy with games that eviscerate you (like Ninja Gaiden Black, for me), while you found some of their most frustrating experiences easy (Psychonauts? Hard?).

It's all about reward vs. perceived work. Playing Ninja Gaiden seemed more like a frustrating homework assignment to me after a while, whereas Psychonauts kept me thoroughly entertained throughout.

Someone mentioned Spiderman 2 on the PS2. I constantly failed on the Mysterio stage until I realized that I wasn't supposed to make those impossible jumps, because the tiles would arrange themselves. Also, when you fight Doc Oc on the train, the game tells you to push this and that to avoid his tentacles, but I could never get it right and kept dying. I put it aside and tried about a month or two later: I just kept going up to him and jumped around, beating the shit out of him and completed it on the first try.

The longest time I've spent on one stage was probably on Goldeneye for the N64, the part where you have to protect the girl in the big-ass room with the computers while guards just swarm in from all sides. I must have tried a hundred different ways to beat that level, and when I finally got it, I felt like God. After I finished the game, I would just load that level to kill an unholy amount of respawning russian fucks for the hell of it.

I'm down to about 5 or so purple coin missions on Super Mario Galaxy in order to get 120 stars . . . I spent a couple of days trying to get past them with no luck, dying repeatedly on each of them. Then, Smash Bros. arrived and I haven't had the desire to go back to finish. So damn hard.

A few years back, my game playing just kinda stopped, around the time i hit 33 years old. The i got Gears of War, played for about half an hour and thought, isn't there something better i can be doing? turned it off and that was it... i have hated myself ever since.