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Hardest SMW hacks?

Originally posted by MrDeePay
Originally posted by mathelete
Sinister Dungeon is definitely not hard by any means. I modified the list, and also added a bit of content.



Timed reversed controls with conveyor blocks that are over pits of lava and a glitch with the reversed effect can cause your game to freeze if you get a Flower during it?

Then again, you tooted your own horn by listing a level you made on that list.


Actually, I figured out an easy way to do it. The conveyer's don't completely push you off, so you can wait at the edge of a conveyer belt for the controls to return to normal. When I first played it, it was late at night, and I did not think of this strategy. So that is why I put it on the list. I removed it from the list afterwards.

@miguel21450 I thought I was going to be stuck there for 2 hours in my LP, but I got lucky. During the successful attempt, the randomized eerie generator decided to be on my side. So I got it done faster than I thought I would.
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Figuring out a way to make it easy doesn't make-up for how hard the level is normally.

~
What do you mean "normally"?
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I have two options, one of which is a kaizo hack.

SMWCentral Kaizo Pack
I don't play that much Kaizo, but this one had some of the hardest levels that I have ever played. Especially Bowser's Ruins and Haunted Path.

My real option is actually one of my favorite hacks. I know a lot of you have played its 2008 re-release before. Had I never played this classic hack, I might not have joined this site.

The Second Reality Project
This is the original 2002 version of one of the most-loved hacks on this site today. The 2006 and 2008 re-releases (SNES Version and TSRPR, respectively) were made a bit easier than this version was.
The Second Reality Project actually starts out pretty easy, but the last few worlds are pretty hard. Bowser's Starship (one of the hardest non-kaizo levels I have ever played) required you to be Small Mario for every room except the first.


Vanilla Twist!
Strange thing is, people like the Vanilla version better than the Reloaded version...

Also, check out the list of 5 hardest levels I made on the previous page. I added a little note to Rupture in Reality.
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I actually like both versions of that hack a lot. The original is pretty challenging, while the reloaded version has one of the best hack designs that I've ever seen.

Mathelete, my list is actually pretty different from yours. Trick Temple was tough, but I have played far harder than that one. I haven't played any of the others on your list.

Here's my list:

5. Crystal Star World
From Super Demo World: The Legend Continues, this level is actually more annoying than it is hard. It might eventually be removed from the list, because I entered the Star World in that hack right when I got the secret exit in the first castle, meaning I had to play it. The reason it's up here right now is because the secret exit was tough to get. Getting the normal exit actually wasn't that tough.

4. The Tower
This level is the final level from The Devious Four Chronicles #3: The Crater. It is actually split up into five stages, but I see it all as one level. The reason it ended up on the list is because of the invincible Hunter at the fifth and final stage. This version of Hunter is a magikoopa sprite that you can't jump on, and he really can get in your way at times. If you've played a hack by Hunter and/or SCORPION, then you probably already know about that custom villain (one of my favorites).

3. Bowser's Starship
This is the original version of the final level from The Second Reality Project, and the ninth level in the Special Zone. What's hard about it is that you are small for pretty much the whole level. Except in the beginning room, you have to fly a very long distance to reach the ship's interior. The interior rooms are filled with traps and if you die, you have to start from the beginning of the level.
The Reloaded version is still tough, but not as tough as the original was.

2. SCORPION's Mansion
This level wasn't originally on my list, but I remembered it when someone else mentioned it on this thread.
This level is from the original 2008 version of Mario: The Fourth Sector by SCORPION. It can be found in SCORPION's Hell, just before the final world. The Mansion is actually longer than Bowser's Starship, and can be very confusing. Even the straightforward parts are still tough, even with savestates.
If this didn't claim the top spot, then what could possibly be harder than this level? The answer can be found in the #1 spot.

1. Hunter's Capital
This level is twice as hard than SCORPION's Mansion.
From The Devious Four Chronicles #4: Hunter's Revenge Recharged by metalgearhunter. This is the climax of the game. It is the 4th level in the final world, and is one of my favorite levels in an SMW hack. Still, there were many reasons why this ended up the hardest level on my list. Even with savestates and rewinds, this level is hard.
Hunter's Capital is divided into three parts, back-to-back.
This level reminds me of Zelda II. The enemies in the first part remind me a lot of the enemies from the Great Palace (hardest dungeon in any Zelda game).
Hunter shows up at many points in this level just to get in your way. If you're familiar with the Hunter and Scorpion games, then you probably know how annoying this magikoopa sprite can be. In fact, this level also has a special version of Hunter, which will shoot fire at you. This one can show up at the same time as the Hunter you are familiar with, and more than one of them can appear too.
The Hunter bosses in the level aren't that bad really. They're no tougher than any other HRR or Crater Hunter boss.

I think Crystal Star World can be done without savestates. I haven't tried it yet, but I might try it sometime. The Tower, Bowser's Starship, SCORPION's Mansion, and Hunter's Capital are tough even with the use of savestates and rewinds. Still, they're all great levels.


Vanilla Twist!
I think my list is actually biased, since I have not played every hack on the site yet. I don't think many users have played every single hack, so I guess people's lists will vary.

Also, I played Hotel Horror. Like you said, it was more confusing than difficult, and your biggest enemy was the time limit.

Also, now I feel like I really should download the original Second Reality Project, since it is in the top 5 hacks overall, which would mean it would rank #1 out of all Vanilla hacks. (There was no other vanilla hack in the top 5. Maybe now there is, but we won't know until SMWC re-implements the rating system)
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Originally posted by mathelete
I think my list is actually biased, since I have not played every hack on the site yet. I don't think many users have played every single hack, so I guess people's lists will vary.

Also, I played Hotel Horror. Like you said, it was more confusing than difficult, and your biggest enemy was the time limit.

Also, now I feel like I really should download the original Second Reality Project, since it is in the top 5 hacks overall, which would mean it would rank #1 out of all Vanilla hacks. (There was no other vanilla hack in the top 5. Maybe now there is, but we won't know until SMWC re-implements the rating system)

You should, that was one of the first hacks that I played, and I think that you would really enjoy it.

My list is probably just as biased as yours, if not more. You've probably played at most 3 of the games I mentioned there.


Vanilla Twist!
Actually, I only played 1 of the hacks you mentioned in your list.
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Originally posted by mathelete
Actually, I only played 1 of the hacks you mentioned in your list.

I see. From what you told me, I'm guessing it's TSRP2. I really think you will like the original TSRP, but be prepared for a challenge.


Vanilla Twist!
Bowser's Starship, or whatever the very last level is called, is waaaaay harder than Nine Inch Fireballs. Bowser's Starship is a lot longer, and at least you don't have to be small for the entirety of Nine Inch Fireballs.
Legacy custom music
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SMW hacking channel

oh boy, now I really want to play that level. Question: Is Bowser's Starship harder or easier than Rupture in Reality?

Edit: There are TWO vanilla versions (2002 and 2004). Which one should I play?
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Originally posted by mathelete
oh boy, now I really want to play that level. Question: Is Bowser's Starship harder or easier than Rupture in Reality?

Edit: There are TWO vanilla versions (2002 and 2004). Which one should I play?

The 2002 version is the hardest one. The 2004 version, or SNES version, is about as hard as TSRPR is.


Vanilla Twist!
I have modified the list:

#5 "Void Temple" from An SMWCentral Production
Reason: The last of the void levels is ranked in this spot only because of the boss. Why? Well, the blocks that rain down on you fall so fast, plus they pound the ground! Also, due to the falling blocks, you may be in an unlucky position that makes the laser attack require pixel perfect precision to avoid. Ok, next phase. The attack where he flies across the screen gives you only 1/256 of a second reaction time to dodge, because you have no idea where he will appear until the moment he appears. All in all, the amount of stuff on screen that can hit you, plus the fact that you have to know the pattern in and out (in other words, memorize the pattern of SMW's random number generator), makes this the hardest custom boss I have come across.

#4 "Trent Reznor's Home" from Nine Inch Fireballs
Reason: I don't need to explain why my level is so hard, because a bunch of other users have already done so. In the part before the midpoint, there is a place where you have to dodge 4 Luigi-boos, then get past some bouncing Marios. For some stupid reason, I chose to enable layer priority for the ribbon decorations, so a ghost might be hiding behind one of them. Also, the bouncing Marios require precise timing to get by. Inside the castle, the 4 doors are imbalanced, because door 1 is much harder than the other doors. Door 1 involves precise swimming, followed by some precise spin-jumping, and finally, some precise cloud-riding. Not to mention I was quite careless when creating the hitboxes for some of the lava tiles.

#3 "Rupture in Reality" from An SMWCentral Production
Reason: First of all, it was made by Raocow, and the difficulty was meant to match his insanely high skill level. Not only do you have to worry about fish that constantly try to kill you, but there is also a layer 2 scroll to confuse you even more. That scroll can also screw you over many times if you go the wrong way, which is basically a way of punishing players who have never seen the level before and don't know what to do. Finally, at the end of the level, if you go left, YOU WARP BACK TO THE FRIGGIN START! Now a lot of people say that Raocow does not know much about level design, but I will take the other side and say that Rupture in Reality is actually a very well-designed level. It was highly creative, and must have taken a lot of effort to build. Despite its difficulty, it is one of the neatest levels I have come across.

Alright, now we are getting into the top 2.

#2 "Sizzling Spires" from An SMWCentral Production
Reason: There are two main parts that seem to cause trouble. The block snake part requires really precise timing and movement in a couple areas. I actually felt like two of the flames should have been moved one tile right to make that portion significantly easier. And then there is the submarine part. It is enough that there is a lot to dodge, but it makes things worse when the hitbox is so confusing. Furthermore, I heard rumors that the creator used rewinds when playtesting, thus making Raocow the only proper playtester so far (unless I am mistaken).

#1 "Bowser's Starship" from The Second Reality Project
Reason: Let's begin. Ball'n'chain spinjumping, and to add insult, there is a statue at the end that spits fire. Later in the level, you have a room with spiketops and Puntin' Chucks. The fact that the level will not scroll unless you climb on the blocks allows for the highest chuck to score surprise attacks on you. Later on, there is a part where you have two blocks to jump on, each containing a sparky AND a ball'n'chain on it. Later, you have to jump off a bullet and enter a pipe, and you might hit somewhere near the side of the pipe, in which case you will fall and die. What's next? You have to jump off a koopa under a low ceiling. But a few seconds later, you do the same thing, but with added obstacles and 1 tile to squeeze through after jumping, meaning you have to time it almost perfectly! It is this one jump that I doubt was tested without savestates, as it would take a really skilled player (Raocow) to clear it. This is the non-kaizo jump that is the closest you will ever get to kaizo. Later in the level, you have to once again jump and enter a pipe, but this time with a ball'n'chain instead of a bullet. I know this must have taken a lot of playtesting, and the whole thing was actually good level design (except for that one koopa jump, I'm sorry, not to offend the creator, but that was a really stupid jump) and when I rank this as #1 in difficulty, by no means am I saying it is a bad level. If anything, it is the exact opposite, something that searches for the best players in the world.

So there you have it, I named what I think would be the 5 hardest non-kaizo levels. However, doing #3-#5 with rewinds will make the job really easy. Only Sizzling Spires and Bowser's Starship are difficult even with rewinds.
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I updated my list. SMWCP now has a record of having THREE levels in the list.
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If you have the full version of the 2008 version of the Fourth Sector, I dare you to play SCORPION's Mansion. Its long, hard, difficult precise jumping and spin jumping. Its longer and far worse than Bowser's Starship in terms of length and difficulty respectively. But since its fitting for a preultimate world, it may be more okay to be of such difficulty but some parts are unfair and have to be adjusted.
Modern Redrawn Mario Bros. 1.5 (last update - February 14, 2023, some new bonus frames, tons of minor touchups to various poses)

On Pixel Art Requests: Depends on what it is and if I have the time for it. If its complex and I don't have the time, don't expect me to accept it.

Projects I support:


Originally posted by sspp03
If you have the full version of the 2008 version of the Fourth Sector, I dare you to play SCORPION's Mansion. Its long, hard, difficult precise jumping and spin jumping. Its longer and far worse than Bowser's Starship in terms of length and difficulty respectively. But since its fitting for a preultimate world, it may be more okay to be of such difficulty but some parts are unfair and have to be adjusted.

What about Hunter's Capital from Hunter's Revenge Recharged? There's a reason why this level was at the top of my list.

SCORPION himself sent me a link to the original Fourth Sector, so I have played SCORPION's Mansion before. Yes, that level was extremely tough, but I thought Hunter's Capital was way harder. The reasons for that are explained on my list of hardest levels.


Vanilla Twist!
I will play both of those this weekend.
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If I remember correctly, some of the later stages of Unknown Islandz are tough but Bowser Castle is the hardest as it features rooms of various difficulty. Hell, one was where you had to time your jumps on the YI Bullet Bills. The outside area leading to castle is notorious for the piranha plants, hamme bros, and the flying cheeps in the later half of the courtyard. Back inside, one of the rooms have its directional buttons switched and you have to avoid the fishbones, and one last area has the bros, but there are a few original bros.not seen in any official game. The Gray Hammer Bros. are more resilent from fireballs, capeswings, hitting them from underneath than the regular Hammer Bros. and there also was a fire bros. who throws fast fireballs in the room (normal fire bros. Fireballs about the speed Mario shoots his fireballs after getting a fire flower). I know this caused I playthroughed this game and you can check my YouTube channel for a video of it.
Modern Redrawn Mario Bros. 1.5 (last update - February 14, 2023, some new bonus frames, tons of minor touchups to various poses)

On Pixel Art Requests: Depends on what it is and if I have the time for it. If its complex and I don't have the time, don't expect me to accept it.

Projects I support:


Where to I download Hunter's Revenge Recharged? And where do I download Fourth Sector? They are not on SMWCentral.
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