#22: Ghosts ‘n Goblins (Capcom, NES, 1986/1989)

It’s not just their sheer numbers that make the enemies in this game so overwhelming, though. There’s also the fact that what tools the game offers you to defend yourself are not even remotely adequate for the task. Your weapons are feeble, and your armour seems to be made of glass. Take one hit from any enemy, just one, and your armour will shatter, leaving you to run around in your underwear. Take a second hit, and you die. There’s no way to regain you armour once it’s lost. Ghosts ‘n Goblins has no concept of mercy. It knows only suffering.