The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios) by modernzorker

View this thread on steempeak.com
· @modernzorker ·
$15.95
The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)
Sony's original PlayStation is now twenty five freakin' years old, so hopefully it finds a decent job before getting kicked off its parents' insurance plan next year. Of course, its great-grandchildren are already boning in an effort to create the PS5, and now that I've filled your head with images of hot hardware action, let's talk about something important. The PS1 is a great system, but holy butts, did it kick our collective nuts into our lungs with some of its software!

What follows is part one of my *personal* list of the most sphincter-clenchingly difficult titles released for the system here in North America. Note that I said "personal" up there. As ridiculously huge as my PS1 collection is, I've not played every game for it, nor could any sane individual do so in a single lifetime. Now, "difficult" can mean different things to different people, but I'm not interested in games which are difficult because the developers are inept: unresponsive controls, unfair enemy placement, and idiotic level design can make anybody hurl a controller. I'm looking specifically with an eye towards games which were deliberately crafted to cause the maximum amount of pain and suffering to the wary and unwary alike.

Enough jibber-jabber. Let's talk about some flesh-blisteringly-tough discs like...

# Deathtrap Dungeon
___
<center>https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNxQhW2NR16B8FZ6a6JxR9UrCukA2TpZH2Jmc96eq6BbT/DDPSX.jpg</center>

### What Is It? 

Lots of people around my age remember *Choose Your Own Adventure* books, but fewer remember the game-based spin-offs which were all the rage for a very brief window of time in the 80's here in the US. There were a plethora of options to choose from, but the biggest and longest-running franchise was a UK import known as *Fighting Fantasy*.

Every *Fighting Fantasy* book was a self-contained adventure, much like a *Dungeons & Dragons* module, only instead of gathering half a dozen of your closest friends around the table, the *Fighting Fantasy* books were meant to be played solo. This made them perfect for introverted nerds like me, who often had plenty of free time and no one to spend it with. Nowadays that lifestyle is seen as the pinnacle of geek-dom, but back in the 80's it just meant you spent the majority of your time playing with yourself.

That, uh, that came out wrong. Never mind, you know what I mean.

*Fighting Fantasy* books were published for a variety of settings, time periods, and technology levels, but the majority were set in a Euro-centric high fantasy milieu where you as the protagonist of the story took on the role of a fighter, a wizard, a rogue, or some other archetype to pit your wits against the writer. Such is the case with *Deathtrap Dungeon*, the sixth book in the series, which sees you join a contest to navigate the trap-filled underground labyrinth underneath the town of Fang. If you win, the vile Baron Sukumvit promises to release his hold over the town and deliver a sizable purse of gold into your greedy little hands. The contest has been held annually, attracts volunteers from all over the place, but to date no one has ever managed to walk through the exit gates and claim the prize.

Among *Fighting Fantasy* enthusiasts, *Deathtrap Dungeon* was especially revered for its story, traps, and monsters, all penned by Ian Livingstone, who went on to become the head of Eidos Interactive and a millionaire many times over thanks to Eidos publishing a certain series starring a young, buxom archaeologist named Lara Croft. Now flush with money, Livingstone decided to bring back the *Fighting Fantasy* brand by converting its most recognizable and popular work into a video game. It would look a little something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg85YEMWRto

### What's So Hard About That?

The original game book gave absolutely *zero* shits when it came to messing with the player. There were a ridiculous number of ways to die (thirty-one separate instant-death events populate the text, and that doesn't even count the numerous creatures wandering the halls, any of which could potentially separate your spirit from your body), and Livingstone didn't want to spare screen-goers any of the abject misery and brutal randomness that came from the experience.

The PlayStation version of *Deathtrap Dungeon* is like that, only on steroids and played out in a full 3D environment like *Tomb Raider* with plenty of running, jumping, and climbing. Also like *Tomb Raider*, the game limits your opportunities to save to specific points within each level, and some of these save points require you to spend hard-earned money to activate them, which is especially sadistic given how easy it is to fall down a bottomless pit, immolate yourself in a fire trap, or get demolished by an invincible magical steamroller.

Stretch this out over 38 total levels spread through nine different areas, filled with an assortment of forty-three different types of monsters to kill, and you're looking at one hell of a slog.  Be prepared to spend a *lot* of time reloading save games and yelling at your television. The PC version is even longer, more difficult, and features additional enemies if you can believe it -- it's [available on GOG.com](https://www.gog.com/game/deathtrap_dungeon) if tracking down the PS1 version is too hard, you want the full experience, you think it could be fun to deathmatch your friends, or you just want to see the game in a higher resolution.

### Bring On The Extras!
___

*Deathtrap Dungeon* featured an enormous, extensive, multi-page ad campaign in magazines of the time period, for both the PlayStation and PC releases. Here are a few samples for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of the magazine scan archives at [Retromags](https://www.retromags.com):

<center> ![DD Ad 01 01.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSWkSedEdSFdVowpDCHawp54LRx1kZ9U9rsLYb1E1257A/DD%20Ad%2001%2001.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 1</center>

<center>![DD Ad 01 02.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSZnpha88fRAuCnLaknhwbkJ7Z3dtpWDB9sSoZTPYfPBF/DD%20Ad%2001%2002.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 2</center>

</center>
That one was relatively tame. This one, on the other hand, really got people's panties in a bunch:

<center>![DD Ad 02 01.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmU9Zw44VLtKjbxtMWhEyPa3zsvXjcwuq5Hv7LE9CiWy5m/DD%20Ad%2002%2001.jpg)</center>

<center> Page 1</center>

<center>![DD Ad 02 02.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeUhCoyuYjQfu49AshhE5fcrRfWscFTvSWDRnaVAaXzPb/DD%20Ad%2002%2002.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 2</center>

<center>![DD Ad 02 03.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmb71RuiZJrK152bnxxMgqmfTj1hG6aZ1VfiFd2UL8gAdA/DD%20Ad%2002%2003.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 3</center>

Eventually, this version was cut down to a single two-page spread with reversed artwork and different screenshots, like so:

<center>![DD Ad 03 01.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSVH2VwsqmVTRr4xJDdXSgd78BbsTBh9STEYp3Voyr2RC/DD%20Ad%2003%2001.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 1</center>

<center>![DD Ad 03 02.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeG6RnoWEnqGZgv8K9R9RWH7FNzBYLnqPywSdZrkWQbzT/DD%20Ad%2003%2002.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 2</center>

By 1998, Eidos toned down the ad campaign by bundling *Deathtrap Dungeon* ads with ads for other releases, like this two-page spread from *PC Accelerator* that postulated a cure for depression which somehow never made it into the *DSM-IV* and took a pot-shot and people seeking therapy at the same time:

<center>![DD Ad 04 01.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNSEX5euVAhL7k5dcpMQERji3QBKWJRvtpHJcq6oeVEg9/DD%20Ad%2004%2001.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 1</center>

<center>![DD Ad 04 02.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTitLQML3DfNSaKy9PtXzAAib9VaHshKsCSRf8KdMyDLz/DD%20Ad%2004%2002.jpg)</center>

<center>Page 2</center>

The 90's, folks. If you felt your life spiraling out of control, it was obviously because you weren't playing enough *Tomb Raider II*.

The game also inspired some controversy on the way it depicted female protagonist Red Lotus. In early promotional materials, such as this image given to both *GamePro* and *Electronic Gaming Monthly*, her armor consisted of a pair of thigh-high boots, bikini briefs, some bracers for her wrist, and a "what in the name of Zeus's butthole were they thinking?!" chain clamped to her nipples:

<center>![DD Red Lotus 01.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYGBgWh8UG6RJTz41X4LoXsL3GZxX6MeZiCDXLtdfDrrs/DD%20Red%20Lotus%2001.jpg)</center>

Hardly suitable accouterments for delving through a dungeon filled with things just waiting to stab, chop, bash, burn, shock, and freeze now, is it? Fortunately for everyone, slightly saner heads prevailed, giving us the Red Lotus depicted in the opening FMV above and seen in this review from *GamePro*:

<center>![DD Review.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZbz7B623BGFhtjxSkYYiGkC43RpBWsSZvbJqdTW9eKjh/DD%20Review.jpg)</center>

Still absurd, but vaguely less so than what *could* have been. Still, if any of you ladies have stuck around this far into the article (hi there, @peekbit!), no matter how tempting it may be, please do not go exploring deadly ruins and crumbling towers clad in stiletto heels. Trust me on this.
___
So, did you play *Deathtrap Dungeon* on either platform? What did you think? Let me know down below, and tune in next time when I talk about a nasty-as-hell platformer that spent so much time in development hell, it was announced as a title for no fewer than *six* different platforms before finally being released on the PlayStation (seventh time's a charm?) in 1998.
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 578 others
👎  
properties (23)
post_id82,398,580
authormodernzorker
permlinkthe-most-difficult-ps1-games-of-all-time-part-i-deathtrap-dungeon-1998-asylum-studios
categorygaming
json_metadata{"tags":["gaming","supdork","entertainment","blog","playstation"],"users":["peekbit"],"image":["https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmNxQhW2NR16B8FZ6a6JxR9UrCukA2TpZH2Jmc96eq6BbT\/DDPSX.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/lg85YEMWRto\/0.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmSWkSedEdSFdVowpDCHawp54LRx1kZ9U9rsLYb1E1257A\/DD%20Ad%2001%2001.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmSZnpha88fRAuCnLaknhwbkJ7Z3dtpWDB9sSoZTPYfPBF\/DD%20Ad%2001%2002.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmU9Zw44VLtKjbxtMWhEyPa3zsvXjcwuq5Hv7LE9CiWy5m\/DD%20Ad%2002%2001.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmeUhCoyuYjQfu49AshhE5fcrRfWscFTvSWDRnaVAaXzPb\/DD%20Ad%2002%2002.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmb71RuiZJrK152bnxxMgqmfTj1hG6aZ1VfiFd2UL8gAdA\/DD%20Ad%2002%2003.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmSVH2VwsqmVTRr4xJDdXSgd78BbsTBh9STEYp3Voyr2RC\/DD%20Ad%2003%2001.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmeG6RnoWEnqGZgv8K9R9RWH7FNzBYLnqPywSdZrkWQbzT\/DD%20Ad%2003%2002.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmNSEX5euVAhL7k5dcpMQERji3QBKWJRvtpHJcq6oeVEg9\/DD%20Ad%2004%2001.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmTitLQML3DfNSaKy9PtXzAAib9VaHshKsCSRf8KdMyDLz\/DD%20Ad%2004%2002.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmYGBgWh8UG6RJTz41X4LoXsL3GZxX6MeZiCDXLtdfDrrs\/DD%20Red%20Lotus%2001.jpg","https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmZbz7B623BGFhtjxSkYYiGkC43RpBWsSZvbJqdTW9eKjh\/DD%20Review.jpg"],"links":["https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lg85YEMWRto","https:\/\/www.gog.com\/game\/deathtrap_dungeon","https:\/\/www.retromags.com"],"app":"steemit\/0.1","format":"markdown"}
created2019-12-09 01:05:42
last_update2019-12-09 01:05:42
depth0
children6
net_rshares53,341,364,016,390
last_payout2019-12-16 01:05:42
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value8.105 SBD
curator_payout_value7.849 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length9,580
author_reputation44,440,381,426,003
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (643)
@ciasteky ·
what about HEART OF DARKNESS <3 ^^ Check my blog please 🥰
👍  
properties (23)
post_id82,398,673
authorciasteky
permlinkq280q4
categorygaming
json_metadata{"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-12-09 01:13:15
last_update2019-12-09 01:13:15
depth1
children0
net_rshares81,464,983,362
last_payout2019-12-16 01:13:15
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length57
author_reputation16,809,529,417
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)
@curie ·
Congrats on a Curie vote!
Hi modernzorker,
<div class="pull-right">
https://steemitimages.com/DQmXgrYG8AKimJKRSu2urPB5SPcftN6GCGx2gVJJMwBkuTu/Curie%20Logo%2075px.png
</div>
This post  has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed).  Have a great day :) <br>
 
Visit <a href="http://curiesteem.com/">curiesteem.com</a> or join the <a href="https://discord.gg/G6RPUMu">Curie Discord community</a> to learn more.
👍  
properties (23)
post_id82,401,402
authorcurie
permlinkre-the-most-difficult-ps1-games-of-all-time-part-i-deathtrap-dungeon-1998-asylum-studios-20191209t035828
categorygaming
json_metadata{}
created2019-12-09 03:58:30
last_update2019-12-09 03:58:30
depth1
children0
net_rshares79,835,279,507
last_payout2019-12-16 03:58:30
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length471
author_reputation542,555,842,389,955
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)
@gooddream ·
$0.02
the camera angles on that game used to drive me crazy.  It was pretty damn impressive considering the time period... the PS1 was truly a game-changer.  I had never seen those adverts and am kind of surprised they were approved by whoever is in charge of acceptable adverts.  
👍  ,
properties (23)
post_id82,404,345
authorgooddream
permlinkre-modernzorker-q28fqt
categorygaming
json_metadata{"tags":["gaming"],"app":"steempeak\/2.2.5"}
created2019-12-09 06:37:42
last_update2019-12-09 06:37:42
depth1
children1
net_rshares153,796,676,334
last_payout2019-12-16 06:37:42
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.012 SBD
curator_payout_value0.012 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length275
author_reputation2,380,491,673,125,516
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (2)
@modernzorker ·
The 90's are full of ads that make one question the sanity of the various magazines' advertising departments. One of these days, I'm going to do a write-up on some of the weird, out-of-touch, and just plain gross ads of the era. :)
properties (22)
post_id82,411,078
authormodernzorker
permlinkq28v92
categorygaming
json_metadata{"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-12-09 12:12:39
last_update2019-12-09 12:12:39
depth2
children0
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-12-16 12:12:39
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length231
author_reputation44,440,381,426,003
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@bearbear613 ·
Your post has been curated by the bitcoin myk project. Tokens are available for this account you can trade for steem at: https://steem-engine.com/. Join our curation priority list to earn more tokens by registering at:

http://www.bitcoinmyk.com/register/

Visit our discord at: https://discordapp.com/channels/523971711733858364/523971711733858366

Bitcoin MYK
admin
Register - Bitcoin MYK
This post earned 50 BTCMYK
properties (22)
post_id82,418,574
authorbearbear613
permlinkre-modernzorker-q29adw
categorygaming
json_metadata{"tags":["gaming"],"app":"steempeak\/2.2.5"}
created2019-12-09 17:39:30
last_update2019-12-09 17:39:30
depth1
children0
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-12-16 17:39:30
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length417
author_reputation58,135,905,929,028
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@c-squared ·
c-squared-comment
<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVHt1f2jqCViLk6dX2SZsajYRWBpmdQA7sQDEbuQBxFB3/c2100.png</div><br>This post was shared in the <a href="https://discord.gg/B8JFmJ4">Curation Collective Discord community</a> for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account.<br/> If you are a community leader and/or contest organizer, please <a href="https://discord.gg/B8JFmJ4">join the Discord</a> and let us know you if you would like to promote the posting of your community or contest.<br/>@c-squared runs a <a href="https://steemit.com/witness/@c-cubed/announcing-the-launch-of-the-new-c-squared-witness">community witness</a>. Please consider using one of your witness votes on us <a href="https://steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=c-squared&approve=true">here</a>
properties (22)
post_id82,426,291
authorc-squared
permlink20191209t235637741z
categorygaming
json_metadata{"tags":["c-squared"]}
created2019-12-09 23:57:00
last_update2019-12-09 23:57:00
depth1
children0
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-12-16 23:57:00
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length818
author_reputation7,922,986,006,650
root_title"The Most Difficult PS1 Games of All Time, Part I: Deathtrap Dungeon (1998, Asylum Studios)"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000