Atlantis no Nazo (Japan)

Atlantis no Nazo, or "The Mystery of Atlantis," is a renowned action-platformer for the NES, widely recognized for its extreme difficulty and unique level design. Players assume the role of a brave explorer, embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets of the lost continent of Atlantis and rescue their friends.

The gameplay of Atlantis no Nazo revolves around navigating through over 100 distinct "zones," each with its own unique layout and treacherous dangers. The protagonist can jump and throw bombs as their primary weapon. However, bombs are limited, forcing players to use them strategically. Throughout the levels, players can collect power-ups such as speed boosts, bomb power-ups, or even temporary invincibility.

What truly sets Atlantis no Nazo apart is its unique "Black Hole" system. If a player falls into a black hole, instead of simply losing a life and respawning at a nearby checkpoint, they might be sent back to a previous zone, or even returned to the game's title screen if they fall into the "Final Black Hole" at the very end. This creates immense pressure and demands extreme caution with every step.

Levels are often short but designed to test the player's patience and skill with hidden traps, sudden enemy appearances, and precision jumps. The game features a non-linear structure with multiple secret paths, warp zones, and even "negative zones" that can lead to disastrous outcomes. The ultimate goal is to find and defeat Naya, the main antagonist, but achieving this requires players to decipher Atlantis's complex map and overcome countless challenges.