And it is just as brutally hard as it was back then as it it now! Whether you have the 360 version, the Original SNES version or a rom, This game will punish veteran players and Newbies alike. I spent a crap load of hours playing this game back in the day, and I must say that I still have a love for it now.
This game is great. Insane difficulty aside, the game is a classic and to me, it is one of the reminders of how great level design, creative game play, and characters can go a long way thus, setting a fine example of how a game SHOULD be.
Also, it is a reminder of how games back in the day had to be mastered and not just played. Game developers of this generation should take a look at the past and learn something. A game that looks beautiful but last only 7 hours (heavenly sword, I'm talking to you!) isn't going to leave that lasting of an impression, and will be forgotten eventually.
This game is a prime example of how games stay burned into the memory of gamers long after the game system is turned off. I think the guys at team ninja took some notes! (Ninja Gaiden) One of the best platformer games I've played. Bravo Capcom!