Levels from Hell, Battletoads (NES), Stage 3

I cover one of the most infamous levels in video game history.

[@AlphonsoDuncan]

Neighbors use to call me over to beat this level. I had the juice.

[@BlueBladerBot]

bull crap

[@edwardreese976]

DoritoMudkip 64 I second that.

[@mamamia9858]

The problem is if you can't beat level 3 then you can't beat the whole game

[@regularstan6212]

Noise!

[@jerraethomas2378]

I call bullshit lol🤣🤣🤣 stop the cap

[@coconutwonder]

I remember playing this on Rare Replay several years ago (I was born in '95 and a bit too late for NES) and even with the ability to rewind, my friend and I were SCREAMING at the amount of times we lost. 😂

[@Arkaha]

"So you start off the level in Rush Limbaugh's colon..." I laughed so damn hard.

[@retrogamelover2012]

Well, given how unpleasant of a guy he was in person, I'd sqy it's appropriate.

[@brandonfrancey5592]

So I'm guessing you never made it to stage 11: Clinger Winger. You want frustration? You must be nearly perfect turning each corner just to make it to the end. Then you fight the ball and if it kills you, you start all over again.

[@ahmeddemha6112]

+Devin Carter I traded a copy of Pokemon Blue for Battletoads and could never beat it because of that damn hoverbike level. Also didn't get my game back😰

[@Ruudos]

I'v ebeaten Battletoads last night. I think level 11 is one of the easiest levels in this game (stage 1 and 2 being easier). I'm playing on original hardware and a CRT television, Snake Rattle N Roll gave me more trouble than this game. Thanks to the last level of that game.

[@hdckighfkvhvgmk]

First off, pause buffering trivializes this level, second, the boss is a checkpoint. I assume you had only one life when you got there.

[@jackpenber8959]

theres a stage 11? yeah i never got past stage 3

[@wolfpackflt670]

Clinger Winger is completely broken with two players, it's unbeatable.

[@NintendoCapriSun]

I think the wall that turns up in the middle of the track probably cost me more sanity than the actual final dozen, at least relative to how tough it was "intended" to be. Ultimately though I think the Rat Race is harder (albeit more fun).

[@Neo-Metal17]

The walls the cover the entire section of a certain area cost me more sanity when there’s three of them in a row, and I hate Rat Race.

[@davidsenra2495]

The Rat Race was my final straw as a kid playing the original NES. After nearly losing my sanity in it, I quit. Funnily enough, the turbo tunnel is actually not that hard when you get used to it. The fucking surfing mines, god damn snakes, crazily aggressive sharks, Volkmire's Inferno... It was all possibly worse. This game was just fucking insane.

[@DerekBlais]

I lost my voice (twice, separate occasions) playing this when I was 6 or 7 at my friend’s house. I also punched him and his older sister when they tried to calm me down. His mom sent me home, and I slammed their door as hard as I could. I wasn’t allowed back inside their house (when his mom was there). This f’ing game.

[@grandevizier]

I got this game for my birthday in '91. I loved it up until this level, where I threw a temper tantrum so bad I got my Nintendo confiscated for the rest of that day,

[@Lightwolf9518]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheTXHighRoller]

Sadly i never did best this level and never knew what the rest of the game looked like 😢

[@madness5205]

12 years old. Uncountable amount of retries. I think I became one with the force on the last part as my reflexes were screaming! The most accomplishment I ever felt beating a video game.

[@davidsenra2495]

Muscle memory is an amazing thing. I think I could do this blindfolded even to this day. Imagine how many thousand of attempts I had to get to this point.

[@Not5id]

I guess I shouldn't tell you that in Rare Replay there's an infinite turbo tunnel challenge mode that just loops this part over and over and over again until you die? Yeah. That's a thing.

[@wicked1rish]

seriously? because I would go on forever... turbo tunnel is a joke and so easy once its memorized. Where can i download that?

[@cosmicjenny4508]

+Wickedirish You have to buy it, ya cheapskate.

[@Mikeyei]

I couldn't help but laugh throughout this video. About a month ago, I decided to challenge Battletoads. I thought that the 3rd level was hell...but every level after 3 is insane, especially the level with the time bombs later in the game. I got to the point where I died so many times each time I died, I'd find myself laughing uncontrollably. It's an evil game...

[@ganggreen1983]

This game is the BEST game on the NES. Though frustrating, once you finish the game it's very satisfying.

[@8p608]

ganggreen1983 I don't know about best, but it is in my top 10. In terms of music, graphics, and frustration, it probably would be number 1. But in terms of being the best NES game is debatable. Definitely agree with you in some circumstances.

[@slowpoke8585]

Dude, SERIOUSLY! I finally managed to beat the Turbo Tunnel last week and I felt such a sense of pride!

[@justintahair9119]

@@8p608 i personally like the challenge of it and rare made some ggod games and yep i dont mind nightmare on elm st for the nes either and they also brought us rc pro am which i played the shit out of

[@Vampocrat]

@@slowpoke8585 If I was to ever beat it after so much trial and error, I would just feel dead inside.

[@eclectica1]

Super Mario Bros 3 wants a word. But to each their own.

[@McNibbler]

compared to most levels in the game, this one is a cakewalk

[@alexisgutierrez4419]

Level 7 is harder

[@jc_malone8217]

***** Oh geese, the fire level.

[@McNibbler]

Once you get this level down you can complete it pretty much first try every time. Many of the later levels are just so easy to mess up in.

[@alexisgutierrez4419]

Now I made it to clinger winger and I can easily say that it leaves volkmire in the dust in terms of difficulty

[@McNibbler]

Alexis Gutierrez that's level 11, right? Oh man, I never got there D:

[@Akadimix]

Yeah, little 6 year old me never stood a chance against this level. You characterized it perfectly.

[@filmnstuff]

I still hate this level all these years later. It's just insane to expect players to complete all this crap with only limited continues and no passwords. Even unlimited continues would still barely ease the unfair challenge of this fucking nightmare level.

[@mareo187]

This level in this game and especially 2 will make you turn into Super Saiyan 10. It place both Nioh and the entire Souls into shame.

[@epg581]

Agreed. This is probably the hardest video game ever. I'm currently trying to beat it for the first time and I beat every Souls game.

[@maxiqums1549]

it's 2019 and since emulators happened, everybody beat this game easily

[@Renegado140]

Also its released on Rare Replay for Xbox, has a rewind feature and...sadly I had to spam it to actually see to the end of the game

[@RangerQwerty]

How many savestates does it take? Get back to me when you do the math.

[@legends166gd7]

Actually its not even close to easy 😁😂

[@Mightyzep]

VisitorZ Slash Arena yeah, sometimes rewind doesn’t help that much. I can get to 6-2 in ninja Gaiden without any cheating but after that point I’m just completely screwed.

[@regularstan6212]

@@Renegado140 hahahaha I gave up on it

[@happy_hour]

yo man, big thanks for this vids and channel, that's been my feelings also!

[@ElephantMariotheRHDNhater3293]

You did very good reviewing and playing the level at the same time

[@ToastyMann]

"Level 6 is the hardest" I can tell you haven't played *LEVEL 10*

[@kucharz100]

look at the shining thing at the lower part of the way 6:51 it's teleport to lvl 5 i guess. you're welcome

[@alaeriia01]

Ah yes, the useless teleport. You take the one in level 4 to skip the second bike level, then take the one in level 6 to skip the third. This dumps you out in the Intruder Excluder (level 8) where only God can help you now. You gotta fight your way up the elevator shaft of death, through Terra Tubes, down the Rat Race, through Clinger-Winger, and back up the Revolution. It's brutal.

[@davidsenra2495]

Actually, the order was 1-2-3(warp)-5-6(warp) and then fight your way in every level from 8 until the very end. There was actually a warp in level 1, but it was not recommended, as level 2 was great for ramping up lives for the later stages.

[@fitzcannon]

This level impossible for me to beat, I couldn't beat it when I was 7 and I can't beat it now at 33.

[@GuadalupeRodriguez-eq4kr]

Same here, 10 and now 34 hahaha

[@justintahair9119]

keep pumping away at it and prehaps you can

[@kingevilcrashbandicoot2062]

Same her I am same ur age

[@dj396]

Same here pushing 31 looking for this fucking game becus I’m still pissed as a fucken adult i let this sorry piece of shit excuse for a game frustrate me so dam bad as a kid !! Now in my 30s ok coming back for revenge for all the torment as a kid !!!

[@randallewebb]

@@dj396 I actually just beat this game as an adult on yesterday evening all the way through with NO WARPS or CHEATS. It is a TRUE FEELING of accomplishment.I am now 44 years old and made a goal a year ago to beat the game. I would work on the game on and off in 2-3 week bursts. I did it on an emulator and was able to LEARN the game using SAVE STATES. Even with that it was still the hardest challenge I have ever had. My advice is to take notes on the levels and learn/memorize the patterns. Also study the AI and patterns for enemies and make a GAMEPLAN of how to beat each level. You will slowly get better, and get through large parts of it. I would download Batocera and install it on a USB stick. Download NES ROMS on another USB. from there you can run it on a laptop that is USB bootable and never have to instal on any machine. Then get an XBox 360 controller and you are good to go.

[@genuinesaucy]

Everyone: Turbo Tunnel is the hardest Battletoads level! Clinger Winger: Hold my beer.

[@filmnstuff]

At my age, I don't need the stress of Clinger Winger.

[@oscarramos5681]

What is Clinger Winger?

[@genuinesaucy]

@@oscarramos5681 The second-to-last Battletoads level, and the final vehicle level. Imagine Turbo Tunnel but with no checkpoints whatsoever. The timing required by that level is so fucking precise that you can't play it on an HDTV, because the few milliseconds of input lag they have with old consoles will get you killed.

[@m.j.torque511]

I can totally relate to what you've gone through. I had sleepless nights trying to figure out how to beat that race track. Took me more than a month, just to get through that level.

[@jbreitz87]

Me and my friend at age 6 began plotting the course of the track while trading the controller between after each death and yelling out things like, down, up, down, jump jump jump, down jump, hover, to plot out how to beat it. We eventually did, but got fucked up in the level after. It's so funny. When we first started the game we had fun, and turned into adversaries. That's my sword-pipe. That's my flying pig. I'LL KILL YOU AND TAKE IT IF YOU DENY ME. But once we learned the horrors of the kart level, we were staunch allies because a greater, more asshole threat emerged.

[@Cupcom5]

Before I came across emulators, the only battletoads game I was able to beat after LOTS of trial and error was "Battletoads and Double Dragon." It was the first Battletoads game I and the family ever played, and It was HARD AF!!!!

[@johnnywilson3071]

I could just imagine a review of this game,. Well if he did level 4-12 he'd probably be adding anotther 8 levels to the Levels from hell Series as they all stand up to Turbo Tunnel in terms of difficulty. Well level 7 is bascially the same level but obstacles are random and come from above as well as head on, level 11 is a marathon in precision timing and the precision timing of the kind where your margin for error is milliseconds.

[@megamanxtc]

I remember this from when I was a kid too. I couldn't get passed level 3, the part where there are small platforms that you have to keep jumping from. However, I did have a friend who could do it rather easily. I think, at 6:52, that little thing that appears before the wall is a warp. If you manage to run into it before it disappears, it warps you to a later level.

[@jumpieva]

"but unfortunately this is just the beginning"

[@filmnstuff]

For some, it's the beginning. For me, it's the end because I'm shutting this fuckin' game off and playing something less aggravating.

[@SonJazrin]

It's because of the game's crushing difficulty, that for as long as I live, I will always remember this game.

[@garagegamer6484]

I really like the turbo tunnel. The 5th section is a pain the ass but I really enjoy the entire level.

[@ElectricMessiah1]

I love this video!!

[@FamilyManYT]

This is the one level that I remember the most from my gaming days as a kid. I think I was up until 5am trying to beat it.

[@punchingplayerpenguin3291]

two words: Volkmires Inferno the beginning is the same exact way except the platforming is way worse and DEAR GOD the bike part is like this one on STEROIDS AND CRACK. it actually requires memorization to complete the first part of the flight and then you're dodging fireballs, missiles, electric barriers, and it speeds up at the end just like this level.

[@randallewebb]

Yeah. I gotta agree. Volkmire's inferno is harder. But also the Rat Race level is tough as well.

[@Rogerioapsandrade]

if you think Turbo Tunnel is hard....you must try Wolkemire's Inferno. Turbo Tunnel has a constant, static series of obstacles. Wolkemire's Inferno, on the other side, has obstacles with random positioning, so memorization doesn't work there as in the third level

[@bra1nc417d]

Thanks for letting me know what game to never try.

[@bra1nc417d]

For reference, I can't play games based on luck. My luck is like a bald man winning a comb. I know, its an old saying but its still true.

[@Rogerioapsandrade]

bra1nc417d actually.... luck doesn´t work with Battletoads either. That game is pure skill and lighting-speed reflexes. Today it is easy to practice the hard levels using save states on emulators but back in that day that wasn´t possible.

[@JoelHernandez-tz3vk]

For me the 3rd level was always the worst for me, not for being the hardest but for having the biggest difficulty spike of the whole game. Hardest level for me is level 10. Worse yet I somehow softlock it... twice.

[@Ruudos]

Only the fire balls and the rockets are random and not that hard to avoid. All the fire walls are static just as the Turbo Tunnel. The level does require a lot more memorization than the Turbo Tunnel though. The entire game is mostly about memorization.

[@videogamephenomhd]

One of the hardest levels in video games, especially since there are so many obstacles hard to dodge while on the speed bike.

[@floydjohnson6020]

Jesus Christ this video is a gem of KZbin Gaming you desserve more views and subs

[@mightymouse1111]

Well done. I feel better now.

[@hunterkillerstudios]

Wait have you played the shovel knight version of the bike level from battle toads crossover and trust me it’s like this but 5% easier

[@PikminandOatchi]

This review is so old any kids born when it was uploaded are half way through high school.

[@dmentedphotos]

My brother used to have so much trouble making the warp on this level so I learned how to put one controller on the floor on either side of me and control both characters in order for us to hit the warp.

[@exquisitecanineaficionado]

Third level is hard? I really like third level. Best thing is how music is synchronised with ride itself. Last part is borderline epic. Flying robots part is easy. Just hug lower corner. This way, you just need to avoid one last slow flying robot. Now, Terra Tubes, Intruder Excluder, Rat Race, Clinger Winger... THOSE are hard levels. Clinger Winger is absurd; you have to do whole level PERFECTLY. And there's no checkpoints besides boss battle!

[@JoeBee9]

As a kid, I would just go for the warp every single time I hit this level. It saved me from having to clear half of that part and jumped me ahead of what would have been yet another frustrating level filled with ice.

[@acetylslicylsyra]

Never managed to finish this game. I could make it through stage 3. But it always left you mentally exhausted. Looking at the levels I can see that Ive made it to stage 9. But I had difficulties remembering the other levels, but stage 3 is forever burnt into my brain.

[@Markmeblablabla]

I'm surprised your NES dosent explode when you beat this level, great vid

[@BlazeInferno360]

When I was a kid, I got stuck on level 3 for a really long time. Then after I passed that, it was onto level 4, then found the warp, then onto level 6, then found the warp again. Level 8 was difficult but passable. As soon as I got to level 9, I said I'm done :P

[@Randolo10]

Played this high the other day. Intense stuff

[@DreadKnight666]

This level is quite easy for me, but really loved this video, very hilarious! I'm actually doing a free open source clone of BattleToads atm, about to code a similar level xD

[@lobomau9409]

I love that sick game!

[@StickemupMerk]

Dude this made me wanna play again and I just beat that level for maybe the second time in my life lol

[@triton115]

To be exact, by the way, Battletoads gives you only 3 opportunities to continue after being defeated. If you get just 4 game overs, the game sends you all the way back to Level 1; Ragnarok's Canyon.

[@luminozero]

The best part of this video was listening to him rage, and just laughing endlessly. I got this game on my seventh birthday, October of 91'. Over the years until I got a SNES (~ '98) this was probably one of my favorite games ever. It was hard, brutally so, but not because of bad design or poor coding. It was hard because it was made to be hard, and Rare made sure that you got your monies worth. The Turbo Tunnel wasn't the hardest level, it was admission to the rest of the game.

[@alaeriia01]

"The third level is probably the most insane level ever made!" Levels 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12: Bonjour.

[@filmnstuff]

I don't have the willpower to suffer through those levels.

[@alaeriia01]

@@filmnstuff I'm currently dealing with the horrors of stage 9 (Terra Tubes) and will eventually complete the game. I find Battletoads a lot more tolerable when you give it infinite continues.

[@jediking12]

Could you do a Review on Ghost n Goblins?

[@samuellopes3935]

I don't think this level is that unfair. Sure, it's a sudden difficulty spike from the first two levels, but this level is all about pure memorization and reflexes. After getting a few game overs in this level, I can pass it flawlessly now. Ghosts and Goblins on the other hand is more based on luck than skill. Because of that, I think it's more frustating than Battletoads. If not for the unlimited continues, beating Ghosts and Goblins would have been impossible.

[@aloissoto9194]

Yeah after a couple of thousands times 😆😆😆😂😂😂

[@jamessingleton3852]

The beginning of the video is Hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💪🏽

[@a96ozsteak]

I laughed out loud several times, good stuff.

[@thaitran4527]

this stage is beatable, even back in the day. The problem is that with the limited continues and lives/passwords or save games. This stage eats away almost all of you lives and continues leaving you with pretty much nothing left for the later stages.

[@davidsenra2495]

The main life-eater for me were the damn snakes. After hundreds of doing the same thing over and over, I remember beating turbo tunnel in a single try, I think.

[@RileySkye100]

I like how you pointed out on the ramp part at 4:34. I laughed at it because of how you were pointing it out.

[@isaactakeuchimusic]

Your vitriol is all class. 👍

[@Gauntlets]

I beat dis level in... around 1993, perhaps early '94! Farthest I ever got on console was level 7! And when da background changed, it scared me nearly shitless!

[@ZELYNER]

Good luck with new Battletoads( which was presented on E3 )

[@c0n5um1n973ff43y]

This level drove me nuts

[@Joemamma109]

for me, I found a teleport in the second set of walls that brought me to the snake stage, and that stage isn't so bad...

[@nicklong1981]

never could beat that 3rd lvl back in the day

[@mjrleaguesweetie]

Happy ten year and two day anniversary of this video being a thing!

[@bourne8636]

This is the best commentary ever lmao

[@ProfNekko]

and that's why 90% of Battletoads players use the warp zone in the tunnel about halfway through

[@jackhitchcock4777]

I agree with you filmnstuff on the fact that Stage 3 of Battletoads is pure evil, but I think that you should do a review of the Amiga version of Battletoads which is MUCH worse than the NES version.

[@PhantasyStarOST]

This stage foreshadowed Guitar Hero for 15 years.

[@my.pfp.say.it.all.5u5]

ahhh this level is pure pain

[@PhilosopherGaming]

Subbed lol dude I love you, I was only doing research before I purchase and review this and the snes version (which i own) but watching this I havent laughed so hard since I beat the snes version of this level (exactly the same i think) and had to start the game again because id exhausted all my lives and died in the next level leading to a near mental fucking breakdown! lol In short, great commentary :)

[@arnoolve]

I was one of those young kids banging his freaking head in the wall because I was a kid and didn't quite developed great hand eye coordination yet. Battletoads for the NES level 3 left me with a traumatic experience when I was a young kid but today as a grown up this game eats my dust.

[@colleenb6712]

I miss when KZbin was full of real people.

[@filmnstuff]

I miss when KZbin actually respected freedom of expression.

[@sameus3581]

@@filmnstuff is there an alternative tho?

[@filmnstuff]

@@sameus3581 Other video websites.

[@God8010]

god this brings back memories. i never got past this level. It was anything but fun :p

[@raedenjay]

i love this level and this game, i wish modern games were challenging

[@InfiniCalendar]

Wow, I think that's the first time I've seen the end of that stage. I actually liked the Battletoads series aside from the hoverbike levels, but they made sure to put at least one in every game (except for maybe the arcade version). I never beat any of them without cheat codes.

[@KingGameReview]

ugh! This level still gives me nightmares! lol. I still play this game occasionally, but I still have only beat that 3rd level like twice in my life.

[@Yaveshtolethien]

When someone asks me my accomplishments in gaming, I say "I beat some Koreans in Starcraft Broodwar, and I beat the jet bike level in Battletoads like 4 times."

[@sandreid87]

I still have nightmares from my childhood of this level. I never beat it

[@ElephantMariotheRHDNhater3293]

Your most popular video. It's an incredibly awesome review on one of the hardest levels in a video game!

[@lotusnegrachannel]

It is a very hard level, but if you compare with the final levels like rat race, firezone, revolution and clinger winger, It may probably will be rated as the one of most easy levels in whole game, in fact. Battletoads is a masterpiece. No doubt about that. My favorite game side by side with castlevania 3

[@FreshBastitch]

Was it the last level? I remember so much pain.

[@lddestroier814]

I practiced this level on my laptop a lot, and I eventually got to the point where I did it a few times without dying once.

[@Nathual]

Beat this game so many times when I was younger xD Ahh the good old times... Where do you think all those people got those street fighter reflexes from xD

[@triton115]

If you think the Turbo Tunnel is hard, you haven't yet experienced the Clinger Winger level (Level 11). It actually took me longer to beat Level 11 than practically all other levels, including Volkmire's Inferno (Level 7), the Terra Tubes (Level 9), and even theRat Race (Level 10) and the Revolution (Level 12). And you are totally correct; from the beginning, Battletoads gives you only 4 opportunities to win. At the 4th "Game Over," you have to start all the way back at Ragnarok's Canyon.

[@user-pm8je4fo7e]

Twenty years past and my thumbs are still reacting on this footage. There is no word in your narration I havent said 20 years ago about this fucked up level! Laughing my ass off now tho. Excellent video!

[@8p608]

I personally think this is one of the best NES games, but mainly because of the graphics, music, sound effects, decent control, and high replay value for levels 1 & 2. But man, FUCK THIS LEVEL.

[@adamsanter9385]

Battletoads never needed these levels but they exist anyway 'If you're not up to the challenge then play something easier' that should be the slogan for all the Battletoads games

[@amac1693]

my older brother and i would just fight each other everytime we played the game

[@ThouzandWattz]

I beat this game when I was 8 years old. It took me almost 3 years...

[@kingevilcrashbandicoot2062]

The guy who made this stage is sick

[@jamessingleton3852]

Maaaaaaaaaaaan this video is GOLD

[@pelletier1986]

It's a warp to level 5.

[@Powere25]

Yea......this lvl don't have shit on klanger wranger stage 11.

[@Pixintendo]

There is another big problem with this level. Where you have to jump a lot, where the exclamation mark warns you, there’s some shit thing. Although I’m in line with the platform I didn’t fall off before, after the jump, the game decides to fall away, plus it’s not fixed at which jump and which platform. Could it just come from an emulator? Because it was almost impossible to go through, too, I had to do something very special movement to keep from falling off the platform, but I’ll never try again. My other question is, what the fuck happens to Rash’s mouth when he’s on the bike? :'D

[@Jacky_Raider]

Stage 7 is harder then 3, Stage 3 is child's play after practice

[@johnianflores]

dude, I believe at 6:51 is the warp to the next level, but at that speed, most won't notice...

[@marcussmiler3500]

do you have battel toadz ?

[@hdckighfkvhvgmk]

Well then... he's *REALLY* not going to like the rest of the game

[@mastitime6093]

Best review of lvl3 by anyone 😁

[@andrew2000s]

You should have done "Levels from hell" Battletoads(NES) Level 7!

[@punchingplayerpenguin3291]

Erik 1 Gamer i see what you did there 😏

[@eutue]

warp zone at bottom near end of stage