The last 1/8th of this game, encompassing the final dungeon and beyond until the credits roll, is one of the nastiest trolls I've ever seen a retro developer pull on the player. I must ask: WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

Never played this. Care to elaborate?

>>11810672
I have played it multiple times and have no idea either.

the pc engine version sucks in comparison but the final boss is way toned down, which is nice

>>11810672
Basically, the vast majority of the game is a simple, cute, not-too-difficult adventure/platform game a la Zelda 2. Bosses and platforming challenges are pretty easy, the design is tight, and nothing's ever too frustrating. It's actually really fun.

Then, right at the final dungeon, the game's difficulty spikes 90º. The dungeon itself is a labyrinthine maze that culminates in a reflex-heavy platforming challenge where, every time you make a mistake, you have to re-fight a boss. This is followed by another extremely difficult boss with three forms – each with their own individual healthbars, of course –then a boss rush, then an infamously-difficult final boss with two forms.
Check this shit out:
https://youtu.be/1vRSwykqMIQ?si=TAltzf8afabgprTi&t=6830

This guy has fully maxed out his character with all heart containers and powers, and he still just barely squeaks by the last fight.

The rest of the game is absolutely nothing like this, and the difficulty comes out of nowhere. I couldn't imagine being a kid in 1991 having a fun time in the main part of the game and then getting my ass kicked around the boss by the end of it.