PlatinumGames is well known for its work in the action genre, putting out hit after hit of exciting, intense, and extremely challenging games that are all about executing precise inputs and button combos to pull off flashy moves in combat. Ever since the developer first exploded in popularity after the release of Bayonetta in 2009, they have gone on to make some other amazing titles that have really pushed the action genre to new and fresh heights, making it more popular than it's ever been.

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Of course, since the majority of their games revolve around fast-paced combat, a good dose of challenge needs to be inserted in order to keep the player engaged throughout a playthrough. It's a good thing, then, that Platinum never shies away from making its games difficult. Whether it's through a unique gimmick or simply the tricky enemy AI, PlatinumGames know exactly how to ramp up the challenge when a game truly needs it. This added difficulty only makes the experience all the more satisfying in the end, as these difficult titles amply prove.

7 MadWorld

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.11

• A shockingly violent monochrome action title that sees the player constantly beset by groups of foes.
• Things start off rather easy, but the campaign ramps up the challenge gradually.

When PlatinumGames first jumped onto the scene in 2009, they kicked things off with a bang with the release of MadWorld, a chaotic action game that features an incredibly unique art style that seems heavily inspired by the comic book Sin City. For the first few hours, the enemies in the game are extremely weak and nothing more than an obstacle to break up the exploration, but they eventually start becoming much more aggressive. Considering that players only have three lives per level, there's precious little room for mistakes to be made.

A few of the stages also include vehicle-based combat which, while visually stunning, is very hard to navigate with the Wii's less-than-ideal controls. There are also the Bloodbath Challenges that players can go out of their way to complete in order to score a few extra points: As the name suggests, these can get out of hand incredibly easily considering just how many enemies appear on-screen at once. Much of the difficulty of MadWorld arises later in the game and/or in optional content, but it certainly packs a punch in places.

6 Astral Chain

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.31

• A futuristic action game in which the player must control their character and their Legion in tandem.
• Deep and complex combat forces the player to react to the many threats facing them.

On the surface, Astral Chain can seem like any ordinary anime-styled hack and slash game, but what really makes it stand out as something entirely new is the Legion system. During combat, players will be able to summon a Legion to help them out in a fight, and though they will attack on their own by default, they can also be maneuvered with the right stick to set up some special attacks and techniques. While they're definitely very powerful, it can also be challenge to actually manage the Legions and use them effectively, especially since they have their own health bar which can deplete very quickly if targeted by a group of enemies.

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Being able to make full use of each of the five Legions, and knowing when to switch them in and out of a battle, takes a lot of practice to pull off, but they can be absolutely devastating when in the right hands. This extra layer of strategy is ultimately what has made Astral Chain such an intriguing concept for fans of the action genre, since it grants the game a hearty challenge that requires both skill and a little bit of luck to overcome. A radical departure from the norm such as this hasn't struck a chord with everyone, however.

5 Vanquish

GameFAQ Difficulty Rating: 3.36

• The player is forced to adapt and experiment to discover some capabilities of Sam's Augmented Reaction Suit.
• Vanquish is a gauntlet of difficult bosses and enemy-laden set pieces, as is typical of PlatinumGames.

Vanquish puts players in the shoes of Sam Gideon, a super soldier who's kitted out with an Augmented Reaction Suit that lets him slide, flip, and kick his way around the battlefield without even breaking a sweat. The most important part of the suit is the boost, which will allow Sam to fly around the stage at lightning speed. It only has a certain amount of juice, so players will need to learn to use it to maximum effect just before it runs out, otherwise it will enter a lengthy cooldown.

The truth is, though, Vanquish doesn't tell the player about a lot of the suit's more in-depth techniques, such as how it enables Sam to enter slow motion after a kick, or the melee attacks that can fling him towards an enemy even if they're a good distance away from him. These secret abilities are absolutely vital for taking on the swarms of enemies and gigantic bosses that are thrown Sam's way in this enthralling action-whirlwind of a game. Dedicated fans adore it, but Vanquish never really succeeded in making a big splash outside of that.

4 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.58

• Intense and very technical blade-based combat.
• Towering boss encounters that will push the player to their limit.

The idea of a hack and slash Metal Gear game was met with a lot of skepticism from longtime fans when it was first announced, but it's fair to say that PlatinumGames blew away player expectation with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Since his appearance in Metal Gear Solid 2; Sons Of Liberty, Raiden has become a katana-wielding cyborg who's able to use a multitude of resources and techniques to slash apart anyone who stands in his way.

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Actually learning and perfecting these abilities can be very difficult in and of itself, though. The parry mechanic in particular, while extremely important for taking down bosses, is brutally hard to pull off. Speaking of bosses, Metal Gear Rising contains some of the hardest boss enemies ever seen in a Platinum game, with the likes of Sundowner and Armstrong being especially difficult because of their durability and hard-hitting attacks. Blade Mode can make things a little more manageable, since it allows Raiden to slow down time for a brief few seconds, but using it to its full effect is much harder than it looks. It's a stylish and thrilling action title, but its challenge can be very off-putting for some.

3 Bayonetta 2

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.63

• Witch Time is vital to help you manage the onslaught of enemies, so perfect dodges are a must as well.
• Bayonetta's defensive options are strictly limited, making it rather easy to be overwhelmed.

Despite perhaps dialing down the difficulty a little bit from the first game, Bayonetta 2 is still a very unforgiving experience which will severely punish the player for making even the smallest of mistakes during combat. Bayonetta herself is very vulnerable to damage, but she does have a few abilities to help manage the hordes of enemies that get thrown her way. Even so, these can be very tricky to use correctly when so much is happening on the screen at once.

Witch Time is the most powerful technique that players will need to get accustomed to, since executing it will grant Bayonetta a few precious moments to move around the area without being targeted. Still, because Witch Time only activates after a perfect dodge, it's essentially a risk versus reward mechanic that can prove to be disastrous if relied on too much. In addition, since some of the more menacing enemies like the Sloth can only be damaged by using Witch Time, it forces the player to improve if they want to stand any chance of making it through to the end.

2 Bayonetta

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.67

• The scoring system can be very punishing for all but the very best players.
• The crucial Witch Time mechanic can be more difficult to activate consistently than in the follow-up.

While the unique art style and endlessly charismatic characters are big reasons why so many people enjoy the first Bayonetta, another is the sheer challenge that the experience presents to players. The game holds nothing back from the moment they take control. On the very first mission, players are thrown into a horde of enemies without any kind of tutorial to speak of, encouraging them to learn the attacks and combos on their own.

This lack of guidance lasts throughout the entire game, which can make it pretty brutal for any newcomers to the genre to pick up and play. The score system is also incredibly harsh in this game, punishing the player for using any sort of items during an encounter, even if it's simply to heal Bayonetta after taking a few hits. Witch Time, while very powerful, is a little harder to pull off compared to the sequels, and considering that even the most basic Angel enemies pack quite a punch, Bayonetta never feels overpowered, even by the late-game. However, PlatinumGames has created on title even more brutal than this.

1 The Wonderful 101

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.84

• Combat can be hugely difficult as your team is vulnerable to being exposed.
• A fun, arcade experience with a deceptively high level of challenge.

It's a shame that The Wonderful 101 didn't get quite as much attention as it deserved when it came out for the Wii U in 2013, since it's without a doubt one of the most unique and intense action titles ever released. Rather than taking control of a single character, players will instead command a small group of superheroes who will attack enemies simultaneously. The real challenge comes from the fact that the game constantly switches things up every level with a brand-new mechanic, gimmick, or enemy type that will drastically change how the game is played.

The heroes can easily be stunned by heavy attacks which will disable blocking, which also makes it very easy for enemies to open up the player to receive a barrage of lethal attacks which become very hard to avoid. Additionally, upgrades cost an absolute fortune to acquire, despite how useful they can be for making it through encounters alive, and some of the bosses even have multiple health bars to take out. While the core gameplay of Wonderful 101 is still a ton of fun to mess around with, it's definitely not a game for the faint of heart.

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