While I had heard tales of the infamous Spelunker games and their inexplicably bad controls, until now I had never had the opportunity to experience them for myself. Now, I have also heard the praises of the titles as being challenging and rewarding for those with the temerity to learn to live with the game's many quirks. Taking it all in and reviewing the points both sides of the issue claim I'm firmly in the camp of bafflement of why anyone at this point, taking the time to give the game a new look, would deliberately continue down the path of terrible game mechanics. You could call it "hard", but I'd counter instead that it's "cheap" or "lazy" when death awaits for failing to leave a ladder wrong, falling into a small ditch, or any number of ways that defy logic. I love games that challenge my skill, but not simply my patience to endure bad design. Not recommended unless you're a die hard fan already.