Tutorials are commonplace in video games, as they can help the player learn the mechanics and general feel of the game. Even though a tutorial allows players to get to grips with the controls, sometimes they go a little overboard when it comes to the difficulty spike. In fact, some tutorials are even trickier to complete than any other section of the actual game. This topic will dive into some of the toughest tutorials in gaming that not only made players want to rage quit but also turned out to be harder than the main game.

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Tutorial sections can often feel more annoying than they are useful, but the tutorials in these games are fondly remembered.

Thankfully, some of these tutorials are skippable and not necessary to complete the game, but completionists should keep an eye out for these challenges.

1

Jet Set Radio

Main Tutorial

Released

October 31, 2000

ESRB

T For Teen due to Lyrics, Mild Violence

• Requires the player to complete numerous tricks as instructed.
• Hard for beginners to get a grasp on the unique controls.
• Does not need to be completed to continue to the main game.

Jet Set Radio is a game that allows players to take control of a group of inline skaters with a penchant for graffiti. The gameplay mechanics are all about mastering the skating elements so players can perform cool tricks while traversing the city and spraying graffiti.

The tutorial throws players straight into the deep end, asking them to complete a series of skate tricks. Jet Set Radio is known for having controls that aren’t the easiest to get to grips with in the first place – thanks to the unique game physics – so throwing new players in and asking them to do tricks while also learning the basics is a tough challenge.

Players don’t have to complete the tutorial entirely to advance to the main game. However, those playing the game on Steam will need to complete it if they want to get the in-game achievement (which only a small percentage of players have obtained).

2

Mirror’s Edge

Main Tutorial

Systems

Released

November 11, 2008

ESRB

T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Violence

• Tricky to maneuver for beginners.
• The basics can be practiced in the Training Area.
• Can be skipped in the pause menu.

Mirror’s Edge is a game that uses parkour as its primary mechanic. It does so fantastically well, but it can be difficult to get to grips with the controls because of how finely tuned the parkour mechanics are.

The tutorial for Mirror’s Edge is a great way to teach players the basics of the mechanics, but some of the moves that players need to do are incredibly precise. Players will fail if they don’t perform a move perfectly, which can be frustrating.

In the main campaign, there is a lot more freedom with how players can go about maneuvering through the world, so they don’t have to worry about failing if they do things differently. The tutorial is not as merciful, but it is – thankfully- skippable.

3

NieR: Automata

The Prologue

Released

March 7, 2017

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence

• Very long, and there are no checkpoints.
• Players can change the difficulty setting, which can make things even harder when opting for the higher levels.

NieR Automata’s prologue acts as a tutorial of sorts and takes players through all the basics. However, the prologue is notoriously difficult, especially for those opting to play on the harder difficulty levels.

The game’s prologue is incredibly long, and there are very few save points. If a player dies during the ongoing sections (which can go on for as long as half an hour), they’ll have to go back to the beginning, which is surprisingly unforgiving for a tutorial.

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The learning curve can be pretty steep for players who aren’t used to the gameplay style of NieR Automata, which has plenty of bullet hell and hack-and-slash elements. Even on the lower difficulty levels, this tutorial can be particularly challenging.

4

Skullgirls

Training Level

Released

April 10, 2012

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence, Blood, Use of Tobacco, Partial Nudity

• Incredibly thorough.
• Intricacies can be hard to grasp.
• Complex moves.
• Timing is crucial.

Learning all the different moves in fighting games can be challenging, but the training level for Skullgirls is a whole other level of difficulty. This tutorial is incredibly detailed, with tons of information to help players learn the fighting moves and different strategies. However, there is so much information that it can become intimidating, especially for new players.

Thankfully, players can hop into the story mode before they go through the entirety of the training. The story mode isn’t anywhere near as difficult in terms of memorizing and performing certain moves, though players will need to incorporate some of what they learned to succeed.

5

The Witcher 2: Assassin Of Kings

Main Tutorial

Systems

Released

May 17, 2011

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

• Limited resources.
• Steep difficulty curve despite only being a tutorial.
• Lots of information at once.

Another tutorial that throws a ton of information at the player at once is The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings tutorial. Various mechanics are rapidly introduced during this tutorial, and they aren’t particularly easy mechanics to use. Even those who aren’t completely new to the series might struggle due to all the new info and different mechanics.

There isn’t a chance for gradual familiarization with the controls, which can be more than a little frustrating. Interestingly enough, the tutorial was added after the game was released. The prologue was originally the tutorial, which wasn’t anywhere near as painful. Luckily, the difficulty level can be changed at any time. However, that doesn’t stop the waves of overwhelming information and mechanics that the tutorial is mostly made up of.

6

The Gran Turismo Series

License Tests

Systems

Released

December 23, 1997

• Tests have been a part of the Gran Turismo series since it started back in 1997.
• Used to be mandatory, but is optional in the newer games.
• Can be incredibly tough due to the strict rules that need to be followed to pass the tests.

Ever since the very first Gran Turismo game was released in 1997 for the PS1, license tests have been an integral part of the gameplay. These license tests act as skill challenges that can vary in difficulty. While they aren’t specifically tutorials, they are often used for practice by players and can be incredibly challenging.

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The license tests in the Gran Turismo series often have strict requirements, especially the higher tier licenses. Not only do players have to abide by time requirements for most licenses, but they also have to execute the test perfectly, as there is little room for error.

The realistic driving physics that the Gran Turismo games have always implemented can make things even more difficult, as small errors – such as hard turns or improper braking – can cause problems quickly.

7

Armored Core 6

Tutorial Boss Fight

Systems

Released

August 25, 2023

ESRB

t

• A sudden difficulty spike.
• The lack of weapons, enhancements, and armor is restrictive.
• Requires players to learn important mechanics quickly to stand a chance in the boss fight.

The tutorial of Armored Core 6 features a particularly tough boss fight with an HC Helicoper that has caught many players off guard due to just how difficult it is, particularly when compared to the rest of the game.

Most of the tutorial isn’t too painful, though it doesn’t exactly hold the player’s hand either. It explains the basics and allows players to get hands-on with their mech. However, when the tutorial comes to an end, players must go up against an HC Helicopter, and things go from average to plain hard in terms of difficulty spikes.

The helicopter is fast and hits players hard, easily able to kill them instantly, especially if they are new to the mechanics of the series. What is worse is that players do not yet have access to the customization options for their mech, so they have to fight the helicopter with the absolute basics. Considering this is a tutorial-level boss, the helicopter is unforgiving enough to make some players quit entirely before the game has properly begun.

8

Driver

Parking Garage Tutorial

Systems

Released

June 30, 1999

ESRB

t

• Considered one of the most challenging tutorials of all time.
• Strict time constraints.
• Requires the player to perform complex driving moves.
• Cannot be skipped.

Last but certainly not least is arguably one of the hardest tutorial levels in all of gaming: the parking garage tutorial from Driver. Released in 1999, Driver is an impressive combination of driving simulation and action-adventure. Due to the driving elements being such a large part of the game, players have to complete a driving tutorial at the beginning before they can continue. The only issue was that the tutorial was so difficult that many players couldn’t complete it and still can’t to this day.

The tutorial tasks players with completing a checklist of difficult maneuvers, all of which are not properly explained via demonstrations or instructions. Trial and error were how many players completed the tasks, and even then, it was hard to do so because of the unforgiving time restraints.

Players can only make a few mistakes before they have to start again too, which adds another layer of difficulty and frustration to the tutorial. The worst part of all was that the tutorial could not be skipped, so if players couldn’t do it, they weren’t going to see the rest of the game. Compared to the tutorial, the rest of Driver is incredibly tame. Because of this huge difficulty spike, Driver wins the top spot for a game with a tutorial that is much harder than any other level.

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