I love every chance I get to post this game.
Normal mode alone is harder than most games I play. Now, Hard mode and Super Hard, that's just pushing it, man. Don't get me started on the Grand Prix. 90% of the people who played this game never got to see the AX tracks, or master mode in general. (including me.)
Hilariously enough I thought Super Meat Boy was cake (from what I played), I guess I play too much platformers haha. I'm also waiting for the inevitable Dark Soulds post.
Fire Emblem games are quite definitely challenging, especially the older ones with almost no ways to grind, no DLC, Spotpass, etc. Shadow Dragon ~o~
They can be challenging, but one of the hardest games? That's kinda reaching. It's only very hard the first time around where you're still unfamiliar with the mechanics (unless you're a veteran in turn based strategy games like X-COM or Advance Wars, though they aren't RPGs), or got used to grinding in Sacred Stones or Awakening. You just have to worry about the RNG not screwing you up, otherwise it's standard strategy fare, unless it's Awakening or Sacred Stones.
Awakening is BS without grinding though, because of the way the maps are designed. You basically need to grind in Lunatic. It's more of a frustrating thing than a challenging one though. Sacred Stones is perfectly manageable without grinding because the maps design is just better.
EDIT: Oh damn forgot this
Probably the only game that makes me want to go on a tantrum. Not only because of the difficulty, but because the game just sucks. I have to wonder about the people who complain about Punch Out's difficulty if they every played this game, because it's a cakewalk in comparison. God dammit I hate it.
EDIT2: Honorable mention goes to
The second best game of this year imo. I'm not joking, despite the (amazingly hard) difficulty, it's super addicting. (If you know what it is.)
ファール！
