I don't think they're too brutal. I can't get through Megman or Castlevania titles on NES but I beat both AVGN Adventures games despite their difficulty. The smooth controls/physics & checkpoints (optional) make the challenge a lot more accessible. If you're actually interested, I'd suggest the 2nd over the first. More levels, less cheap deaths, flashier visuals, it's great. Any Technodromer would appreciate the many TMNT references throughout.