I like it when games force a paradigm shift on me, this happens almost exclusively with Japanese games, for some reason. Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox was punishing, but the game is trying to teach you the "right" way to play it, and once you discover the nuances and subtlety of the gameplay, you're hooked.
Resident Evil did that too in the late 90s; I hated it at first, then realized it was kind of a point-and-click adventure gone 3D, with added action.
Super Mario 3 seemed impossible at first, finding out the secret items, and gaining extra lives makes the game seem manageable; you learn to go with the flow, letting the game teach you. I've always been amazed at such great game design.
I still consider 2004 Ninja Gaiden a very underrated work of art. It's amazing. The quirky Tomonobu Itagaki deserves a lot more respect.