I actually beat this game once, in college, on the console. I think it took about a year. If I remember it correctly, the worst level was that last one, the temple, as it was absolutely loaded with bats that would spawn directly in the middle of a jump. There was just no way to cope without truly mastering the in air slash.

Rough game over system too.

I too can't play it ever again. Fuckin bats.

PS - This could be a factor in the 4x higher male suicide rate in the west...