Oh, forgot for some reason: I've also started both Scott Pilgrim VS The World: The Video Game and Sacred Citadel. Kunio-kun/Renegade and Golden Axe are two of my favorite nostalgia games, so I was expecting to fall in love with these immediately.
I'd tried the demo versions of both before, and Pilgrim felt too hard for me, honestly. As I've played further, I've become better at it. It's still really tough though!
Citadel is, on the other hand, kind of repetitive and boring, except for boss fights, which are boring and repetitive and hard. Somehow.
In both games, there isn't much in way of control explanation. Pilgrim has controls which can only be occasionally activated, or after powering up, but they aren't mentioned anywhere. Sometimes Scott revives himself, other times he's just dead, and it uses up a Life. Citadel, OTOH, has several types of consumables, but no mention of what they actually provide in-game. It's frustrating.