Gateway mission that must be beaten to access one of the game's capstone dungeons? Check.
Borderline vicious difficulty on a level labelled "hard"? Check.
Annoying monsters with debilitating permanent debuffs? Check.
Map-based gimmick that vastly increases the already variable luck-factor in dungeon layout? Check.
Boss with a ridiculous special that requires foreknowledge and extensive planning to even have a hope of winning? Check. Times two.
Yeeaaaahh... that mission was just an exercise in masochism.