Originally posted by Kawaii Ryűkishi
The Fiends (plus Warmech and Chaos) actually have double HP in Origins, and all enemies are able to use their most powerful attacks at any time, unlike in the NES version, which required them to go through a predetermined list of moves. The lack of "Ineffective" does make things easier, but you can turn it on in the Configuration menu.
Maybe you never equipped weapons and armor when you played back then--you know, assigning them the items but never thinking to make the "E-" appear. It's happened to the best of us.
Whoa man thats exactly what happened to me when I first played. I was about 5 or 6 though. maybe 7. heh.