It’s that time again. You know the one. You’ve saved your progress (multiple times just to be sure), you’ve stocked up on items, you’ve made sure that either your level is high enough or that you’ve got your technique down pat. Now all that’s left to do is to confront that big bad.
There’s nothing quite like fighting a boss in a video game. Tension, excitement, and dread meld together in a reckless harmony of epic-ness as you battle your way to that big confrontation. I’ve gathered what I believe are the ten boss fights that best capture this feeling. With that said, on with the list!
10. Nemesis Final Form (Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)
For most of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, you have to evade the titular Nemesis creature due to its ability to kill you within mere seconds, regardless of how much health you have left. Once it corners you in this ghoulish, grotesque form, however, you are given no choice but to kill the beast once and for all using your wits and will.
Many applaud Resident Evil 3 for Nemesis’ constant pursuit of the player character; his presence, not unlike the presence of the alien in Ridley Scott’s Alien, constantly teases players with an inevitable final confrontation and provides them with a source of danger to worry about for the entirety of the game. In that regard, this particular battle is a great catharsis to let players know that the nightmare is finally over.
9. Mr. Freeze (Batman: Arkham City)
The boss battles of Batman: Arkham City are generally not too difficult to handle, as you typically have to memorize a pattern for each boss--well, all of them except for this frigid foe. Freeze, unlike Batman baddies like Clayface or Killer Croc, is not a simple-minded buffoon. He is a scientist, first and foremost, and like all scientists, he’s going to use his high intellect to his advantage.
Thus, in this stealth-based battle, he creates defenses for every strategy that you use against him, effectively forcing you to think like Batman and change up your tactics each time you go in to strike him down. This boss fight is exceptional in terms of design and premise, testing players’ knowledge of the different stealth techniques they have learned throughout the game up until this point. It’s extremely rare and refreshing to get a boss fight as complex and challenging as this one.
8. Icon of Sin (Doom II)
You’ve blasted your way through the worst of Hell’s legions, from mere Imps to a hulking Cyberdemon. Naturally, the only thing that could truly serve as a test of your rocket-blasting, shotgun-toting skills is the Icon of Sin.
While seemingly laughable and harmless in design, this boss is the deadliest in the game, with multiple devastating attacks and the ability to summon huge hordes of increasingly powerful demons. Players must be quick with their movements and even quicker on the trigger, balancing time spent on enemy hordes with time spent blasting away at the boss. Rest assured, you won’t be standing still during this one, unless you like dying.
7. Akuma (Super Street Fighter II Turbo)
Just meeting the requirements to battle this tough opponent is difficult, which is easily a testament to what kind of challenge you should expect if you dare to face Akuma. At the very moment when players think they’ll be facing the regular arcade ladder boss, M. Bison, Bison is struck down without a moment’s hesitation by this demonic warrior and the battle begins.
Impressive and intimidating intro aside, Akuma is one of the deadliest fighters in the game, boasting a teleport ability, the ability to shoot fireballs in mid-air, and a nasty super combo that is not only easy to land, but will wreck your life bar big time if you fail to dodge him. While the character has popped up in many Street Fighter games over the years and has reprised his role as a secret boss, it’s his jaw-dropping first appearance that is the most memorable. Truthfully, defeating this brutal opponent is a reward in itself.
6. Your Rival (Pokémon series)
The Elite Four stand in awe at your victory over their powerful Pokémon--yet, there is still one more person who wants to battle. In every Pokémon title, the final duel with your rival is not just a final boss, but the denouement of your Pokémon League journey and a true test of your mettle.
As per series norm, your rival not only has the starter Pokémon that your starter is weak to, but also has an impressive cadre of Pokémon that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with yours and--if you’re not careful enough--will bring your climb to the top to a screeching halt. When it’s time to go toe-to-toe with that guy that’s been looking to beat you for the whole game, you’d better bring your trainer A-game.
5. Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
The insane super-soldier known as Sephiroth is to this day one of the most recognizable villains in not just the Final Fantasy franchise, but all of video gaming. This lengthy boss battle certainly added to that reputation; players must take on Sephiroth as he uses multiple forms, each bearing different powers and abilities.
Sephiroth’s gauntlet culminates in a one-on-one battle between Sephiroth an the player character. The boss fight is made even more awesome by the musical track “One-Winged Angel,” blasting fearsome orchestral music and ominous choral voices that highlight the danger you face. Hopefully you’re a high enough level by the time you face this fearsome opponent, or he may just wipe the floor with you and your teammates.
4. Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
At the end of Ocarina of Time’s temporal-focused adventure, you are tasked with taking down Ganondorf, fearsome King of Thieves. Rather than just fight the evil king in a generic sword duel, Ganondorf decides to stay at range, blasting at you with magical projectiles. Whether you succeed or fail all depends on your ability to handle certain weapons and platforming; any errors in timing or recklessness will certainly spell the end for you.
After you stun and slash him a few times, the battle is seemingly over and you and Princess Zelda can escape…not! Ganondorf reveals his ace in the hole just as you’re about to escape, turning into a gigantic pig monster. After dealing with this abominable form, you’ve vanquished the vile villain for good. This epic, almost cinematic confrontation stands in many Zelda fans’ heads as one of the best--if not the best--boss fights in the series.
3. Bowser (Super Mario Galaxy)
I picked this game in particular because let’s face it: there isn’t really anything epic anymore about going into a castle and taking down this oversized turtle-dragon to save Princess Peach. Super Mario Galaxy ups the stakes to a significant degree; you’re still fighting to save the princess, of course, but you also must battle the King of Koopas in a multi-part battle for the fate of the entire galaxy.
If that doesn’t get the blood pumping, then surely the impressive presentation, challenge level, and the work of composers Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo will. You really get the feeling that our favorite Italian plumber is fighting against a nigh-insurmountable evil that threatens the safety of all sentient life in the galaxy. Coupled with the remarkable, unprecedented gameplay style of Super Mario Galaxy, this Bowser battle is the most memorable one in years and is certainly one of the best boss fights of all time.
2. Jubileus, The Creator (Bayonetta)
Bayonetta takes a page out of God of War and Shadow of the Colossus for this battle, where you take on Jubileus, a colossal cosmic being. The boss is pretty much one giant stage, similar to the giant bosses from the previously mentioned titles, and you must slowly chip away at said boss using all of your skills. What makes this battle most memorable, however, is not just the epic scale, the cinematic feel of it all, or the challenge; it’s the many phases and cutscenes associated with the battle, as well as its rather mean fake-out.
After slugging through several stages, watching some cutscenes, and seemingly defeating Jubileus, the “credits” start to play--only to stop midway and start another phase of the boss fight. You’ll have to tango with Jubileus one more time before, finally, Bayonetta’s ending will be shown to you. Those celestial beings just don’t want to stay dead.
1. The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
The Metal Gear franchise is no stranger to memorable boss fights, but this unforgettable confrontation takes the title of the best in the series. In this fight, CIA agent Naked Snake---not to be confused with his genetic clone, Solid Snake--must take down his respected mentor, The Boss, who defected to the Soviet Union. All of the things you know about the game’s mechanics are put to the test: your stealth tactics, use of weaponry, and, most importantly, your handle on the game’s CQC (close quarters combat) techniques.
There’s no epic music, no monologues from Boss or Snake; all that’s there is the sound of the wind whipping through the field of white flowers that you fight in. Metal Gear Solid 3’s final battle is its most emotional, relying heavily on atmospheric ambiance and the unfortunate ramifications of Snake having to kill the woman he values as a teacher, friend, and fellow soldier. Once the battle is over, players are left to ponder and reflect on the intense battle--as well as what consequences will come of it in the narrative.
