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What Makes a Good Boss Fight?
A Look at What Makes a Boss Fight Memorable
by Coop
Ever since players first met Bowser the idea of a boss fight has been a staple in the hearts of both developers and gamers. However, since no two games are identical, no two bosses are the same. This begs the question: what makes a boss fight great?
Asking around the Gamervision office everyone had different ideas about it. Lord of Whimsy loved Morpheel from Twilight Princess, I loved the first colossus from Shadow of the Colossus, Femjesse loved Giygas from Earthbound, and Nikkita loved Freebird on Expert from Guitar Hero II.
And again the question returns: why?
Upon closer examination I realized that each boss was loved for a completely different reason. Bosses mean different things to each person who fights them. Being memorable is not something that the developers seem to be able to code into the bosses – it just happens.
Morpheel requires a fun technique to kill him. For Whimsy, the most memorable thing was figuring out how to and actually executing the act of beating this boss.
On the other side, Femjesse was a big fan of Giygas from Earthbound. The boss required a stupid strategy to beat and honestly the fight itself was not enthralling like many boss fights are. However, it was so different from every other boss in the game that it came as a huge shock. This sudden change of pace is what made this beast so memorable for her.
Nikkita laughed when I asked her and said her favorite boss battle would have to be the song Freebird on expert in Guitar Hero II. To her the boss fight is a vessel for difficulty and a final challenge. She is yet to actually complete it, and it is the one last accomplishment to attain.
For me, the first boss in Shadow of the Colossus is the high point in boss battles. The boss sets the pace rest of the game. I believe that a boss fight is one that transforms the game and makes you realize there is much more to gaming then you thought before. Fighting the boss had my jaw on the floor, asking why more games couldn’t be this good. The sheer size of the fight and how truly epic it was is why it is memorable for me.
Now its your turn. What boss fight is memorable for you – and why? What makes it stand out?
Comments
I prefer bosses like Zant in Twilight Princess. The kind of boss that makes you remember all the stuff you had to do to beat the earlier bosses.
Metal gear solid: Snake Eater, the sniper battle with the old guy took me an hour to beat. great boss battle
I would have to say General RAAM Insane difficulty in Gears of War.
Every time you failed you always tried a different strategy and you prepare for him the entire last act. Thats a boss battle.
There were several memorable boss fights in the Twilight Princess, but Morpheel was the most disappointing and unoriginal of all of the bosses in the whole game.
My personal favorites from the game are Stallord, Armoghoma, and the finale battles. As of why: I felt they were the most original and most thrilling.
My favorite boss fight had to be Solus in the Xbox game Breakdown. The game itself was one of the most novel systems I've ever played, and the fact that you have this cocky computer-voiced man chasing you through the whole game only to give him his come-up'uns in the end.
It was neither the most intuitive nor difficult fight, but it sticks in my mind as a great Boss.
I see everything your way, with the exact words Coop. We'd be BESTEST FRIENDS EVAR.