Video game bosses are meant to be a test of skill, an adversary we must best in order to prove just how far we have come. But there are some boss battles that are more than that, there are some bosses that stand apart from their peers. Perhaps it’s because it was particularly challenging and we felt such a sense of pride after finally besting them. Maybe it’s because the mechanics are so unique they stand out in our minds, or maybe it’s because the villain is so charismatic we just can’t help but love them. Whatever the reason is, some boss battles simply raise the bar for those that followed, with that in mind here are the five best boss fights chosen by you.
Twin witches – Ocarina of Time
Koume and Kotake, A.K.A The Twin Witches are a late game boss in Ocarina of Time. They also happen to be the surrogate mothers of main villain Ganondorf, which lends credit to the whole nurture over nature argument. At first glance this fight might not seem that tough, each witch fires an elemental attack that the other witch is weak to and you have a mirror shield, simple right? Unfortunately that is only phase one, after taking enough damage the sisters will combine to form “Twinrova”, a much tougher opponent that requires a different strategy. You can’t simply repel her attacks back at her anymore, now you must charge your shield by absorbing 3 ice or fire attacks and then get in range to unleash the attack. Of course if you get hit by the opposing element before you absorb enough energy you’ll have to start again. It’s a battle that requires careful timing, patients and no small amount of skill.
The Lich King – World of Warcraft
I’m not going to lie to you guys, I’ve never fought The Lich King. While I did play World of Warcraft quite a bit back in the day, I played on a laptop that crashed so often it made me a liability to other party members. But this is a list chosen by our readers and “Greg R Cooper “ (the person who chose this entry) was so passionate and eloquent about this boss that I couldn’t leave it off. In fact let’s read about it in his own words:
“The amount of build-up to him was amazing, he was a constant presence throughout the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. He was already steeped in lore and a hugely popular character before the game came out and even the raid was staggered in the release up to him. His fight was difficult as well, with so much going on to keep track of, one mistake could spell doom for your character. Even then, he very nearly won. Beat him down enough, and he so easily kills your entire group. He reveals his grand plan was to test you, and raise you as his champions, turning Azeroth’s greatest warriors against the Horde and Alliance, in his name. Even after his ultimate defeat at the hands of Tirion Fordring, his final moments were stacked with emotional weight, as Arthas breathes his last, and Bolvar is crowned as the new Lich King. I was in one of the first guilds on my realm to kill the Lich King on 25 player mode, and when it finally happened, the roar of victory over Ventrilo was overpowering. A Fantastic experience. – Greg R Cooper”
Deathstroke – Arkham Origin
Batman: Arkham Origin was a bad game, some merely say it was the weakest in the series but for me and Matthew Fullerton it was a pile of bat guano. But amongst the cluttered combat, buggy gameplay and smorgasbord of bugs, one thing stood out and that was the boss battle with Deathstroke. This was a tense, not to mention tough boss battle, the player was going up against an adversary who is every bit as well trained as The Dark Knight himself, an enemy who (like Batman) relies on planning, cunning and their own physical prowess. Make one wrong move in this battle and it will cost you dearly, you must know when to hold back, when to advance and when it is safe to go on the offensive.
Ornstein and Smough – Dark Souls
Choosing an awesome boss battle from Dark Souls is tough to do because, for the most part, they are all unique and challenging, except for The Bed of Chaos… Fuck that guy. But Ornstein and Smough stand out for several reasons; firstly they’re the first duo you fight in Dark Souls making them a formidable threat before the fight has even begun. Secondly, they work as a team playing off each other’s strengths; Ornstein is quick and agile forcing you to remain mobile while Smough can deal devastating damage with a single blow. And finally if you manage to take either of them out, the other will take it personally, absorbs his fallen ally and becomes even more powerful… it is Dark Souls after all.
Psycho Mantis – Metal Gear Solid
I am a huge fan of the Metal Gear series, like most of you I’m sure my introduction to it was when Metal Gear Solid debuted on the PSone. Being that I was only 10 years old when I first played it I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I can tell you this, I was not expecting to play one of the greatest games ever made. Metal Gear Solid has it all a compelling story, interesting characters and some of the best boss battles ever. But for me, and most of you it would seem, the Psycho Mantis fight is the one that makes MGS something truly special. It wasn’t just that he could dodge your attacks by “reading your thoughts”, he also got into the players head another way. This boss employed psychological warfare, unnerving the player by commenting on how often you save, or “moving the controller with his mind” by vibrating it. It is a battle that starts before a shot is even fired and for me is the best boss fight of the series and one of the best in video games.
Well, those are 5 of the best boss battles in video games chosen by our readers. Can you think of any that should’ve made the list or just disagree? Let us know in the comments below, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel and if you’re feeling generous feel free to donate to our Patreon, thanks for reading.
