As video games have evolved and borrowed mechanics from different genres,bosses have become a common gameplay element across the industry.
From shooters to stealth titles andRPGs, these unique enemies have become a constant presence in the interactive medium, but they don’t always turn out well.
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The last challenge isn’t always the most demanding.
Even in outstanding games, creating good boss fights is a challenge not all developers can overcome, thus causing us awkward and inappropriate encounters.
While this doesn’t detract from these works' high quality, it’s interesting to study the specific cases of theseten great games with terrible boss fights.
10God of War
Duplicate Fights
God of War
God of Waris a daring title that reshapes one of the most well-known and beloved video game series, which is admirable in itself.
However, unlike Kratos' original adventures,Santa Monica Studio failed to deliver compelling bosses, especially considering how little they take advantage of the game’s mechanics.
Although most bosses are an audiovisual spectacle,they are often repetitive, withnumerous trolls and valkyries reusedwith minor variations that quickly become boring.
There are exceptions, like Baldur and the Magni and Modi brothers, but the overall boss structure inGod of Waris severelylacking in creativity and variety.
9Cyberpunk 2077
Boring and Simple
Cyberpunk 2077
History has shown us that creating good boss fights in first-person games is extremely difficult, andCyberpunk 2077is another victim.
Most special encounters are reduced to target practice with moving targets that can withstand industrial amounts of damage, regardless of your build.
Their inability to enhance the game’s extensive mechanical depth and present gameplay challenges based on your playstyle is especially noticeable when you’re forced into head-to-head combat.
Considering the AI is often erratic and cheesing them is almost always possible, which is also desirable given the limited incentive to fight honorably,bosses are the weakest gameplay element in all ofCyberpunk 2077.
Senseless Bosses
Having bosses in stealth games has always been a problem due to how difficult it is to approach the concept from the genre’s core mechanics, andAragamiis the best example of this.
Level design, skill sets, and environmental utilization are partially wasted when its sequences focus on a boss, which doesn’t feel better than a common stealth section.
Aragami’s bosses feel pointless, as if they’re trying to fulfill a checklist of what typically works in the last decade’s games,neglecting what makes it a magnificent example of stealth.
Therefore, by trying to borrow mechanics from other genres like platforming or puzzles to justify the use of boss fights, the title loses focus and its quality is clouded.
7Quantum Break
Wasted Ideas
Quantum Break
Quantum Breakis packed with phenomenal concepts that helpedRemedy Entertainmentfind its modern video games' identity, but it doesn’t always hit the mark.
Its interesting handling of physics and timing feels completely useless against bosses due tothe erratic behavior of NPCs and the player’s character, making combat control impossible.
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There’s nothing like a good archrival chasing you throughout the whole game.
Between frustrating disputes and some downright flat ones, what works for most of the game hardly feels enjoyable in the boss fights, which is where the title shows its greatest technical and design issues.
It remains a valuable product people have undervalued over time, althoughQuantum Break’s boss fights are anything but memorable.
6Mass Effect
Combat Isn’t Its Specialty
Mass Effect
Mass Effectis one of those wonders that makes you passionate about video games, regardless of when you first played it.
Its greatness is timeless, as, unfortunately, isthebosses’lack of creativity during the whole campaign, which seems ripped from a completely generic TPS.
Despitethe RPG’s storyand audiovisual quality, combat is the element that suffers most from its structure, with shooting sections reduced to hordes of enemies that offer nothing new for either the time or the genre.
Most boss fights consist of killing dozens of clones of some alien species or shooting at static objects with health bars. It’s not enjoyable either at the beginning or at the end,which is far from the average quality ofMass Effect.
The Only Stain on a Perfect Game
BioShockis among the finest video games of all time, offering one of themost iconic citiesin history with some of thebest worldbuildingever seen in an interactive experience.
We could even speak highly of its gameplay, except for the presence ofbosses who only serve to taint a title that would be perfect if not for their presence.
Although the game isn’t a pure shooter, the bosses play out without considering any mechanics beyond shooting, usually being regular enemies with greater durability or numerous companions.
Not to mention, of course, the final boss, which is probablyone of the worst campaign endingsa title ofBioShock’s stature has had this entire century.
4Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Long and Mechanical Fights
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
The length of boss fights is a vital part of the experience, asvery short or very long encounters can result in unpleasant moments.
The last possible case is precisely what happens inMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, whose bosses offer extremely lengthy fights that feel more like a test of patience.
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These challenges were rightly left to the end.
With very little room for error, an interface that isn’t well-adapted to this type of mechanic, and a game whose playable approach doesn’t match such prolonged sequences,you have a disastrous mix.
Metal Gear Solidas a franchise has already proven it can offer an infiltration game with good bosses, butPeace Walker’s case throws all the series' years of learning out the window.
3The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Nothing Epic To See
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimwill always be remembered as one of the best open worlds, packed withsensational loreandiconic momentsat absolutely every turn.
Yet, it will also be remembered for its considerably clunky gameplay andseveral of its generation’s most bland bosses.
While narratively, musically, and visually we witness phenomenal fights,mechanically everything boils down to mashing buttons until the enemy’s health bar runs out, with no real tactical or stimulating elements.
From the smallest draugr to the largest dragon, nothing inThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimoffers challenges beyond spamming the same attack with the same animation dozens of times,which detracts from its epic composition.
2Batman: Arkham Asylum
Unfulfilled Promises
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylumset a modern precedent for superhero video games, so to speak of it as anything less than an excellent title would be an understatement.
At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge it’s tremendous despite its boss fights, whichlack all the creativity, accurate representation, and satisfaction found in the rest of the game.
You could easily substitute each boss for another and not notice the difference, as spamming the Batarang and dealing with waves of henchmen is something you’ll be doing against virtually all of them.
Admittedly, it has a couple of decent encounters that are eye-catching, but at best,they’re interesting ideas that stand out because the bosses are downright terrible.
1Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Tedious Encounters Everywhere
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Few video games in my life have frustrated me as much asUncharted 2: Among Thieves. I recognized it as a worthyGOTY title, but I will always resent it for its boss fights.
From the narrative to the gameplay, including the settings and concepts each boss masters, every confrontation in this game isn’t a constant source of frustration.
TPS games indeed present one of the greatest challenges for creating good bosses, butUncharted 2’s is downright legendary due to how boring it is to hide behind corners,shoot,run,and repeatuntil a cinematic finally appears.
Considering the inconsistent AI, the inability to know whether you’re safe behind a cover or not, and the length of these sequences, you conclude they offer nothing of real value compared to the regular campaign.
I understand my enjoyment of the title is lower than that of the average user. Nevertheless, with figures like the Shambhala Guardians, the Tank, and the final boss,it’s impossible for me not to consider this a great title with the worst bosses.
