Very few single-player and even some multiplayer titles are complete without a good boss battle or two. So, whether you’ve booted up a Metal Gear Solid game or hopped online for some jolly cooperation in a FromSoftware release, a boss is going to exist that needs to be taken out.
Many video game developers live to create such encounters and take pride in knowing that they have a character that is going to test the players to their limits. Many often require adopting some strategies that you would never have thought of before, and we have created a list of five iconic boss battles that have graced our gaming systems.
5. Poseidon – God of War 3
It might not come as a surprise to many that this list would feature a game from a franchise with a central theme of deicide. Younger Kratos was a completely different beast compared to the version we have today, and much of his growth is due to his past brutality and willingness to enact violence.
God of War 3 is the culmination of all of young Kratos’ rage against the Greek pantheon, showcasing some of his most impressive feats. That anger is showcased in all of its glory right from the start, as Kratos takes on the God of the Oceans, Poseidon. At the start, you fight his Hippocampi, crab-horse hybrid creatures that hinder the titan Gaia’s progress up Mount Olympus.
Once Poseidon enters the fray, we know one pantheon is going to have an empty seat. True to his nature, Kratos dispatches the deity violently, even gouging out his eyes. The camera also does some interesting switching from a third-person perspective to a first-person perspective. But instead of seeing the fight from the eyes of Kratos, we are put in the place of Poseidon, making the eye-gouging scene that much more impactful.
4. Knight Artorias – Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss DLC
A list of iconic boss fights would be incomplete without mention of at least one FromSoftware title. Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team have introduced us to some of the most iconic, and at times frustrating, bosses in recent gaming history.
While there are several across games such as Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, the most iconic boss would have to be Knight Artorias. Ornstein and Smough are a close second and might even be many fans’ choice, but as a one-on-one fight with some rich lore, Artorias can’t be beat.
Once a proud knight, the version we fight in the Artorias of the Abyss has been corrupted and made more feral. Knowing the lore makes this fight far more impactful, especially if you took out Sif in the base game. He’s not the final fight of the DLC, but easily one of the hardest, and also the most iconic in the entire game.
3. Vergil – Devil May Cry 5
Ever since his first reveal in the 2001 title, Vergil has been the polar opposite of his brother and our titular protagonist, Dante. Both are demons of legend, sons of Sparda, and always at odds against one another. However, it’s in the latest entry in the franchise, Devil May Cry 5, that we get their best stand-off to date.
After taking on the various challenges to take on Urizen, both Dante and Vergil once again meet on the battlefield at the top of the Qliphoth. Both are older than in the previous games, but that only makes them deadlier. The fight is not an easy encounter, especially in the higher-difficulty settings.
Vergil moves fast and attacks even faster. His sword, Yamato, is capable of landing several slashes in a matter of seconds, and you’ll be restarting the fight often if you’re not fast with your fingers.
Even with Dante’s new arsenal of weapons and unlocking his true Devil Form, Vergil is still incredibly difficult. It’s a great fight and we hope we’ll see a new version in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.
2. Phalanx – Shadow of the Colossus
The great thing about Team Ico’s boss rush is that every Colossus has a unique appearance and mechanic. While many lumbering giants require grip management to scale, Phalanx is one of the differentiating entries in the list.
The massive creature is not the only airborne boss that Wander faces on his journey, but it is the more unique of the two. Carried aloft by giant gas sacs, Wander must run with Arrow beneath the creature while firing arrows into the sacs to deflate enough and bring the Colossus closer to the ground.
Wander’s quest is one of destruction and is a game that has an amazing twist at the end, so seeing Phalanx is more than just a boss encounter. Each Colossus is a depiction of its surroundings and how life has evolved in that region. While taking it down may feel like a tragedy, Team Ico made it a boss that will stick with you for many years after you finish the game.
1. The End – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater/Subsistence
Hideo Kojima is a master at his craft, and many consider Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater to be his magnum opus in the entire franchise. While The Phantom Pain was even larger in scope when it came to freedom and innovation, the third mainline entry in the series
The legendary sniper is one you can take out very early on in the game, something that is not told to the player. However, you can also take down this foe by simply ignoring him for a week and letting him pass away from old age. However, if you choose to fight him on his home turf, you should be ready to be patient.
Spread out across several areas, the boss uses the foliage to his advantage, waiting for you to come into his sights before he pops off a shot. There are a few ways to track him down, such as using thermal vision to follow his footsteps, looking for the glint of his scope, and also capturing his pet parrot and following it back to his owner.
The sheer innovativeness of the boss is what makes him one of the most memorable encounters among all the others in the game series.
Which video game boss would you like to add to this list? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!
