So, i used to be really enjoying Sonic Generations; the Sega blue skies, the raft of nostalgia, the relative return to style of my favourite gaming mascot…..then the last boss happened. Well, actually, the last two bosses happened to be precise. i would not say that the horrifyingly poor design and subsequent frustration of those encounters ruined my experience with the sport, but they certainly left a nasty taste within the mouth and invariably tarnished my otherwise pleasant memories of the former 6-8 hours of gameplay.

The fact is, love them or hate them, boss battle are becoming an intrinsic aspect of videogame design and despite their overall prevalence waning slightly lately, are still a core tenant of the gameplay experience for most of the world’s leading developers (are you able to imagine a Zelda game without boss battles?). The object is, by naturally bookending a gaming narrative, they often represent your final experience with said game, and in a more immediate respect, close out any particular stage you can be playing through.

Their power is therefore great – they may be able to make or break a stage, heck, they may arguably make or break a whole game (they frequently prove the foremost memorable aspect of many peoples gaming experiences). Should they remain any such fundamental facet of game design? Well, despite my recent disappointments by the hands of Sega, I’m inclined to claim, yes. They offer a special challenge, are usually the visual centerpiece of a stage/game and do a very good job of providing variety to games which could potentially grow otherwise stale.

Simply put; don’t remove boss battles, just lead them to better. Shouldn’t have them for the sake of it, and maybe most significantly, don’t build the mechanics round the spectacle, but instead, build the experience from strong, well implemented gameplay (nobody wants another Jedi vs Star Destroyer fiasco). Basically, attempt to do it like this……….

Brash Games’ top 8 boss battles – (not in any particular order)

1)The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3)

It’s amazing how often the tip of a videogame disappoints. All those hours installed only to be faced with an absolute wet fart of an ending (far too many to connection with count), but not Metal Gear Solid 3 though, oh no, sir! After hours of amazing gameplay and arguably the foremost compelling tale of the Metal Gear series thus far, everything finally involves a head against ‘The Boss’ in a single of one of the most beautifully set and downright theatrical battles of all time. It’s OTT, it’s melodramatic and yes, needless to say it’s self-indulgent, but hey, Hideo Kojima was pulling off this type of outrageous storytelling for years, and this is often where all of it comes together in its most perfected form. Oh, special mention to ‘The End’ too. Not everyone’s cup of team I’m sure, but come on, an hour long sniper battle that does not even happen if a) you’ve got the foresight to cap him earlier within the game or b) save the sport and patiently watch for him to die of old age. Now that’s ballsy.

2) Ganondorf (Twilight Princess)

It will possibly not be probably the most beloved entry inside the Zelda series, but there isn’t any doubting the standard of the multi-tiered finale against the dastardly, Ganondorf. Personally, I loved on the subject of every aspect of Twilight Princess (it is a very fantastic game), in order you are able to imagine, that brilliant final encounter did carry additional weight, but notwithstanding you found the former 20-30 hours a bit a slog, no less than it went out with an almighty bang. It’ll not be narratively dramatic but from a purely technical standpoint just could be the strongest entry in this list and beyond that, there’s the sheer scale and challenge to take into account – four forms, a chase across Hyrule field and a genuinely epic sword fight round off what’s surely the best boss battle in Zelda’s illustrious history.

3) Bowser (Super Mario 64)

In retrospect on the industry’s first tentative steps into the arena of 3D, it’s amazing (and disappointing) just what number of the games you remember so fondly out of your childhood are absolute turds by today’s standards. Whereas 16 bit era games (Super NES titles specifically) almost look nearly as good today because the day they were originally developed, PSOne / N64 era games often show the signs of an industry coming to terms with a  changing technology. Mario 64 really could be a kind of games, but hey, we’re talking about Nintendo here. Not just did they nail nearly every aspect of 3D game design at the first attempt, but in lots of respects, they perfected it. That’s never more apparent than in Mario’s battles against a now hulking Bowser. The mechanics are born out of the core experience and the challenge is built around that every one new 3D space – it is a boss battle that manages to encapsulate the entire features and potential of 3D game design via essentially the mostsome of the most basic of concepts, namely, by throwing a dragon by its tail.

4)Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid)

Everyone remembers Psycho Mantis, right!? For sure you do. Not just home to a few very cool art design (isn’t that the case for all Metal Gear bosses?), but more importantly, home to at least one of the neatest, most subversive ideas in videogame history. Not just could this guy seemingly read your mind (well, your history of games played at the PSOne anyway), but he also seemed impervious in your attacks. In fact, as everyone knows, in spite of everything, it was simply a question of plugging the controller into the second one slot and breaking his apparent mind control over you, but heck, what a terrific idea. It’ll be noted too that, while this will were a very good idea today, this all happened at a time when the vast majority of folk did not have internet access. You could not just look this up; you needed to figure it out for yourself….or wait until the sport felt sorry for you and informed you via codec. Brilliant.

5) Del Lago (Resident Evil 4)

Resident Evil 4 is probably the greatest games of all time. From its then groundbreaking over the shoulder viewpoint to its perfect pacing, and naturally; its array of outstanding boss battles, Resident Evil 4 is arguably the ideal action/horror game. Now, anyone claiming this is not horror, for one; let’s not be silly. And, two; just look at the boss battles; demon midgets (is midget the proper term?….oh, it isn’t important – he was a demon), chainsaw wielding beasts and naturally, Capcom’s personal tackle Nessie. a really angry Nessie at that. In a game packed with fantastic boss battles, Leon’s boat based skirmish against the nefarious Del Lago effortlessly rises to the highest.

6) Glados (Portal)

Ok, so, i will be honest, a part of this decision came all the way down to what happened after the battle – yeah; that song! a very spectacular game which somehow, these days no less, came out of absolutely nowhere, happened to be outrageously well made and managed an extra shock when it arguably delivered the best credits sequence of all time (take a look at “Still Here”, well, here funnily enough). Fantastic song aside though, Glados proves a shockingly layered nemesis and a heck of so much more interesting than the more generic hulking behemoths that we have got become accustomed too over time.

7) Valus (Shadow of the Colossus)

In a game made totally of boss battles, it’s still that first encounter with one of the most mighty Colossi that leaves the longest enduring impression. Sure, many would argue a case for the flying Phalanx, but that first time I stumbled on Valus after tearing around the otherwise empty plains of the Forbidden Land on my trusty steed, Agro, proved a very unforgettable experience, and up to now, certainly one of my very favourite gaming moments of all time. The sheer size, the grandeur and the unusual sense of melancholy that accompanies each defeated foe all combine to create something truly unique and strangely moving – here’s an unforgettable boss battle in a game of unforgettable boss battles.

Mike Tyson / Mr Dream (Punch Out!!)

Man, what number of hours did I put into this game at the NES? Essentially a game of boss battles built into the context of a tender fighter moving up during the ranks of pro boxing; each opponent was both visually and technically unique, creating an experience built upon classic boss battle requirements – namely skill and pattern recognition. Aside from the laughably bad, Glass Joe, close to every opponent within the game is in a position to knocking you to your ass to your first attempt. Tyson/Mr Dream (is dependent upon which version you play) however; jeez, that guy will take your head off for the 100th time before laughing for your face. It’s a very unforgiving battle made no easier for the exemplary Wii remake. But hey, while taking over Tyson/Mt Dream could be one of the crucial more infuriating gaming experiences around, with eventually victory comes that ultimate sense of feat.

Oh, and if you are wondering why this was a top 8 instead of a top 10 list, well, as a matter of fact, I just kinda ran out of puff to be honest.