The Perfect Boss Fight

Technology and Gaming
#1

So I just finished Mass Effect 2, and loved it for the most part, but the final boss got me thinking about how to pull of a boss battle in an FPS/TPS. So I pose the question to you: What makes a good boss battle and what, for you, would be your perfect boss battle, if you think they should even exist.

For me, I think that boss battles, in FPSs at least, are a thing of the past. In a less sophisticated time when enemies were 2D and games were substantially worse than Crysis, simplistic boss battles fit in with the simplistic nature of the game. Today however, I feel like boss battles are just tedious, and as a result often anticlimactic, as you just pour bullet after bullet into some overpowered monster.
I personally prefer, as with so many gaming concepts, the Half-Life 2 approach. Its finale accomplished both things that a finale should do. It:
A ) Provided an exciting conclusion as you rose through the citadel in a race against Breen.
B ) Showed a clear defeat over the antagonist.

So thats my view. Feel free to contribute, retort, agree, mock, or troll to your hearts desire.

#2

As much as I love a good boss fight, I think they just don’t belong in shooter games.

#3

A boss fight can be done. Typically though it’s more of a Boss Scenario though. Valve has done boss battles pretty well (HL2, Ep1, Portal)

I haven’t played Mass Effect, but a situation that calls for huge amounts of damage being dealt out in order to win isn’t really the way to go. Finding a weak point or using the environment, or its own attacks usually make for a much more satisfying boss battle, as you have some time where it seems invincible, then you hit the epiphany of figuring out how to damage it and then the battle wraps up fairly fast from there.

#4

FUUUUUUUU-

I typed out a really long response and I got auto-logged out >______>

So Ill halfheartedly sum up what I had typed before 'cause I’m tired and lazy

Boss fights in general - need depth, creativity, and challenge to really shine
Good example of first person perspective boss fights - Metroid Prime series in general
Agree with TC on HL2 concept

Maybe I’ll re-type my full-fledged response again later tomorrow (and actually explain my thoughts), but I’m going skiing in 6 hours and need sleep <_<

#5

I hate how a boss’ weakness is blatantly obvious.

#6

If it’s not, idiots will cry about how the boss is too hard and they deserve a refund and compensation for their time :freeman:.

#7

Real boss fights can only be done in turn based fighting in my opinion, where it takes time and thought, the right use of moves. Some of the best boss fights in my opinion are from final fantasy games. Although games like God Of War and Darksiders have some pretty cool boss fights.

I agree with second post though, boss fights in shooters are pretty lame.

#8

As much as I hate to admit it, an amazing boss fight for me seems to be entirely in the presentation. An awesome boss with awesome music in an awesome atmosphere does wonders. (see OOT Ganon)

#9

Oh god yes, I loved the one in Portal. You had to be fast and actually think a little bit more than you usually would which I thought was really cool.

#10

Same here. Beating bosses with skill and strategy is what makes me feel like I accomplished something, as opposed to just pumping some bullet sponge full of lead. Just because of the way they play, shooters have a hard time getting bosses right. I’ll admit, there are a few I like, such as the Harrier and the RAYs in MGS2. I think Valve has a good strategy: just replace bosses with more intense, more challenging sections of gameplay, like the Nova Prospekt holdout against the guards, or the strider battle in EP2. I guess you could argue that the gunships or antlion guards count as bosses but I dunno…

#11

Actually, if we’re talking about Boss fights, then Shadows of the Colossus is an absolute must mention. The entire game basically consisted entirely of finding the next boss and then fighting it. They were pretty much all brilliant too.

#12

Ep2 did it very well, HL2 and Ep1 - while fun - were a bit on the short side if you ask me.

#13

Boss battles can work, I think they just too be a little less dumbed down and involve less “shoot till it dies” and something a little more creative that involves moving around and thinking.

I liked that term “Boss Scenario” that was thrown out earlier.

#14

HL2 totally shitted on the conclusion. The last two thirds of the citadel were shitty and anticlimactic

#15

Unless you’re the cyber demon from the original doom.

#16

A good boss battle for me should involve fighting something that is entirely invincible to the player’s weapons, therefore forcing the player to abandon them for the battle and actually think. Two excellent examples that I’ve played (although they’re virtually identical) are the Pit Worm in OP4 and the Tentacle in Half-Life. They’re shit-scary to be face to face with the first time you play through them and awesome to finally defeat. You feel like you’ve accomplished something.

But as the OP said, boss battles are getting old and tired. I though that the rebellion in HL2 was spectacular, and at the end of the first playthrough I felt exhausted, as though I was covered in dust, blood and sweat - in all, pretty grimy. That was the real finale for me.

#17

A good boss battle needs this -> https://media.createdigitalmedia.net/cdmu/images/storiespre2k6/morecowbell.jpg

#18

The citadel as a whole was one of the best parts of the game. It was in its self an awesome location, and this, when combined with the super gravity gun, made it the most fun part of HL2 for me. The ending was the best part.

#19

the ending of shooting balls at a thing while nothing opposes you yeah great i was sweating at that point like fuck

#20

Don’t kill the gunships.

More seriously though, that was the only average part of the entire ending, the rest was diamond studded gold coated in something else that is highly valuable and awesome.

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