Divisive Games With Great Boss Fights

Some stories bet it all on the climax. A number of games fall into that trap. Throughout the playtime, the developers deliver a mediocre or disappointing experience. That’s not to say they’re totally lazy, as these titles all have one redeeming factor in common.

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Namely, they ramp things up for the boss fights. Despite their flaws, these games execute exhilarating encounters and unforgettable set pieces. They’re almost enough to eclipse the lesser qualities. However, these conflicting elements create pretty lopsided impressions overall. Oftentimes, players can’t truly determine if the games are good or bad. Many of the titles achieve cult status as a result. Fans respect what they did well and hope someone else can perfect that formula in the future.

5 Dragon’s Dogma

Experiments With Many Elements, But The Biggest Payoff Comes From The Mythical Creature Clashes

Here’s a game constantly at war with itself. Dragon’s Dogma boasts a great first impression with its robust character creation and deep RPG mechanics. Sadly, it has no idea how to use them. The story and side quests are unbelievably bland, and there’s nary a single memorable character or locale. Worse, the user-generated party members (“Pawns”) are shallow NPCs who constantly repeat the same few insipid comments about their surrounding foes. Of course, these enemies aren’t much to comment on. Most are goblins or generic fantasy fodder who fall to button-mashing. That’s if players don’t succumb to the oppressive difficulty spikes. At every turn, this title undermines its benefits with detriments.

The boss fights almost make up for that frustration. These are epic fantasy brawls against titanic creatures of legend. Players must climb on them to reach their weak spots. It’s simple on paper, but it becomes much more complicated with the monsters flailing and flying. Soon, the heroes are clinging on for dear life—it’s a blast. Sure, the mechanic rips off Shadow of the Colossus, but that’s no bad thing. That foundation makes any monster battle both strategic and cinematic.

4 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2

The Sequel Only Has A Few Fights Worthy Of Its Superpowered Force-wielder

The first Force Unleashed worked as a self-contained tale about a Sith’s godlike gifts and the birth of the Rebel Alliance. That self-contained nature is probably why the sequel feels less inspired. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 grasps at straws in its narrative. This leads to fewer stages set on just a couple of planets. That downgrade means enemy variety also takes a hit. Players spend the whole game fighting the same three types of Stormtroopers, eliminating any incentive to experiment with combos or Force powers. All the creativity went to the previous title. Thankfully, one element is the exception.

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That exception is the handful of boss battles. During these multifaceted set pieces, the developers make great use of the surroundings to benefit both gameplay and atmosphere. Clashes range from a rancor-eating kaiju in a collapsing airborne arena to Darth Vader in a demented cloning facility on Kamino. These escapades are all memorable. They even top the first game in showcasing the Force in all its destructive potential.

3 Devil May Cry 4

The Bosses Are Exciting But Lose Their Novelty The Second Time Around

The fourth Devil May Cry improves on its pivotal predecessor in many respects. It gives fans two monster-slaying heroes for the price of one. Each of these guys has exhilarating moves, weapons, and fighting styles. What’s more, is that they all suit the complex hack-and-slash combat. Plus, the adventure abandons the convoluted Metroidvania approach in lieu of more linear levels, lending greater variety to both environments and enemies. That variety births a strong lineup of bosses. These creatures tower over the demonic protagonists. Learning and exploiting their patterns is as rewarding as ever. It’s a good thing, too, since players must do it twice.

Devil May Cry 4 makes a bizarre decision to artificially lengthen its playtime. After Nero clears the handful of levels, the perspective shifts to Dante. The son of Sparda must then complete the same stages in reverse. This move diminishes any novelty or excitement. Fans can’t fully enjoy their time with Dante because they’re just going through the motions. The shallow repetition undermines the whole experience.

2 Cuphead

The Bosses Are The Main Attraction, But The Platforming Feels Outdated

Many gamers hail Cuphead as one of the most infectiously challenging titles in recent memory, and that challenge mainly stems from the boss battles. Boasting amazing animation, varied themes, and creative gimmicks, these enormous enemies put players’ reflexes to the ultimate test. They must dodge, parry, and shoot their way to victory—all while memorizing complex patterns to avoid a quick death. The formula is brutally difficult, but it keeps people coming back for more. The developers practically build their entire game and brand on these bosses. What about the rest of it, though?

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Cuphead still has levels between its high-octane duels. These stages are as annoying as they are forgettable. The platforming is painfully basic, and enemies are a nuisance rather than a genuine challenge. It’s clear that these parts are placeholders, as they don’t show nearly the same effort.

1 Batman: Arkham Origins

The Prequel Copies And Pastes Many Elements, But These Intense Brawls Far Surpass Their More Popular Peers

To be fair, Batman: Arkham Origins is only underwhelming within the larger context. The prequel is a thrilling caper with suspenseful stealth, fluidly flowing combat, and engaging activities stemming from the Dark Knight’s deep lore. The problem is that all of this was established in previous entries. The developers even lift much of their assets straight from Arkham City, and they don’t add anything substantial in terms of gameplay. The stuff they do add—such as extra city districts and multiplayer modes—either don’t work or aren’t engaging. Luckily, that’s not the case across the board.

Oddly enough, Arkham Originshas the series’ best boss fights. The straight brawls seamlessly marry the free-flow combos and counter mechanics for context-sensitive duels. The stealth bouts boast the same strategic tension as the acclaimed Mr. Freeze battle, but in more confined and challenging arenas. In short, these iconic encounters brilliantly utilize the established systems to deliver unforgettable superhero spectacles.

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