It’s a simple fact that a game’s ending plays a major part in one’s lasting thoughts and feelings of their experience playing the game. And, of course, a huge part of an ending is the climactic final boss fight showdown. Here are my ten favorite final bosses in gaming!
10) The Shadow Queen ~ Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
It’s basically a fact that all Paper Mario games have excellent bosses (like Hooktail from last week’s list). The Shadow Queen is practically in a league of her own, however, and is an unforgettably monumental final challenge. This boss pulls no punches, to the point where I’m startled that they even put her into what is supposed to be a kid’s game. Without the perfect strategy, this queen of evil will send you to the “game over” screen so fast your head will spin. It’s a long battle, but a very rewarding one.
9) Rafe Adler ~ Uncharted 4
Only the bravest of games would introduce an entirely new gameplay mechanic as the central feature for a final boss, but someone Uncharted 4 gets away with it. This intense, fast-paced, and highly challenging sword fight between bitter rivals is one for the ages, and the game masterfully ramps up the intensity from a simple beginning to a lightning-quick climax. The music is bombastic, and the frenzied acting of the two character leads is mesmerizing. Such a fun and frantic finale!
8) The Pilot ~ Iconoclasts
The only way that a game with a plot this intricate and complex could possibly end is with the biggest mind-twist of all. Unless you’ve carefully paid attention to every little subtle worldbuilding detail, this giant birdman seemingly comes out of nowhere. Regardless, even for those who checked out of the story, the Pilot provides a fun and exciting final battle, as he uses your own techniques against you. Better yet, if you properly befriended your pirate ally Mina (and she’s awesome, so why wouldn’t you?), then Mina will join in for the finale, adding additional shotgun support, character building dialogue, and jammin’ castanets to the soundtrack!
7) Mustache Girl ~ A Hat in Time
Mustache Girl has been a thorn in the side of Hat Kid (don’t you just love these names?) for the majority of the game, and the final showdown with this twisted little arbiter does not disappoint. Through three phases of increasing absurdity, Mustache Girl puts you through your paces and tasks you with using every tool at your disposal to best her. The music is crazy, the technicolor visuals are somehow even crazier, and all the friends you’ve made along the way pitch in with their own unique abilities. It sure is fun, even if it isn’t terribly hard…unless, of course, you’re going against her bonus EX variant. That’s a whole other story!
6) Shagaru Magala ~ Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Way back in the early days of this blog (the second ever article, actually), I wrote about my love of Shagaru Magala, the climactic final challenge of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. An entire game’s worth of story and personal growth has led to this showdown, and it’s one for the ages. The orchestra swells to a crescendo as the magnificently shining beastie explodes the arena with fury from the sky. Meanwhile, if you keep your cool and put into practice all the hunting skills you’ve honed, you’ll finally end your monstrous rival’s reign of tyranny. Upon your success, you’re heralded as a hero by everyone as the credits roll, and it’s such a great feeling.
5) Lord Brevon ~ Freedom Planet
Freedom Planet is a deceptively difficult game…like, extremely so. However, it is entirely fair and balanced difficult, meaning that your eventually triumphs are due to your own skill and proficiency. This lends itself to very hard but ultimately exceptionally satisfying showdowns, and none stand so tall and proud than the final boss himself. Brevon is quick as a flash, and capable of ending your life in two swipes of his sword. You have to be constantly moving to dodge his assault, while also memorizing his pattern to know when you can counterattack. The end result is a frantic dance backed by a pulse-pounding music theme.
4) Lophius ~ Valkyria Chronicles 4
The first Valkyria Chronicles game had a relatively lackluster, but still adequate enough, final boss. This game blows that previous fight out of the water. The Lophius is a gigantic armored menace, and it’ll take all of your tactical ingenuity and teamwork to destroy it, all in a fight that lasts upwards of two hours. That time flies though, as you disable the tank’s central gun, blow out its defense turrets, and burn down its engines one by one. OR…you can stack all of your buffing orders onto Riley, give her your strongest anti-armor mortar, and destroy the behemoth in a single hit! Valkyria Chronicles always gives you options!
3) Zanza ~ Xenoblade Chronicles
A journey always has to end eventually, and Xenoblade Chronicles’ 100-hour quest final concludes with a three-phase battle against the mad god Zanza. Zanza pulls out all the stops to best you and your party, including summoning reinforcements and changing his attributes periodically. All of your party members can be used to lay the smackdown on him, however, including Shulk’s newfound ability to intercept visions of Zanza’s attacks. Make it to the final phase, and you are rewarded with a goosebumps-inducing cutscene and choral soundtrack, and a cathartic power trip as you effortlessly crush him into dust. Enjoy that ending!
2) Slave Knight Gael ~ Dark Souls 3
To say that Slave Knight Gael had monumental expectations to live up to is describing the situation lightly. After all, he was always going to be the final Dark Souls series boss ever, and this is a series known for its awesome boss fights. With much relief and exciting, Gael does not disappoint, and he delivers the best boss fight in the entire series by far. The battle is long but consistently enjoyable and fair, and each phase ramps up the intensity of the action (lightning strikes, dark energy balls, rapid-fire crossbow, angelic discs) and the intensity of the music (more and more orchestra and choir hits). This being the final test of your mettle in Dark Souls, there’s no recourse but to go all out!
1) Hades ~ Kid Icarus Uprising
I’ve mentioned Hades before in my top 10 list of favorite video game antagonists, and I’ve mentioned Kid Icarus Uprising before in my top 10 list of favorite video games. But those two things together and what do you get? A one-of-a-kind, unforgettable, awesome final boss battle!
The clash between Pit and Hades is essentially an entire level turned into one long boss fight. Part heart-racing action, part climactic story revelations, and part cinematic experience, this boss goes through a multitude of phases through a twenty-minute long encounter. Wielding the ultimate armor you’ve assembled over the previous chapters, you charge headlong into battle against the seemingly unstoppable Hades, as he pulls out every trick in the book to stay one step ahead.
The best part is that this fight does not eschew what has always made Kid Icarus Uprising so incredible. The dialogue is still equal parts humorous and heartwarming, the acting is still top notch, the music is still incredible, and the gameplay is still so much fun. This fight even has the audacity to knock you down one more time (your ancient armor is actually destroyed), before lifting you back up for the killing blow (an old enemy sacrifices themselves to buy time for you to charge one final ultimate blast). As Hades disintegrates into dust, there is hardly a more cathartic and fist-pumping feeling in gaming!
And then, just for the cherry on top, if you leave your 3DS on the “The End” screen for five minutes after the credits, Hades dismayed spirit will pop back up for a few final fourth-wall-breaking quips. The truest sendoff for such an unforgettably irreverent game.
But hey, that’s just my opinion!
The Contrarian Corner 