Eight of the Most Memorable Bosses

The following is a collection of some of the most memorable bosses that I have come across during my time gaming. I’m sure plenty of what would be considered “memorable” bosses for many others will be missing from this list, but the eight listed below have all stuck with me, be that for the sheer terror they induced, the pure nostalgia they inspire in me or for just being totally brilliant characters.

8. Chainsaw Majini - Resident Evil 5

I don’t think there are many things as scary as a zombified man, covered in blood and with a sack on his head chasing you with a revving chainsaw. Especially on the Professional difficulty, where they like to play dead before leaping up and wailing their chainsaw around some more – as if you weren’t already terrified!

7. Andross - Lylat Wars

No matter which route you take through the game’s universe, Andross’ giant monkey face was always a menacing encounter, especially when he chews you up. But if you took the hard route and arrive on the final planet from Area 6 then The Final Battle with Andross revealed his true form as a giant brain, complete with eyeballs that chase you maliciously. Sinister, much?

6. Tank – Left 4 Dead series

I was actually unsure of which stood out most from the Left 4 Dead series. The Witch sticks in my mind well, but the ability to avoid encounters with her, coupled with the fact that – as intimidating as she is – there’s isn’t much of a fight if you do bump into her, lessens how terrifying fights with her are. But the same cannot be said about the lengthy battles with the Tank; the quick build up in the music, the roaring and the ground shaking as he approaches gives you little time to get together for a frantic, epic battle. And to make it even more nerve-racking, you’ll no doubt encounter more than just one during a Campaign, and thanks to the malicious AI Director, you never know when or where one’s going to spawn.

5. Silver Sonic – Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Even more prominent than the final boss itself, Silver Sonic sticks with me to this day. Not only seeing an evil version of such a favourite character of mine, but having to face his harsh and unpredictable fight completely ringless, just to added salt to the already sore wound.

4. Berserker - Gears of War

A big, ugly boss is bad enough, but having to encourage a big, ugly boss to chase you is even worse. This is probably what leaves the thought of the Berserker in my head stronger than that of even General RAAM – at least you can hide from him and calmly fire from cover! The pressure of luring her and quickly dodging an instant-kill is something that I at least don’t handle well!

3. Big Daddy – BioShock/BioShock 2

The introduction of Big Daddies in BioShock is something that sticks with me well: huge and brutally defensive of a tiny little girl. I think the brilliant thing about Big Daddies is that they can be harmless if you leave them to patrolling Rapture. But when the point comes when you need to take one on for a fix of ADAM from one of their Little Sisters, they will put up one hell of a fight. Upsetting one or catching one in the crossfire while unprepared can leave even the best players worse for wear, if they get through the fight at all.

2. Area 4 Boss – Rez

Pretty much every boss from Rez is very memorable, but Area 4′s stands out. Following and destroying a relatively personality-less collection of shapes quickly changes to an epic chase, as the shapes come together, take human form and starts to run. Together with the music, this is such a phenomenal, climatic, tense battle. Nothing has left my heart pounding harder.

1. Granfaloon – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

I can’t say that any boss has stuck in my mind more than Granfaloon. A floating sphere of corpses that drops screaming bodies to the ground that start attacking you, before firing lasers from its tentacles. LASERS! Memorable for one reason only: it’s absolutely terrifying.