People often say that “first times we will never forget” – and I feel that is so true withthe first PlayStation, since the console marked an entire generation and it was the birthplace of many gamers, including myself.
Among many amazing stories, polygonal graphics andiconic soundtracks, it was also a platform that presented some of the most memorable boss fights in video game history, whether it is for its creativity, innovation, challenge, or simply charisma.
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From impossible tutorials and evil clones to huge dinosaurs and mind-reading lunatics, each fight tested our gaming skills and left an unforgettable experience in the end, with an awesome feeling of victory, right?
We woke up feeling kind of nostalgic today, so we decided to revisit some of the best bosses from the PS1 era – the ones that made us have the most fun, scream the best curses, and, finally, cheer a lot.
10The Tutorial
I know that you, too, were a victim of theDriver’s insane and ridiculously hard tutorial and have been stuck in that garage for hours.
The idea is simple in theory; you only need to complete a series of tasks while driving the car in any order you like. But it is very, very, very (and I mean very) hard in practice.
For me, the feeling of completing the training mission was of beating a final boss at the start of the game, making me forever traumatized by anything that rhymes with “slalom”.
Chrono Cross
you may love or hate, but one thing is for sure: no one feels indifferent after defeating Miguel, the toughest boss inChrono Cross’s main story by far.
I like how he misleads the player with his meek-looking middle-aged man’s appearance, which may look a little weak at first. But as soon as the fight starts, you see that he is the real deal.
But what really struck me was Miguel’s story and solitude as a prisoner of fate. He deserved to go home, see his daughter, and feel true happiness again. And I always felt sad about defeating him.
8Space Mama
Oh, the first time we almost threw the controller at the wall, we never forget, right?
I have to confess that I am a huge fan ofchallenging bosses, so Space Mama from the originalRayman– a franchise that I came to know and love after that – marked me deeply for having no luck involved.
10 Best Boss Fights of The PS2 Era
These classics hold unforgettable battles thanks to their creativity and experimentation with the limits of the interactive medium.
It was just you and your abilities, and you should be aware of everything the entire time.
I remember that I spent three days of trials and errors putting her down. Call me crazy, but I enjoyed every minute of that.
Sometimes I feel thatKoudelkadoes not get the love it deserves, so I feel obliged, as anRPG and horrorfan, to at least try to give it a little more.
So let me tell you about its main final boss, Elaine, since it is a multi-layered experience, accompanied by her terrifying attacks and impeccable design.
It has three phases, and the first two are relatively “normal”, in which you can defeat as you see fit. But, in the third one, she is nearly impossible to beat unless you have a specific secret weapon that breaks after two swings.
If you die for Elaine, there is no turning back, and the game is over, unlocking the “bad ending”. But if you beat her, you get the “good ending”, alongside an incredible, rewarding feeling.
6William Birkin
Resident Evil 2
William Birkin is such a cool boss from the originalResident Evil 2because we get to see foreshadows and glimpses of his transformation throughout the game before facing him.
We get to see him first as a proud virologist trying to protect his work, who seemingly injected the G-Virus to save himself.
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Then, while playing, he got only samples of what that did to him, interleaved between the A and B stories – not forgetting the iconic shots of his creepy eye mutation, which became one of the promotional arts for the entire game.
When the final encounter happens, the fight is intense, but you do end up wondering if there is any of William Birkin still inside that thing – whatever it is, at the end.
5Fake Trevor, Sypha, and Grant
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Sure,Castlevania: Symphony of the Nighthas a lot of remarkable boss fights. Olrox is a pretty challenging and fun battle, as well as the one against Succubus. And do not get me started on Dracula.
But a fight that marked me deeply is when Alucard is forced to face fake versions of Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Grant Danasty – his pals in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse.
It is also required to face all three at the same time. If you are a CV3 fan, you know their potential and how this can be challenging.
But the hardest moment of this fight is when you realize how traumatizing and sad it is for Alucard to fight against her two best friends in the world. I think I need to talk with my therapist again.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
There is no way that Nemesis, from the originalResident Evil 3, is off this list because it is a boss that has an impeccable design – and I am talking about appearance and gameplay-wise.
First, his body is completely imposing and frightening, intensified by the iconic screams of “STAAAAAAARS!”.
And it is so scary how he is a relentless, unpredictable pursuer, which reflects on his behavior. For example, he can cancel attacks if they miss and immediately runs towards Jill, leaving little room for counterattacks.
All of that significantly increases the game’s atmosphere with a high level of tension and also raises its replay value. It is a win-win.
Tomb Raider
Encountering the T-Rex from the very firstTomb Raiderwas probably the first jumpscare of my gaming life, and it scared me half to death as I did not see that coming at all.
I remember that I felt genuinely scared, since the game is relatively quiet and does not have much soundtrack, so his cry and step noises came completely out of nowhere. I never jumped backwards so quickly in my whole life.
Everything contributed to setting a terrifying tone for the moment, which is remembered to this day as one of the most iconic moments (not only bosses) from the PlayStation 1 era.
2Safer Sephiroth
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy 7
The originalFinal Fantasy VIIis another game that has several remarkable bosses, such as Emerald Weapon, Midgar Zolom, Materia Keeper, Rufus… I will stop right there; otherwise, I will never stop.
But the final fight against Sephiroth, who is the main villain of the story, is on a whole other level in terms of being absurdly epic.
Known as Safer Sephiroth, this is his final form and stage – so it is the actual final boss of the game, and it closes everything with a challenging battle, insane visuals, and even a devastating attack that causes a supernova.
And you know when a boss is extremely badass when he even has his an epic music that chants his name and can pass on his chaotic personality.
1Psycho Mantis
Metal Gear Solid
When I faced Psycho Mantis, from the firstMetal Gear Solid, for the first time, I felt really weird because I could not stop thinking: “Is this happening for real?”.
Because he looks inside your memory card on the PlayStation 1, analyzes (and judges) your play style, and can also read your mind, meaning that attacking him directly leads to nothing.
So you need to think outside the box to trick the trickster: switch the controller connection so he can not read your movements anymore.
A game that shatters the fourth wall like that was unthinkable at the time, quickly becoming one of the most epic boss fights on the PlayStation 1 and for the Metal Gear Solid franchise as a whole.
It certainly served (and still serves) as an inspiration and reference for other game developers to think outside the box to push the players even more.
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