While boss fights have been a main component of games for years, they still are rarely done well. There are many reasons that could probably explain why this is the case, but it’s basically because there is no definitive single method to creating a great boss fight. Whether they underwhelmed you, annoy you, or just make no sense, bad boss fights are hard to forget. Here is my list of the five worst boss fights. Keep in mind there may be some spoilers ahead.
5. Rodrigo Borgia (Assassin’s Creed II)
Overall Assassin’s Creed II was a vast improvement from the previous game, it got rid of a lot of the tedious aspects that plagued AC I while also fine tuning and adding to it’s best aspects. One of the few things that unfortunately wasn’t improved in the second game was the final boss. Fighting Rodrigo Borgia is basically like fighting any other enemy in the game but longer and more boring. The continuous attack, dodge, counter and repeat fighting method needed to defeat him quickly grows tiresome and leaves you with a sense of dissatisfaction when it’s all over.
4. Lawrence Barrett (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Deus Ex is a franchise that is praised for giving the player multiple choices when confronted with a problematic situation. In most scenarios objectives can be completed in numerous ways, however this was not the case for the main villains in Human Revolution. Truthfully all three of the main villains should be on this list, not because they were particularly bad but more because each fight fails to embody the main concept of the game which is choice. I singled out Barrett because he’s my least favorite of the three.
3. Zoran Lazarević (Uncharted 2)
I love Uncharted 2, it’s one of my favorite games of all time, but the last fight with Zoran Lazarević cannot be ignored. In the eyes of many Uncharted 2 is a near perfect game which unfortunately only highlights how bad this fight is. After Zoran drinks the resin from the tree of life he becomes superpowered and begins chasing Nathan Drake around in a circle. Really Naughty Dog, all the amazing events that preceded this moment ultimately culminates into a lethal game of circle tag? I forgive you though Naughty Dog because the rest of the game is just so good.
2. Tatsuo Hamilton (Syndicate)
I can’t even tell you how long it took me to defeat this guy. Unlike the rest of the boss fights on this list, I feel that this particular fight suffers more from its placement in the game than its actual design. Tatsuo is a very difficult enemy who is quick, can create clones of himself and has guards to help him out. This fight is so hard that it seems less like a first boss and more like a final boss. That feeling is made even more apparent as the following boss fights seem like a piece of cake compared this fight. The first boss in a game should never be more difficult than the bosses ahead of it.
1. Supreme Hunter (Prototype)
For the most part Prototype is a fun experience. Having the power to destroy everything in the city with awesome monster powers is entertaining, but that entertainment quickly comes to a screeching halt the moment you enter the final boss fight. As with any other typical boss you are given the task of beating this guy into a pulp, sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. When you drain this villain’s health to a certain point a timer activates and you have to defeat him before the time is up. The amount of time the game gives you to do this makes it a frustrating and almost impossible feat to accomplish. Never have I faced a boss more frustrating than the Supreme Hunter. Now I’m a pretty laid back person, it takes a lot to make me angry, but after fighting this boss I felt like throwing my controller through my TV.