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[gunstarhero]

Another thread got me thinking about which bosses stand out as icons for their respective era. We hear a lot about Link, Sonic and Mario - but what about the bad guys?

For me, the 16bit era had 2 standout bosses that stood out and left a big impression on me:


Loki

The end boss for Ghouls 'n Ghosts easily stands above all in the 16bit era. At the time, his size and design was AMAZING. It certainly didn't hurt that this game came out so soon after launch - going from any 8bit boss to this was mind boggling at the time.

I recall EGM doing a feature comparing Loki vs. the end boss to Legendary Axe on the Turbograpx 16. Loki won.


Mother Brain

Mother Brain takes second place for being iconic in the 16bit era simply because I never saw a visual effect like this before. The first time I got to her, I thought there was something wrong with my TV.

I obviously played a lot more Genesis than Super NES and Turbo in the 16bit days. I'll have to think a bit more about the 8bit, 32bit, etc. - but this era stands out to me the most when I think of bosses.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Spinning Bowser around in 3D

 

[TheRedSnifit]

SHODAN is probably the most iconic '90s shooter villain, so I'll go with her. Even people who haven't played the System Shock games recognize her.

 

[Ooccoo]

King K Rool from DKC series (SNES)

Kefka from Final Fantasy (SNES)

Psycho Mantis from Metal Gear Solid (PSX)

Sephiroth from FF7 (PSX)

Ganon from Zelda: OOT (N64)

 

[MrBadger]

For me, Seven Force is the defining boss of the 16 bit era

 

[linkboy]

Spinning Bowser around in 3D

That, and this as well

The music, the way Ganondorf transforms into him. The entire scene was epic, especially since the last time we saw Ganon, he look liked this

 

[Regginator]

that's not the mother brain i was expecting

 

[Voyevoda]

Psycho Mantis from Metal Gear Solid (PSX)

...is the correct answer.

 

[MrCunningham]

Mike fucking Tyson...

Haunted the souls of gamers through out the 8bit era.

Dr. *Ahem* Robotnik:

Very iconic from the 16bit generation.

 

[Toli08]

Sepiroth the boss of bosses. The reason FF7 is the phenomenon that it is.

 

[The Hermit]

You got The wrong mother brain

Let's do gen by gen

8 bit - Mike Tyson
16 bit - Kefka ( FF 3)
32/64 bit - Psycho Mantis ( mgs) / Ganon(Zelda)
Ps2/Xbox/GCN - Avion ( shadow of colossus)
Ps360Wii - Metroid Prime / Ornstein & Smough

 

[Brashnir]

Mike fucking Tyson...

Thread over.

 

[Chase17]

Surely no boss defines the modern era as well as DJ Octavio.

Probably doesn't fit the iconic title though.

 

[TsuWave]

psycho mantis

 

[Nocturno999]

PS2's Mother Brain from the 16 Bit era definitely. Her back story is still amazing today.

 

[Crayolan]

Though I like the sequel's final boss more, I think the GLaDOS fight from Portal 1 is pretty iconic from last gen.

 

[Doomshroom]

Mike fucking Tyson...

Haunted the souls of gamers through out the 8bit era.

I dont think most gamers got that far...

 

[Ooccoo]

Probably the most known and iconic:

Bowser from Mario Bros series (NES)

Personal favorites

Big Mighty Poo from Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)

Ramirez last fight from Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast/GC)

Meta Ridley from Metroid Prime (GC)

 

[Philippo]

Liquid Ocelot, MGS4.
Reflects pretty well the gen where many games went the "cinematic" route.

 

[MrCunningham]

I dont think most gamers got that far...

But he was still there to taunt you every time you turned on that NES:

 

[Stairouais]

A recent era, but an era nonetheless.

 

[Playsage]

Senator Armstrong - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

 

[nkarafo]

Some late 80's, early 90's bosses in arcades:

Newzealand Story

1942

Ghouls n Ghosts

R-Type (this should represent all side scrolling 2D shoot em ups i suppose)

 

[Jeb]

Senator Armstrong - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

I came in thinking Ornstien and Smough, forgot that there was more to last gen than just DS bosses.

Bravo, Platinum.

 

[RowdyReverb]

Sonic Adventure - Chaos

Part of its design was to introduce a novel visual effect, so I think it demonstrates the console's technical ability well while being the first true 3D Sonic boss

 

[Worldshaker]

Lavos - Chrono Trigger

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Donkey Kong (arcade)

 

[jwhit28]

Liquid Ocelot, MGS4.
Reflects pretty well the gen where many games went the "cinematic" route.

Also the QTE generation.

 

[Alo81]

I think Ornstein and Smough are the most iconic boss of the last generation.

It stands out in design, grandeur, difficulty, satisfaction, dynamism, and excitement. It does what a boss should do, which is make success feel deeply gratifying.

 

[entremet]

Arthur in that Loki pic looks like he's been split into pieces lol.

I dont think most gamers got that far...

Passwords, breh.

I never got that far legitimately, but I did use passwords to check him out. We memorized the damn thing lol.

 

[NIGHT-]

Cyberdemon

 

[MrBadger]

Sonic Adventure - Chaos

Part of its design was to introduce a novel visual effect, so I think it demonstrates the console's technical ability well while being the first true 3D Sonic boss

Oh yeah, Chaos is a good one. I don't think any of the fights are that great besides the final boss, but the entire character was based around what the Dreamcast can do differently

 

[Lucumo]

Dr. *Ahem* Robotnik:

Very iconic from the 16bit generation.

Yep, definitely Dr. Robotnik. Gotta love that theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbhX7XKgkDU

 

[petran79]

Death Adder
During the 80s especially action movies with barbarians, soldiers, ninjas and scantily clad women were all over the place. Video games as well. That boss was the culmination

Drax was the Western boss equivalent

 

[mrmickfran]

I'm pretty sure the whole spinning him around thing was just to show off the analog stick.

 

[silva1991]

O&S are obvious ones

Senator Armstrong - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

very generic in terms of design

if I had to choose a boss from Platinum games it will be father Rodin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvEkMpue9Ew

or better Jeanne final form

 

[True Fire]

 

[gunstarhero]

Mike fucking Tyson...

Haunted the souls of gamers through out the 8bit era.

Oh man - that's a good one. Tyson ruled the 8bit era for sure.

 

[eso76]

Another thread got me thinking about which bosses stand out as icons for their respective era. We hear a lot about Link, Sonic and Mario - but what about the bad guys?

Terminator, Alien and ED209 or whatever that bypedal robot from Robocop was called defined the 80s. They were the inspiration for most bosses.

I remember mid 90s we got tons of bosses looking like Keith Flint from the Prodigy :lol

 

[Fuzzery]

For me, Seven Force is the defining boss of the 16 bit era

Yes! The music too

 

[CountAntonius]

16 bit.

 

[tareqsalah1]

I second psycho mantis as one of the greatest boss fights ever. If u were there at that time, your mind was blown.

Also devil may cry 1 final boss was epic.

 

[TI82]

 

[Ishida]

C'mon GAF....

 

[KeyBladerXIII]

A recent era, but an era nonetheless.

Agreed. Say the name "Dark Souls" and the first thing of think of is either these bastards or Artorias.

I'd also say the first boss of Shadow of the Colossus and Shadow Link.

 

[TheSpoiler]

When I was a kid, it was this mother fuck. Imagine the look on my face when he was playable.

Then, as time went on, this dude defined a part of my childhood too. Mostly because of his awful speech in the beginning.

But man, when I played Yakuza 2, this boss fight fucking took that shit to another level.

But besides the ones mentioned here, I really gotta hand it to this guy for a semi-recent one:

The atmosphere, the buildup, and then getting to that arena to face him was so cool. Like the whole game prepared you for this huge fight with him in so many ways, and it was just awe inspiring. There was more at stake besides your "heart", but fuck it, right at that moment, you just wanted to open that ass and get it back.

 

[Choomp]

So long, gay bowser

Mike fucking Tyson...

Oh yeah totally this too

 

[KingBroly]

Bowser - Super Mario World
- I know people will point to SMB1 here, but the Koopa Kopter was so damn memorable back in the day. It made Bowser seem more menacing, especially with MODE SEVEN GRAPHICS.

 

[drangleic tourism]

Where is this from??

 

[MrBadger]

Bowser - Super Mario World
- I know people will point to SMB1 here, but the Koopa Kopter was so damn memorable back in the day. It made Bowser seem more menacing, especially with MODE SEVEN GRAPHICS.

I don't think "menacing" is the right word I'd use for a flying machine with a big dumb clown face on it but I agree that it's a super memorable design.

Bowser in Yoshi's Island on the other hand, that's menacing.