Difference between revisions of "Boss rush"
(→Games) |
|||
(14 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | [[Image:Space Harrier - ARC - Screenshot - Stage 18.png|thumb|256x256px|''[[Space Harrier]]'' features one of the first boss rushes in video game history.]] | + | [[Image:Space Harrier - ARC - Screenshot - Stage 18.png|thumb|256x256px|''[[Space Harrier]]'', released in 1985, features one of the first boss rushes in video game history.]] |
− | A '''boss rush''' is a common trope in video games where the player is expected to | + | A '''boss rush''' is a common trope in [[video games]] where the player is expected to re-fight all the bosses from earlier in the game. Different games handle this in different ways, but the most common approach is to fight them all in a gauntlet without giving the player a chance to replenish their character or save the game. This trope was pioneered by [[Sega]] in the mid-1980s, but, by the late 1980s, it was adopted by several other game developers. |
− | + | There are several variations of the boss rush. The most primitive form is to simply have the player re-fight all of the bosses, unchanged, in sequence, like in ''[[Space Harrier]]''. Some games will make the bosses weaker since they have to be defeated non-stop, like in ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]''. Some games make the bosses even harder to account for power-ups the player has collected through the course of the game, like in ''[[Fantasy Zone]]''. Other games leave the bosses in their original form, but they're much easier to defeat because the player has become stronger throughout the game, like in ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''. Some games give the player limited replenishment between bosses, like in ''[[Mega Man 2]]''. | |
− | == | + | I enjoy boss rushes when the player's character has grown more powerful and the bosses are unchanged, like in ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''. By the time you reach the boss rush, you're so powerful, you can defeat the first couple bosses with a single hit each which serves as a reminder for how far you've progressed in the game. However, I don't care for boss rushes when your character is still just as weak as the first time you fought them, like in ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]''. I'm usually okay with boss rushes where the bosses are supercharged to provide a match for the developed character, like in ''[[ActRaiser]]'', but I do see this as a bit of laziness on behalf of the developers. |
− | This is | + | |
+ | ==Examples== | ||
+ | This is a list of games which are important to me that feature a boss rush, for the full list, see the [[:Category: Game Mechanic - Boss Rush|category]]. | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
Line 13: | Line 15: | ||
| ''[[ActRaiser]]'' || 1990-12-16 || Bosses are faster than before. | | ''[[ActRaiser]]'' || 1990-12-16 || Bosses are faster than before. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]'' || 1988-04-?? || Bosses are a bit weaker, some are zombified, and the order is different. | + | | ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]'' || 1988-04-?? || Bosses are a bit weaker, some are zombified, and the order is different. Player's character doesn't become more powerful as they progress in this game. |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Bonk's Adventure | + | | ''[[Bonk's Adventure]]'' || 1989-12-15 || Health may be replenished between bosses. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'' || 2003-05-06 || | + | | ''[[Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'' || 2003-05-06 || Has an unlockable boss rush mode. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance]]'' || 2002-06-06 || Has | + | | ''[[Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance]]'' || 2002-06-06 || Has an unlockable boss rush mode. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' || 1995-03-11 || You're | + | | ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' || 1995-03-11 || You have to re-fight each of the bosses, in the same order, but they have the same stats from your first encounter, so they're a lot easier to defeat. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[ | + | | ''[[Fantasy Zone]] || 1986-03-20 || Bosses are more powerful, but you'll have more upgrades. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' || 1987-12-18 || | + | | ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' || 1987-12-18 || You have to re-fight the four elemental fiends and they're more powerful. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' || 1991-07-19 || | + | | ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' || 1991-07-19 || Just the four elemental lords. |
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Illusion of Gaia]]'' || 1993-11-27 || | | ''[[Illusion of Gaia]]'' || 1993-11-27 || | ||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'' || 1993-03-23 || | | ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'' || 1993-03-23 || | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'' || 1991-11-21 || Has a boss rush of just the light-world bosses in slightly more dangerous environments. However, since you have much better equipment and more life, they're much easier. | |
− | |||
− | | ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'' || 1991-11-21 || | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Mega Man | + | | ''[[Mega Man]]'' || 1987-12-17 || The six robot bosses are fought in a basic square room as part of the last couple levels. They are unchanged, but you have are guaranteed to have the optimal weapon to fight them. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Mega Man | + | | ''[[Mega Man II]]'' || 1988-12-24 || You have to re-fight the eight robot bosses, each in a basic square room. You can choose the order, but you have to fight them all with out weapon recharges and only a single large health boost after each boss. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[Mega Man | + | | ''[[Mega Man III]]'' || 1990-09-28 || You have to re-fight the eight robot bosses from ''Mega Man II'', two per stage. You also have to re-fight the eight robot bosses from ''Mega Man III'' in any order with only a single large health boost after each. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ''[[ | + | | ''[[Space Harrier]]'' || 1985-12-?? || Different order, but they're unchanged, so this is quite difficult. |
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Wonder Boy In Monster World]]'' || 1991-10-25 || | | ''[[Wonder Boy In Monster World]]'' || 1991-10-25 || | ||
− | |||
− | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Link== | ==Link== | ||
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BossRush}} | {{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BossRush}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [https://www.giantbomb.com/boss-rush/3015-1465 giantbomb.com/boss-rush/3015-1465] - Giant Bomb. | ||
[[Category: Game Terminology]] | [[Category: Game Terminology]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Game Mechanics]] |
Revision as of 15:35, 27 September 2019
A boss rush is a common trope in video games where the player is expected to re-fight all the bosses from earlier in the game. Different games handle this in different ways, but the most common approach is to fight them all in a gauntlet without giving the player a chance to replenish their character or save the game. This trope was pioneered by Sega in the mid-1980s, but, by the late 1980s, it was adopted by several other game developers.
There are several variations of the boss rush. The most primitive form is to simply have the player re-fight all of the bosses, unchanged, in sequence, like in Space Harrier. Some games will make the bosses weaker since they have to be defeated non-stop, like in Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja. Some games make the bosses even harder to account for power-ups the player has collected through the course of the game, like in Fantasy Zone. Other games leave the bosses in their original form, but they're much easier to defeat because the player has become stronger throughout the game, like in Chrono Trigger. Some games give the player limited replenishment between bosses, like in Mega Man 2.
I enjoy boss rushes when the player's character has grown more powerful and the bosses are unchanged, like in Chrono Trigger. By the time you reach the boss rush, you're so powerful, you can defeat the first couple bosses with a single hit each which serves as a reminder for how far you've progressed in the game. However, I don't care for boss rushes when your character is still just as weak as the first time you fought them, like in Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja. I'm usually okay with boss rushes where the bosses are supercharged to provide a match for the developed character, like in ActRaiser, but I do see this as a bit of laziness on behalf of the developers.
Examples
This is a list of games which are important to me that feature a boss rush, for the full list, see the category.
Title | Released | Notes |
---|---|---|
ActRaiser | 1990-12-16 | Bosses are faster than before. |
Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja | 1988-04-?? | Bosses are a bit weaker, some are zombified, and the order is different. Player's character doesn't become more powerful as they progress in this game. |
Bonk's Adventure | 1989-12-15 | Health may be replenished between bosses. |
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow | 2003-05-06 | Has an unlockable boss rush mode. |
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance | 2002-06-06 | Has an unlockable boss rush mode. |
Chrono Trigger | 1995-03-11 | You have to re-fight each of the bosses, in the same order, but they have the same stats from your first encounter, so they're a lot easier to defeat. |
Fantasy Zone | 1986-03-20 | Bosses are more powerful, but you'll have more upgrades. |
Final Fantasy | 1987-12-18 | You have to re-fight the four elemental fiends and they're more powerful. |
Final Fantasy IV | 1991-07-19 | Just the four elemental lords. |
Illusion of Gaia | 1993-11-27 | |
Kirby's Adventure | 1993-03-23 | |
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 1991-11-21 | Has a boss rush of just the light-world bosses in slightly more dangerous environments. However, since you have much better equipment and more life, they're much easier. |
Mega Man | 1987-12-17 | The six robot bosses are fought in a basic square room as part of the last couple levels. They are unchanged, but you have are guaranteed to have the optimal weapon to fight them. |
Mega Man II | 1988-12-24 | You have to re-fight the eight robot bosses, each in a basic square room. You can choose the order, but you have to fight them all with out weapon recharges and only a single large health boost after each boss. |
Mega Man III | 1990-09-28 | You have to re-fight the eight robot bosses from Mega Man II, two per stage. You also have to re-fight the eight robot bosses from Mega Man III in any order with only a single large health boost after each. |
Space Harrier | 1985-12-?? | Different order, but they're unchanged, so this is quite difficult. |
Wonder Boy In Monster World | 1991-10-25 |
Link
- giantbomb.com/boss-rush/3015-1465 - Giant Bomb.