Difference between revisions of "Boss rush"
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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. | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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. |
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
| − | This is | + | This is a list of games which are important to me that feature a boss rush. |
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
Revision as of 10:41, 27 June 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.
Games
This is a list of games which are important to me that feature a boss rush.
| 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. Still very difficult since the player's character doesn't become more powerful as they progress in this game. |
| Bonk's Adventure | 1989-12-15 | |
| Bonk's Adventure (Game Boy) | 1992-11-27 | Player can choose order, and mini bonuses are awarded after each boss. |
| Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow | 2003-05-06 | |
| Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance | 2002-06-06 | Has an unlockable boss rush mode. |
| Chrono Trigger | 1995-03-11 | |
| Double Dragon (NES) | 1988-04-08 | |
| Fantasy Zone | 1986-03-20 | Bosses are more powerful, but you'll have more upgrades. |
| Final Fantasy | 1987-12-18 | Just the four elemental fiends. |
| Final Fantasy IV | 1991-07-19 | Just the four elemental lords. |
| Illusion of Gaia | 1993-11-27 | |
| Kirby's Adventure | 1993-03-23 | |
| Kirby's Dream Land | 1992-04-27 | |
| Kirby's Dream Land 2 | 1995-03-21 | |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 1991-11-21 | A partial boss rush of the light world bosses with more dangerous environments. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 1993-06-06 | Has a miniboss rush. |
| Mega Man | 1987-12-17 | The 6 robot bosses in basic square rooms as part of the last couple levels. |
| Mega Man II | 1988-12-24 | The 8 robot bosses in basic square rooms. 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. |
| Mega Man IV | 1991-12-06 | The 8 robot bosses. |
| Space Harrier | 1985-12-?? | Different order. |
| Undertale | 2015-09-15 | |
| Wonder Boy In Monster World | 1991-10-25 | |
| Wrath of the Black Manta | 1989-11-17 | In the Japanese version you have to fight all bosses in any order, in the US version you only have to fight one boss of your choice. |
Link
- giantbomb.com/boss-rush/3015-1465 - Giant Bomb.
