Video games have long been defined by their notable enemies. You can have an entire game where the protagonist is a blank slate because, at the end of the day, a good villain will carry a game. Villains come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they even come in pairs. And those devilish duos are who we are going to focus on today.
Some of these baddies show up multiple times across different series, but some of them only make a single appearance. What is consistent among all ot them is that they bring something memorable to the games they appear in.
9 Jesse And James, Pokemon Yellow
This one feels a little on the weaker side, as this iconic duo is so notable due almost exclusively to the cartoon. That being said, they are still absolutely iconic, and hey, they are a pair of villains in one of the most iconic Pokemon titles to every release.
So, while their characterization may be largely carried by the anime, they are still, by far, the most recognizable villains in the entire series, and are, unquestionably, icons in their own right. Heck, they even have a notable catchphrase! Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!
8 Balio And Sunder, Breath Of Fire 3
Balio and Sunder act as the antagonists during the first section of Breath of Fire 3. This duo has a comedic element associated with them, though they get a whole lot less funny when they murder you and everyone you love! This duo isn't horsing around; neigh, they are utterly brutal foes. And you will encounter them multiple times throughout the game.
For those who have played through Capcom's classic RPG, this pair will most certainly be burned into your mind. They are, unquestionably, an incredibly intimidating set of opponents.
7 Hammer Bros, Super Mario Bros.
We were planning to focus on bosses with this list, but we just can't ignore these hammer-throwing siblings. These guys are totally iconic for a reason. One, they are the hardest normal enemies in the Super Mario Bros games. Heck, these guys can present just as much of a challenge as most iterations of Bowser (there is a reason why he eventually starts tossing hammers himself in the first game).
Their hammers come fast and furious. Which is an issue that is only aggravated by the fact that they are being tossed by two foes at a time. Often the best strategy is just to run right past them.
6 Culgan And Seed, Suikoden 2
So, it may feel like a stretch to call this duo "villainous". While they are most certainly antagonists, they don't fundamentally appear to be "evil", they are just fighting on behalf of their country. Which is part of what makes this Suikoden 2 duo so interesting; they are fundamentally likable.
Seed is the impulsive one, while Culgan is more coolheaded and reserved. It is a classic pairing and one which the game uses well. This duo act as one of the final boss encounters in the game and can be a pretty tough fight. Ultimately, what makes them great is their humanity, as one country's villain is another country's hero.
5 Slogra And Gaibon, Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
This gruesome twosome has been palling around for a couple of decades now. They started off as being individual bosses, but eventually joined forces. They managed to even make it into the Castlevania show, which is, surprisingly, a noteworthy achievement (add more monsters from your game into your show, guys). While Slogra will fight you on the ground, using his rangy spear to keep you honest, Gaibon will lock you down by raining fireballs down on you from the sky.
They even have a team attack! Gaibon will pick Slogra up, fly him up into the sky and drop him down on you: spear first. These monstrous mates may not be as noteworthy as Dracula or Death (who actually teamed up one time as well), but they are certainly beloved among fans. And beloved for a reason. They make for a super fun encounter whenever they show up.
4 Bebop And Rocksteady, TMNT: Turtles In Time
Bebop And Rocksteady were cartoon characters before they were ever video game bosses, but, at this point, they have made dozens of appearances in excellent games. To this day they are showing up and stealing the show. Their appearance on the pirate ship in Turtles in Time is among the best in the game. And now, with the release of Shredder's Revenge, they are back again for another excellent encounter.
What makes these fights so great is how delightfully dysfunctional this pair is. If you deke them effectively you can even cause them to collide with each other. It honestly makes these encounters feel like something out of the cartoon. No matter what Teenage Mutant Turtles game you are playing, this is one encounter you are almost certainly eagerly anticipating.
3 The Double Illusion, Double Dragon 2
Everyone loves a villain who mirrors the protagonist. That's why Ryu has Akuma, Solid Snake has Liquid Snake, and Dante has Virgil. This is an archetype that resonates with people. Double Dragon 2 takes this to the furthest extreme.
The Double Illusion is a boss that is literally just Billy and Jimmy in shadow form. Suddenly, you are competing with an opponent who has the same tools and tricks that you do. This is a tough, tough boss battle. Especially if you are playing a single-player game, as when you are alone you will face off against the pair of 'em.
2 Reno And Rude
There are few villainous duos as iconic as these two Final Fantasy 7 villains. Obviously, The Turks is an organization that has a whole lot of members. How can this be a duo when there is Elena and Tseng, right? Well, Elena is constantly at odds with these two, and Tseng is management. Reno and Rude, on the other hand, seem inseparable. Sure, they both get their individual encounters, but after they show up together for the first time, we never see them apart again. That is a true partnership.
You will fight this slickly dressed pair multiple times throughout your adventure. They are a unique example of being distinctly cool, but also being slightly buffoonish. Their cool factor is clearly on display when you see how many people love these characters, despite them sorta committing mass murder. They even have a top-tier theme (in the original game).
1 Ornstein And Smough, Dark Souls
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The Dark Souls series is filled with extraordinarily notable bosses. Yet, despite being multiple entries into the series, there is one duo that is still on the lips of every Dark Souls fan. When a game is known for being brutally difficult, and you are known as the most brutal boss battle, you know something horrifying has occurred.
This pair has that classic dynamic of there being a hard-hitting beefy character paired with a nimble, speedy character.
One sets up the other, and it turns this battle into a giant game of cat and mouse. And when you do manage to take one out, what happens? Well, then the remaining one will kick it up a notch. You know this battle left an impact, as nearly every fight where you square off against a pair of enemies is now compared to Ornstein and Smough. They have very clearly left scars.