By this point, boss battles have been around for multiple generations. Yet, they still provide some of the most exciting moments in gaming. There's just something so enjoyable about participating in large fights against very capable opponents. However, if you've been playing games for many years, you've probably seen a lot of the same types of battles.
So many include three phases where you have to avoid big attacks and hit a weak point when it presents itself. There's nothing wrong with this formula, but it's nice to come across a different type of fight. And that's what the following ones are.
7 Old Monk - Demon's Souls
Boss battles are a large part of the Souls' games. Therefore, it's only natural that there have been some unique ones over the years. Arguably the most creative, for its time, is the one against the Old Monk.
The very old creature doesn't fight you directly, he spawns someone to battle on his behalf, and that person is another player. So, partway through playing a single-player game, you get some PvP action. It's completely different from the average Demon's Souls boss fight, as it's a lot more unpredictable. There's no pattern to follow as you have no clue what moves your opponent is going to unleash.
6 God - The Simpsons Game
There are several games where you fight Gods. But they're usually Greek Gods or some deity created by the developers. Rarely do you fight the bearded fellow, who some believe lives among clouds. However, that's your opponent at the conclusion of The Simpsons Game.
Yet, that's not the only unusual aspect of the battle. In this universe, God is also a gamer, so you battle him in a DDR-inspired rhythm game. The contest lasts three rounds in which your dance moves somehow destroy game consoles. The systems in question are the PrayStation, Xodus Box, and Hii.
5 Bob Barbas - DMC: Devil May Cry
Bob Barbas is a reporter for his Raptor News Network. At least, that's what he seems to be when he's in his human form. In reality, he's a demon you must take down in DMC: Devil May Cry. To do so, you enter the Raptor News Tower and see the monster in his true form, which is a literal talking head.
The main part of the battle is somewhat normal - by DMC standards - as you avoid the head's attacks and unleash your own. But it's when you're fighting his minions that things get unique. These battles are presented as live news reports, with Bob Barbas making disparaging comments about you while you fight.
4 Professor Nakayama - Borderlands 2 (Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt DLC)
You face a lot of dangerous people and creatures throughout Borderlands 2. Professor Nakayama isn't among the most physically imposing antagonists you confront. After all, he's an old, skinny scientist. But looks can be deceiving, plus he talks a good game before your battle as he gives a rousing speech.
Unfortunately, he then slips and bounces down a nearby staircase. As he's going down, you see his health bar slowly deplete. Once he gets to the bottom, he's dead, and you've won the 'fight.' It's a hilarious moment and proves that Borderlands 2 is one of the funniest FPS titles ever.
3 Mr. Freeze - Batman: Arkham City
It's not just the silly and outrageous fights that are unique. The battle against Mr. Freeze, for instance, is actually a serious duel without any weird gimmicks. It's simply a sophisticated game of cat-and-mouse. As you can't take the antagonist head-on, you have to sneak around and wait for your chance to stun him. Once he's groggy, you can unleash some strikes to lower his health.
The fight is unique because Freeze adapts to your tactics. So, for example, if you surprise him by jumping out of a vent, he'll freeze all the vents in the room, making them inoperable. It means you have to continually change the way you attack the guy instead of just spamming your best move.
2 Famed Mimic Gogo - Final Fantasy 5
Weird and wonderful bosses are common in Final Fantasy games. In FF5, the oddest battle is the one against the Famed Mimic Gogo. Before the fight commences, he informs you that he will mimic everything you do. For example, if you attack, he'll attack, and if you cast a spell, he'll cast a spell.
The issue is that he's generally more effective than you. So, his counter-attacks come with a hell of a lot of force. However, he's actually easy to beat as all you have to do is nothing. By not making any moves, you're mimicking him. He's so impressed that he concedes the battle, and you win.
1 Psycho Mantis - Metal Gear Solid
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Not many bosses in video game history mess with your head as much as Psycho Mantis does in the original Metal Gear Solid. The man is capable of telepathy and psychokinesis. And during the battle against him, he shows that his powers stretch beyond the game world.
He can read your PlayStation memory card, make it seem like your TV is messing up, and, most problematic, take control of your controller. To remove the power he has over you, you have to plug your controller into another port. It makes for such a creative duel that's never really been duplicated despite Metal Gear Solid coming out all the way back in 1998.