Top 10 Most Epic Boss Battles of the 1980s

[Music]

[Music] they are old-school gaming’s greatest

they are old-school gaming’s greatest

they are old-school gaming’s greatest challenges welcome to watchmojo.com and

challenges welcome to watchmojo.com and

challenges welcome to watchmojo.com and still be kicking off our series of the

still be kicking off our series of the

still be kicking off our series of the best video game boss battles with our

best video game boss battles with our

best video game boss battles with our first list of the top ten video game

first list of the top ten video game

first list of the top ten video game boss battles of the 1980s this list will

boss battles of the 1980s this list will

boss battles of the 1980s this list will be looking at the most enjoyable

be looking at the most enjoyable

be looking at the most enjoyable influential and well-designed boss

influential and well-designed boss

influential and well-designed boss battles per decade starting off with the

battles per decade starting off with the

battles per decade starting off with the glory days of the 1980s only one boss

glory days of the 1980s only one boss

glory days of the 1980s only one boss battle per franchise will be allowed for

battle per franchise will be allowed for

battle per franchise will be allowed for each list number 10 the mothership

each list number 10 the mothership

each list number 10 the mothership Phoenix not to be confused with space

Phoenix not to be confused with space

Phoenix not to be confused with space invaders Phoenix pitted arcade players

invaders Phoenix pitted arcade players

invaders Phoenix pitted arcade players against the most dangerous of foes

against the most dangerous of foes

against the most dangerous of foes mechanical birds from outer space

at the end of every round the mothership

at the end of every round the mothership would appear armed with missiles a

would appear armed with missiles a

would appear armed with missiles a conveyor belt style shield and several

conveyor belt style shield and several

conveyor belt style shield and several minions under its wing with each new

minions under its wing with each new

minions under its wing with each new level increasing the speed and

level increasing the speed and

level increasing the speed and difficulty of the oncoming feathered

difficulty of the oncoming feathered

difficulty of the oncoming feathered Menace the mothership provided a fun

Menace the mothership provided a fun

Menace the mothership provided a fun challenge for players to test their

challenge for players to test their

challenge for players to test their speed precision and just how well they

speed precision and just how well they

speed precision and just how well they were with a joystick not bad for what is

were with a joystick not bad for what is

were with a joystick not bad for what is considered to be one of the first video

considered to be one of the first video

considered to be one of the first video game bosses ever

[Music]

[Music] known in Japan as super drunk this final

known in Japan as super drunk this final

known in Japan as super drunk this final boss certainly seems like something that

boss certainly seems like something that

boss certainly seems like something that could only be created by someone who is

could only be created by someone who is

could only be created by someone who is incredibly inebriated he doesn’t come

incredibly inebriated he doesn’t come

incredibly inebriated he doesn’t come complete with a hangover but he does

complete with a hangover but he does

complete with a hangover but he does have an infinite supply of bottles to

have an infinite supply of bottles to

have an infinite supply of bottles to throw at you located on the 100th floor

throw at you located on the 100th floor

throw at you located on the 100th floor in the cave of Monsters players need to

in the cave of Monsters players need to

in the cave of Monsters players need to be swift to avoid this behemoths

be swift to avoid this behemoths

be swift to avoid this behemoths projectiles and charge attack luckily

projectiles and charge attack luckily

projectiles and charge attack luckily there’s plenty of lightning bubbles

there’s plenty of lightning bubbles

there’s plenty of lightning bubbles around for ammunition

around for ammunition

around for ammunition so stay light on your feet and you just

so stay light on your feet and you just

so stay light on your feet and you just might be able to save Betty and patty

might be able to save Betty and patty

might be able to save Betty and patty from getting popped

number 8 red Falcon contra

number 8 red Falcon contra [Music]

[Music]

[Music] in a game as manly as this you need a

in a game as manly as this you need a

in a game as manly as this you need a boss battle that lives up to the

boss battle that lives up to the

boss battle that lives up to the standard set by its testosterone-filled

standard set by its testosterone-filled

standard set by its testosterone-filled protagonists luckily the red Falcon does

protagonists luckily the red Falcon does

protagonists luckily the red Falcon does just that clearly taking heavy

just that clearly taking heavy

just that clearly taking heavy inspiration from the Alien franchise

inspiration from the Alien franchise

inspiration from the Alien franchise this Ballack alien life-form makes up

this Ballack alien life-form makes up

this Ballack alien life-form makes up the final level as players will not only

the final level as players will not only

the final level as players will not only have to blast its monstrous head off but

have to blast its monstrous head off but

have to blast its monstrous head off but also shoot their way to its heart of

also shoot their way to its heart of

also shoot their way to its heart of course blasting your way through isn’t

course blasting your way through isn’t

course blasting your way through isn’t as easy as you might think as there’s a

as easy as you might think as there’s a

as easy as you might think as there’s a constant swarm of totally not

constant swarm of totally not

constant swarm of totally not facehuggers pouncing at our heroes

number 7 shredder

number 7 shredder Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade

the heroes in a half-shell exploded onto

the heroes in a half-shell exploded onto the arcade scene about the same time

the arcade scene about the same time

the arcade scene about the same time that the show is blowing up your

that the show is blowing up your

that the show is blowing up your afternoon cartoon sessions and they

afternoon cartoon sessions and they

afternoon cartoon sessions and they brought their most fearsome foe along

brought their most fearsome foe along

brought their most fearsome foe along for the ride

for the ride

for the ride [Music]

[Music]

[Music] this side-scrolling beat-em-up

this side-scrolling beat-em-up

this side-scrolling beat-em-up culminated in a final level with the

culminated in a final level with the

culminated in a final level with the shredder and much like his cartoon

shredder and much like his cartoon

shredder and much like his cartoon counterpart he doesn’t go down easy even

counterpart he doesn’t go down easy even

counterpart he doesn’t go down easy even if you’re playing co-op with all four

if you’re playing co-op with all four

if you’re playing co-op with all four turtles in tow

turtles in tow

turtles in tow shredder will appear with a large number

shredder will appear with a large number

shredder will appear with a large number of clones armed with both swords and

of clones armed with both swords and

of clones armed with both swords and lightning that he can D mutate the

lightning that he can D mutate the

lightning that he can D mutate the turtles within a single hit we hope

turtles within a single hit we hope

turtles within a single hit we hope you’ve been keeping your ninja skills

you’ve been keeping your ninja skills

you’ve been keeping your ninja skills sharp cuz you’re gonna need them number

sharp cuz you’re gonna need them number

sharp cuz you’re gonna need them number six CineStar Sinistar his catchphrases

six CineStar Sinistar his catchphrases

six CineStar Sinistar his catchphrases are so hilariously 80s that they have

are so hilariously 80s that they have

are so hilariously 80s that they have long since worked their way into gaming

long since worked their way into gaming

long since worked their way into gaming culture where coward run coward a creepy

culture where coward run coward a creepy

culture where coward run coward a creepy as hell spacecraft the only chance of

as hell spacecraft the only chance of

as hell spacecraft the only chance of taking Sinistar down is mining various

taking Sinistar down is mining various

taking Sinistar down is mining various planetoids and assembling Sinnott bombs

planetoids and assembling Sinnott bombs

planetoids and assembling Sinnott bombs in order to destroy it with each new

in order to destroy it with each new

in order to destroy it with each new zone increasing in difficulty and threat

zone increasing in difficulty and threat

zone increasing in difficulty and threat of Sinistar assembling itself constantly

of Sinistar assembling itself constantly

of Sinistar assembling itself constantly looming this boss offered a great sense

looming this boss offered a great sense

looming this boss offered a great sense of tension in the lead-up to the battle

of tension in the lead-up to the battle

of tension in the lead-up to the battle only to provide us with such iconic

only to provide us with such iconic

only to provide us with such iconic dialogue as being where I live and I

dialogue as being where I live and I

dialogue as being where I live and I hunger

don’t panic too much though one wrong

don’t panic too much though one wrong move and you’ll get sucked into his

move and you’ll get sucked into his

move and you’ll get sucked into his terrifying screaming mom

number five Dark Link Zelda 2 The

number five Dark Link Zelda 2 The Adventure of Link

once again taking up the Master Sword to

once again taking up the Master Sword to save the life of fair princess zelda

save the life of fair princess zelda

save the life of fair princess zelda winx journey all over Hyrule would

winx journey all over Hyrule would

winx journey all over Hyrule would eventually lead players to battling all

eventually lead players to battling all

eventually lead players to battling all sorts of creatures in order to earn the

sorts of creatures in order to earn the

sorts of creatures in order to earn the Triforce of courage little did they know

Triforce of courage little did they know

Triforce of courage little did they know that in order to do so they would have

that in order to do so they would have

that in order to do so they would have to defeat Link’s shadowy doppelganger

to defeat Link’s shadowy doppelganger

to defeat Link’s shadowy doppelganger [Music]

[Music]

[Music] possessing the same moves as you players

possessing the same moves as you players

possessing the same moves as you players need to land eight precise strikes in

need to land eight precise strikes in

need to land eight precise strikes in order to defeat this dark copy he might

order to defeat this dark copy he might

order to defeat this dark copy he might not be Ganon but his surprise appearance

not be Ganon but his surprise appearance

not be Ganon but his surprise appearance and tendency to block and attack just as

and tendency to block and attack just as

and tendency to block and attack just as quickly as link made him a welcome

quickly as link made him a welcome

quickly as link made him a welcome addition to the franchise number four

addition to the franchise number four

addition to the franchise number four wart super mario brothers – we’re not

wart super mario brothers – we’re not

wart super mario brothers – we’re not saying bowser isn’t a great villain in

saying bowser isn’t a great villain in

saying bowser isn’t a great villain in fact he’s right up there with some of

fact he’s right up there with some of

fact he’s right up there with some of videogames greatest tyrants however you

videogames greatest tyrants however you

videogames greatest tyrants however you have to admit that his boss battle in

have to admit that his boss battle in

have to admit that his boss battle in the original Super Mario Brothers which

the original Super Mario Brothers which

the original Super Mario Brothers which was from the 80s can be incredibly easy

was from the 80s can be incredibly easy

was from the 80s can be incredibly easy as such we have to hand this entry over

as such we have to hand this entry over

as such we have to hand this entry over to the leader of the 8-bit Mario games

due to the original Super Mario Brothers

due to the original Super Mario Brothers – being considered too difficult for

– being considered too difficult for

– being considered too difficult for North American audiences the developer

North American audiences the developer

North American audiences the developer simply imported a game called Doki Doki

simply imported a game called Doki Doki

simply imported a game called Doki Doki Panic and rebranded it as a Mario sequel

Panic and rebranded it as a Mario sequel

Panic and rebranded it as a Mario sequel regardless wart makes for a tricky final

regardless wart makes for a tricky final

regardless wart makes for a tricky final boss which forces players to avoid his

boss which forces players to avoid his

boss which forces players to avoid his projectiles and defeat him by of course

projectiles and defeat him by of course

projectiles and defeat him by of course launching vegetables at him huh who knew

launching vegetables at him huh who knew

launching vegetables at him huh who knew eating your greens could be so deadly

eating your greens could be so deadly

eating your greens could be so deadly [Music]

number three yellow devil Mega Man

number three yellow devil Mega Man [Music]

[Music]

[Music] and you thought the robot masters were

and you thought the robot masters were

and you thought the robot masters were all you had to worry about this fortress

all you had to worry about this fortress

all you had to worry about this fortress boss is the ultimate test for players in

boss is the ultimate test for players in

boss is the ultimate test for players in terms jumping and accuracy its weak

terms jumping and accuracy its weak

terms jumping and accuracy its weak point might be fairly obvious but

point might be fairly obvious but

point might be fairly obvious but managing to land a hit on it is a whole

managing to land a hit on it is a whole

managing to land a hit on it is a whole other thing entirely able to dismantle

other thing entirely able to dismantle

other thing entirely able to dismantle its goo like body into smaller

its goo like body into smaller

its goo like body into smaller projectiles this gigantic robot will

projectiles this gigantic robot will

projectiles this gigantic robot will quite literally throw itself at you as

quite literally throw itself at you as

quite literally throw itself at you as it scatters across the stage before

it scatters across the stage before

it scatters across the stage before reassembling itself and repeating the

reassembling itself and repeating the

reassembling itself and repeating the process all over again with a highly

process all over again with a highly

process all over again with a highly irregular attack pattern the only hope

irregular attack pattern the only hope

irregular attack pattern the only hope players have is to keep that Thunder

players have is to keep that Thunder

players have is to keep that Thunder beam charged and pray that they can

beam charged and pray that they can

beam charged and pray that they can survive the onslaught

[Music]

[Music] number two Dracula Castlevania

every villain has his beginning and

every villain has his beginning and while his later appearances in the

while his later appearances in the

while his later appearances in the franchise arguably packed more of a

franchise arguably packed more of a

franchise arguably packed more of a punch

punch

punch Dracula’s first clash with Simon Belmont

Dracula’s first clash with Simon Belmont

Dracula’s first clash with Simon Belmont in the original Castlevania is still a

in the original Castlevania is still a

in the original Castlevania is still a classic boss battle worthy of praise

able to teleport across the screen and

able to teleport across the screen and continuously cast Hellfire players would

continuously cast Hellfire players would

continuously cast Hellfire players would find themselves frantically using the

find themselves frantically using the

find themselves frantically using the whip like there was no tomorrow

whip like there was no tomorrow

whip like there was no tomorrow later assuming a more demonic form

later assuming a more demonic form

later assuming a more demonic form Dracula would rain down fire from above

Dracula would rain down fire from above

Dracula would rain down fire from above and try to pin players in a corner

and try to pin players in a corner

and try to pin players in a corner [Music]

[Music]

[Music] his greatest moments as a boss can be

his greatest moments as a boss can be

his greatest moments as a boss can be debated but no one can deny that this

debated but no one can deny that this

debated but no one can deny that this was definitely a great place to start

was definitely a great place to start

was definitely a great place to start [Music]

[Music]

[Music] before we reveal our number one pick

before we reveal our number one pick

before we reveal our number one pick here a few honorable mentions

here a few honorable mentions

here a few honorable mentions [Music]

number one Mike Tyson Mike Tyson’s

number one Mike Tyson Mike Tyson’s punch-out have you ever wanted to knock

punch-out have you ever wanted to knock

punch-out have you ever wanted to knock out a former heavyweight champion well

out a former heavyweight champion well

out a former heavyweight champion well in this surreal gaming experience you

in this surreal gaming experience you

in this surreal gaming experience you got your chance as little Mac’s final

got your chance as little Mac’s final

got your chance as little Mac’s final opponent Mike Tyson is dead set on a

opponent Mike Tyson is dead set on a

opponent Mike Tyson is dead set on a brutal fist exchange the first 90

brutal fist exchange the first 90

brutal fist exchange the first 90 seconds of this fight aren’t infamous

seconds of this fight aren’t infamous

seconds of this fight aren’t infamous due to tyson launching a series of

due to tyson launching a series of

due to tyson launching a series of uppercuts that can immediately knock you

uppercuts that can immediately knock you

uppercuts that can immediately knock you onto the canvas

onto the canvas

onto the canvas survive that and you’ll be able to

survive that and you’ll be able to

survive that and you’ll be able to navigate your way through a series of

navigate your way through a series of

navigate your way through a series of lightning jabs and unpredictable blows

lightning jabs and unpredictable blows

lightning jabs and unpredictable blows until you eventually connect with the

until you eventually connect with the

until you eventually connect with the head of your own

head of your own

head of your own [Music]

[Music]

[Music] despite the ridiculousness of actually

despite the ridiculousness of actually

despite the ridiculousness of actually fighting Mike Tyson there’s no doubt it

fighting Mike Tyson there’s no doubt it

fighting Mike Tyson there’s no doubt it made for the 80s most rewarding boss

made for the 80s most rewarding boss

made for the 80s most rewarding boss battle alright

battle alright

battle alright he’s a BB ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba get up here

he’s a BB ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba get up here

he’s a BB ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba get up here you grew up there you go fight come on

Top 10 Most Epic Boss Battles of the 1980s

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