Top 10 Video Game Boss Battles of the 2000s

[Music]

[Music] seems like only yesterday we were gone

seems like only yesterday we were gone

seems like only yesterday we were gone at these highlights of gaming you’ve

at these highlights of gaming you’ve

at these highlights of gaming you’ve really become quite an inconvenience for

really become quite an inconvenience for

really become quite an inconvenience for me welcome to watchmojo.com and today

me welcome to watchmojo.com and today

me welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the

we’ll be counting down our picks for the

we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 video game boss battles of the

top 10 video game boss battles of the

top 10 video game boss battles of the 2000s continuing our series on the most

2000s continuing our series on the most

2000s continuing our series on the most enjoyable influential and well designed

enjoyable influential and well designed

enjoyable influential and well designed boss battles per decade today we’ll be

boss battles per decade today we’ll be

boss battles per decade today we’ll be looking at the modern classes of the

looking at the modern classes of the

looking at the modern classes of the natis

natis

natis [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] only one entry per franchise is allowed

only one entry per franchise is allowed

only one entry per franchise is allowed for each list and because we’re ranking

for each list and because we’re ranking

for each list and because we’re ranking these entries based on how well the

these entries based on how well the

these entries based on how well the battles themselves are designed moments

battles themselves are designed moments

battles themselves are designed moments such as meeting pokémon trainer read or

such as meeting pokémon trainer read or

such as meeting pokémon trainer read or characters such as GLaDOS won’t be

characters such as GLaDOS won’t be

characters such as GLaDOS won’t be included due to them being more iconic

included due to them being more iconic

included due to them being more iconic meetings rather than well-designed

meetings rather than well-designed

meetings rather than well-designed battles I wouldn’t bother with a bad

battles I wouldn’t bother with a bad

battles I wouldn’t bother with a bad thing my guess is that touching it will

thing my guess is that touching it will

thing my guess is that touching it will just make your life even worse somehow

just make your life even worse somehow

just make your life even worse somehow number 10 the boss Metal Gear Solid 3

number 10 the boss Metal Gear Solid 3

number 10 the boss Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater I’ll give you 10 minutes

Snake Eater I’ll give you 10 minutes

Snake Eater I’ll give you 10 minutes we’ve talked to death about how awesome

we’ve talked to death about how awesome

we’ve talked to death about how awesome and significant this character is and on

and significant this character is and on

and significant this character is and on the list of the very best she sure as

the list of the very best she sure as

the list of the very best she sure as hell deserves a place the boss is quick

hell deserves a place the boss is quick

hell deserves a place the boss is quick on the draw and possesses CQC skills

on the draw and possesses CQC skills

on the draw and possesses CQC skills that easily counter your own all the

that easily counter your own all the

that easily counter your own all the while the threat of imminent bombings

while the threat of imminent bombings

while the threat of imminent bombings keeps the tension high you’re better

keeps the tension high you’re better

keeps the tension high you’re better than I be five more minutes

than I be five more minutes

than I be five more minutes throw in the amazing Snake Eater theme

throw in the amazing Snake Eater theme

throw in the amazing Snake Eater theme song and the heart-wrenching ending and

song and the heart-wrenching ending and

song and the heart-wrenching ending and you have the makings of a magnificent

you have the makings of a magnificent

you have the makings of a magnificent battle worthy of the name boss you

battle worthy of the name boss you

battle worthy of the name boss you wonderful we also have to give a shout

wonderful we also have to give a shout

wonderful we also have to give a shout out to the battle with liquid Ocelot

out to the battle with liquid Ocelot

out to the battle with liquid Ocelot whose transitions between fighting

whose transitions between fighting

whose transitions between fighting mechanics was nothing short of an

mechanics was nothing short of an

mechanics was nothing short of an awesome nostalgia trip

number nine cyber arrow and the

number nine cyber arrow and the terraformer jak3 Oh

while originally thought to be dead

while originally thought to be dead after falling into a barrel of dark echo

after falling into a barrel of dark echo

after falling into a barrel of dark echo this former commander of the Crimson

this former commander of the Crimson

this former commander of the Crimson Guard was refitted and rebooted into a

Guard was refitted and rebooted into a

Guard was refitted and rebooted into a cyborg with only one mission in mind

cyborg with only one mission in mind

cyborg with only one mission in mind rushing jak and daxter and most of the

rushing jak and daxter and most of the

rushing jak and daxter and most of the world while he was at it

piloting the fearsome tera former

piloting the fearsome tera former players not only had to engage it in

players not only had to engage it in

players not only had to engage it in vehicles but also on foot as they fought

vehicles but also on foot as they fought

vehicles but also on foot as they fought their way to the top of the mechanical

their way to the top of the mechanical

their way to the top of the mechanical beast the size scope and frantic nature

beast the size scope and frantic nature

beast the size scope and frantic nature of the fight was the biggest ever seen

of the fight was the biggest ever seen

of the fight was the biggest ever seen in the trilogy and a wholly satisfying

in the trilogy and a wholly satisfying

in the trilogy and a wholly satisfying final challenge for the pointy-eared duo

the chozo prophesized a great evil would

the chozo prophesized a great evil would come to poison their adopted home world

come to poison their adopted home world

come to poison their adopted home world and unfortunately they were right so as

and unfortunately they were right so as

and unfortunately they were right so as samus it’s your job to blow it to hell

this panel has various stages that

this panel has various stages that require both smarts and the quick

require both smarts and the quick

require both smarts and the quick trigger finger in its exoskeleton form

trigger finger in its exoskeleton form

trigger finger in its exoskeleton form the Metroid Prime is only vulnerable to

the Metroid Prime is only vulnerable to

the Metroid Prime is only vulnerable to a certain type of beam at a time and

a certain type of beam at a time and

a certain type of beam at a time and while you’re trying to figure out which

while you’re trying to figure out which

while you’re trying to figure out which it will bombard you with minions and

it will bombard you with minions and

it will bombard you with minions and various projectiles to keep you on your

various projectiles to keep you on your

various projectiles to keep you on your toes

cracking through its outer shell reveals

cracking through its outer shell reveals its core form a state that can only be

its core form a state that can only be

its core form a state that can only be damaged with the bays on D requiring

damaged with the bays on D requiring

damaged with the bays on D requiring quick thinking and even quick reactions

quick thinking and even quick reactions

quick thinking and even quick reactions this particular antagonist did not

this particular antagonist did not

this particular antagonist did not disappoint

number seven Yami

number seven Yami Okami

they don’t call him the emperor of

they don’t call him the emperor of everlasting darkness for nothing

everlasting darkness for nothing

everlasting darkness for nothing the eternal enemy of the sun goddess

the eternal enemy of the sun goddess

the eternal enemy of the sun goddess amaterasu the final battle against this

amaterasu the final battle against this

amaterasu the final battle against this giant spear of evil is a long and

giant spear of evil is a long and

giant spear of evil is a long and arduous one but still dripping in the

arduous one but still dripping in the

arduous one but still dripping in the visual art style that Okami is famed for

after being stripped of all your

after being stripped of all your celestial brush techniques you have to

celestial brush techniques you have to

celestial brush techniques you have to earn them back one by one while

earn them back one by one while

earn them back one by one while countering Yanni’s assaults as the

countering Yanni’s assaults as the

countering Yanni’s assaults as the damage piles on he’ll continue to

damage piles on he’ll continue to

damage piles on he’ll continue to transform ranging from a series of disks

transform ranging from a series of disks

transform ranging from a series of disks a slot machine and a bipedal giant until

a slot machine and a bipedal giant until

a slot machine and a bipedal giant until you force his hand quite literally as he

you force his hand quite literally as he

you force his hand quite literally as he reveals his true form

it’s a classic battle of good versus

it’s a classic battle of good versus evil portrayed in beautiful cel-shaded

evil portrayed in beautiful cel-shaded

evil portrayed in beautiful cel-shaded glory

number six bugs on the third Serious Sam

number six bugs on the third Serious Sam the first encounter

you’ll definitely be doing a lot of

you’ll definitely be doing a lot of circle strafing and running away if you

circle strafing and running away if you

circle strafing and running away if you want to survive your encounter with this

want to survive your encounter with this

want to survive your encounter with this hellish creature

this forearm to behemoth will slowly

this forearm to behemoth will slowly chase you down and either try to crush

chase you down and either try to crush

chase you down and either try to crush or incinerate you while you’re gunning

or incinerate you while you’re gunning

or incinerate you while you’re gunning down wave after wave of lesser enemies

the only way to take them out is to keep

the only way to take them out is to keep using larger and larger guns until you

using larger and larger guns until you

using larger and larger guns until you eventually get the chance to activate

eventually get the chance to activate

eventually get the chance to activate the overhanging spaceships laser to

the overhanging spaceships laser to

the overhanging spaceships laser to finally bring him to his knees

it may not be the deepest well most

it may not be the deepest well most complex of battles but the thrill of the

complex of battles but the thrill of the

complex of battles but the thrill of the chase and subsequent victory are more

chase and subsequent victory are more

chase and subsequent victory are more than enough to ensure that gamers will

than enough to ensure that gamers will

than enough to ensure that gamers will have a blast with this boss fight number

have a blast with this boss fight number

have a blast with this boss fight number 5 tower night demon souls the precursor

5 tower night demon souls the precursor

5 tower night demon souls the precursor to dark souls certainly brought its own

to dark souls certainly brought its own

to dark souls certainly brought its own fair share of challenges namely this guy

fair share of challenges namely this guy

fair share of challenges namely this guy not only is his wide swing really hard

not only is his wide swing really hard

not only is his wide swing really hard to avoid you also have to deal with an

to avoid you also have to deal with an

to avoid you also have to deal with an entire courtyard filled with archers

entire courtyard filled with archers

entire courtyard filled with archers before you can even think about battling

before you can even think about battling

before you can even think about battling the knight himself after dispatching the

the knight himself after dispatching the

the knight himself after dispatching the crossbow brigade you’ll want to rely on

crossbow brigade you’ll want to rely on

crossbow brigade you’ll want to rely on quick blows to his ankles before we’re

quick blows to his ankles before we’re

quick blows to his ankles before we’re treating back due to the range of his

treating back due to the range of his

treating back due to the range of his enchanted spear but with enough

enchanted spear but with enough

enchanted spear but with enough diligence and patience he should

diligence and patience he should

diligence and patience he should eventually come crumbling down

setting the stage for future boss

setting the stage for future boss battles in later games he was certainly

battles in later games he was certainly

battles in later games he was certainly one of the better enemies to stem from

one of the better enemies to stem from

one of the better enemies to stem from dark souls’s earlier incarnation

we do not envy Leon s Kennedy dealing

we do not envy Leon s Kennedy dealing with rampant psychotic villagers is one

with rampant psychotic villagers is one

with rampant psychotic villagers is one thing but then being cornered by one of

thing but then being cornered by one of

thing but then being cornered by one of these dudes is really pushing it

the only way to kill El Gigante is to

the only way to kill El Gigante is to run for your life and cut away at the

run for your life and cut away at the

run for your life and cut away at the last playas that break out of its back

last playas that break out of its back

last playas that break out of its back in order to take him down though we

in order to take him down though we

in order to take him down though we would advise not breathing a sigh of

would advise not breathing a sigh of

would advise not breathing a sigh of relief too soon though since you’ll

relief too soon though since you’ll

relief too soon though since you’ll eventually face two of these dudes

eventually face two of these dudes

eventually face two of these dudes simultaneously

needless to say this game does a

needless to say this game does a fantastic job of making us want to avoid

fantastic job of making us want to avoid

fantastic job of making us want to avoid rural Spain at all costs bringing out

rural Spain at all costs bringing out

rural Spain at all costs bringing out the fear factor that Resident Evil was

the fear factor that Resident Evil was

the fear factor that Resident Evil was once known for number three the Colossus

once known for number three the Colossus

once known for number three the Colossus of Rhodes God of War two

after managing to take his place as a

after managing to take his place as a god of Olympus it turns out that Kratos

god of Olympus it turns out that Kratos

god of Olympus it turns out that Kratos wasn’t very popular with Zeus who

wasn’t very popular with Zeus who

wasn’t very popular with Zeus who formulated a plan to drain him of his

formulated a plan to drain him of his

formulated a plan to drain him of his powers Jew ralph said planned involved

powers Jew ralph said planned involved

powers Jew ralph said planned involved bringing a giant statue to life with the

bringing a giant statue to life with the

bringing a giant statue to life with the sole purpose of tearing Kratos apart the

sole purpose of tearing Kratos apart the

sole purpose of tearing Kratos apart the Colossus relentlessly pursues the player

Colossus relentlessly pursues the player

Colossus relentlessly pursues the player even after getting its eye torn out

as the first boss of the game not only

as the first boss of the game not only did this battle throw you into the

did this battle throw you into the

did this battle throw you into the action straightaway but the sense of

action straightaway but the sense of

action straightaway but the sense of scale sudden QuickTime events and

scale sudden QuickTime events and

scale sudden QuickTime events and cinematic camerawork upped the ante for

cinematic camerawork upped the ante for

cinematic camerawork upped the ante for the hack-and-slash Arum and it also gave

the hack-and-slash Arum and it also gave

the hack-and-slash Arum and it also gave us a brief glimpse of what was to come

us a brief glimpse of what was to come

us a brief glimpse of what was to come in terms of size for god of War’s future

in terms of size for god of War’s future

in terms of size for god of War’s future bosses do you see gods of Olympus

bosses do you see gods of Olympus

bosses do you see gods of Olympus do you need more proof

number two Virgil Devil May Cry 3

number two Virgil Devil May Cry 3 Dante’s awakening this is what they call

Dante’s awakening this is what they call

Dante’s awakening this is what they call us our learning family we need one of

us our learning family we need one of

us our learning family we need one of the two sons of the legendary Dark

the two sons of the legendary Dark

the two sons of the legendary Dark Knight Sparta Virgil turned his back on

Knight Sparta Virgil turned his back on

Knight Sparta Virgil turned his back on his humanity unlike his brother Dante

his humanity unlike his brother Dante

his humanity unlike his brother Dante pursuing the power of his demon heritage

pursuing the power of his demon heritage

pursuing the power of his demon heritage no matter the cost

as any true DMC fan will tell you Virgil

as any true DMC fan will tell you Virgil is as tough as they come in terms of

is as tough as they come in terms of

is as tough as they come in terms of challenge and will lay the smackdown on

challenge and will lay the smackdown on

challenge and will lay the smackdown on any unprepared player on multiple

any unprepared player on multiple

any unprepared player on multiple occasions able to deflect gunfire

occasions able to deflect gunfire

occasions able to deflect gunfire teleport all across the stage and even

teleport all across the stage and even

teleport all across the stage and even have access to his own devil trigger

have access to his own devil trigger

have access to his own devil trigger should he manage to catch you in a Jain

should he manage to catch you in a Jain

should he manage to catch you in a Jain combo you can kiss your ass good-bye

despite the difficulty spike the reward

despite the difficulty spike the reward of claiming victory and the bittersweet

of claiming victory and the bittersweet

of claiming victory and the bittersweet ending that comes with it was worth all

ending that comes with it was worth all

ending that comes with it was worth all those inevitable losses before we reveal

those inevitable losses before we reveal

those inevitable losses before we reveal our number one pick here are a few

our number one pick here are a few

our number one pick here are a few honorable mentions

number one avian v Colossus Shadow of

number one avian v Colossus Shadow of the Colossus

every one of the colossi could take a

every one of the colossi could take a spot on this list due to the variety in

spot on this list due to the variety in

spot on this list due to the variety in both environments and mechanics but

both environments and mechanics but

both environments and mechanics but ultimately it was v glosses that just

ultimately it was v glosses that just

ultimately it was v glosses that just nudged ahead of the rest we had just

nudged ahead of the rest we had just

nudged ahead of the rest we had just about gotten used to climbing gigantic

about gotten used to climbing gigantic

about gotten used to climbing gigantic beasts and exposing their multiple weak

beasts and exposing their multiple weak

beasts and exposing their multiple weak points both on foot and atop our loyal

points both on foot and atop our loyal

points both on foot and atop our loyal steed Argo but that all got turned on

steed Argo but that all got turned on

steed Argo but that all got turned on its head when we had to slay a Colossus

its head when we had to slay a Colossus

its head when we had to slay a Colossus midair

with the ever-shrinking gripmeter

with the ever-shrinking gripmeter accompanied with heart-stopping

accompanied with heart-stopping

accompanied with heart-stopping aerodynamics the result was a boss

aerodynamics the result was a boss

aerodynamics the result was a boss battle that was as exhilarating as it

battle that was as exhilarating as it

battle that was as exhilarating as it was nerve-racking throw in a pang of

was nerve-racking throw in a pang of

was nerve-racking throw in a pang of guilt for killing such a marvelous

guilt for killing such a marvelous

guilt for killing such a marvelous creature and you have a valve you won’t

creature and you have a valve you won’t

creature and you have a valve you won’t be forgetting anytime soon

do you agree with our list it did not

do you agree with our list it did not have to be this way what are your

have to be this way what are your

have to be this way what are your favorite boss battles from the 2000s

favorite boss battles from the 2000s

favorite boss battles from the 2000s with new top 10s published every day be

with new top 10s published every day be

with new top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com give

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com give

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com give that day

that day

that day no way you got your own

no way you got your own

no way you got your own [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you