Having the final boss show up right at the start of a game isn’t a new idea, but it’s definitely a cool twist. Sometimes the boss acts all friendly or sneaky throughout the story to keep you guessing until the end. But when the final boss just casually stands in front of the main character from the very beginning, it’s a bit unusual and breaks the usual logic.
Let’s dive into part two of the “top 10 games where you face the final boss right at the opening scene.”
Ninja Gaiden
If you haven’t played Ninja Gaiden (2004) but have heard about it, you probably know it’s insanely hard. And of course, the bosses are just as brutal. What’s crazy is some bosses don’t even die after one fight, you have to battle them twice before they finally go down.
Right in the first level, you control Ryu Hayabusa fighting through the Shadow Clan fortress. Soon after, Ryu faces off against his uncle Murai. They have a serious showdown, but it’s far from easy.
Later in the game, you learn Murai has been tracking Ryu’s every move. Using the power of the Dark Dragon Blade, Murai transforms into a giant boss with unbeatable strength, forcing players to fight tooth and nail to finally beat the game.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Castlevania is Dracula’s castle, so in Symphony Of The Night, you actually encounter Dracula twice. The game starts with the ending scene of the previous game, Rondo of Blood. Here, Richter Belmont battles Dracula in the royal chamber and seems to defeat him.
Fast forward four years, and this is when Symphony of the Night’s story truly begins. Dracula’s son, Alucard, arrives at his father’s castle to investigate why it has suddenly reappeared. He also wants to find out what happened to Richter Belmont, who has mysteriously vanished.
After discovering Richter is now a puppet controlled by Dracula’s servant, Alucard sets out to rescue him, battling fierce enemies in the inverted Castlevania castle. Dracula has been resurrected and is ready for an epic showdown with his son.
Many think the next part will be easier after defeating Dracula, but it turns out it’s way harder and you have to face Dracula again.
Final Fantasy XIII-2
JRPGs usually make it clear who’s friend or foe, even if the villain only shows up at the end. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is no exception.
Caius Ballad is the main rival of the protagonist Lightning, and they keep clashing at Valhalla.
The game opens with Caius transforming into the dragon Chaos Bahamut, and the battle begins with Lightning riding a horse. Players also get introduced to the Active Time Battle system here.
Throughout the game, Caius appears multiple times, forcing you to fight him repeatedly. In the final encounter, the battle has three stages: Chaos Bahamut, Caius himself, and finally a giant Jet Bahamut.
Sometimes, beating a boss multiple times makes the final victory feel even sweeter. Spoiler alert: Caius isn’t truly dead and will return in the next installment.
InFAMOUS 2
If you have superpowers in a world full of normal people, logic says anyone who dares to challenge you must have crazy powers too. In this case, that “someone” is a giant monster covered in lava.
John White was once a deep-cover agent for the National Security Agency. After a tragic event, he was reborn as “The Beast” with terrifying powers. His target is the main character Cole MacGrath. Right from the first level, you get to face The Beast and fight with all your might to stop him from wreaking havoc.
Over time, John White starts to regain control of himself and near the end, he offers to team up with Cole. You can accept if you follow the Evil Karma path and spread terror across the city. But if you want to be a hero, you must fight The Beast with everything you’ve got. Choosing the hero path comes with its own consequences, so think carefully.
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem is known for being super violent, blasting anything that moves. From weak soldiers to huge enemies, they all fall before his gun. Still, players are often surprised when a tough opponent keeps showing up again and again.
The first boss Duke faces is the Cycloid Emperor. At first, you might think it’s just a small challenge to hype players up. With the powerful Devastator gun, the Cycloid Emperor should go down quickly.
But you’re wrong. The Cycloid Emperor is the main villain and sticks around until the very end. Then you get to fight an even more intense battle to finally take down this boss for good.
