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File:Bowser smb1 2015.png

"Mr. Mario, I feel that you and I are destined to do battle, again and again, for so long as the gods see fit."

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"Finally! A boss fight!"

Gene, God Hand
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A climactic confrontation with a unique, stronger than average, and often monstrous enemy creature known colloquially as a "boss". It has several important features, depending on the genre of game in which it is found.

In old-school Shoot Em Ups and 2D Platformers, the boss comes at the end of a level or series of levels (commonly called a "world"). He will often require a special trick to defeat, or have a targetable Weak Spot.

In FPS, 3PS's, and 3D platformers, they divide up the game. They might be common or uncommon, gigantic or small, complex multi-stage affairs or simple exercises in circle strafing while shooting.

In RPGs, they wait at the end of dungeons (though the larger dungeons may have multiple boss fights). They have a mountain of Hit Points. If they're the last one, you'll most likely fight them more than once. Most have a specific weakness.

In a Fighting Game, the boss is simply the last character you fight, in that even when the rest of the battles have you going up against a randomly-selected opponent, the boss is always the same. The boss is typically not a playable character (though circumstances may allow him to be unlocked later), and tends to be the most difficult opponent. Occasionally, the penultimate battle will also be against a "boss". (The penultimate opponent is often dubbed a "Mini Boss".)

Note that in some games, the boss isn't always at the end of any given level or dungeon.

Common Boss Battle Tropes
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