Frustrating Boss Fights In Otherwise Great RPGs

Highlights

Boss fights in RPGs can be unexpectedly frustrating, leading to hours of battling difficult enemies.
Some of the greatest RPGs contain challenging boss battles that can catch players off guard.
Facing frustrating boss battles in games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Elden Ring can test players’ patience and skills.

As a seasoned gamer with decades worth of virtual battles under my belt, I can confidently say that some boss fights have left me more exasperated than others. The one that stands out as the most frustrating, hands down, is The Catalyst from… who knows? It’s some game, probably one I should’ve never bothered with.

In most Role-Playing Games (RPGs), players are often challenged to participate in numerous combat situations aimed at overpowering bosses and adversaries. Yet, these boss battles may prove to be trickier than anticipated, leading to a challenging experience that could stretch a player’s time against a single enemy for hours on end, potentially causing frustration.

Difficulty in overcoming bosses during gameplay isn’t limited only to average or badly-reviewed games; even highly acclaimed role-playing games have taken players by surprise with tough boss fights now and then. Many RPGs include challenging boss battles, but some can be more frustrating than others.

8 Balthazar – Baldur’s Gate 3

Constantly Pushed And Poisoned

Frustrating Boss Fights In Otherwise Great RPGs

Baldur’s Gate 3 is an award-winning RPG that has impressed many players with its incredible story and interesting boss battles. However, one potential boss encounter that many players would prefer to avoid is the one with Balthazar, the incredibly morbid Necromancer. If players pretend to go along with Balthazar’s plan to get the Nightsong, they will likely encounter him within the prison.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, battling Balthazar is undeniably one of the most aggravating encounters. Not only does he persistently release poisonous fog that swiftly depletes a player’s health, but his summoned hordes of zombies and skeletons can quickly drive your party towards the edge, resulting in an immediate death if they fall. This often forces players to restart their game repeatedly.

7 Godskin Duo – Elden Ring

Two Stressful Bosses At Once

In games such as Elden Ring, there are numerous challenging boss battles that repeatedly test players, requiring them to keep trying until they finally conquer the boss at hand. The Godskin Duo in Elden Ring raises the frustration level of this RPG beyond what was seen even with the Elden Beast.

Engaging with just one of the Godskin bosses may pose a slight difficulty, however, battling both of these peculiar creatures could significantly increase the stress levels for Elden Ring players, given that they each employ unique attack styles, necessitating tactical finesse in combat.

6 Sephiroth – Kingdom Hearts

A Thankfully Optional Fight

The well-known series called Kingdom Hearts boasts intriguing boss fights across all its games, but what truly tests a player’s patience is the elective confrontation against Sephiroth, a villain from Final Fantasy, who is notorious for being particularly challenging in Kingdom Hearts.

In this fight, the challenge abruptly intensifies, overwhelming players with a rapid succession of attacks that demand swift reflexes for those seeking to endure. Some gamers assert that overcoming Sephiroth has consumed numerous hours of perseverance and experimenting with diverse strategies in search of an effective one. Sephiroth possesses several underhanded tactics, so players must remain vigilant at every moment if they aim to come out on top.

5 The Heart Of Darkness – Darkest Dungeon

Someone Must Always Die

As you delve deeper into captivating role-playing games, Darkest Dungeon stands out as another remarkable title within the genre. However, the task of maintaining the wellbeing of your party members can become quite exasperating when players face off against the final boss, The Heart of Darkness. This frustration stems from an ability it possesses called ‘Come Unto Your Maker’.

When a specific limit is reached, this ability activates and instantly eliminates one or two characters from the player’s team. This can be extremely tense, particularly if the affected character is someone the players have grown fond of. The numerous stress attacks this entity can unleash add to the irritation that this battle may cause.

4 The Catalyst – Sea Of Stars

A Boss That Requires Patience

In the game known as Sea of Stars, players will face multiple bosses during their journey through the storyline. Some of these bosses have been tagged as difficult, but none can compare to the irritation caused by battling The Catalyst. This is a three-part battle where players must initially dismantle the defenses of The Catalyst before they can even reach its core.

In this fight, what makes it challenging is the need to target specific elements before you can land a successful attack. However, using Area of Effect (AOE) spells can make it less taxing. Unfortunately, some players might not be adequately equipped with such spells, leading to extended battles.

3 Baal – Diablo 2

Waves Of Bosses And Horrid Elemental Attacks

Waves of enemies existing before the actual boss fight is a frustrating part of countless games, and this isn’t just the case for RPGs. In one of Diablo 2‘s more frustrating moments, players are forced to first kill five waves of enemies before the final battle against Baal can begin.

This is made even more frustrating through Baal’s abilities, which include teleportation and highly lethal elemental attacks. Players must be quick with their actions, or they will risk having to deal with all five waves once more if they want to have another chance at beating Baal.

2 Galdera – Octopath Traveler

Must Fight Eight Whole Bosses To Get To Him

In Octopath Traveler, Galdera presents an additional challenge. Instead of just battling hordes of lesser foes, players must endure the frustration of defeating eight bosses before they can engage the main RPG enemy. The battle itself is not straightforward, as Galdera demands that players conquer three distinct segments of its body, each equipped with unique abilities to turn the game into a nightmarish experience for players.

After completing all the necessary procedures, players can ultimately concentrate on Galdera. However, it’s important to note that the process of unlocking and battling this boss can still be quite challenging and frustrating.

1 The Bed Of Chaos – Dark Souls

It’s More Of A Puzzle Than A Boss

Some gamers find it infuriating when certain boss battles in role-playing games (RPGs) seem to rely more on luck than skill, as they are often subject to random number generation (RNG). The Bed of Chaos from Dark Souls is a common source of this frustration, with numerous players repeatedly dying during their attempts to reach the center of the battle, seemingly due to bad luck rather than lack of skill.

In contrast to traditional boss battles in Dark Souls, where players reduce their enemy’s health bar over time, The Bed of Chaos presents two glowing roots that players must reach. Each hit increases the number of attacks the boss can execute, potentially making The Bed of Chaos a very challenging and frustrating battle for RPG gamers.

2024-08-22 09:05