Our favorite bosses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors: gigantic, tiny, colossal, angelic, infernal, cunning, unrelenting, etc.
Therefore ranking them is not an easy task. But we have tried, endured, and succeeded in coming up with a list of what we think are the 5 best boss fights on the PS2.
We have considered their deviousness, spectacle, and difficulty when coming up with this ranking, and while we know we won’t be able to please everyone, we know many of you will know exactly why these bosses are here.
Word of warning: Spoilers beyond this point will come fast and furious, so take that into account when reading through our list.
Without further ado, here are our
5 Best Boss Fights On The PlayStation 2
Mundus From Devil May Cry
The enemy that sparked the Legend of Sparda certainly deserves a top position on our list.
Mundus is the Prince of Darkness, the epitome of evil. Despite ruling over the demon world, Mundus appears as a huge angel with white wings and a third eye upon his forehead that makes him look like an angelic being.
A staple of the entire Devil May Cry franchise, we first face off against Mundus during the final boss encounter of the original Devil May Cry game.
The first time we fight Mundus we are subjected to a particularly brutal, epic, and sweeping encounter conducted over three stages, one of which plays like a flying rail shooter!
Be prepared to use lightning-fast reflexes to dodge fireballs, laser beams, and chaos orbs in order to survive the final fight against The Dark Emperor of The Underworld.
The End From Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The End is an old man and he is intent on showing you that age is only a number when you are dangerous. And trust us when we say this: The End is dangerous!
In fact, Naked Snake’s confrontation against The End is one of the most complex in the entire Metal Gear Saga; a saga that is known for its difficult, complex, and intense boss fights.
The End is a deadly sniper and an experienced member of the infamous Cobra Unit.
The fight against him is technically not the final boss of the game, but it might as well be since it is easily the most difficult fight in the game. In fact, it gets harder the more you die!
Every time you are defeated you are transported to a cell, from which you must escape again to face The End one more time, but this time without the resources you used up during your last encounter.
As if that were not enough, during combat you will be facing an enemy that has almost 100% stealth uptime thanks to his camouflage expertise, a parrot that spots your position and gives away your location, and the ability to regenerate his life points!
Additionally, The End feels just as rewarding to beat as a final boss. To compensate for his difficulty, there are several secrets awaiting those who persevere. You can get his sniper rifle and even his camo suit, depending on which method you use to defeat him.
Verdugo From Resident Evil 4
The Resident Evil series is notorious for having great final encounters that are hard and unforgiving. While the gameplay of RE4 strays from tradition a bit, the boss battles do not.
While the Verdugo remained cloaked for most of the game, when they disrobe, they ar ready to attack. Part human, part insect, all terror. They kind of look like a cross between an “Alien” with the face of a “Predator”
Salazar refers to one of the Verdugo as his “right-hand man” and he is sent after you through the sewers after you narrowly avoid a death trap near. This is one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of a game that already has you on the edge of your seat.
The problem with the Verdugo is they are faster and more intelligent than the other monsters in the game. It’s not just an all-out battle of ammo vs health. Verdugo will remain hidden and strike when the time is right.
If only you could find a way to slow him down.
Malus: Grandis Supernus From Shadow of the Colossus
This is arguably the most imposing and awe-inspiring of the final bosses on our list. Pardon the pun, but Malus is colossal!
There is an argument to be made that many the Colossi from the masterpiece that is Shadow of the Colossus deserve to be on this list, but the enormity, daunting difficulty, and absolute ferocity make Malus stand on a league of his own.
Malus represents the last step in the harrowing journey to save our beloved from the cold clutches of death. But the only weapons we have at our disposal are our bow, sword, and endless determination.
Be prepared for an unforgettable battle made tense by the dark, foreboding musical soundtrack. Be prepared to dodge fast-moving, target-tracking fireballs. Be prepared for the long haul, this fight is arduous!
Like the rest of the Colossi, however, Malus has a weak point: a symbol located at the very top of his head. You must make your way there, up his legs, up his torso, and finally up his neck in order to end Malus’ existence and win.
During the battle itself, Ares went at you with wrath and fury! He had some of the most hard-hitting and unpredictable attacks in the entire game, so masterfully managing your distance, your blocks, and dodges was the only way to defeat him.
Ares From God of War
Those familiar with Greek Mythology know that Ares is one of the most powerful and perverse gods to have ever walked the halls of Olympus. So when he shows up as the final boss in the original God of War, you know that you are in for a fight!
If you were good enough to clash swords with Ares (God of War was a brutally hard game and not many people made it to the end), you had to do so without your beloved Blades of Chaos!
But this unforgettable battle had some very high stakes. After all, if you proved yourself victorious, Ares was dethroned and you, Kratos, the Ghost Of Sparta, became the eponymous God of War!
