Videogames and bosses

[OniaPL]

I'd like to raise discussion about boss fights. I have a love-hate relationship with them. A hard boss that I can't beat frustrates me insanely, but when I finally beat it I get that great feeling of accomplishment. But nowadays boss fights feel rather easy to me, at least most of the time. I like these hard boss fights. They are rewarding, and bring a nice flavor to a game in my opinion. But I think that while games should have these hard bosses, they should be optional, so it isn't necessary to be a master of the game to complete it.

The questions I'd like to talk about:
Do we need boss fights in video games? How should they be executed?
Quantity/Quality- Should a boss fight be a lot of normal minions or a unique monster/human?
Bosses- should everyone be able to beat them or most of the players or only the most skilled ones?
Optional Bosses- Should bosses be optional, or should everyone brave through them to progress?
What is required to beat one- Should bosses be tests of skill or a test of equipment etc.

I personally love all bosses, even the hardest and most frustrating ones. But nowadays I am afraid that they might die out in the future.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Monster Hunter games are pretty much all boss fights. If you've never played any of the games before you get a real sense of progression.

For instance, Monster Hunter Tri was my first MH game. The first boss monster was not ridiculously hard, but a good challenge. Now I can go back to that monster and kill it with my eyes closed. Even with the later bosses, even though they aren't as challenging as when I first fought them, they still offer a decent challenge. If you die, it wasn't because the boss used a cheap move or there was a glitch, you died because you suck.

If you want a new kind of challenge, fight the monsters wearing no armour, no equipment except whetstones (to sharpen your weapon). That's when you can get one-shotted by most high level monsters.

 

[darth.pixie]

I like boss fights to the point where if I can save before them, I do and re-play them even after finishing the game. (Killed the archdemon in Dragon Age about 10 times solo).

I prefer the unique monster/human without the minions though it depends on whom I fight and why. Some make more sense to have two or three buddies with them.

Most players should beat them but not without forethought. If they would be easy, they wouldn't be the boss would they? And where's the satisfaction in easy?

Some bosses should be optional (and harder).

And skill should be required to beat one. Or ingenuity. Equipment..no. Few actually carry everything they find and having a fight depending on that is just cruel.