Having the final boss appear at the very beginning of the game is not a new trope, but it is extremely interesting. He can pretend to be “innocent” throughout the story to create surprises for the ending. However, no matter how cleverly it’s set up, having the final boss casually appear in front of the main character right from the start seems a bit illogical.
Now, let’s move on to the second part of “top 10 games where you face the final boss right in the opening scene”.
Ninja Gaiden
If you haven’t played Ninja Gaiden (2004) but have heard of it, you probably know it’s a notoriously difficult game. Of course, with such a challenging game comes a boss that is equally “hard to digest”. The twist is, there are bosses that you have to defeat more than once before they actually die.
No need to look far, right in the first scene, you will control the main character Ryu Hayabusa fighting through countless dangers in the Shadow Clan fortress. Shortly after, Ryu Hayabusa clashes with his uncle, Murai. The two have a “proper greeting”, but it is anything but easy.
Later in the game, you will find out that Murai is always watching Ryu’s every move. And through the power of the Dark Dragon Blade, Murai transforms into a gigantic boss with unparalleled strength, making players sweat to “break through”.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Castlevania is a castle belonging to Count Dracula. Therefore, in Symphony Of The Night, you will encounter this character not once, but twice. Specifically, the game begins with the ending scene from the previous installment – Rondo of Blood. At this moment, Richter Belmont confronts Dracula in the royal chamber and seemingly defeats his enemy.
Fast forward four years later, and this is when the story of Symphony of the Night officially begins. At this time, Dracula’s son Alucard arrives at his father’s castle to investigate why it has suddenly reappeared. Conveniently, Alucard is also looking into the reason why Richter Belmont has gone missing.
After discovering that Richter is now a puppet for Dracula’s servant, Alucard is determined to rescue him, battling through formidable foes in the inverted version of the Castlevania castle. Notably, Dracula has been resurrected and is ready to fight his son in an epic showdown.
After defeating Dracula, many might think the next installment will be easier. However, it turns out to be not only much harder, but you also have to face Dracula once more, which is a struggle.
Final Fantasy XIII-2
In the JRPG genre, it is often very easy to identify friends from foes, even if they only reveal themselves at the end of the game. And Final Fantasy XIII-2 is no exception.
Caius Ballad is a bitter enemy of the main character Lightning, and the two continuously “exchange moves” in Valhalla.
The game opens with Caius transforming into the demon dragon Chaos Bahamut, and the battle begins with Lightning riding on horseback. At the same time, players are also introduced to the Active Time Battle mechanics in Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Throughout the game, Caius will periodically reappear, and you must continue fighting this boss, but in his final appearance, he has a bit of a change. You will have to battle through 3 different phases: Chaos Bahamut, Caius himself, and the final challenge being the gigantic Jet Bahamut.
Sometimes, the more you defeat a boss, the more exhilarating the final encounter feels. A little hint is that Caius is not completely dead and will continue to appear in the next installment.
inFAMOUS 2
When you possess superpowers in a world full of ordinary people, logically, if someone dares to confront you, that person must also have formidable superpowers. In this case, that “person” is a massive monster covered in lava.
John White was once an undercover agent working for the National Security Agency. However, after a traumatic event, he is reborn as “The Beast” with incredible powers. This creature’s target is the main character Cole MacGrath, and right from the beginning, you have the chance to meet The Beast. Fight him with all your might to prevent him from wreaking havoc.
Gradually, John White begins to gain control over himself, and by the end, he shows an interest in forming an alliance with Cole. Of course, you can agree to this offer if you choose the Evil Karma path, spreading terror throughout the city. But if you want to be a hero, you must stop The Beast at all costs, engaging in a colossal battle with him. And if you choose to be a hero, you will have to bear certain consequences, so remember to think carefully.
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem is a character known for his extreme violence, shooting anything that moves. From tiny soldiers to massive enemies, they all fall before the protagonist’s gun. Nevertheless, players are often surprised when a stubborn character appears repeatedly in the game.
The first boss Duke faces is the Cycloid Emperor. Initially, you might think this is just a small challenge to excite players. With the powerful Devastator gun in hand, the Cycloid Emperor should fall in no time.
But you are mistaken. The Cycloid Emperor is the main antagonist in the game, and it will survive until the end of the “program”. At that point, you will engage in an even bloodier battle and “uproot” the Cycloid Emperor once and for all.