Final boss encounters represent the pinnacle of excitement in video gaming. These climactic showdowns are often preceded by intense build-up and promise rewarding gameplay experiences that culminate in ultimate victory.
However, certain video games allow players to leap directly into these final confrontations.Gamers can bypass side quests and core missions, heading straight for the final boss, although this approach might feel anticlimactic, especially during a first playthrough.
That said, it can be particularly intriguing to test your skills against the game’s ultimate challenge without fully immersing in the storyline and character upgrades. This article presents a selection of ten notable games where players have the liberty to confront the primary antagonist right from the start, though whether one should do so might vary widely from player to player.
10 Crackdown 3
Climb the Tower at Its Full Force
In Crackdown 3, players combat the villainous corporation TerraNova, led by the over-the-top Elizabeth Niemand. Her lair is a towering fortress visible from anywhere in New Providence, packed with hazards like turrets and toxic gas.
Players are meant to traverse New Providence, dismantling TerraNova’s operations to weaken the tower’s defenses. However, nothing physically prevents players from scaling the tower as a level one character, aside from their skill level.
The game’s traversal mechanics and the tower’s climbable surfaces allow for a direct challenge against Niemand, albeit with considerable difficulty.
9 Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Impossible? No. Insanely Difficult? Yes.
The core objective in Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair involves seeking out members of the Royal Beettalion to bolster your defenses for the later challenge.This ultimate confrontation tests players’ endurance and patience.
As soon as the game begins, players can dive into the Impossible Lair to face the avaricious bee Capital B, but make no mistake: his lair lives up to its name, presenting intense platforming challenges with virtually no save points.The design emphasizes that while entering early is possible, the reality of survival is unlikely.
The skilled few, however, clear every hurdle quickly, completing a speedrun in under 30 minutes, showcasing incredible gameplay mastery.
8 Chrono Trigger
The Devs Are Proud of You
In Chrono Trigger, players possess the ability to challenge the final boss, Lavos, at almost any point during the game. However, initial encounters are exceedingly challenging without significant upgrades.
While most games on this list allow early victories with skill, JRPGs like Chrono Trigger present unique challenges without significant exploits or developer allowances.
Nevertheless, if you defeat Lavos prematurely, you unlock unique endings, including the Programmer Ending, where you can engage with the game’s creators.
7 Mega Man X5
Time to Put Down Sigma
Mega Man X5 carries on the franchise’s tradition of allowing players to select their battles. Players can choose any available stage and boss, making it possible to confront the final antagonist, Sigma, at their discretion.
This freedom turns X5 into a personal challenge, where determined players can try to tackle Sigma at various difficulty levels, making it a popular choice for both challengers and speedrunners.
6 Morrowind
Welcome, Moon-and-Star
The expansive universe of Morrowind allows players to game on their terms, taking on the main plot whenever they feel ready. The journey leads them to the delusional Dagoth Ur, who desires to shape reality itself.
From the beginning, players can locate Dagoth Ur beneath the Red Mountain. Although it is possible to venture directly to him, players will discover that Ur is impervious to defeat initially, as his power is tied to the Heart of Lorkhan, found only through specific tools.
5 Soul Sacrifice
Relive the Past
In Soul Sacrifice, players embody a captive subject of the sorcerer Magusar, guided by a sentient book named Librom that helps you revisit past battles. You can choose to engage in training missions or directly challenge Magusar before completing the main storyline.
Winning the early confrontation unlocks an additional ending, although this might lead to an underwhelming experience, offering minimal rewards.
4 Devil May Cry 5
Deadweight No Longer
Players initially confront Urizen, the game’s final antagonist, under challenging conditions that limit them significantly.Your character begins the fight with minimal abilities and is designed to lose this encounter.
Even though success is not intended during this moment, resourceful players can break through Urizen’s defenses and maintain offensive actions, potentially leading to a humorous ending.
3 NieR: Automata
Making Yoko Taro Proud
NieR: Automata hides a fascinating feature where players can uncover a secret code allowing them to skip directly to the final parts of the game.With five primary endings available, this hidden code presents a unique opportunity to explore the game from different angles, activating Chapter Select and Debug Mode.
This easter egg, explored by Lance McDonald, took years to discover and can be activated shortly after defeating the prologue’s boss.
If you wish to know how to access it, Lance compiled a video outlining the steps which involves pressing a combination of buttons resembling the logo of PlatinumGames.
2 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Straight to Ganon
Breath of the Wild is celebrated for its open-world design, offering players the choice to follow narratives leisurely, tackle side quests, or venture directly to Hyrule Castle for a standoff with Ganon.However, players must first clear the Great Plateau prologue to earn essential abilities.
Some audacious players challenge themselves by heading straight to Ganon, using sheer skill to avoid or collect necessary items en route.\n
1 Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
A True Test of Endurance
Tears of the Kingdom, a direct successor to Breath of the Wild, offers a more intricate quest structure and tougher battles, particularly against Ganondorf.The game encourages story progression, gathering allies, and upgrading abilities before engaging in the ultimate confrontation.
However, dedicated players can opt for direct engagement without their allies, knowing they must face a myriad of challenges alone.The three-phase encounter against Ganondorf demands incredible skill, showcasing the determination needed to succeed without ample preparation.
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