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::The Society of Optional Boss Lovers::
Originally, video games had a much smaller (and more devoted) fandom. In recent years, the demographics have greatly expanded.
What this means is that the general skill level has decreased away from Nintendo-hard, as it's no longer the hardcore devoted who are buying the products. This has upset said hardcore devoted quite a bit.
So, the solution has been...
the optional boss.
Sometimes, he's a joke boss. Sometimes, he's downright unbeatable. That often requires months of level grinding.
He often exists outside the normal plot of the game, and can also be even more difficult than the "storyline" final boss.
Occasionally, games have more than one optional boss.
A lot of times, this is just meant as a test of the player skill (this was originally the sole purpose of the Lingering Sentiment in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix).
The key point here is that they make up for a game's hardest enemy, and that includes the actual final boss.
Spoiler Show
The Whip's Memory (Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin)
YouTube - Castlevania Portrait of Ruin Boss 14 Whip's Memory - No Damage&Subweapons
Jonathan Morris cannot use the Vampire Killer whip to its full extent. No surprise. The whip drains the life of non-Belmonts who use it, and Jonathan's father (John Morris, from Castlevania: Bloodlines) learned about this the hard way. But when Jonathan and Charlotte cured Stella and Loretta Lecarde of vampirism, they offered to aid Jonathan learning to use the whip's full power. They might as well just perform a ritual for that. But you have a second choice.
You can actually fight an image of freaking Richter Belmont for that. Yes. The guy from Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. But beware: Don't stay too close to him. He can kill you with three hits of his whip. He's not here because of his moderate difficulty; he's here because of the nostalgia factor.
Like, he actually throws axes, holy water and cross-boomerangs. What's next? Fighting to Richter's very own musical theme. And that's also the Stage 1 music from Rondo of Blood.
Luckily, dying in this fight only boots you out with full HP and MP. And he won't spam Hydro Storm here.
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Reptile (Mortal Kombat)
YouTube - Mortal Kombat arcade Reptile
Seriously?
This guy is the first freaking optional boss of all time.
Gamers were pulling their hair out to find him.
And when they found him, fighting games were never the same again.
I say gamers were pulling their hair out to find him because of the way to find him: first, there must be silhouettes gliding past the moon in The Pit. (This happens every 6th game.) When there are, you must have a double flawless victory. And never block. Finally, execute a Fatality.
Then, you'll meet with a green palette-swap of Scorpion. Except he can shoot a Hadouken and still be a reasonable challenge.
Yes, Midway Games happened to make the first optional boss and first secret character in a fighting game.
And a gamer of that age must have shook his limbs away when he saw "YOU HAVE FOUND ME NOW PROVE YOURSELF!!"
Exactly why Reptile is in the Hall of Fame.
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The Dream Devourer (Chrono Trigger - DS version only)
YouTube - Chrono Trigger DS: Magus Solo vs. Dream Devourer
Believe me. This guy isn't even an optional boss; he's the optional final boss. Yes, the DS version of Chrono Trigger has two final bosses.
Not to mention this is Lavos after fusing with Schala, Magus's sister. So yea. He's a prototype of the final boss of Chrono Cross, period.
And defeating him gets a new ending for the game, also a (mildly successful) attempt at tying the game to Chrono Cross.
And it makes even more sense if you beat him solo with Magus.
Him being one of the few alternate final bosses existent in gaming and his impact on the plot are what gave him this induction.
The Demi-Fiend (Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynzL2TnEDec
Do you realize you're fighting one of the hardest bosses in JRPG history?
Do you realize you have to use an usually worthless skill you would never use in the main game?
Do you realize you're fighting THE VERY FUCKING PROTAGONIST OF SMT 3: NOCTURNE?!
SERIOUSLY! He can kill you in his FIRST TURN you have a "forbidden" moveset. And even if you get him down to half health, his High Pixie heals him to full! And if you kill his demon companions, HE INSTA-KILLS YOU!
Even worse, his boss theme is the normal battle theme of Nocturne! Meaning basically, YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER RANDOM BATTLE TO HIM! *bangs head on wall*
By the way, killing this bastard nets you an accessory you only get to use in the sequel.
More inductions to come. : D
Big Boss
The Dead Skin
Mooks (Members)
chasespicer056
DiceKiller
Heart Of Nothing
Shinra X-2
RoxSoxKH
Prove yourself. Join. : D
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