15 Most Influential Video Game Boss Battles Of All Time

By Scott Tailford / August 10, 2018

14. All Of Mega-Man's Original Bosses

What It Did First: Beating a boss to unlock their ability.

Mega Man might look all cute and universally appealing, but his games are more difficult that completing Dark Souls in a blindfold. However, one thing Capcom did pioneer alongside a level of difficulty that was essentially par for the course in the 80s, was a boss structure that unlocked various weapons as you felled your foes.

Everything from Thunder Beam and Fire Storm weapons rolled out one by one, and it's a structure we'd later see in everything from The Legend of Zelda to Batman's Arkham games.

Any time you beat a boss and your character receives an upgrade, you've got Mega Man to thank.