10 Best Boss Fights In 3D Super Mario History
9. Tarantox (Super Mario Galaxy)
Super Mario Galaxy has a lot of great bosses. The game throws them at you at regular intervals and they're almost always a unique and diverse bunch. Many of the game's bosses utilise abilities that you've only just learned or acquired - Tarantox is one such boss.
After traversing a rather ominous pathway made up of space junk, Mario finds himself face-to-face with a colossal spider-like creature. Tarantox has a great design, with easily identifiable weak points and yet he's just big enough to be a little overbearing. The genius here is that the game has already taught you how to defeat him before you even arrive.
On the way to Tarantox, Mario uses sling pods to fling himself across large spaces. These very same pods occupy Tarantox's nest, meaning Mario needs to sling himself into the boss' weak spots - some rather large sacs, that burst in a satisfying manner. It's a colourful battle and one that sublimely utilises an ability just learned. Clever!