10 Bosses That Stopped Games Being 5 Stars

We’ll just get this obvious (yet essentially mandatory) example out of the way first.

After all, much has been written over the last 15 years regarding why the initial chapter of Rocksteady Studios’ brilliant Batman saga – 2009’s Arkham Asylum – revolutionized both comic book adaptations and the action-stealth side of the industry overall. In the process, it did justice (no pun intended) to the lore, characters, and overarching vibe of the hero’s 70-year history.

That is, until the final meeting with the Joker, wherein the previously fascinating and authentic Clown Prince of Crime injects himself with the Titan serum, becomes a formulaically brutish monster, and engages in a disappointingly pedestrian and unchallenging clash with the Caped Crusader.

Clearly, Titan Joker’s appearance and behavior are awkward – to put it nicely – and his need to use henchman and random hazards to hurt Batman in-between their scuffles is totally generic. Likewise, it’s as much of a cliché to have an electrocuting arena and a three-round requirement before victory is yours.

Ironically, Joker even says that he’s “bored” during it. So are we, man, so are we.