10 Greatest Final Boss Fights In Video Game History

6. Gigyas (Earthbound)

Nintendo

There once was a time when any final RPG boss fight that didn't last 40+ minutes and encompass several stages of escalating difficulty was considered to be a great disappointment. Of the various excellent fights of that era, Earthbound's showdown with the mysterious Gigyas must be considered one of the best.

What makes this encounter so special is the way that it serves as an elaborate piece of the game's narrative in the guise of a final boss fight. While any player that has grinded the requisite levels will be able to survive the initial onslaught of Gigyas, only those that have been paying close attention to the narrative will know that the killing blow must come from using a prayer ability that allows your party to ask for the help of everyone you have encountered up until this point.

Earthbound uses its final boss fight as a both of summary of everything that has come before and a final chapter that may be the game's best. It's hard to not love it for that.

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An entertainment enthusiast living in Brooklyn, trying to make his way by slinging words at blank pages.