10 Most Frustrating Bosses In Horror Video Games

2. The Mermaid Princess - Rule Of Rose (2006)

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Sony Computer Entertainment/505 Games

Since its release in 2006, Japanese survival-horror Rule Of Rose has since become one of the most underappreciated and controversial titles of the PlayStation 2 era.

The plot follows the struggles of 19-year-old Jennifer’s dealings with a sadistic group of orphan girls who call themselves the Red Crayon Aristocrat Club. Alongside their faithful canine companion, Brown, each chapter sees the teenager search for gifts to appease each of the orphans.

While Rule Of Rose was praised for its atmospheric storytelling and handling of disturbing subject matter, the combat was nothing short of awful. Clunky controls and imprecise movement meant it was difficult to tell if Jennifer’s half-hearted attacks would connect with enemies.

No moment in the game drew attention to just how terrible the controls were than the boss fight against The Mermaid Princess.

A sickly girl dressed as a mermaid dangling from the ceiling, this boss will drop down and attack Jennifer at random by flailing her arms and vomiting. But with no way to tell where she’ll appear or if any attacks are going to hit, this fight becomes a test of endurance where the only viable strategy is to hope for the best.

Contributor
Contributor

Glasgow-based cinephile who earned a Masters degree in film studies to spend their time writing about cinema, video games, and horror.