10 One-Hit Kill Video Game Bosses That Made You Rage
Ever had a boss so cheap you want to drag them into the real world and beat 'em with a controller?
You know what feels good? Going toe-to-toe against a strong opponent and, after a tough fight that taxes you mentally, physically, and emotionally, bringing your foe to heel and defeating them.
You know what doesn't feel so good? Your opponent getting a lucky swipe and killing you or a random roll of the die that just happens to come up 'undefendable insta-kill'.
There's plenty of good boss battles out there - Dark Souls, Cuphead, and the Legend of Zelda series are replete with great examples - tough, but fair, or at least enjoyably challenging for many. But then you've got the little crapstains on this list that use cheap gimmicks and otherwise game-breaking techniques that you, the player, would never be allowed to get away with.
We're also only dealing with bosses - so Last of Us Clickers, Skyrim Giants, and the Hellhounds from Dragon's Dogma can just sit their little asses back down, because we've got the big guys coming for us. These are the big bad boss battles that you most likely lost a few times - and most certainly at no fault of your own. And though he's got Boss in his name, that damn fish from Super Mario Bros. 3 will not be appearing here.
10. Diggernaut - Metroid II: Return Of Samus
Diggernaut is one of the newer enemies of the Metroid franchise, being a boss in the 2017 remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The original 1991 Game Boy release did not contain Diggernaut, so if you try the game and get totally destroyed by him - just pick up a thirty year old copy of the original and avoid him altogether, maybe?
Samus first encounters the broken Chozo robot by mistaking his red eye for a 'pull block', which energizes him before he breaks open the path blocking the player's way. He then calmly walks away and then you're done with him. You never see him again... at least not until late in Area 4.
Diggernaut is a little different because Samus can't damage his thick armor. Instead he chases her through a series of tunnels trying to crush her with his drill. The player must avoid blocks, bombs, and all manner of obstacles, including other enemies. One touch from Diggernaut's drill and Samus is dead.
After Samus dodges the drill and gets away, Diggernaut comes back in Area 6 to be a legit boss battle - but during that earlier chase he can ruin your day quick-like with a single poke.