10 Video Game Bosses That Learned From Their Mistakes
2. Squid Baron - Shantae And The Pirate's Curse
The Squid Baron from the Shantae series is an interesting case, as he doesn't just learn how to be a more effective boss; he also goes through an existential crisis and learns how to accept his role as the game's filler boss.
The Squid Baron is an enormous octopus (yeah, it's pretty confusing) who acts as a recurring boss in most Shantae games. In Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae meets him outside of Sequin Land Palace, where he talks about being depressed due to being downgraded from the main boss of the game to a mere filler one.
Eventually, after some time to self-reflect, the Squid Baron comes to the conclusion that he may have lost his status, but being a "filler boss" is just as good. He then challenges Shantae to a fight, but unlike all the other times you fight him, he uses new tricks, like putting on metal armor to prevent Shantae from bouncing on his head.
The Squid Baron's arc is honestly a refreshing change of pace. He's a boss who is self-aware enough to know he reuses his moves a lot, and yet because of this, he's capable of improving and finding new ways to surprise you.