12 Most Disturbing Gaming Boss Battles Of All Time

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Which words are they, in this case? Probably “what,” “the” and “heck" several times over.

The Ecco the Dolphin series, Mega Drive/Dreamcast gamers will remember, isn't what it appears at first glance. A happy little sea-faring adventure starring a cute dolphin? Nope. Ecco’s battling aliens and travelling through time. Seeking his lost pod, Ecco eventually discovers where it’s gone: the Vortex Queen has it.

Journeying on over to Atlantis after learning that aliens have abducted most of the world’s marine life (yep, really), Ecco finds himself surrounded by the corpses of aliens and sea creatures alike. To cap it all off, the final boss is none other than the Vortex Queen, quite possibly one of the most terrifying boss designs in gaming history. Again, though, this isn't just about a frightening-looking creature, but what it represents: the source of all Vortex-kind and perhaps the leader of a entire mysterious civilization.

In the first game, the Vortex Queen attacks simply by utilizing powerful 'suction' as she moves around the screen, swallowing Ecco if he's caught in it. The most ghastly thing of all, though, is that the Queen's jaw and eyes can be removed by charging attacks to leave the beast vulnerable.