12 Revealing Video Game Moments That Came Out Of NOWHERE
6. Your Rival Is The Final Boss - Pokemon Red/Blue
From the moment you begin Pokemon Red/Blue, it’s repeatedly emphasised that the only way to become a true Pokemon champion is to defeat The Elite Four. Because your Rival will remind you that he's better than you every time you bump into each other, this gives the player further incentive to defeat the quartet of Pokemon trainers.
So, after spending hours wandering through the island, collecting dozens of Pokemon, and thwarting The Elite Four, you breathe a sigh of relief, glad your journey has come to an end.
Unfortunately, that feeling only lasts about 30 seconds. After you beat The Elite Four, their leader alerts you that another trainer defeated them just before you arrived, meaning the only way to become a true champion is to beat him.
And the person you have to face… is your Rival.
Suddenly, all that joy you momentarily felt erodes away, and is replaced with unmitigated rage. At first, you wanted to win to prove you are the best Pokemon trainer in the world.
But now, you just want to wipe the smirk off your Rival’s face. Not only was this bait-and-switch final boss totally unexpected, it made the climax far more personal, since you had an emotional connect with your enemy.