15 Most Memorable First Boss Encounters In Gaming History

10. Phantom (Devil May Cry)

Giant spiders are the worst, aren't they? Capcom certainly think so - both Resident Evil and Devil May Cry have turned hulking spiders into enemies. Phantom in Devil May Cry is a recurring boss with his first battle coming as early as the third mission of the game. Phantom makes a dramatic entrance by dropping through the skylight of the Cathedral and he and Dante indulge in some trash talk (in typical Devil May Cry style) before the fight; it's a pretty spectacular introduction. The first fight against Phantom can be challenging this early on in the game, before the player has fully grasped the game's mechanics. He has the ability to shoot lava from the floor, forcing Dante to constantly be on the move, and his armoured claws will block any attacks that aren't directly to his face. Still, with patience and a helpful dose of Devil Trigger, Phantom isn't too tough to overcome. Defeating a giant spider demon and watching him scuttling back into the underworld is a pretty enjoyable experience, it turns out.