20 Best Video Game Boss Battles Of The Decade (So Far)

7. Doctor Death - Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain has been, quite rightly, criticised since its release for being little more than a succession of quick-time events. Some folk hate them and, given that "boss fights" are designed to test more than your ability to hit a button when prompted, they tend to drain all of the challenge and enjoyability from a game's bigger moments.

That being said, Heavy Rain's encounter with deranged physician Adrian Baker remains one of the most tense, exhilarating, and captivating moments in modern gaming and, glorified QTE though it is, more than merits its inclusion. There are a few routes to arrive there, but eventually you'll find the protagonist Madison on a metal operating table with the good Doctor leering over her.

Specifically, he's got a drill and he's heading downstairs with it. This is the first point in the game when you can legitimately wind up dead, and the added fear of failure makes this one of nerve-shredding moments of the whole game.