The Context: After Snake crawls through the microwave corridor and successfully uploads a virus into GW, Ocelot's plans are foiled once and for all, but that isn't stopping him from demanding one final hand-to-hand fight. This isn't just the climax of Metal Gear Solid 4, it's the climax of the entire franchise, and is executed to perfection. The Fight: If the cinematics showcasing Snake and Liquid viciously beating the hell out of each other all while injecting each other with syringes to keep going wasn't already epic, now you get to play it. This isn't just the typical one-on-one fight that's been done over and over in the franchise though, it's all out go-for-broke gameplay design to emphasise that this is the pinnacle of a story that was 20 years in the making - and still receiving prequels to this day. Before even getting into the actual combat mechanics it's immediately noticeable and nostalgically brilliant to have music and health bar graphics from the original game. And as the fight goes on to different phases, so do the HUD elements music. Essentially, in one unforgettable showdown the entire legacy of Metal Gear Solid is chronicled into one fight. Thankfully, that fight is also one that can be enjoyed over and over again. Sure, a good portion of the strategy comes down to the usual methods of learning attack patterns, dodging them and pulling off the standard punch-punch-kick combo, but to say it's nothing more than that would be blatantly lying. There are multiple objects in the surrounding area that can be interacted with, which subsequently create some truly brutal moves - like jamming Ocelot's head into a metal structure - or countering various QTEs. At times this feels absolutely nothing like a traditional boss fight, but rather the closest thing to a cinematic yet complex final showdown between a hero and a villain seen so far. The fact that it is the punctuation to such a storied and revered franchise is the icing on the cake that propels it over-the-top into contention for what legitimately may be the greatest boss battle the industry has ever seen. Would your list look similar or different? Comment below and let us know!
