They're often hair-tearingly frustrating, hatefully unfair and brain-bleedingly difficult – which is exactly why boss battles are so memorable.
A bad one can ruin enjoyment of an entire game. Take last year's sci-fi blockbuster, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, whose appallingly misjudged boss battles - actually outsourced to a different developer - caused many simply to give-up in speechless disgust.
Or take Uncharted 2 and BioShock, widely considered as two of the best games of recent years, and yet both leave a bad taste in the mouth with their bafflingly poor final bosses.
So let us celebrate the very best in the fine art of boss-making, with a run-down of the all-time greats.
Shadow of the Colossus – 5th Colossus
This PS2 classic, recently remade in HD for PS3, reveres bosses so much, they are the entire game. Every one could make this list, but the 5th is – for our money – the finest.
Metal Gear Solid 4 - Rex vs. Ray
The Metal Gear series has enough inspired boss fights to merit a list of its own. MGS4 is filled with thrillingly intense encounters, but this one edges it for eye-popping showmanship.
Gitaroo Man – Final level
This climax of this cult Japanese rhythm-action classic was batshit crazy, brilliant fun and blisteringly hard.
Gunstar Heroes – Seven Force
Rightly adored by gamers as a true Mega Drive great, the sheer intensity and visual spectacle of this clash still amazes.
Conker's Bad Fur Day – The Great Mighty Poo
What better captures the unique feel of this big, sweary, silly game than a singing turd? Nothing, that's what.
The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Final boss
Much-maligned as one of the weaker entries into the great Zelda series, there's nevertheless no doubting the brilliance of the game's epic, four-part climactic battle.
Super Mario 64 – Bowser
The game that created 3D platform gaming and, in its now-legendary spinning-Bowser-by-the-tail boss fight, defined it.
God Of War 3 – Poseiden
It takes a lot to drop the jaws of gamers. And this was pretty much the lot. The very definition of "epic".
R-Type – First boss
Arguably the most-influential side-scrolling shooter of the 8-bit era, R-Type had loads of amazing bosses. But that first encounter with the first boss – an image straight out of your worst nightmare – haunts us to this day. Shudder.
Metal Gear Solid – Psycho Mantis
A good shout for the greatest boss battle of all-time. Not only did Psycho Mantis terrify gamers with his "mind-reading" (which cleverly checked your save data), he could only be defeated by switching controller ports midway. Inspired.
(Hat-tips to: @MrPointyHead, @OnlyEmmaD, @gethill, @Ninja_Tino, @schillingc, @wriggy and @GameDesignDan).
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