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The 20 greatest bosses in video game history

In honor of National Boss Day, thePhoenix.com presents the ultimate kingpins
By RYAN STEWART AND MITCH KRPATA  |  October 23, 2006
061013_sephiroth_main
You know Sephiroth will be on this list . . .

National Boss Day, this year on Monday, October 16, doesn’t usually command much of a celebration. So instead of leaving goopy Hallmark cards on the desks of the higher-ups around here, we’re taking the opportunity to grant some much-needed recognition to some of our favorite video game bosses by counting down the 20 best kingpins in gaming history.

Some bosses are supreme beings of evil. Others are cartoonish bumblers. Some square off against a hero in epic battles. Others simply taunt their good-guy adversaries. Some great bosses debuted twenty years ago. And three of our top twenty come from games released in 2005. But all share one thing in common: they elevate the gaming experience to another level in one way or another.

Click here to start the list, and leave your comments below.

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Comments
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
I agree that Goro was an incredibly hard sub boss and much easier to Shang Tsung but that all went out the window once you figured out that you could get a flawless victory if you kept your distance and jump kicked him in the head.
By Parallax on 10/13/2006 at 3:31:28
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Though they were not technically a "boss" the Penguins in NHL 93 were killer
By bondemurd on 10/16/2006 at 3:54:40
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
I was enjoying this article until I saw this: "We think Metal Man, one of the most easily defeated bosses in the second game is more deserving. Why? Because the Metal Blades you receive upon defeating him are far and away the most useful weapon Mega Man can be equipped with in the entirety of the franchise." I'm sorry, but in NO way should any award be given to anyone because of what you from them. This has NOTHING to do with, in this case, the boss Metal Man. Go to school.
By WeApOn on 10/17/2006 at 3:32:20
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
two words... Sinistar hungers!
By thoreau on 10/18/2006 at 1:01:28
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaattttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no dracula come on, man.
By sdg on 10/18/2006 at 2:07:12
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
WHERE IS PYRAMID HEAD =(( ?????? Silent Hill Rulezzz....
By CenTur10n on 10/18/2006 at 5:34:36
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
This article....where to even begin....its just so oppinionated and biased in my oppinion. First problem I have with it is how general and vague it is. I mean, all off foxhound is listed under ONE NUMBER! Pick and Choose. 15 was DEFINITELY biased, mainly because the only reason Hitler is there is because its like "OMG NO WAI! U CAN KILLZ HITLER OMG ROFL!". Then theres Metal Man, who isnt on there because hes a boss, but because of the attack you get after beating him. If you wanna include the metal blade thing, make a top 20 powerups or weapons article, dont just throw it in here. "Bark at The Moon" TECHNICALLY isnt a boss, but a really hard song. its like saying Legend of Maxx from DDR is a boss. Ganondorf technically didnt make an appearance in Zelda until Ocarina of Time. The Collossi, once again, pick one, dont be general and get them all. You can say they were all great, but pick one out of them that you though was best. Abobo is just doesnt deserve as high a place as he does, I mean, Kefka has a cult fanbase and HE's not on the list, and hes probably far funnier than Abobo will ever be. Bowser threw the hammers, he didnt shoot them out of his shell. nice spoiler in the sephiroth pictures.... and once again, technicalities ensue as shodan isn't technically a boss. ok, my rant on everything wrong with this article is over.
By Magnafiend on 10/19/2006 at 10:02:04
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
FUCK YOU for making me click thru 20 pages just to bump yer page count so you could lie to your advertisers.
By badmotherfucker on 10/27/2006 at 11:08:46
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
aries should be #1 god of war rocks
By Built_to_game on 11/03/2006 at 8:30:53
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Dr. Robotnik was always a unique boss to take on in Sonic the Hedgehog Series even on the Genesis.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:15:23
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Shredder now there is a no taking prisoners boss i love facing him each time because he is a great deal of challenge.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:16:43
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Goro he was the best sub-boss of all fighting games and today he is not as good as he first appeared.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:17:45
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Hydra he was fun to fight actually i beaten him on god mode first time.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:19:23
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Metal Man he wasn't a good boss to my gaming skills but i still repect him for being on this list.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:20:56
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Hitler was one of those boss to shoot alot at you but no safety from damage even from good weapons.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:23:05
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Vega he was good to fight because he's funny and skilled i sometimes knock off his claw fighting him.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:24:33
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Cyber Demon was a cool boss in Doom 3 and i still loved the designs of him even that rocket launcher arm.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:26:05
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Foxhound all of them are good bosses my favorite was Psycho Mantis and Sniper Wolf.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:27:35
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Bark At The Moon first off i loved that song by Ozzy and second on expert mode that song is way too hard to keep up with.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:29:07
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Ganondorf was a good boss in Ocarina of Time and i loved the challenge of both fights.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:30:30
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Red Falcon is a boss who looks easy but is tough to beat.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:31:51
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
The Colossi he wasn't a hard boss for me to take on but it was great to see a giant fall.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:33:26
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
abobo was a good fighter and a great boss but i have fought better bosses in beat ems.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:34:55
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Don LeChuck he was a boss you loved to fight over and over again. The Purple Tentacle i thought he was better in Maniac Mansion 2 than Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:36:54
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Mike Tyson he was the best to fight and it will always be that way.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:38:02
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Mother Brain she was boring at the beginning but got tough as nail once she was out of her tank.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:39:19
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Bowser he did good as boss in Super Mario Allstars and 64.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:40:39
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Sephiroth he was a easy boss in FF7 and toughest in Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:41:56
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Shodan shouldn't even be on here how about someone like Mr. Burns or Ares.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:43:48
The 20 greatest bosses in video game history
Ares was a good boss to fight and hard to figure out that should of been boss number 1 or why not the Pyramid Head.
By Jack Red on 07/11/2007 at 2:47:51

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