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00:09Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we're looking at cinematic boss fights that blew us away
00:15with their stunning presentation.
00:17As some of these occur late game, be aware of spoilers ahead.
00:26Before we continue, we publish content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring
00:31the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:35Don Teresi, Mafia, the old country.
00:45This thrilling story about a crime family ends the only way it can, in blood.
00:50The climax of the old country throws you into a knife fight against Don Bernardo Teresi.
00:55The setting is already theatrical, set amidst the backdrop of an erupting volcano in a crumbling
01:00village.
01:01Although the mechanics are simple, the fight still feels climactic.
01:04As you bob and weave slice and dice to the Don, it feels like the final showdown of an
01:09old crime flick.
01:10The overall experience of the old country may have stumbled, but with fluid camera work that
01:14breathes cinematic flair, Don Teresi's final confrontation delivers.
01:26Bale the Dread, Shadow of the Erdtree.
01:43Shadow of the Erdtree brought some great bosses to Elden Ring, and while Bale the Dread isn't
01:47the most difficult fight, there's no denying it holds the same high level of cinematic style
01:51found in many other standout bosses in FromSoftware's catalogue.
01:56The dragon naturally towers over you, stomping and setting fire to the very ground it's walking
02:01on.
02:01But when it takes flight, that's when the beast truly stuns.
02:05Raining down fire from afar, swooping down to deliver a heavy blow with a ferocious roar,
02:10all along side a piercing score, it's another testament to the studio's ability to amaze
02:15us.
02:16Curse you, Bale!
02:19Curse you, Bale!
02:23Erlang, the Sacred Divinity, Black Myth, Wukong.
02:39Black Myth, Wukong is one of several on this list that are chock full of cinematic boss
02:43fights.
02:44But we, like many others, have to show respect to the secret final boss Erlang, the Sacred
02:48Divinity.
02:49Through a huge variety of attacks and abilities, Erlang showcases how perfect a display of spectacle
02:55he is.
02:55Whether he was producing awe-inspiring elemental attacks, leaping from the heavens with a gigantic
03:01axe, or transforming into an impressive stone beast during the second phase, his fight kept
03:06many in awe.
03:07Which was good, because his high difficulty meant we got to experience it a lot.
03:20Divine Dragon, Sekiro, Shadows Die Twice.
03:35FromSoftware's games and those that are inspired by them are clearly great places to look for
03:39exquisite boss fights.
03:41The Divine Dragon in Sekiro doesn't start off all that cinematic, although it is odd,
03:46with a horde of small, human-faced draconic figures swarming around you.
03:49But when the true dragon is revealed, it's one of the most stunning moments of the game.
03:54From this moment on, it is pure gaming bliss.
03:57Running across clouds, dodging giant slices of wind while this magnificent beast stares you
04:03down.
04:03An incredible soundtrack that dances alongside the action, while lightning strikes down around
04:08you.
04:08This is nowhere near one of the harder fights in the game, but the atmosphere is remarkable.
04:20The Rat King, The Last of Us Part 2.
04:32We knew something horrific awaited Abby in the lower floors of that hospital, and sure
04:37enough, from the minute the Rat King tore into that ambulance and gave chase, our hearts
04:42leapt into our throats.
04:44Naughty Dog has always been known for their pristine motion capture and visuals, both of
04:48which combined for this boss's uniquely terrifying appearance.
04:51having several infected stuck together through years of fungal growth.
04:55The encounter is also built to keep you held in suspense, like the final confrontation of
05:00a creature feature, yet in a tight space designed to feel like the protagonist is boxed in.
05:12Clayface, Batman Arkham City, I give you Clayface.
05:21Rocksteady proved it knew how to capture big screen superhero action with the Batman Arkham
05:26series.
05:26And of the franchise's many boss fights, the mechanics and story significance of Arkham
05:31City's Clayface make it a perfect representation for such a list.
05:35Between Talia's tragic death to the reveal that Clayface has been masquerading as Joker
05:39most of the game, a climactic clash is already set up.
05:43And the fight itself is a ton of fun too.
05:45Clayface makes great use of the space, turning his body into a variety of different threatening
05:50shapes as things progress.
05:51It even ends with some decent body horror, a fitting end to a villain just like we'd expect
05:56from the movies.
06:06The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
06:17Nintendo isn't usually known for its cinematic flair, for boss fights that blow us away with
06:23their visual spectacle and technical presentation.
06:25The finale to Tears of the Kingdom is different.
06:29This is Zelda's storytelling firing on all cylinders.
06:33From Matt Mercer's strong, albeit short, performance as Ganondorf, to the layered weapons
06:38and abilities that keep the fight both mechanically and visually engaging, you feel this swell of energy as the fight
06:44continues.
06:45The third and final phase, Ganondorf's demon dragon form, is one of pure joy.
06:50Set high above the kingdom, with a magnificent soundtrack blaring all around us, it was a
06:55fittingly grandiose conclusion to one legendary adventure.
07:07Darth Vader, Star Wars Jedi, Fallen Order.
07:19For a character that has seen his fair share of iconic cinematic moments, the developers at Respawn still managed to
07:26give Darth Vader one of his best.
07:28While constantly on the run from the Empire's inquisitors, Cal Kestus thinks he's just about to get through to the
07:34villain, Second Sister, which is perfect time to hear that unmistakable breeding coming from behind her.
07:41Right before Vader cuts her down, knocks Cal's ally out of the way, and bears down on him, sending fear
07:46coursing through both his and all of our veins.
07:49You can't actually defeat Vader, so this fight merely serves as a set piece for the devs to show how
07:55frightfully powerful he is.
07:57You just survive, moment to moment, until you can escape.
08:01I won't let you take those children.
08:10Doc Ock, Marvel's Spider-Man.
08:15You're fighting the wrong man.
08:21I'm a joy.
08:24Insomniac learned a few things from Rocksteady, including how to build a satisfying superhero climax that both
08:29A concludes the conflict in a way that resonates with players
08:33and B features all of the jaw-dropping action we've come to expect.
08:38There's certainly the emotional resonance there.
08:40Peter's connection to Otto provides an underlying sombre foundation.
08:45But damn if this fight isn't also a blast.
08:47Flipping and swinging around as Doc Ock tears into the very arena around you.
08:52Webbing him up and delivering blows when not narrowly dodging explosions.
08:56Fighting while descending the side of a building.
08:59It's got all the markings of a big screen super powered bash.
09:15Rafe Adler, Uncharted 4, A Thief's End.
09:19I'm not going to be able to enjoy one of these coins.
09:25Knowing that you and your worthless brother are still sucking air.
09:32Just calm down.
09:33You can practice your fencing when we get outside.
09:35Nate, just shut up.
09:37The Uncharted series was long inspired by classic adventure stories.
09:41And it doesn't get much more classic adventure than a sword fight on a burning pirate ship full of stolen
09:47gold.
09:48The fight against main villain Rafe Adler sends Uncharted 4 and Nathan Drake himself off with a bang.
09:53The camera deftly moves with every slice through air and flesh.
09:57And the heat of the encroaching fires draw Nathan and his opponent closer together.
10:02As the arena and emotions between hero and villain continue to flare.
10:06The fight brings all the appropriate intensity that a send off for this hero deserves.
10:10You want the treasure, Rafe?
10:13It's all yours.
10:20Red Judge, Metal Hellsinger.
10:31There's nothing more hardcore than leaping through the depths of hell and blasting apart demons while some of the greatest
10:37vocalists in metal history go full throttle in the background.
10:41And that's doubly true for the Red Judge.
10:54While the mechanics might feel a tad tame.
10:56The fact alone you're raining down bullets against a giant bone behemoth while surge tanking is going all out on
11:02the OST.
11:03Made it a thrill ride for anyone who considers themselves a metal head.
11:07Play that chorus again.
11:20Men.
11:21Virgil. Devil May Cry 5.
11:23I won't lose to the likes of you.
11:25And now.
11:26Little brother.
11:34The reunion between Sparda's sons was a long time coming.
11:38And while their initial encounter back in Devil May Cry 3 remains a staple of gaming's most difficult battles.
11:43This later version is utterly dripping with style.
11:56Virgil is a beast of an opponent.
11:58But he's also the perfect foil for players to stretch their limits when it comes to unleashing the full force
12:03of Dante's arsenal.
12:04There is nothing more nerdgasmic than finally nailing that last royal guard before going ballistic with a combo that utilizes
12:12every devil arm you have available.
12:25Kronos. God of War 3.
12:28Kratos, your death will now be a gentle one.
12:35Kratos.
12:35Kratos.
12:36Kratos.
12:37Kratos.
12:37Establishing a boss's size and scope can be a tall order, which is where the Father of the Titans excels.
12:43Not only is he a foe that needs vanquishing, he's also a living level.
12:47Having to navigate its immense body while Kratos repeatedly tries to splatter Kratos keeps the tension pumping.
12:53I will make you into a bloody state.
13:03Every strike, every movement, every QTE further enforces the fact you're fighting against a moving mountain who cannot be defeated
13:11by conventional means.
13:12In a game already filled with some of the best hack and slash to be found, this was a particular
13:17highlight in the Spartan saga of blood and vengeance.
13:31Malice, Shadow of the Colossus.
13:40Speaking of living levels, while Malice isn't exactly the largest boss in gaming, even among the rest of the colossi,
13:47the atmosphere it creates is second to none.
13:49The final colossus to be slain, the rain-swept plateau combined with the foreboding soundtrack saturates the entire encounter in
13:57dread.
13:57Having to navigate the arena to avoid its projectiles all the way to clambering up its towering frame to reach
14:03its weak point makes for quite the gauntlet.
14:14Even its demise, while hard fought, has a hollowness to it.
14:18Further adding to the theme that, for all your efforts, slaying these creatures is morally wrong.
14:23How's that for cinema?
14:35Liquid Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 4, Guns of the Patriots.
14:40Show me what you've got, Snake!
14:47Anyone who knows anything about Kojima knows that the man is a certified cinephile.
14:52So is it any surprise that there are numerous moments from across Metal Gear that play out like it was
14:56made for the silver screen?
14:57Case in point, the final confrontation between Solid Snake and its hybrid nemesis Liquid Ocelot.
15:03Across three brutal stages, you have to showcase your mastery of CQC to finally put Liquid on his ass.
15:10Which is the furthest thing from easy.
15:19What seals the deal of this being one of the franchise's shining moments, is that every stage mirrors the style
15:25and gameplay of each of the preceding games.
15:27Metal Gear Solid 1, Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater, complete with their most iconic tracks.
15:33Its equal parts a brutal exchange of fists and resentment, as well as a celebration of all that has come
15:38before.
15:39You're pretty good.
15:47Lord Shimmerer, Ghost of Tsushima.
16:01To weave in so much emotional complexity and narrative weight to such a degree that even players are hesitant about
16:08crossing swords,
16:08you know you're looking at something special.
16:11For defying the code of the samurai and taking on the Mongol threat as the vengeful warrior known as the
16:16Ghost,
16:17Jin finds himself at odds with his beloved uncle.
16:19With orders to eliminate the Ghost, Lord Shimmerer forces himself to act as Jin's final foe and ultimate executioner.
16:34With an utterly gorgeous backdrop of blood red leaves, this sorrowful duel captures the truest essence of its cinematic inspirations.
16:41You couldn't craft a more Kurosawa-esque finale than this.
16:58Bahamut, Final Fantasy XVI.
17:10When it comes to making Final Fantasy bosses appear larger than life, none can hold a candle to Yoshi-P,
17:16and what he did with the franchise's most iconic summon is downright magnificent.
17:33Lost to his grief, Dion loses control of his inner icon and goes on a rampage, leaving Clive and Joshua
17:39no choice but to take him down.
17:41A Kaiju battle between Ifrit and Bahamut was already a huge win.
17:45But then it literally became stratospheric when both Ifrit and Phoenix combined their flames to take the fight to Bahamut.
17:52In space!
18:02In terms of sheer bombastic action, Final Fantasy has yet to top this.
18:21Slave Knight Gale, Dark Souls 3.
18:32Any number of Soulsborne bosses could have made the cut, but there's something truly special about Gale.
18:38As the true conclusion to the entire Dark Souls trilogy, Gale is fought at the end of all things,
18:44with the world and all the kingdoms within now reduced to dust.
18:47All that remains is the Ashen one, and the red hooded swordsman determined to hunt the blood of the Dark
18:52Soul.
19:02The escalation, the sense of finality, Gale's ungodly second phase,
19:06it all amounts to the quintessential Souls experience.
19:21Asura's Wrath
19:38While some decry it as an on-rails shooter with too many quick time events to its name,
19:43there is no denying that Asura's fierce brawl with this traitorous deity was epic.
19:48Sure, beating the karma out of his regular and gigantic forms may have been standard fare for anyone who's even
19:53glanced at the JRPG,
19:55but things go up a notch, well several notches actually, when Wizen triggers a second transformation,
20:01and becomes a being larger than the planet itself.
20:14The absurdity of outpunching the literal finger of God cemented this title as one of the most bonkers in modern
20:21memory,
20:21and we're here for it.
20:36Simon, Claire Obscure, Expedition 33
20:52Ever wondered what would happen if you were to take a Soulsborne boss and put it in a turn-based
20:57RPG?
20:58Well wonder no longer, because chances are nothing will be able to eclipse the arduousness and amazement that is Simon.
21:05A former expeditioner corrupted by being repainted by various members of the Desondres family,
21:11Simon will challenge you in ways not even a parry god will be prepared for.
21:27Across three ridiculous phases he'll unleash sword swings that rapidly increase in volume,
21:33while also permanently banishing your party with no chance of revival.
21:37We can't even get annoyed on account that the presentation of this battle is sheer magic,
21:42from the killer soundtrack to its radiant backdrop,
21:45this boss battle is nothing short of stunning.
22:01What are some of your favourite cinematic style fights in gaming?
22:04Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you next time.
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