I thought it'd be worth noting what the best designed Soulsborne bosses are for you. Let's NOT make a simple ranking thread like people usually end up letting it be but if you're going to post your top 4 list then please write a short post on why they're the best for you. Feel free to describe using subjective or objective criteria.
For obvious reasons please spoiler tag the Dark Souls 3 bosses as some people have not completed the game yet.
I haven't beaten the DLC for Dark Souls 2 or Bloodborne so my list might be missing something down the line. In terms of what I enjoyed from Demon's Souls, I didn't. Sorry DeS
1.) Gehrman, The First Hunter - I think this one is fairly obvious for me. For a combat system as refined as Bloodborne I think it's fitting that the last boss of the game is also the one that is most mechanically complex and one that will use everything in your arsenal while letting you do the same. Gehrman is fast, can riposte you like no other, has a diverse movement set, while looking like one badass fucker. The game's bosses were great but none were as satisfying as the one that came out of nowhere and took many unprepared hunters to the ground. This one stands tall
2.) Artorias of the Abyss - I love this boss for the exact same reason as Gehrman. In fact I found Artorias to have a much neater moveset than Gehrman. The only reason this comes in second is because I feel that the boss doesn't necessarily feel like it's designed for all builds. That's the limitation of the game (or ironically the expansiveness). The game allows for too many styles of play and the boss is just too quick for many. That being said if Artorias of the Abyss existed in Bloodborne. Well... shiiiiiiiit.
3.) Ornstein and Smough - This one will be a no brainer for many as well. The neatest part of the boss isn't that you're fighting two distinct bosses at the same time but the fact that depending on which you defeat first will have the remaining boss go super saiyan on your ass. It's a neat fight for those that encounter it the first time (while giving you a serious case of the "broken controller" syndrome) but it's one that stands out the most because there was just nothing like it leading up to the one of the game's greatest moments.
4.)
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For obvious reasons please spoiler tag the Dark Souls 3 bosses as some people have not completed the game yet.
I haven't beaten the DLC for Dark Souls 2 or Bloodborne so my list might be missing something down the line. In terms of what I enjoyed from Demon's Souls, I didn't. Sorry DeS
1.) Gehrman, The First Hunter - I think this one is fairly obvious for me. For a combat system as refined as Bloodborne I think it's fitting that the last boss of the game is also the one that is most mechanically complex and one that will use everything in your arsenal while letting you do the same. Gehrman is fast, can riposte you like no other, has a diverse movement set, while looking like one badass fucker. The game's bosses were great but none were as satisfying as the one that came out of nowhere and took many unprepared hunters to the ground. This one stands tall
2.) Artorias of the Abyss - I love this boss for the exact same reason as Gehrman. In fact I found Artorias to have a much neater moveset than Gehrman. The only reason this comes in second is because I feel that the boss doesn't necessarily feel like it's designed for all builds. That's the limitation of the game (or ironically the expansiveness). The game allows for too many styles of play and the boss is just too quick for many. That being said if Artorias of the Abyss existed in Bloodborne. Well... shiiiiiiiit.
3.) Ornstein and Smough - This one will be a no brainer for many as well. The neatest part of the boss isn't that you're fighting two distinct bosses at the same time but the fact that depending on which you defeat first will have the remaining boss go super saiyan on your ass. It's a neat fight for those that encounter it the first time (while giving you a serious case of the "broken controller" syndrome) but it's one that stands out the most because there was just nothing like it leading up to the one of the game's greatest moments.
4.)
Nameless King - I honestly think I have a sucker for two human-based bosses. Nameless King starts out as a fairly easy Big Dragon boss that is typical of the Souls franchise. However I think it does approach it a bit differently. First you see this fucker come flying in from far away with a badass dude riding on it. Not only that but the environment around you is this majestic but empty grey landscape. It honestly feels like one of those mythical tales of old where it's "god/dragon vs the little man". It's great. The boss itself is easy as I noted prior but the second the dragon is dead the King itself goes ballistic on your ass and the fight is kicked to 11. The boss is no pushover either. Excellently designed.
Abyss Watchers - This one holds a special spot for me because it's the cutoff spot but also because it's totally deserved. Up until this point the bosses of Dark Souls 3 were fairly disappointing and was rather mundane. However, the moment you enter the room of the boss you find one of the Abyss Watchers killing another. It's eerie and creepy. The boss will come at you with a blind rage and like some of the other bosses that preceded it, there are multiple Abyss Watchers that will want your head. However it does throw in a weird mechanic where the Abyss Watcher will attack each other. If you're with other players it feels like a mini-war in the room where everyone is literally at each other's throats. It's really cool. The second phase is awesome. 'Nuff said.
