20 PS2 Bosses That Are Still AMAZING
20 PS2 Bosses That Are Still Amazing
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today, we’re celebrating boss encounters that originated on the PlayStation 2 that still impress thanks to their mechanics, spectacle, characters, narrative payoff, or some glorious combination of all four.
Metal Gear RAYs
“Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” (2001)
What happens when you pit a production line of mechs against a twink with a bazooka? The best kind of mayhem. Towards the climax of Sons of Liberty, Raiden enters an arena surrounded by mass-produced RAY units and has to systematically snipe them using a Stinger missile launcher. Targeting their legs forces them to expose their vulnerable heads, turning what initially looks impossible into a frantic test of positioning and precision. Narratively, it’s also the moment Raiden stops feeling like Snake’s unfortunate replacement and starts to become the leading man we’d all come to love.
The Forgotten One
“Castlevania: Lament of Innocence” (2003)
Some optional bosses reward exploration. The Forgotten One punishes you for ever becoming curious. Hidden beneath Walter’s castle, this gigantic decaying monstrosity is arguably Lament of Innocence’s nastiest challenge, spanning three phases as Leon destroys portions of its grotesque body while avoiding poisonous attacks, parasites, and sweeping limbs. Even with the less than polished jump to 3D, this fight is pure Castlevania. And by that we mean - it's revolting, like something the Belmont family should have boarded up underground and agreed never to discuss again.
Nyx Avatar
“Persona 3” (2006)
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed.” Get comfortable. You’ll be hearing that a lot. Nyx Avatar cycles through representations of the Major Arcana during its extensive final battle, effectively turning the Social Link structure that defined Persona 3 into an endurance test. Every phase brings different affinities and attacks, forcing players to continually adapt while the apocalyptic atmosphere becomes increasingly oppressive. But that’s pretty appropriate for a game whose entire narrative has been building toward humanity confronting the inevitability of death. As exhausting as dealing with the fatigue system and fourteen phases can be, the end result is still stellar, and remained a JRPG landmark until the remake smoothed its edges.
Abyss
“Soulcalibur III” (2005)
Zasalamel was already a hassle to deal with as a sub-boss. Then he let his inner demon out the bag. Serving as one of SoulCalibur III’s major final opponents, Abyss takes Zasalamel’s enormous scythe and adds a heaping helping of supernatural attacks and an eerie make-over that makes Inferno look like a matchstick by comparison. Abyss has imposing reach, nasty juggling potential, and enough visual flair to immediately communicate that normal tournament rules have officially left the building. Even if some of his specials feel unfair at times, the spectacle more than makes up for it!
Zinaida
“Armored Core: Last Raven” (2005)
If Last Raven hasn’t broken you by the endgame, Zinaida would like a quick chat. Her final confrontation is notorious among classic Armored Core fans as she pilots a tremendously aggressive AC capable of maintaining extraordinary mobility while unloading firepower with frightening efficiency. Plus, she arrives at the end of a meaty gauntlet that will no doubt have put a dent in your robot. If your specs aren’t on point, then you’re in for a world of hurt. Bad energy management? Poor mobility? Wrong weapon setup? You’re essentially scrap metal. But coming from one of the franchise’s most punishing entries, that should be expected, making her a bitter treat for those who were already AC ride or dies long before Fires of Rubicon converted the mainstream.
Live
Pixy
“Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War” (2006)
Dogfighting doesn’t get more epic than this. Pixy begins the game as your trusted wingman before ideological differences transform him into your final opponent. His ADFX-02 Morgan comes equipped with ridiculous weaponry, including a Tactical Laser System, turning the battle into one of Ace Combat’s greatest aerial spectacles. Then comes the final phase. Pixy can only be damaged from the front, forcing both pilots into repeated high-speed jousts while the phenomenal track “Zero” erupts in the background. No matter how many times we hear it, that final “buddy” still hits harder than a missile.
Anubis
“Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner” (2003)
Two mechas battling out at such speed that gravity itself becomes a mere suggestion? Sign us up. Anubis spends most of The 2nd Runner establishing one uncomfortable fact: your Orbital Frame just can’t measure up. Anubis is faster, stronger, and seemingly capable of teleporting wherever it pleases. Eventually, the player receives the upgrades necessary to finally compete, leading to an mecha anime finale of a fight guaranteed to knock your socks off. Both machines zip around the battlefield, clash at close range, and move with a speed that still makes many modern mech games look positively sedentary. Because Anubis is effectively Jehuty’s terrifying counterpart, the battle feels like a duel between equals rather than another oversized damage sponge. What can we say - Kojima knows his mechs.
Van Grants
“Tales of the Abyss” (2005)
Final bosses always hit differently when they’re the ones who taught you everything you know. Van begins as Luke’s respected mentor before eventually revealing his willingness to destroy and replicate the world to escape the predetermined Score. So naturally, it falls to the student to bring down the master. Which is easier said than done. Van can unleash powerful Arcane Artes and Mystic Artes, becoming increasingly aggressive as the battle progresses, while Tear’s involvement adds another emotional layer. Van has shaped Luke’s identity from the beginning and defeating him feels like Luke finally rejecting both his mentor’s ideology and the person he used to be. Just the kind of narrative richness you want from a Tales game
Piggsy
“Manhunt” (2003)
Punching out gods and demolishing giant robots had become standard fare for gaming connaisseurs back in the day, to the point where it felt like nothing could spook us. Then Rockstar stuck us in an attic with a naked psychopath wearing a pig’s head, armed with a chainsaw. Needless to say, we were left profoundly spooked. What makes Piggsy so terrifying, aside from the chainsaw pig combo, is how the game renders us basically helpless. Rather than standing your ground, you have to hide, create distractions, sneak behind him, and gradually turn the environment against him. The chainsaw’s roar makes being discovered genuinely panic-inducing, creating an overt sense of sickening dread that the gaming landscape at the time was not prepared for.
Abstract Daddy
“Silent Hill 2” (2001)
What’s more terrifying than a monster with a gruesome appearance? How about one bathed in so much horrifying subtext that it leaves you deeply uncomfortable long after the fight is concluded. James encounters the eponymous creature during Angela’s storyline, its disturbing design reflecting the horrific abuse she suffered as a child. The cramped room, oppressive imagery, and deliberately grotesque design transform the fight into something far more psychologically upsetting. And that’s exactly why it works. Silent Hill 2 uses its enemies as manifestations of trauma rather than merely obstacles requiring ammunition, and Abstract Daddy remains perhaps the clearest example.
Jack Krauser
“Resident Evil 4” (2005)
The rivalry between this bloodthirsty soldier and gaming’s sexiest super-cop first explodes into one of gaming’s greatest quick-time knife fights before eventually becoming a full-on boss encounter. Krauser hunts Leon through ruins using mines, grenades, a bow, firearms, and an increasingly mutated arm, forcing players to constantly reposition while dealing with a threat far more capable than just another mindless infected. It’s a bizarre, contorted reflection of your typical mano y mano showdown, making for a thrilling brawl that perfectly compliments RE4’s exquisite brand of genuine thrills and cheesy goodness.
Braska’s Final Aeon
“Final Fantasy X” (2001)
You spend an entire game learning about Jecht through the eyes of his son - the resentment, the longing for some kind of connection, all these unresolved matters. And then you have to kill him. Braska’s Final Aeon is a monstrous version of Tidus’ father, complete with two phases, devastating attacks, and a heavy-metal boss theme that immediately announces subtlety has departed Spira. But what truly elevates the encounter is the tragedy surrounding it. Jecht knows what he’s become. Tidus knows what has to be done. Neither want this fight, but it's inescapable. Players can even use Tidus’ dialogue to reduce Jecht’s Overdrive gauge, mechanically incorporating their relationship into the battle. Jecht won’t be winning any father of the year awards but he sure as hell left a lingering impact as one Final Fantasy’s greatest bosses.
Dr. Nefarious
“Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal” (2004)
The good doctor’s hatred of organic life already made him a galactic threat, but it’s his screaming matches with Lawrence and tendency to malfunction into soap-opera broadcasts that turned him into a franchise icon.Thankfully, his boss fight delivers too. Ratchet has to dodge projectiles, take down robotic reinforcements, chases Nefarious across the battlefield, all the while given ample opportunity to empty an arsenal of increasingly absurd weaponry. The whole affair embodies everything great about Up Your Arsenal: speed, humour, spectacle, and outrageous gadgets.
Azel
“God Hand” (2006)
Beat em’ ups come and go, but few have the staying power that matches the ridiculousness of Gene and his five fingers of godly power. So it makes sense the only one to rival him would be an equally eccentric martial artist. Azel is fast, aggressive, and fully capable of punishing players who haven’t mastered God Hand’s unique dodging and custom-combo systems. Made all the tricker since he too can unleash heavenly fisticuffs on the fly. Macho beyond measure, taking on Devil May Sly and claiming victory is a tall order, but one you will revel in from the opening haymaker.
Ninetails
“Ōkami” (2006)
Acting as an insidious mirror to Amaterasu, Ninetails upends all of Okami’s other bosses by copying and interfering with your brush techniques. All of a sudden, what had been a heavenly cheat code was now fair game. Whittling down Ninetails’ demonic visage until its left as a single-tailed beast showcases the best of Okami’s beautiful ink-painted aesthetic as well as its unique approach to combat. Even to this day, nothing has truly come close to capturing the distinct visual wonderment of Ammy clashing brushes with this equally artistic and equally furry fiend.
Xemnas
“Kingdom Hearts II” (2005)
When you’ve got a sequel that combines the whimsy of Disney and spectacle of Final Fantasy, an excessive final boss was inevitable. And they don’t get more grandiose than Xemnas. The ultimate Nobody pulls Sora and Riku through a spectacular gauntlet involving shadowy constructs, ballistic Keyblade combat, and enough energy beams to render you blind. All capped off by one of the coolest reaction-command sequences as Sora and Riku frantically deflect a seemingly endless barrage of projectiles together. Beneath the spectacle, you’ve got the payoff to Roxas, Organization XIII, and Sora’s struggle to return home. Honestly, if the franchise had ended here, we’d be satisfied - as there’s really no topping this.
Colossus of Rhodes
“God of War II” (2007)
What could possibly be more outlandish than taking down a hydra as the first boss in a mythologically inspired hack and slash game? How about tussling with an animated wonder of the world? After Zeus tricks Kratos into draining his godly power into the Blade of Olympus, the now living, and very angry Colossus of Rhodes becomes an enormous multi-stage opening boss. The sheer scale was incredible on PS2. Having to take it apart piece by piece, both inside and out, the relentless back and forth as it tosses Kratos across the city, it all amounted to one of the greatest sequences in gaming, regardless of generation.
Malus
“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)
By the time you reach the sixteenth and final Colossus, any sense of triumph you might have felt has been replaced by melancholy and emptiness. Your horse is gone. Wander looks increasingly corrupted. And you’re unsure if your actions in slaying the Colossi are even justified. And then there’s Malus, towering over the landscape during a violent storm, forcing Wander to move between cover while its meteoric energy blasts tear through the terrain. Reaching the colossus is practically a boss battle by itself. Then comes the climb. The encounter isn’t the game’s most mechanically complex, but the scale, weather, and narrative context make everything feel monumental. Not to mention the god tier soundtrack. Victory has rarely felt so ominous.
Vergil
“Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening” (2005)
It’s a final clash between brothers, and unfortunately for Dante, Vergil is feeling pretty motivated. What follows is one of Devil May Cry’s most demanding duels to date, with Vergil giving no quarter as he punishes and counters every sloppy mistake you make. There truly is no room for error here. Reading attacks, exploiting openings, controlling space, and competing for style points will test you more than any in Dante’s rogues gallery - and that’s all before everyone starts busting out Devil Triggers.
The Boss
“Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” (2004)
From the moment she seemingly betrayed Snake and turned her back on her country, we all knew it was going to come down to these two duking it out. We just weren’t prepared for the outcome. With a last confrontation taking place in a breathtaking field of white flowers, Snake is forced to use camouflage, firearms, and CQC against the one who taught him everything. Mechanically, it’s the ultimate expression of Snake Eater’s systems. Narratively, it’s just devastating. For the majority of this prequel, Snake has been tasked with taking out the Boss, unaware that the entire time she had been orchestrating her own downfall, all in service and sacrifice for her country. Beautiful, brilliant, and crushing, The Boss raised the bar across the board in just about every conceivable aspect.
Which classic PS2 boss still lives rent-free in your memory? Let us know in the comments below!
