Skippable Boss: Difference between revisions
m
no edit summary
m (update links) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
Line 2:
{{quote|"If you must know, I just walked right past him."|[[FoxTrot|Paige Fox]]}}
{{quote|"OH MY!"|[[
Occasionally, games will decide to give you a break and actually feature methods of skipping [[Boss Battle|boss battles]], most often by [[Talking Your Way Out|talking them out of]] fighting the player or by using some [[Boss Arena Idiocy|convenient environmental feature]] to instantly destroy them.
Of course, skipping the boss may not be the best course of action if you earn a nifty reward by defeating it through normal means, or if there's one for [[
The
Note that a [[Speed Run]], particularly tool-assisted one, can make bosses skippable unintentionally.
Line 15:
* Most of ''[[Deus Ex]]'''s bosses aren't required to be killed and can simply be evaded and ignored, making the game well-suited to a [[Pacifist Run]], which is a favourite [[Deus Ex]] playthrough. Two of the bosses are mech-[[Super Soldier]] ex-allies that have an associated "killphrase", a phrase than when uttered causes their enhancements to explode and kill them. The killphrase can be obtained by the player before the fight. One of them is one of the few enemies whom the player ''must'' kill to finish the game, either by the killphrase method or the hard way, the other can be evaded. Of course, that didn't stop the hardcore [[Pacifist Run|pacifist runners]] from [[Script Breaking|finding a way around that boss]] anyway.
** Both mechs can be evaded; one is just much more difficult than the other. The only character who needs to be killed (Howard something?) has the health of a standard NPC. He can be killed by falling on him (something that is quite easy due to his location).
** [
*** ''[[2027]]'', a mod for ''Deus Ex'', has {{spoiler|[[Fighting Your Friend|Magnus]]}} as this, which can be done by evading him, killing him when he is technically not a boss at the time, or making the right choices throughout the game.
* The final boss in ''[[Fallout]]'' can either be killed normally in a fight, talked into committing suicide if you show him proof that his plan is doomed to failure, or be blown up by a bomb hidden in his lair that can be activated by the player.
** Similarly, Legate Lanius, the final boss for most of the endings of [[Fallout: New Vegas]] can be convinced to issue a retreat by convincing him several different ways that even if he were to win the Legion would not be able to sustain itself for long (either via lack of manpower to hold all of their territories or having no supply routes, eventually starving) after that and would eventually lose via attrition. Also, if you're fighting for the Legion, Mr. House or Independence, you can also convince General Oliver and his [[Elite Mook
* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 3'' features a boss that can be sniped when first seen, thus avoiding a later fight with him. Alternatively, one can use one of ''Metal Gear'''s trademark meta-fictional tricks: the boss dies of old age if you set the system clock ahead by a few days at a certain point in the game. Or you could just wait out those real-time days...
** The original ''[[Metal Gear]]'' for the MSX features a boss battle with a tank. While you'll probably take a bit of damage, its possible to just walk around the tank and go to the next area without destroying it.
*** Additionally, there was a glitch in the NES version that allowed you to skip having to blow up the computer by simply turning immediately right when you entered the room (you would glitch into the final boss room). Handy if you never bothered rescuing the scientist (you can only blow up the computer with plastic explosives IF the scientist told you).
* In ''[[
** This can also be done with fireballs to one of the Koopa kids in ''[[Super Mario World (video game)|Super Mario World]]''.
** An earlier example would be the Fake Bowsers in castles 8-4 and D-4 in the game ''[[Super Mario Bros the Lost Levels|Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.
Line 32:
* It is possible to skip some bosses in ''[[Mega Man X|Mega Man X5]]''. Either launch the Enigma laser or shuttle early, or let Eurasia fall to Earth.
** Not just some; you can fire the Enigma and launch the shuttle immediately after finishing the intro stage. They're not likely to succeed at destroying the colony at this point, but whether they do or not, you can still access the final stages without setting foot in a single Maverick level.
* ''[[Resident Evil]]'':
* Semi-example: At one point in ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'', the player encounters two El Gigantes. Killing them both the normal way is quite difficult, but players can kill one of the monsters right off the bat by simply pulling a lever when the enemy is positioned above a lava pit, which causes him to fall to his fiery death. But because there's actually ''two'' El Gigantes in this [[Boss Battle|boss fight]], this only makes the fight (significantly) easier instead of allowing you to skip it altogether. This particular instance is somewhat of a joint [[Skippable Boss|skippable]]-[[Puzzle Boss|puzzle]] [[Boss Battle|boss]]. That, and if you get too close while the unfortunate brute burns, he'll drag you in with him.▼
** In [[Resident Evil (video game)| the original game]] Plant 42 isn’t a difficult Boss, but it will likely cost you a lot of ammo and some of your health. However, if you are playing as Jill (Chris is too dumb to comprehend chemistry) you can mix up a defoliant toxin called V-Jolt, which requires solving a puzzle in the nearby Spider Room to access Room 003 (the chem lab), combine all the chemicals in the room (you’ll need four inventory spaces) in the right order, and before confronting Plant 42, pour the stuff on its roots. At first it seems like this was [[All for Nothing]] - Plant 42 starts to die when Jill enters, but it recovers and grabs her - but then Barry rushes in with a flamethrower and torches it, meaning this strategy changes Plant 42 from a regular boss to a [[Cutscene Boss]].
▲** Semi-example: At one point in ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'', the player encounters two El Gigantes. Killing them both the normal way is quite difficult, but players can kill one of the monsters right off the bat by simply pulling a lever when the enemy is positioned above a lava pit, which causes him to fall to his fiery death. But because there's actually ''two'' El Gigantes in this [[Boss Battle|boss fight]], this only makes the fight (significantly) easier instead of allowing you to skip it altogether. This particular instance is somewhat of a joint
** The game's expensive and bulky rocket propelled grenade gives a one-hit kill against many bosses, giving players a way out if they're not up to defeating them ''properly''. Assuming, of course, they can get that one hit in.
** A more straight example is Ramon Salazar's right hand creature, which stalks you in a corridor while you wait for the elevator. If it arrives before you kill him (which is possible, but ''very'' difficult), you can just get on and forget about him.
Line 41 ⟶ 43:
## fight him straight off (which is not easy),
## cleverly reduce him to roughly half power (which is a relatively easy fight), or
## depending on choices made earlier on in the adventure, kill him instantly without risk.
* ''[[Jade Empire]]'' had a whole host of battles that you could avoid by choosing a good or evil course of action.
* Same goes for ''[[Fable]]'' and most other games with a [[Karma Meter]]
Line 55 ⟶ 57:
** Also, the majority of fights could be skipped outright by using the "Sucker Punch" option, which downed the enemy immediately. You got no Indy Points though, and the above-named [[Giant Mook]] [[Punch-Punch-Punch Uh-Oh|just shrugs it off and laughs]].
* ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' features two skippable bosses. In one, you fight Magus in North Cape after the fall of Zeal... and you can skip this by convincing him to [[Heel Face Turn|join forces instead]]. The second is Lavos. When you arrive in 1999 AD via Epoch, you can crash it into Lavos and skip his first form. However, doing so [[Point of No Return|eliminates your ability to return]] to the End of Time for saving and healing; on the plus side, whether or not you crash the Epoch [[Multiple Endings|changes the ending]]. And a subverted skippable boss earlier as well:
{{quote|
(You walk past Nizbel, mentally thanking him for the directions.)
'''Nizbel:''' Hey! I meant you gotta go through me! Whaddaya think I was standing here looking all vicious for? }}
* Although not technically a boss, there's a seemingly unskippable fight towards the end of ''Custom Robo'' for Gamecube that can actually be skipped if you're incredibly insistent with an apparent [[But Thou Must!]] question.
* The final confrontation with the Turks in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', if you ran the Wutai subquest, can be skipped simply by refusing to fight. However, if you have a Steal materia handy, there's enough loot between the three of them to make it worth the effort anyway.
* The second time Tiger Joe shows up in ''[[God Hand]]'', you can run right past him and exit the stage without so much as one punch.
* In the second ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' expansion, ''Hordes of the Underdark'', if you're incredibly rich you can make a donation to learn the final boss's [[I Know Your True Name|true name]]. With this in hand, you can order him to give up - or even become your subordinate as you take over his plans.
** And in the Githyanki Base in ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', it's possible to bluff Zaxis into believing that he failed his mission, instantly "killing" him. Until later in the game, when you won't get to fight him anyway.
* The three Machina Arma wielders from ''[[Baten Kaitos|Baten Kaitos Origins]]'' can technically be skipped the second time around. Beating them, however, was good for experience and venting frustration (all three had previously been [[Hopeless Boss Fight|impossible to beat]]), and beating them but sparing their lives afterward resulted in three extra scenes at the end of the game.
* Several bosses in ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' can be bribed rather than defeated by conventional means.
** One in particular can be killed with some [[Revive Kills Zombie]] shenanigans. In fact, ''not'' doing this causes you to miss out on a few [[Lost Forever
* ''[[Sonic Chronicles]]'' has the party approached by a Swatbot with memory issues. Telling it it's programmed to fight makes it fight you, while telling it it's served it's purpose causes it to self destruct.
** Later on, when you first encounter Shadow the Hedgehog, if you tell him you don't want to fight him, you won't. Shadow will say something, and then it skips straight to the dialogue that happens after the fight.
Line 75 ⟶ 77:
* Subverted in ''[[Diablo]] 2: Lord of Destruction'': The guardians of [[The Very Definitely Final Dungeon]] can be bypassed with a [[Plot Coupon]]. The problem? {{spoiler|1=The [[Big Bad]] bribes one of the NPCs into handing him the [[Plot Coupon]], which means he gets the free pass instead.}} Enjoy your boss fight!
* In ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', The Elder Wyrm boss fight, which some people tend to find harder than most of the game's boss fights because of it's favour of status effecting attacks, can be skipped by taking another route to the next area. There are some pretty tough enemies that you have to run past but it gets you away from the boss.
* In ''[[Chrono Cross]]'', it is possible to get the Black Dragon's relic without fighting him: just bring along a party of non-humans. Unfortunately, doing so means he'll never leave the area, and the player will never obtain a rare item required to forge Prism equipment (the best in the game).
* ''[[Fire Emblem]] 7'' has a few of these, usually in timed missions:
** Carjiga in chapter 4 Lyn's route
Line 109 ⟶ 111:
* All the bosses in the first ''[[Spyro the Dragon]]'' (except the last). This is because bosses make up their own levels and just serve to collect more stuff. All the bosses leave are gems. If you have enough gems/dragons/eggs/etc. to pass to the next hub, you can skip any remaining levels.
* Despite that it is not exactly ''required'' to kill most bosses in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', if you do run dungeons, there exist bosses that will have to be killed in order to unlock another boss encounter, or simply you have to kill that boss because they're in the way. Other bosses are commonly skipped because they are out of the way or are simply notorious for annoying strategies. Almost an entire wiki can be filled with these, but some of the most notorious examples include:
** "The Fish Boss" in Zul'Gurub due to the fact that the boss is an Optional Boss Fight and is out of the way.
** Jin'do the Hexxer in Zul'Gurub which became [[That One Boss]] for many players due to having a very annoying strategy to defeat. He is not required to reach Hakkar, and in fact is practically the [[True Final Boss]] of the dungeon but he was still skippable.
** Father Flame in Upper Blackrock Spire, but intended boss that was to be summoned in the famous "Leeroy Jenkins" Video. Once most people got all the gear they got from that boss nobody wanted to do that boss encounter.
** There is also a dungeon called Dire Maul, where skipping bosses is actually encouraged. Every boss, barring the last, can be ignored, trapped, or distracted so that you never have to face them. When you do defeat the final boss, all the bosses you skipped offer you tribute, which is usually better than what you would have gotten by killing them.
* The final mission of the Faultline arcs in ''[[City of Heroes]]'' has three villains fighting over who gets to take the [[MacGuffin]] from you. You can ignore them, rescue their hostage, and give it to her to destroy.
Line 121 ⟶ 123:
* In the arcade version of ''[[Gradius]] III'' and ''Gradius ReBirth'', there are secret levels you can enter that will allow you to skip the current stage's boss.
* Two of the Antlion Guards in ''[[Half-Life]] 2'' can be skipped, as the exits to the arenas in which they are fought are only blocked with physics objects (as oppossed to the impervious "gates" used in most sections of the game).
* In ''[[Dragon Age]]'', there's an incident which is a hybrid of this and [[Hopeless Boss Fight]]
** In the Awakening [[Expansion Pack]], The Architect will propose an [[Enemy Mine]] with you against The Mother, which you can agree to. Doing so however will anger some companions into attacking you unless you have enough Persuasion to talk them down.
* ''[[Turrican]] II'' has a sort of flying saucer on stage 1-2 which you have to go out of your way to fight. However, if you do, you are rewarded with 4 extra lives when you kill him.
Line 142 ⟶ 144:
** Also during the final mission, there is a sequence in which you have to defeat both Alan Parker and Conrad Marburg before they can destroy the evidence of Alpha Protocol's existence that you want to recover. Depending on your actions earlier in the game, there are multiple ways to eliminate Parker or Marburg or both from the fight: {{spoiler|if you killed Marburg in Rome, you will fight Parker alone; if you found out that Madison was Parker's daughter and Marburg killed her, he will turn on Marburg and be killed, so you will fight Marburg alone; if you collected enough of Marburg's dossier, you can persuade him to quit, and you will fight Parker alone; if you can persuade Parker that his grand plan has failed, but that he can still get away if he helps you pin the blame on someone else, he will do a [[Heel Face Turn]] and you will fight Marburg alone; if you collected enough of both men's dossiers, you can persuade Marburg to kill Parker, and you will fight Marburg alone; finally, if you manage to persuade both men to quit, you will fight neither, and the sequence instead will involve killing a horde of [[Mooks]] within a certain amount of time}}.
** In Moscow, you will only fight Championchik, Surkov's bodyguard, if you {{spoiler|find out that Surkov is Halbech's real connection in Moscow, ''and'' refuse to take the deal he offers you when you confront him}}.
* The Commando Man Doc Robot mini-boss fight in Spark Man's level in ''[[Rockman 6: Unique Harassment]]'', Rock Escape, can be skipped if you take the right route.
* In ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', five Portrait Ghosts (Mr. Luggs, Biff Atlas, Slim Bankshot, Sue Pea, Jarvis) are optional<ref>In the 3DS port, Orville and Nelville are optional, but Slim Bankshot is not.</ref>; fighting them is not necessary for finishing the game. It's possible to not even encounter Sue Pea at all, she's in a secret room that can only be accessed once you access ''another'' secret room. Also, you only need to catch 40 of the 50 Boos in order to reach the [[Final Boss]]. Still, fighting and nabbing these optional Portrait Ghosts anyway will usually yeild some decent treasures.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Boss Battle]]
[[Category:
| |||