SNK Boss Syndrome

    From Atrocious Gameplay Wiki
    The most horrific illness in all of video games, not addiction.

    SNK Boss Syndrome is a term often used to mock SNK Playmore for their tendency of making bosses in their fighting games such Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series ridiculously cheap and frustrating. It got so bad that they implemented a continue service so you can fight bosses with many advantages like having a full super bar (in some cases, infinite), or having the boss' life reduced by 1/4 or 1/3. This trope was first used in Arcade games for the sake of making the player lose and be tempted to put in more coins to try again.

    Unfortunately, this syndrome also exists in fighting games made by other companies such as Capcom, Namco, Arc System Works, Midway, Sega, Konami, etc.

    Symptoms include (but not limited to):

    1. Broken moves: Not only do these moves deal damage, but can also have additional negative effects. For example, Mizuki's projectiles reverse your controls, Zero's coat attacks deal a lot of damage but also break defense if blocked and can hit so many times that he earns a super bar each time he uses them. There are also other moves that can leave you paralyzed like Neo Dio's clone, or the infamous whips of Igniz that can be used to stunlock the player, and much much more.
    2. Priority: If the boss and your character throw a close-range attack at the same time while standing next to each other, the boss' attack will hit almost 100% of the time.
    3. Ridiculous damage: SNK bosses (especially in the KOF franchise) often deal obscene amounts of damage. For example, Rugal can take 75% of your health bar with his Genocide Cutter attack.
    4. Cheap tactics and A.I.: These bosses implement many annoying strategies like spamming (Goodman, Magaki, and Goenitz) or others like Geese in Art of Fighting 2 who tries to corner you by using his buzzsaw and sliding kick, his buzzsaw opens a counter-attack after being blocked. However, if he is low on health, he will resort to using the slide kick only which has almost no recovery time effectively cornering you and leaving you with no escape.
    5. High HP: In addition to bosses having super strong attacks, they can also have far more HP than regular playable fighters. Examples: Goodman, Shao Kahn, God Rugal (pictured above) and Galactus.
    6. Fast movement speed: SNK type bosses tend to move and attack really fast, barely leaving an opening. Notable examples include Kouryu from The Last Blade 2, World Heroes 2's Dio & Demon Gaoh from Samurai Shodown VI.
    7. Unfair advantages: Like the super regeneration of red health for Goodman from Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, or Igniz and Original Zero having an infinite super bar or Parace L'Sia who gradually heals her health.
    8. Overly long-range attacks: One good example is Zankuro Minazuki, with his sword, he cannot only deal damage but also cover a lot of the screen with one swing.
    9. Super armor: Bosses will not flinch after being attacked or have wind-up animations for that attack that can not be flinched, such as Giga Bowser from the Super Smash Bros. Melee, later Mortal Kombat bosses, X-Men: Children of the Atom's Juggernaut & Rumbleman from Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2.
    10. Programming flaws: SNK bosses, while cheap, are susceptible to tactics that make them unable to defend themselves; basically, this means you can defeat them by being as cheap as them, which speaks volumes of their poor design.
    11. Giant height: They cover a lot of terrain/screen and can throw you no problem while you can't. Sometimes, they only have a weak spot and/or a puny hitbox that can hurt them, acting more like bosses from other genres put into a fighting game. Marvel Vs. Capcom's Onslaught, Bio F.R.E.A.K.S' Mutilator, Tekken 6's Nancy and Azazel, Cardinal Syn's Kron, Waku Waku 7's Fernandez, Skullgirls' Bloody Marie & Guilty Gear Strikers' Leopaldon are solid-as-concrete examples of this.
    12. Only one opportunity: Some bosses besides being hard, only allow you to fight them once. Lose & it's an instant Game Over. This is common with secret boss fights like Omega Rugal in KOF 2002 UM, Mu-12 in BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, Nancy-MI847J in Tekken 6 & Baiken in Guilty Gear 1. However, other bosses, despite being mandatory, still cause a Game Over like Uranus the Chimera in Bloody Roar 3, Ryoko the Dragon in Bloody Roar 4, Night Terror from Soul Calibur III, Dural in the Virtua Fighter series, Eternal Champion/Dark Champion in Eternal Champions and it's sequel, Nightmare Geese in Real Bout Fatal Fury Special or the most infamous of them all, Final Bison in Street Fighter Alpha 3 who also gives you a bad ending if you fail to defeat him. Special cases like Giga Bowser & Street Fighter Alpha 2's Shin Akuma will allow you to continue but they will not allow you to fight them again.
    13. Hard to find: Bosses like Athena, Firebrand, Shadow Jago, Oni, Reptile, Akuma, Goodman among others require unbelievable criteria met to fight them.
    14. Frankensteinitis: They use some of the trickiest & most effective moves from regular characters that they can pull off in the blink of an eye to make one deadly combination. Sometimes, they can steal moves from other fighting games to their leisure, common in copycats. Virtua Fighter's Dural, Mortal Kombat 2's secret bosses, Martial Champion's Salamander, Street Fighter 4's Seth, Soul Calibur V's Elysium, Survival Arts' Dantel & Spectral vs. Generation's Holy God Earth display this perfectly.
    15. Amakusoge: In other words, two forms. They'll trick you into an easy fight by going easy at first before going all out afterwards. Sometimes, they have a humane first form followed by a freak of nature next. Other times, the humane form is the sub-boss & the monstrosity is the final boss. The most (in)famous instance is Rugal Bernstein in KOF '94. Aside from him, KOF '99's Krizalid, Samurai Shodown 3's Zankuro (perhaps its nastiest example), Street Fighter 4's Seth, The Rumble Fish's Greed, Marvel vs. Capcom's Onslaught, the Rumble Roses franchise's Lady X (Substance/Subsistence), Power Stone's (Final) Valgas, Tekken 2's (Devil) Kazuya, Martial Masters' (True) Lotus Master & Battle Fantasia's (End of) Deathbringer fit the bill to a T. (Named after Samurai Shodown's Amakusa, the earliest known example, & vulgar Japanese slang for a crappy game.)

    Some notable offenders

    • Rugal/Omega Rugal/God Rugal (The King of Fighters series and Capcom Vs SNK 2)
    • Saisyu Kusanagi (Sub-Boss) (KOF 95)
    • Chizuru (Sub-Boss) (KOF 96 and 2003)
    • Goentiz (KoF 96 and 98 UM)
    • Team Orochi (Mid-Bosses) (KoF 97; especially Shermie & Yashiro)
    • Orochi (KoF 97 and 98 UM)
    • Krizalid (KoF 99 and 2002 UM)
    • Clone Zero (KoF 2000 and 2002 UM)
    • Original Zero (KOF 2001 and 2002 UM)
    • Igniz (KoF 2001 and 2002 UM)
    • Maki (Sub-Boss along with her sister Chizuru) & Mukai (KoF 2003)
    • Adelheid Bernstein (KOF 2003 and XI)
    • Magaki (KoF XI)
    • True Saiki/Dark Ash (KoF XIII)
    • Verse (KoF XIV)
    • Shinobu Amou (KOF EX2: Howling Blood)
    • Duke Burkoff (KOF Maximum Impact 1)
    • Jivatma (KoF Maximum Impact 2)
    • Kukri (SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy)
    • Geese Howard (Fatal Fury series, Art of Fighting 2, KOF EX: Howling Blood, Capcom Vs. SNK 1, KoF Neowave; possibly the starter of the entire trend)
    • Billy Kane (Fatal Fury series)
    • Wolfgang Krauser (Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury Special)
    • Ryo Sakazaki (Fatal Fury Special)
    • Ryuji Yamazaki (Mid-Boss), Jin Chonshu & Jin Chonrei (Secret Boss) (Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory)
    • Nightmare Geese (Real Bout Fatal Fury Special)
    • White (Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind)
    • Grant (Sub-Boss) & Kain R. Heinlein (Garou: Mark of the Wolves)
    • The CPU (Art of Fighting series, especially 2)
    • Mr. Big (Art of Fighting series and KOF series)
    • Mr. Karate/Serious Mr. Karate (Art of Fighting 1 and SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom)
    • Wyler (Art of Fighting 3)
    • Shiro Tokisada Amakusa (Samurai Shodown (1993), IV and V Special/Perfect)
    • Kuroko (Bonus Boss) (Samurai Shodown II)
    • Mizuki Rashojin (Samurai Shodown II and V Special/Perfect)
    • Zankuro Minazuki (Samurai Shodown series)
    • The player character's rival (Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge; they are a respective regular character with AI typical of the syndrome)
    • Gaoh/Demon Gaoh (Samurai Shodown V series and VI)
    • Shizuka Gozen (Samurai Shodown (2019))
    • Yuga the Destroyer (Samurai Shodown 64/64-2)
    • Gandara (Samurai Shodown 64/64-2 and Samurai Shodown 2!)
    • Draco (Sub-Boss) & Golba (Samurai Shodown Sen (aka Edge of Destiny in most other countries)
    • Musashi (Sub-Boss) & Kagami (The Last Blade)
    • Kouryu (The Last Blade 2)
    • Johann (Rage of the Dragons)
    • Athena & Red Arremer/Firebrand (SVC Chaos: SNK VS. Capcom)
    • Mizuchi (NeoGeo Battle Coliseum)
    • King Leo (Savage Reign, Kizuna Encounter & NeoGeo Battle Coliseum; known as Shin Shishioh in Japan)
    • Jyazu (Kizuna Encounter)
    • Dio/Neo Dio (World Heroes 2, World Heroes Perfect & NeoGeo Battle Coliseum)
    • Geegus/Neo Geegus (World Heroes & World Heroes 2)
    • Zeus (World Heroes 2 Jet & World Heroes Perfect)
    • Goodman (NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, arguably the most dangerous case from SNK itself)
    • Miss X, Whip & Yuki (SNK Gals Fighters)
    • Manto Ace, Karakuri, Jyashinsai & Lucifeller (Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash)
    • Silber (Buriki One)
    • Behemoth, Eelis & Lucifer (Ragnagard)
    • The CPU (Most Classic SNK Fighting Games (especially KOF XI))
    • Sagat (Street Fighter 1 (a.k.a Fighting Street in the US)), another possible starter of the entire trend)
    • M. Bison (AKA Vega in Japan) (Street Fighter II series, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter EX series)
    • Akuma/Shin Akuma/Cyber Akuma, (AKA Gouki in Japan) (Street Fighter series, Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, SVC Chaos and Tekken 7)
    • The CPU (Street Fighter II series)
    • Gill (Street Fighter III series (New Generation, Second Impact, Third Strike) and Street Fighter V)
    • Seth (Street Fighter IV series)
    • Evil Ryu (Street Fighter series)
    • Oni (Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition & Ultra Street Fighter IV)
    • Shadow Lady (Bonus Boss) (Street Fighter V)
    • Shin Garuda (Bonus Boss) (Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha)
    • Vold Ignitio (Fighting Layer)
    • Hyo Imawano (Rival Schools and Project Justice)
    • Oboro Bishamon & Dark Talbain (Bonus Bosses) (Darkstalkers 3)
    • Blade and Scion (Red Earth)
    • Warlock & Helion (Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness)
    • Kraken (Sub-Boss) and Valgas/Final Valgas (Power Stone)
    • Pharaoh Walker (Sub-Boss) & Dr. Erode (Power Stone 2)
    • Super Bilstein (Star Gladiator)
    • Ghost Bilstein (Plasma Sword: Nightmare Of Bilstein)
    • Juggernaut (Sub-Boss) & Magneto (X-Men: Children of the Atom)
    • Dr. Doom (Sub-Boss) & Thanos (Marvel Super Heroes)
    • Onslaught (Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes)
    • Abyss (Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes)
    • Galactus (Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
    • Ultron Sigma/Ultron Omega (Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite)
    • Yami (Tatsunoko vs. Capcom)
    • Vanilla Ice/Iced (especially Vanilla Arcade/PS1 versions) & Death-13 (Mid-Bosses), DIO and Jotaro (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future (A.K.A JoJo's Venture in outside of Japan))
    • Heihachi Mishima (Tekken 1, 3, 4 and 7 (Treasure Battle mode))
    • Kazuya Mishima (Sub-Boss) (Tekken 2)
    • Devil Kazuya (Tekken 2 (Arcade) and Tekken 7 (Treasure Battle mode))
    • Devil Jin (Tekken series)
    • Jinpachi Mishima (Tekken 5)
    • NANCY-MI847J (Mid-Boss) & Azazel (Tekken 6)
    • Jin Kazama (Tekken 6 and Tekken 7 (Treasure Battle mode))
    • Devil Kazumi (Tekken 7)
    • Unknown (Tekken Tag Tournament 1 and 2)
    • Jun Kazama (Tekken Tag Tournament 2)
    • Cervantes/Soul Edge (Soul Blade (A.K.A. Soul Edge in Japan))
    • Inferno (SoulCalibur II (Weapon Master mode only) and SoulCalibur VI)
    • Abyss, the CPU & Night Terror (SoulCalibur III)
    • Legendary Souls mode (SoulCalibur V; That's 7 bosses in a row for ya.)
    • Azwel (SoulCalibur VI)
    • Zarak (Weapon Lord)
    • Mr. and Mrs. Acme (The Outfoxies)
    • Frieza & Perfect Cell (Dragon Ball Budokai)
    • Kid Buu (Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 and Budokai Tenkaichi 3)
    • Omega Shenron (Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3)
    • Every Boss (Dragon Ball Z Infinite World)
    • Maniac battles (Cell, Broly and Goku) (Dragon Ball Z Super Sonic Warriors 2)
    • Beerus & Whis (Dragon Ball Xenoverse)
    • Android 21, Merged Zamasu & Boss Raid mode (Dragon Ball Fighterz)
    • Overhaul's Final Form (My Hero One's Justice 2)
    • Dural (Virtua Fighter series)
    • Big Mahler (Fighting Vipers series)
    • The CPU (Virtua Fighter series, Fighting Vipers series and Sonic the Fighters)
    • Red Eye (Last Bronx)
    • Toy King (Toy Fighter)
    • Eternal Champion (Eternal Champions and Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side)
    • Dark Champion (Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side)
    • Ruler & Ram-X (Dark Edge)
    • Jaguarandi & Z-Gradt (Cyber Troopers Virtual-On)
    • Ajim, Bradtos & Tangram (Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram)
    • Black Knight (Sub-Boss) & Kaiser Dragon (Elan Doree)
    • Greed & Hazama (The Rumble Fish series; the latter not to be confused with the BlazBlue character)
    • Beatrice (The Rumble Fish 2)
    • Dantel (Survival Arts)
    • Golden Axe (Golden Axe: The Duel)
    • Metal Sonic (Sonic the Fighters (A.K.A Sonic Championship in the US)
    • Dr. Eggman and Ultimate Emerl (Sonic Battle)
    • Ken-Oh/Boss Raoh (Fist of the North Star: Twin Blue Stars of Judgement)
    • Oume (Power Instinct)
    • Otane (Power Instinct 2)
    • Bristol-D (Groove on Fight: Power Instinct 3)
    • Princess Sissy (Power Instinct: Matrimelee)
    • Geezer/Unknown & Dybyd (Secret Boss) (Heaven's Gate; you face either final boss depending on your character's alignment. Heroes face the former and villains for the latter)
    • Score Attack Mode, Elizabeth and Sho Minazuki (Persona 4 Arena/Persona 4 Arena Ultimax)
    • Testament (Sub-Boss) & Justice (Guilty Gear series)
    • Dizzy (Guilty Gear X)
    • I-No & Order-Sol (Bonus Boss) (Guilty Gear XX series)
    • Ramlethal Valentine (Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-)
    • Player's rival (Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATEOR- and it's update Rev 2)
    • Player's rival, Nagoriyuki and Ky Kiske (Guilty Gear -STRIVE-)
    • Leopaldon (Guilty Gear Isuka)
    • Gig (Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers)
    • Nu-13 (BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger)
    • Mu-12 (BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND)
    • Izayoi (BlazBlue: Chronophantasma EXTEND)
    • Nine the Phantom, Izanami & Susanoo (BlazBlue: Central Fiction)
    • The whole Grim of Abyss mode's Boss Rush Dungeon, especially Hakumen (BlazBlue: Central Fiction)
    • The Unlimited bosses (BlazBlue series; They are the regular cast diseased to an outrageous degree. Ragna, Hakuman & Hazama are chiefly guilty of this)
    • Deathbringer/End of Deathbringer (Battle Fantasia)
    • Celia II & Kudlak Aimar (Chaos Code)
    • Eyedol (Killer Instinct 1 and (2013))
    • Gargos (Killer Instinct 2/Gold and (2013))
    • Shadow Jago (Killer Instinct (2013))
    • Jibber, Stage 4 Opponents and Houou (Joy Mech Fight)
    • Master Hand & Crazy Hand (Super Smash Bros. series)
    • Giga Bowser (A.K.A Giga Koopa in Japan) (Super Smash Bros. Melee)
    • Cruel Smash Mode (Super Smash Bros. series)
    • Tabuu & Giant Shadow Bug Diddy Kong (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)
    • Master Core/Fortress (Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U)
    • Amiibo Fighters (Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)
    • Ace-Class Spirit Battles and Legend-Class Spirit Battles (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)
    • Dracula and Galeem & Dharkon (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)
    • Springtron (Bonus Boss), Max Brass (Mid-Boss), Hedlok & Doctor Coyle (ARMS)
    • The CPU, Felden Crais & Rouwe (Secret Boss) (Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors)
    • Fernandeath (AKA Fernandez outside of Japan) (Waku Waku 7)
    • Bonus-Kun (Waku Waku 7)
    • Satan Volte & Test-Kun (Bonus Boss) (Astra Superstars)
    • Shang Tsung (Mortal Kombat 1 and Deadly Alliance)
    • Goro (Sub-Boss) (Mortal Kombat series)
    • The CPU (Mortal Kombat series) (especially 2 and Advance)
    • Kintaro (Sub-Boss) (Mortal Kombat 2, Trilogy and 9)
    • Shao Kahn (Mortal Kombat 2, MK3/UMK3, MKT and Mortal Kombat 9)
    • Motaro (Sub-Boss) (Mortal Kombat 3 series)
    • Noob, Jade, Smoke and Reptile secret fights (Mortal Kombat 1, 2 and 9)
    • Moloch (Sub-Boss) (Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance & Armageddon)
    • Onaga (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
    • Blaze (Mortal Kombat: Armageddon)
    • Corrupted Shinnok (Mortal Kombat X)
    • Kronika (Mortal Kombat 11)
    • Clonus (Sub-Boss) & Mutilator (Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.)
    • Grendel (Sub-Boss) & Asmodeus (Mace: The Dark Age)
    • Damien Black (Ready 2 Rumble Boxing)
    • Rumbleman (Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2)
    • Brainiac (Injustice 2)
    • N. Boss (ClayFighter)
    • Uriko (Bloody Roar)
    • Gado & Shen Long (Secret Boss) (Bloody Roar 2)
    • Xion & Uranus (Secret Boss) (Bloody Roar 3)
    • Cronos & the player character's rival (Bloody Roar: Primal Fury/Extreme)
    • Ryoho (Bloody Roar 4)
    • Reapermon (Digimon Rumble Arena)
    • Raidou (Dead or Alive 1, Dimensions and 6)
    • The CPU (Dead or Alive series; especially 4)
    • Tengu (Dead or Alive 2 and Dimensions)
    • Omega (Dead or Alive 3 and Dimensions)
    • Alpha-152 (Dead or Alive 4, Dimensions and 5)
    • Kasumi Alpha & Shiden (Dead or Alive: Dimensions)
    • Angel (Tõkidenshõ: Angel Eyes)
    • Black Battler (Umineko Golden Fantasia, arguably the cheapest fighting game boss ever made)
    • X-Tal (Zero Divide/Zero Divide: Final Conflict)
    • Eve (Zero Divide 2: The Secret Wish)
    • Dies Irae Deus (Daemon Bride)
    • Aoko Aozaki & Giant Akiha (Melty Blood)
    • Mildred Avellone (Arcana Heart 1)
    • Angelia Avellone (Arcana Heart 2)
    • Scharlachrot (Mid-Boss) & Ragnarok (Arcana Heart 3)
    • Parace L'Sia (Suggoi! Arcana Heart 2 and 3, one of the single most dangerous patients ever documented)
    • Murakumo (Akatsuki Blitzkampf (early versions only) and it's update, Ausf. Achse)
    • Helheim mode (Akatsuki Blitzkampf)
    • The CPU (Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse)
    • Valkyria (EN-Eins Perfektewelt and it's update, Anastasis)
    • Bloody Marie & Marie 300% (Bonus Boss) (Skullgirls)
    • Filia (Skullgirls; in Fukua's story only)
    • Any Boss (Them's Fightin Herds)
    • Ma-Ryan & Chizuru (Aquapazza)
    • The General (Kaiser Knuckle (A.K.A Global Champion in the US); The most fatal case. Period.)
    • The CPU (Kaiser Knuckle (A.K.A Global Champion in the US))
    • Ron Max (Mid-Boss) & Tony Won (Violence Fight)
    • Richard Wong (Psychic Force 2012)
    • True Lotus Master (Martial Masters)
    • Holy God Earth (Spectral Vs. Generation)
    • Salamander (Martial Champion)
    • Dogma (Dragoon Might)
    • Rat King (Sub-Boss) & Karai (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters)
    • Lady X/Lady X Substance/Lady X Subsistence (Rumble Roses series)
    • Dracula (Castlevania: Judgement)
    • The King Has No Name (Dark Awake/Chaos Breaker)
    • Ohga (Voltage Fighter: Gowcaiser)
    • Duke (Sub-Boss) & Shuko (Double Dragon)
    • Joker (Fighter's Destiny)
    • Mr. Bear (Battle K-Road)
    • Syn (Sub-Boss) & Kron (Cardinal Syn)
    • Lord Zedd (Sub-Boss) & Ivan Ooze (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition)
    • Necrosan (Primal Rage II)
    • Death (Time Killers)
    • Buzzsaw and Nekron (Bloodstorm)
    • Portal (Timeslaughter)
    • Cain, Judas & Marukka (Thrill Kill)
    • Apollyon (For Honor)
    • Karnov (Fighter's History series; Also serves as the first guest fighter, from the eponymous game by Data East, this game's creators and their mascot)
    • Ox (Bonus Boss) (Karnov's Revenge; He's the bull from Karate Champ, an early fighting game, also from Data East)
    • Chelnov (Fighter's History: Mizoguchi Kiki Ipatsu!!; Yet another guest, from his own eponymous game by, you guessed it, Data East)
    • Clown (Fighter's History series)
    • Chao Gai (Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty)
    • CMP (Karate Champ; the earliest known sighting of this, circa 1984)
    • Rhina (Mid-Boss) & Koldan (Tattoo Assassins)
    • Main (Doomsday Warrior)
    • Galen Kor (Avengers in Galactic Storm)
    • Zao Long (Rabbit!)
    • Chaos (Dissidia: Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy)
    • Lord Valgasu (Fighting Masters)
    • Jackie Chan (The Kung Fu Master Jackie Chan) [3 forms in that order: Spiritual Kung Fu, Druken Master, Project A]
    • The Doppelgänger bosses (Jackie Chan in Fists of Fire; They are diseased palette swaps of the game's cast, complete with ostensibly evil colors)
    • Bai-Hu (Breakers & its Revenge update)
    • Final (The Black Heart)
    • Goliath-Prime, Vegon & Cerebulon (War of the Monsters)
    • Mecha-Godzilla 2/Kiryu (Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee; the latter is a palette swap of the former exclusive to Xbox)
    • Orga (Godzilla: Save the Earth)
    • Katatonia (Unholy Night: The Darkness Hunter)
    • Skull Reaper (Superior Soldiers)
    • Fusuhime (Metamoqester)
    • Celberus (Schmeiser Robo)
    • Trigger (Sub-Boss) & Carlos (The Fallen Angels)
    • Dusterd (Armed Fighter)
    • Ihadurca (Evil Zone)
    • Dredlok (Vicious Circle)
    • Berserker (Sub-Boss) & Marry.P (Genei Tougi: Shadow Struggle)
    • Merkuar (Critical Blow)
    • Stealth (Slap Happy Rhythm Busters)
    • Korgen (Steeldom)
    • L. Biss (Kakuge-Yaro: Fighting Game Creator)
    • Zenka, Alpha & Doraemon (Super Cosplay War Ultra)
    • Gaia (Battle Arena Toshinden 1)
    • Master (Battle Arena Toshinden 2)
    • Abel and Veil (Battle Arena Toshinden 3)
    • Sho Shinjo (Battle Arena Toshinden series)
    • The Big 4 (Battle Monsters)
    • Shocker Leader (Kamen Rider Ps1; Story mode)

    Some Noteworthy Non-Fighting Genre Offenders

    • Rodin (Bayonetta series)
    • Ornstein & Smough (Dark Souls) (Dark Souls)
    • Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3)
    • Gehrman (Bloodborne)
    • Monsoon (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance) & Senator Armstrong (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance; especially Revengance mode)
    • Must Die Mode (Devil May Cry series)
    • Nightmare (Devil May Cry 1)
    • Trismagia (Devil May Cry 2)
    • Silver Sonic & Death Egg Robot (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
    • Tails/Eggman Second Battle & Biolizard (Sonic Adventure 2)
    • Egg Emperor (Sonic Heroes)
    • Lancelot Returns (Sonic and The Black Knight)
    • Carbuncle (Puyo Puyo SUN and Puyo Puyo Fever)
    • Ballos (Cave Story)
    • Death (Castlevania series)
    • N. Gin (Crash Bandicoot series)
    • Pinstripe Potaroo & Nitros Oxide (Crash Team Racing and its Nitro-Fueled remake)
    • Emperor Velo XXVII (Crash Nitro Kart)
    • Galacta Knight (Kirby series)
    • Marx Soul (Kirby Super Star Ultra)
    • Soul of Sectonia (Kirby: Triple Deluxe)
    • The Three Mage-Sisters (Kirby: Star Allies)
    • Boost Guardian (Metroid Prime 2)
    • Mr. Sandman (Punch-Out!! series)
    • Soda Popinsiki (AKA Vodka Drunkenski in early Punch-Out!!) (Punch-Out!! series)
    • Mike Tyson/Mr. Dream (Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! A.K.A Punch-Out!!)
    • TD Great Tiger, TD Bald Bull, Donkey Kong & Champion's Mode (Punch-Out!! (2008))
    • Anubis Rex (Pac-Man World (Original version))
    • Blinky (Pac-Man World 2; Clyde in-game due to an error)
    • Yellow Devil (Mega Man series)
    • Elec Man (Mega Man 1)
    • Quick Man & Boobeam Trap (Mega Man 2)
    • Wily Capsule 7 (Mega Man 7)
    • Wily Machine 9 (Mega Man 9)
    • Enker, Punk and Ballade (Mega Man 10)
    • Dynamo Man, Burner Man & King (Mega Man & Bass)
    • Sigma (Mega Man X series)
    • Gate (Mega Man X6)
    • Dr. Wily (Mega Man Battle & Chase)
    • Another Joe & Fire Leo (Viewtiful Joe)
    • Double God Hand Gene (God Hand)
    • Shinobu, Holly Summers and Bad Girl (No More Heroes)
    • The Doctor (Shank 2)
    • Catwoman (Batman Returns; SNES version)
    • Famardy (King of the Monsters 2)
    • Death Bringer (Golden Axe [Genesis port]; possibly the missing link from Tyson to Geese)
    • Mysterious Warrior (Double Dragon II: The Revenge [NES & Turbografx-CD versions]; the other missing link, no doubt)
    • Mona and Lisa (Streets of Rage 1)
    • Shiva (Streets of Rage 2)
    • Robot Y (Streets of Rage 3)
    • Mr. X (Streets of Rage series)
    • Nekro (Mother Russia Bleeds)
    • Inner Agent 3 (Splatoon 2)
    • General Kim (True Crime: Streets of LA)
    • Uber Soldat (Return to Castle Wolfenstein)
    • Xaero (Quake III: Arena)
    • Cyberdemon, Spider Mastermind & the Arch-Vile enemies (Doom series)
    • The Marauder enemies (Doom Eternal)
    • Xan Kriegor (Unreal Tournament)
    • Lawrence Barrett (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
    • Succubus Draija (Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi)
    • Bethany (Clive Barker's Undying)
    • The Gonarch (Half-Life)
    • Ultra Mega Mega Man (South Park)
    • Fire Boss & Ice Boss (Descent II)
    • Hans Volter (Killing Floor 2)
    • The Shadow Ninja enemies (Shadow Warrior Classic; Yes, a regular enemy, of all things.)
    • Nasty Metallic Enforcer (Rise of the Triad)
    • D'Sparil (Heretic)
    • Mike J (Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend)
    • Any boss (Team Fortress 2; Yes, any)
    • Minion (Twisted Metal series)
    • Dark Tooth (Twisted Metal 2 and Twisted Metal: Head-On)
    • Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal 4)
    • Warhawk (Twisted Metal: Black)
    • Cousin Eddy (Mid-Boss) & Tower Tooth (Twisted Metal: Head-On)
    • Nightshade, Goliath & Big Daddy (Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012)
    • The Cephalopods (Sub-Boss) & Agent 326 (Critical Depth)
    • Whitney (Pokémon: Gold & Silver and it's remake, HeartGold & SoulSilver)
    • Lorithia (Xenoblade Chronicles)
    • Culex (Super Mario RPG)
    • Neo Exdeath (Final Fantasy V)
    • Ozma (Final Fantasy IX)
    • Yiazmat (Final Fantasy XII)
    • Sephiroth (Kingdom Hearts I&II)
    • Lingering Will (Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix)
    • Mysterious Figure (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep)
    • Al Gore & Giant Nazi Zombie Fetus (South Park: The Stick of Truth)
    • Morgan Freeman (South Park: The Fractured But Whole)
    • Grand Wizard Cartman (South Park: Phone Destroyer)
    • Metador (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne)
    • Minotaur (Shin Megami Tensei IV)
    • Elizabeth/Theodore (Persona 3 and it's Portable update)
    • Shadow Mitsuo (Persona 4)
    • Caroline & Justine and Lavenza (Persona 5 and it's update, Persona 5 Royal)
    • Undyne the Undying and Sans (Undertale)
    • Deathborne (Sub-Boss) & The Creators (F-Zero GX)
    • The CPUs (Mario Kart series) (especially 64 & Wii)
    • Wizpig (Diddy Kong Racing)
    • 13th Racing/Soldat Crinale & White Angel/Kamata Angelus (Ridge Racer series)
    • Extra Trial mode (R4: Ridge Racer Type 4; you gradually challenge all 4 manufacturers' Special Machines after completing the game with each of them in their respective racing teams)
    • Screamin' Eagle (Ridge Racer 64)
    • Savo (Midnight Club II)
    • Eugene "Earl" James (Need for Speed: Most Wanted)
    • Ford GT40 aka "Cheater40" in the second race of Historic Car Cup (Gran Turismo 2)
    • Jensin Bouton (Drag Race Demon Deluxe)
    • King Boo and Bowser Duo (Luigi's Mansion; PAL version)
    • Queen Larsa (Mushihime-sama Futari/Bug Princess 2)
    • Flandre Scarlet (Bonus Boss) (Touhou: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil)
    • Valkyrie (Zed Blade/Operation Ragnarok)
    • Jitterbug (Deathsmiles)
    • Gah-Goojin (The Wonderful 101)
    • Dr. Robotnik (Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine)
    • Memory (Twinkle Star Sprites)
    • Marlen (Gunbarich)
    • Lou (Guitar Hero III; particularly on harder difficulties)
    • Kyohei Jingu (Yakuza Kiwami)
    • The Mothership (Earth Defense Force 2017)
    • The Brain (Earth Defense Force 4.1)
    • Kaiser Greedy (Ristar)
    • Chairman Drek (Ratchet & Clank)
    • Dr. Nefarious (Ratchet & Clank series)
    • Lord Brevon (Freedom Planet; moreso on Hard Mode)
    • The End (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater; You have no idea, unless you wait a week without playing.)
    • Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid & its Twin Snakes remake; Specifically, he's this until a very unusual trick is performed)
    • General Tor (Iji)
    • Tokitada Kyuki (a.k.a. Armored Warrior) (Fatal Frame; Xbox version only)
    • Nineball Seraph (Armored Core series)
    • Redeemer (Todd McFarlane's Spawn: The Video Game)
    • Sakura (Wii Sports)
    • Lucía (Wii Sports Resort)
    • Barbara and Alice (Wii Sports Club)
    • Detroit Pistons (NBA Jam; Only when playing as the Chicago Bulls, who slyly get slowly handicapped as the match goes on, an intentional trick included by the ironic Piston-loving Chicago-based devs at the time)
    • Hilary King (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
    • Rahu III (Custom Robo)
    • Pharegg (Phantasy Star Online 2)

    See Also

    Retrieved from "https://atrociousgameplay.miraheze.org/w/index.php?title=SNK_Boss_Syndrome&oldid=29235"