In numerous games, there is a boss enemy at the end of a level section. It usually presents a greater challenge that players must face. But what are the origins of this concept? Who was the first boss enemy?
We are accustomed to defeating entire hordes of standard enemies in games. Especially notable are the big bosses, who like to wait for us at the end of a level or even in the wild.
Boss enemies are usually significantly stronger than normal foes. They test the players’ skills and can often be defeated using newly learned mechanics.
The idea of incorporating this type of enemy into a game is somewhat older. In fact, the first boss in video game history came to light 51 years ago.
Not entirely blameless for its creation was, as is often the case with games, Dungeons & Dragons.
One of the most popular games based on D&D is Baldur’s Gate 3:
A Dragon as a Pioneer
What does D&D have to do with it? In 1974, the first version of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons was released. Later that same year, two students, Gary Whisenhunt and Ray Wood, created the video game “DND”. It was essentially a hobby project that the two developed on a PLATO computer at their university.
In DND, players could create their own character and explore a dungeon with multiple sections. The goal was to find two treasures and escape from the dungeon. The game borrowed some concepts from Dungeons & Dragons.
Among other things, one of the treasures to be found was guarded by a golden dragon. This dragon had to be defeated to access a valuable orb.
Gary Whisenhunt describes the thought behind the boss in the book “50 Years of Boss Fights” as follows:
We decided that we needed a special monster to guard the orb, something that was extremely hard to defeat and that only a character with a lot of experience and collected material would have a chance against. And even then, we wanted there to be a fair chance that even the strongest could fail, because if one grabs the orb and escapes, they will be returned to the Elysian Fields – a kind of hall of fame.
Gary Whisenhunt via radiotimes.com
The developers wanted to ensure that players could also fail and not achieve the goal too easily. The special thing about it: The computer on which the game initially ran exclusively was located at the university, so it could always be checked which students had reached the hall of fame with their own characters.
Over time, the developers improved and expanded their game. The dragon was also made significantly stronger, as some players defeated it way too easily – thanks to excessive gaming. DND quickly spread and became known outside the university campus.
The main idea that remained from DND was the notion of presenting players with a boss enemy. Unknowingly, Whisenhunt and Wood thus changed the medium. From then on, bosses became nearly inseparable from games.
Bosses as far as the eye can see
What happened next with the bosses? Since then, a lot has happened. Video games have gone through numerous developments. Boss enemies have always somehow been present. They have also changed over time.
While the first bosses like the golden dragon were still relatively simple, developers have continually tried out new ideas over the years to surprise players.
Boss enemies should present a challenge and test the players’ skills. This led to very different approaches. While some fights were simply brutally hard, others required creative solutions and a rethink in tactical matters. The presentation of the big bosses also became more elaborate and effect-rich with more graphical power.
Below is a selection of iconic bosses that will be remembered for a long time:
- Bowser from Super Mario Bros.: Surely not a difficult boss, but all the more iconic – also because you usually defeat him in the same way.
- Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda: He is also an icon who has terrorized Hyrule for over 30 years.
- Psycho Mantis: The boss from Metal Gear Solid speaks directly to the player and anticipates the player’s attacks. The solution: Connect the controller to a different port.
- Ornstein & Smough: The duo from Dark Souls was the decisive hurdle for many. Those who can withstand here will also conquer the rest of the game.
- Malenia from Elden Ring: She caused frustration among countless players, provoked with her line upon death, and led to the rise of a YouTube legend.
- Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII: An epic battle against a legendary opponent, filled with emotion and testing all of the player’s skills.
- The Lich King from World of Warcraft: A boss with a lot of lore attached and one that many players have waited a long time for. The fight is divided into several phases and can only be accomplished if the group works well together.
- Mr. Freeze from Batman Arkham City: A boss who becomes virtually immune to the strategy used after each attack. Thus, it is important to utilize the full range of Batman’s abilities.
That was just a small selection of well-known bosses. They all trace back to the golden dragon from DND. Which are your favorite bosses? Feel free to write them in the comments. We are curious. For more exciting trivia facts, feel free to visit MeinMMO: Age of Empires, Warcraft or C&C are cool – But what was actually the first RTS in video game history?
