Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Multi-phase bosses are all over JRPGs, but they've made a home in every genre by now. For game designers, breaking up a single boss fight into a bunch of forms can create more flexibility, more payoff, more chance to tell an interesting narrative, and yeah, maybe more things to watch out for. Let's talk about boss phase design in games!

Featuring boss fights in:
Kingdom Hearts 1
Final Fantasy VI
Shovel Knight
Ace Attorney series
Sonic Superstars
Cuphead
Gunstar Heroes
Persona 3
FTL
Star Fox 64

8-Bit Music Theory's 'Dancing Mad' breakdown: youtube.com/watch?v=RbeXHTDVX8c

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#finalfantasy #cuphead #shovelknight