History Main / ClimaxBoss

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' has the final fight with Nelo Angelo, occurring at the end of Mission 17 of 23 (concluding the third quarter of the game), and followed up by two massive plot twists one after another: [[spoiler:[[LukeIAmYourFather Nelo Angelo is Dante's twin brother Vergil]], and [[EvilAllAlong Trish is working for Mundus]]]].

** ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'': Capamari is the last of the bosses fought that is original to the game (besides BigBad Yin-Yarn), and it really shows when he is fought in ''two distinct phases''. The rest of the game has Kirby facing off his recurring adversaries (albeit brainwashed): King Dedede and Meta Knight, before facing off Yin-Yarn himself.

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** While any of the [[BigBad Big Bads]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLegendOfKorra'' prior to Season 4 could vie for the spot (Amon taking away Korra's bending prior to Korra herself unlocking her air powers and having her bending restored by Aang, [=UnaVaatu=] destroying Raava and the connection Korra has with her past Avatars), none had a more severe impact on Korra's life than Zaheer — who basically pushed Korra past her limits by poisoning her with mercury, resulting in her [=PTSD=] (something Amon, Unalaq, or Vaatu couldn't do). It's also worth noting that he is the last foe Korra faces prior to the 3-year TimeSkip, which has Korra continuing to cope with her trauma prior to facing off Kuvira.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', in the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E13DoPrincessesDreamOfMagicSheep Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep]]", the Tantabus can be considered this for [[spoiler: Luna's RedemptionQuest]] that began in the [[spoiler: second episode because she]] only defeats it by finally forgiving herself for that event and being willing to move on.
* Two of these are fought in episode "XCVIII" of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack''. Jack [[spoiler:goes on a JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind and relinquishes the anger that has corrupted him for the past 50 years, finally purifying his EnemyWithin Inner Jack]]. Meanwhile, [[spoiler:Ashi defeats her mother the High Priestess in a DuelToTheDeath, finally completing her RedemptionQuest and completely escaping her influence]].

* ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' has two:
** The first gives us [[FeatheredFiend Grand Doomer]] serving as Planet Popstar's FinalBoss, whose defeat triggers the completion of the Lor Starcutter and the group arriving at Halcandra.
** The second gives us [[TheHeavy Landia]], Magolor's nemesis who is responsible for dismantling the Lor earlier in the game, and crashes it down when the heroes arrive at Halcandra. [[spoiler:''However'', Landia's defeat leads to the revelation that Magolor was using the heroes the '''entire time''' to seize the Master Crown so that he can bring forth his plan in taking over the universe]].

*** Fittingly Jenova:Dreamweaver serves this role in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake. The battle serves as the point where fighting Shinra takes a back seat to finding Sephiroth, which is exemplified with President Shinra dying just beforehand. The revelation that the Whispers are just as much on your side as against it is shown when they [[spoiler:save Barrett from being stabbed by Sephiroth.]]

* ''Videogame/TheLegendOfSpyro'':
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroDawnOfTheDragon'', The Destroyer is the weapon used for Malefor's world destruction plot, it's fought near the tail end of the game in a dramatic, high-stakes battle, it's the final obstacle faced by Spyro and Cynder before the Burned Lands where Malefor's forces reside, and it's immediately followed by [[spoiler:Ignitus' death]].

* [[spoiler:X vs. Zero]] in ''VideoGame/MegaManX5''. This battle is built up by four games' worth of storyline (even included in a ''prophecy'', or something close to one for a sci-fi series), gives genuine conflict to the characters involved, and one of their deaths brings about the ''end of the series'' ([[ExecutiveMeddling supposedly]]). The [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic awesome]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eFI0UFfAJE battle theme]] cements its status as one of the best battles in the ''X series'' (some say even the ''entire Mega Man'' continuity).
* [[TheDragon Craft]] in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero4'' serves as this, as he's introduced as the leader of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Einherjar Eight Warriors]] in the beginning of the game, is fought at the midpoint and kidnaps Neige, then is fought as the penultimate boss [[spoiler:after becoming TheStarscream from Neige's words during her captivity and shooting [[BigBad Dr Weil]] with his own KillSat, while also killing millions of Neo Arcadian civilians in the process]].
* [[CoDragons Prometheus and Pandora]] serve as this in the ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' series, a unique example of a ''recurring'' Climax Boss. In the first game, Prometheus is fought after four of the eight Pseudoroids are defeated when he attacks and tries to destroy the Guardian HQ while challenging Vent/Aile to a match to see if they can join "the game". Pandora is fought after all the Pseudoroids are defeated and Vent/Aile enter [[EvilTaintedThePlace Area M]] to destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom Model W]], only for her to run interference for [[BigBad Serpent]] to get it to safety. Then they're [[DualBoss both fought]] in the penultimate mission, where they reveal Serpent is just an UnwittingPawn and there's [[TheManBehindTheMan someone else running things behind the scenes]]. In ''Advent'', [[DualBoss they]] are once more the penultimate bosses [[spoiler:where they reveal their [[{{Revenge}} reasons]] [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum for betraying and killing Albert]] before [[BigBad Albert]] reveals he planned for this and awakens [[DoomsdayDevice Model W's ultimate form]]]].

* ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'' gives us Scorch, the boss of the penultimate world, Evening Lake. The cutscene before the fight gives a major plot revelation: [[spoiler:[[BigBad The Sorceress]] is ''not'' a WellIntentionedExtremist, which she reveals to [[TheDragon Bianca]]. Bianca, this [[NotWhatISignedUpFor Not Being What She Signed Up For]], finally performs her HeelFaceTurn.]] Anyway, the Sorceress needs a "Monster to End All Monsters" so she takes one of her minions, as she and Bianca have done twice already, but this one is unique. Unlike previous times, this minion is frightened and needs to be pushed over by his partner. Also, you don't see the boss in the cutscene this time. Then, we get to the actual fight, in which Bentley tells Spyro that the Sorceress is going to use Scorch to crush her enemies, starting with them.

* Imperial Defense Unit Bacharsuha from ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon Orta'' is a towering mecha that's fought by Orta and her dragon in the tail end of the game, it's a brutally hard boss with plenty of nasty attacks, and its destruction marks the end of The Empire.

** Season 2 has Hawk, who bullies his (former) best friend, Demetri — forcing Robby and Sam to fight him and the Cobra Kais. The ensuing fight leads to a series of events where a handful of Cobra Kais defect to Miyagi-Do, effectively becoming legitimate RivalDojos to each other.

*** For the Miyagi-Dos, it's the Cobra Kais once again — led by Hawk and Tory, who fight them at Golf n' Stuff. This becomes a HopelessBossFight given the Cobra Kais possessing greater skills learned under John Kreese, as well as Sam's fear of Tory turning the tides in favor of the aforementioned dojo.
*** For Robby Keene, it's Shawn Payne, his bully in juvie who gives his a legitimately tough fight ending in Keene's favor despite the latter taking Kreese's advice in "Striking First". The rest of the season for Robby's arc is him joining Cobra Kai out of anger for Johnny and Daniel seemingly betraying him, with Johnny himself as his own FinalBoss.

*** While most of them end up being {{Curb-Stomp Battle}}s, each of the four finalists' bouts in the Quarterfinals become this in the All-Valley — as all of them become critical in the characters' (as well as the story) development. Eli defeats [[AntiClimax Kyler]] convincingly, but it's a crucial moment for him because 1.) He finally takes down TheBully that has tormented him for years now, 2.) He proves to his peers that he doesn't need a mohawk to be badass. Sam initially struggles going against Piper, prior to realizing the importance of combing both Miyagi-Do ''and'' Eagle Fang styles. Tory defeats Devon convincingly, but not without questionable calls from the referee; [[spoiler:this becomes ''very'' important after Tory defeats Sam and wins the All-Valley]]. Robby brutally defeats Kenny after going full-No Mercy by Kreese's suggestion, which become the final straw leading to Kenny's StartOfDarkness and Robby's HeelRealization.

** ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The battle between Puss in Boots and the Wolf atop the Wishing Star serves as the climax of Puss' CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:Having learned the Wolf is [[TheGrimReaper Death itself]] coming for him after wasting eight of his nine lives, Puss reflects on his journey and gains a new respect for life and death, managing to fight the Wolf to a draw and earning the chance to live his last life well]]. Jack Horner, who wants to use the Wishing Star to steal all of the world's magic, serves as the film's FinalBoss.

* In ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'', most of the problems in the Eagleland section (Onett to Fourside) were caused by the Mani Mani Statue sent by Giygas. The statue manipulated six people directly[[note]]Lier X. Agerate, Everdread, Carpainter, Pokey Minch, Aloysius Minch, and Geldegarde Monotoli[[/note]] and large crowds though them, and is finally confronted by Ness and Jeff in an illusion world it created. It's not a defenseless statue, though, and fights back. Destroying it lets everyone in Fourside manipulated by it go back to normal, [[spoiler:except for Pokey]].

** ''Incredibles'' franchise:
*** ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' has Mr. Incredible's bout against the Omodorid 8, to which upon defeat it ushers in newer motivation for the superhero himself — at least prior to encountering Syndrome.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'': The [[spoiler:Blue-Shelled]] Koopa General leads the charge against the heroes in Rainbow Road as they try to make their way back to the Mushroom Kingdom. His kamikaze ultimately succeeds, as Mario and Donkey Kong sink and are eaten by the Maw-Ray, and the rest of their allies are captured by Bowser's Koopa Troop. This leads to the climax where Bowser attempts to marry Peach.

* Dreamworks films
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'': Megamind and Metro Man have been at constant odds against each other for many years, but it seemingly reaches to an end when Megamind uses his death ray to successfully kill Metro Man. However, Megamind becomes bored and feels a sense of emptiness without a nemesis; as such he secretly creates a new superhero through Hal/Tighten. [[spoiler:Except Tighten becomes a far bigger threat to Metro City that Megamind ever was, forcing Megamind to make a HeelFaceTurn and stop him]].
** ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The battle between Puss in Boots and the Wolf atop the Wishing Star serves as the climax of Puss' CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:Having learned the Wolf is [[TheGrimReaper Death itself]] coming for him after wasting eight of his nine lives, Puss reflects on his journey and gains a new respect for life and death, managing to fight the Wolf to a draw and earning the chance to live his last life well]]. Jack Horner, who wants to use the Wishing Star to steal all of the world's magic, serves as the film's FinalBoss.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' has Chef Skinner, who attempts to render Gusteau's will (of having Linguini take over the restaurant) moot just so he can continue his line of frozen foods despite the restaurant itself experiencing a renaissance from Linguini himself (secretly controlled by Remy). Remy successfully gives Linguini the will after an epic chase sequence from Skinner, which results in Linguini becoming the restaurant's new owner and Skinner's firing. [[spoiler:However, the recent success of Gusteau's gets the attention of Anton Ego, the food critic responsible for the restaurant's downfall, who returns once again to test the protagonists if they can appeal his taste buds]].
* ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The battle between Puss in Boots and the Wolf atop the Wishing Star serves as the climax of Puss' CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:Having learned the Wolf is [[TheGrimReaper Death itself]] coming for him after wasting eight of his nine lives, Puss reflects on his journey and gains a new respect for life and death, managing to fight the Wolf to a draw and earning the chance to live his last life well]]. Jack Horner, who wants to use the Wishing Star to steal all of the world's magic, serves as the film's FinalBoss.

** ''{{Franchise}}/ToyStory''

** In the [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver second]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire third]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl fourth]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY sixth]] generations of Pokémon, the fights against [[BigBad the leader of the local crime syndicate]] typically take place immediately before battling the eighth Gym Leader and put an end to the main conflict of the story. In the third, fourth, and sixth generations, the battle against the game's flagship legendary also takes place in the same scenario. The first generation mixes it up as [[spoiler:Giovanni, the BigBad, ''is'' the eighth Gym Leader.]] The [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite fifth]] generation abandons this formula completely; [[spoiler:the leader, Ghetsis, ''is'' the FinalBoss]].

** ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' has Elastigirl's bout against the Screenslaver, [[spoiler:who is later revealed to be a brainwashed pizza deliveryman acting as the face of a grander scheme. And sure enough, Elastigirl eventually finds out that Evelyn Deavor, the co-CEO of [=DevTech=] is the true mastermind behind the story's main conflict]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': The Curious Cat serves as this to the titular team being the ArcVillain of Volume 9. For the past few volumes the team where second guessing themselves as to whether or not their actions did any good, a vulnerability the Cat seized to nearly possess Ruby by entering her heart when it was most broken and the rest of the team fought to allow her to make her own decision about what she would do. Upon returning Ruby leads the team to victory over the cat with the assurance that they can make a difference and critical knowledge around their world and the Brother Gods who created it.

* ''VideoGame/FossilFighters'' does this twice, first with a showdown of OlympusMons, then [[spoiler:against the leader of an alien race of dinosaur people before even learning about the FinalBoss.]]

** While the series has continued long since his defeat, the Alabasta arc, and Crocodile's defeat at Luffy's hands, actually kicked off a lot of the major events that are still transpiring in the manga. Not to mention that, according to Oda, ''One Piece'' was originally written to last around 5 years and end with the Alabasta Arc. So, it's no surprise that Crocodile's defeat had lingering FinalBoss vibes.

** The Aurum arc has Aurum Pyhrron, a fusion between Pyhrron and the Aurum Brain — the latter of which is the HiveQueen of the Aurum empowered by Pyhrron himself after taking control over his mind. Its defeat leads to the game's WhamEpisode where there is a 3-year TimeSkip and everything gets fucked up [[spoiler:courtesy of the Chaos Kin]].

** The second act has Fate, the true form of the recurring antagonist Linx. Just before you learn of several secrets regarding yourself, Fate and the world as a whole. And after the dragons, [[spoiler:including their surprise member Harle]] make their play now that Fate is out of the picture

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has the fights against Kefka at Narshe and against Atma Weapon on the Floating Continent, which are the last fights of their respective acts of the story. The latter in particular directly precedes the game's biggest twist, in which Kefka kills Gestahl, destroys most of the world, and becomes the godlike ruler of what remains, radically shifting the focus of the story in its third and final act.

* Dreamworks films
** ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The battle between Puss in Boots and the Wolf atop the Wishing Star serves as the climax of Puss' CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:Having learned the Wolf is [[TheGrimReaper Death itself]] coming for him after wasting eight of his nine lives, Puss reflects on his journey and gains a new respect for life and death, managing to fight the Wolf to a draw and earning the chance to live his last life well]]. Jack Horner, who wants to use the Wishing Star to steal all of the world's magic, serves as the film's FinalBoss.