History WorfHadTheFlu / VideoGames

** Videogame/LikeADragonInfiniteWealth: The reason why Kiryu has gone from a OneManArmy capable of dispatching of goons by himself [[ConservationOfNinjustsu to a member of Ichiban's party]] is that not only is he pushing 60 but he's contracted cancer. As such he's significantly weakened and can only temporarily fight like he used to via [[SuperMode Dragon's Resurgence]], in which he outright [[MyRulesAreNotYourRules ignores the turn-based combat system]] and fights using the beat'em up system.

* VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon: Ichiban gets worried, when in the rematch with Sawashiro, he grabs a katana off the wall. Adachi wonders why when Ichiban already beat him once. Ichiban explains Sawashiro real strength lies in when he uses weapons. Ichiban in fact guesses the first fight he either A) just lucked out or B) Sawashiro for what ever reason was simply holding back.

** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', Sora's party manages to rescue WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} from Cerberus. As the party leaves, Phil is utterly flabbergasted as to how they managed to do it. Hercules then says that he had managed to "soften up" Cerberus a bit before Sora appeared. Later in the game, you can fight Cerberus at his full power.

** When you fight [[spoiler: Radagon of the Golden Order]], despite the fact that [[spoiler: Radagon at this point is effectively a god due to having fused with Marika and being one with the Elden Ring, not only is the Elden Ring shattered, but he's also HalfTheManHeUsedToBe. While this wouldn't mean much at the Tarnished's beginning level of power, which is implied to be why Marika is keeping him firmly contained, to make sure he doesn't act as a HopelessBossFight that would have ended the story itself, by the time he is confronted with the Tarnished, Radagon is still a remarkably powerful fighter, but the Tarnished's growth in strength ultimately allows them to prevail against Radagon's diminished state]].
*** On a similar wavelength, the FinalBoss also suffers from this. Though the [[spoiler: Elden Beast is ''the'' Top God with strength above Marika's own, by the time the Tarnished fights the Elden Beast, not only is the Elden Ring still shattered, which affects it especially as it ''is'' the Elden Ring itself, as the wound on it's chest indicate, but the Erdtree, it's symbol of power, has also been burned and ravaged, meaning the Elden Beast was definitely not at full strength. Doesn't stop it from still being the most powerful being in the series]].

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and its spinoffs, Cloud's first victory over Sephiroth can be chalked up to this. Despite his overwhelming physical superiority and experience advantage, [[spoiler:he was in the midst of a psychotic breakdown, he had already been worn down by a duel with Zack Fair, Cloud took him completely by surprise and dealt a devastating sword blow to his midsection to open the battle, and he fatally underestimated Cloud's resolve to defeat him. Likewise, in their next duel, he had already been left weakened after his Safer form was beaten by Cloud and his party and Cloud's will has grown stronger. Anytime they fight afterwards, Sephiroth proves to be easily more than a match and the only reason Cloud wins some of those is because Sephiroth either lets him win or he was taking his sweet time humiliating him and was open]].
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' likes this trope to explain how you're able to go against bosses that by all accounts should be out of your league.
** In ''Heavensward'', Estinien uses the Eye to weaken Nidhogg, so you don't fight him at full strength. [[spoiler:Until Nidhogg possesses Estinien himself and regains both of his Eyes.]]
** In ''Endwalker'', [[spoiler:you fight Zodiark and Hydaelyn, said to be the most powerful of primals. However, Zodiark is only 8/14 rejoined, while you are 9/14 rejoined thanks to merging with Ardbert, and summon seven champions of Light with the Crystal of Azem. Furthermore, the Ascian who used to be Zodiark's heart, Elidibus, is gone, and the primal is now piloted by Fandaniel, an OmnicidalManiac and DeathSeeker who ''wants'' to lose as part of his scheme. As for Hydaelyn, by the time you fight her, most of her strength has been spent on containing Zodiark, shielding you, and empowering Minfilia on the First to prevent its total annihilation; furthermore, she's not fighting you and the Scions to the death, but rather testing your strength.]]

* MentalOmega: The Allied ''(Hamartia)'' and Epsilon ''(Babel)'' finale mission of Act 2 sees [[spoiler:the Allies' [[TimeStandsStill Paradox]] [[TacticalSuperweaponUnit Engine]], ''the'' MightyGlacier unit in a game with plenty of them and up to then a nigh-unstoppable GameChanger for the Allies, crippled and rendered inoperable by [[CuteAndPsycho Libra]] unleashing her full power as it makes it's final run on the [[MindControlDevice Mental Omega Device]]. However, Epsilon Infiltrators had previously sabotaged the Engine's Paradox Conductors, disabling all of its [[LightEmUp Prism]] [[DeathRay Cannons]], allowing Libra to pummel it freely. The fight would have been far more in the Engine's favour had the Prism Cannons still been active, given that ''Babel'' shows it able to two-shot Libra with them the first time they confront one another.]]

** If you fight Malenia, Blade of Miquella, she's just come out of a comatose state, the Scarlet Rot has ravaged her so badly that she's blind and three of her limbs are prosthetics, and she's forced to attack slowly and cautiously as her focus is split on fighting you and holding back the Rot. [[{{Superboss}} You may not notice this while she's turning you into paste.]] [[spoiler: Though in her second phase, her disabilities are presumably compensated for by her going full Goddess of Rot.]]

** The [[spoiler: Radagon of the Golden Order]] fight takes place after your opponent is HalfTheManHeUsedToBe. It's somewhat disconcerting.

* ''Videogame/TheLastOfUsPartII'': The first confrontation between Ellie and Abby has Abby beating Ellie and Dina to a pulp and would have killed them if not for Lev's intervention. When they meet again over a year later, Abby has been held captive for several months, having lost most of her muscle mass due to both starvation and lack of physical activity on top of being very weak overall. This allows Ellie to fight her on a more even footing and Ellie wins this time around (even though she was recently impaled and not 100% herself), but ultimately chooses to spare Abby's life.

* ''Videogame/TheLastOfUsPartII'': The first confrontation between Ellie and Abby has Abby beating Ellie and Dina to a pulp and would have killed them if not for Lev's intervention. When they meet again over a year later, Abby has been held captive for several months, having lost most of her muscle mass due to both starvation and lack of physical activity on top of being very weak overall. This allows Ellie to fight her on a more even footing and Ellie wins this time around (even though she took was recently impaled).