Most satisfying last boss

[aka Cthulhu]

There had been quite a lot of last bosses that have been pretty disappointing, so here's the other end of the spectrum. As an observation, quite a lot of the disappointment comes from the fact that the last battle is easier than expected, which in my opinion does give your effort getting there feel like a waste. Of course, other factors have to be considered, like how the boss battle is set up to give proper ambience and what-not (for instance, Snake Eater).

Picking from a random list of my favorites, I have to say that fighting Diablo in Diablo 2 was a lot of fun. The build-up to summoning him was a pretty challenging hack-and-slash at everything that moves for my character, and fighting him at the very end was great... though dying a lot of times detracted things a little.

[Red Impact]

The Archdemon from Dragon Age actually lived up to it's reputation.

The Boss from MGS3 and Ocelot from MGS4 were both amazing fights as well.

[aka Cthulhu]

An RPG example. I always felt that most turn-based and tactic RPGs can detract the feel of a last battle through a bit of level grinding, making the whole process easier. For one exception of that, the final boss of Persona 3 was still quite a challenge, even with the main character having a max level Persona and overall level. It was a long battle, and methinks it delivered quite well. Also, spoilered for safety:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}After the battle, you get the boss fight where you can't lose. I think it was nicely done, with how the characters are cheering you on as you move in for the last attack. Compare it to FF10 which didn't really execute the "you can't lose this fight" thing going on

[Sparkybob]

In KH 356/2,

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}I count the xion fight the end just cause . It was challenging enough and it was pretty emotional fight too. Plus her final form battle looked very cool.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Baby Bowser from Yoshi's Island is probably my all time favorite final boss.

[Deleted]

Liquid Ocelot from MGS4.

[Deleted]

Yami from Okami is one of my favorite battles.

[Deleted]

Let's see, some random ones off the top of my head...

Red in Gold & Silver (and remakes)
Ganondorf in Wind Waker
Baby Bowser in Yoshi's Island
Pretty much any in the Ace Attorney games besides the one in Apollo Justice.
Bowser in Super Mario World

Will think up more later, right now I'm tired.

[Viking Snad]

Gannondorf in Twilight Princess. Crazy possessed Zelda, giant beast, horseback, and finally a one on one sword fight for the ages.

[Bo Rida]

Giygas

[dav]

Bison from Street Fighter Alpha Three. Challenging, but ultimately fun.

[Mozenrath]

The last fight of Suikoden 5 is very weird, but beating it is quite fulfilling, in a game where enemies could sometimes be a little meh, in an otherwise fantastic RPG.

[sryans]

The final boss of The Walking Dead game Season 1:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Overwhelming sadness

It took a few days for me to overcome it, but when I finally did, I learned I could smile again.

[Gerard Gerard]

Jan 19, 2013 19:56:41 GMT -5 dav said:

Bison from Street Fighter Alpha Three. Challenging, but ultimately fun.

The arcade bad-ending is a kick in the quads, though. I need, generally, about two pops to nail down a boss' style, but Bison's Alpha 3 appearance, in the arcade version, at least, gives you one crack, and if you flop, you just gotta inhale, stifled a roar, and rip through the cast list again, hoping try #2 plops more fruit.

It doesn't, it took me 'til about #4, after many breaks in play. Mind, I did love it. Perfect in that angsty, tension-addled sort of way, and I did feel ever so slightly disappointed when the home versions offer the standard the continue screen, as though the gaming gods decreed me less of a man that day, 'til I pulled out the arcade original again.

I almost like how Capcom took some cues from SNK with Seth's appearance as boss in Street Fighter 4. In Vanilla, he's broken, but leaves enough glaring holes in his repertoire that it feels as though your frustrated, twitchy attention's been rewarded when you get the drop on the teleport-spamming lump of bipedal aluminium.

Mind, he's been nerfed into a pattern-patsy in Super and AE, so it didn't last long.

I'm a monkey, hear me waddle.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Funfrock from Little Big Adventure 2, when there's more than one of him.

[King Ghidorah]

Majora's mask, in fact, the entire finale is great.

[Citizen Snips]

16th Colossus. The scene before the fight really made you want to take whatever was waiting for you down, no matter what.

[frankincleveland]

Stabbing Ganondorf in the head in The Wind Waker.

[Hawk Hart]

G Virus William Birkin's final form in RE2 and the partially melted Nemesis in RE3 come to mind immediately.

[bob]

Gannondorf from OOT