The Art of the Fakeout: When Boss Battles Subvert Health Bar Expectations
For decades, video game boss battles have followed a familiar rhythm: deplete a health bar, claim victory, and move on. But increasingly, developers are playing wiht this expectation, employing tricks with health bars – extending them, refilling them, or revealing them to be illusions entirely – to surprise and challenge players. While the trope of the “second phase” isn’t new, its execution has become a captivating study in subverted expectations.
One early and memorable example comes from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The fight against the Guardian Ape is notorious not just for its difficulty, but for its deceptive conclusion. After a grueling battle, the player seemingly defeats the ape, culminating in a dramatic “shinobi Execution.” Though, this is a feint. The headless ape reanimates, wielding its severed sword with its own head, forcing players into a brutal continuation of the fight. this unexpected twist is a hallmark of FromSoftware’s design ideology, and a prime example of the trope used effectively – though sparingly.
More recently, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom delivered a playful take on the trope with its final boss, Ganondorf. After the initial defeat of Demon King Ganondorf, the game presents a comically oversized health bar, stretching almost beyond the screen’s limits. This exaggerated display is a clear signal that the battle isn’t over, and a humorous nod to the convention itself. Interestingly, ActRaiser (1990) employed a similar gag decades prior.
Though, the increasing reliance on this “second phase, this isn’t even my final form” trope raises concerns that it might potentially be becoming overused. While effective when done well, its impact diminishes with repetition.
Perhaps one of the most clever subversions of health bar expectations comes from the 2004 Spider-Man 2 game, based on the film. The game expands upon the movie’s narrative with additional villains, including Mysterio. During a confrontation where Mysterio threatens Spider-Man and displays a three-phase health bar to demonstrate his power, Spider-Man defeats him with a single blow, revealing the entire health bar to be an illusion – a fitting trick from the master of illusion himself.
Refilling or multiple health bars may be a well-established trope, but developers continue to find creative ways to surprise players. The key lies in execution. A well-timed and cleverly implemented health bar trick can elevate a boss battle from challenging to truly memorable. While the concept itself isn’t new, there’s still plenty of room for innovation in this classic gaming tactic.