Gaming Most Memorable "Boss" Fight...

[Wondershot]

Without any shadow of a doubt, the only boss battle I've fought in my existence as a gamer that has left me with such sweaty palms and shortness of breath would have to be [spoiler]Ultimate Nine-Ball[/spoiler] from Armored Core 2: Another Age. I [i]still[/i] have not managed to beat him without using the [spoiler]PLUS enhancements from my AC2 data[/spoiler] and even then, I have to modify my units like cazy in order to stand half a chance.

For those of you who need a little more background, AC is a PS2 game similar to Mechwarrior, only movement is a lot more rapid (except less so than, oh, Zone of the Enders or Gundam Wing). For the most part, it follows the rules of physics rather closely.

As for the fight itself, well...

He flies around incessantly and at over what I imagine to be overboost speed, fires missiles continuously while he does so, and, on the rare occasions that he slows down enough for you to hit him, he flies close to the ground and comes up close with machine guns blazing and a blade that can easily sap your AC of anywhere between a third and half of its health. Furthermore, he can take well over thirty hits of the most high-powered weaponry in the game, and, if memory serves correctly, it uses ECM defense so missiles will not work on it either.

There is no predominant strategy, just move, move as fast as you can and never let your trigger finger relax. If you have a lock on him for more than an instant, take the shot. Close range combat is doubtlessly suicide, and if your AC is too slow, you will be drowning in missile fire from the get-go. Oh, and if you try moving too close to him, then he can circle around behind you before you know it.

Basically, I just built my unit as heavy as I could get on two legs and equipped the best missile defense and speed boosters money could buy, and my predominant source of firepower was the Karasawa rifle (the best damage energy weapon), and maybe a grenade launcher for measure. Oh, and 90 degree turn enhancements were a lifesaver, too, whenever it got behind me.

After a little while, it just became turn, fire, fire, move around, dodge those shots, try and hit him there, "oh ******* he's bringing out the blade", back away, take a few more hits, dodge a few more missiles, and nine out of ten times I still end up being effortlessly destroyed and throwing the PS2 controller to various corners of the room.

The coolest part, though, would have to be the line he says right before the battle begins: [spoiler]"TARGET VERIFIED, COMMENCING HOSTILITIES." in that uber-high mechanically enhanced voice of his.[/spoiler] I doubtlessly lost the first battle because I was laughing so hard.

From Software did good, saving that awesome and infinetely frustrating confrontation for last. Great memories.