digibutter.nerr

[Geno]

I like any boss fight, as long as it leaves a lasting impression on me.

[Super SlimeKnight]

I prefer a combo of Meat Sink and ...That was it? (can anyone say...Tabuu?)

[Pure-???]

[Almaz]

Umm...I have no idea what category The End falls under...

...generally, I'm not big on boss fights. I just look for three things in a boss:

1. They are well-characterized: usually they have their morals that they will fight to the death for, or are comic relief.
2. They use unconventional tactics that add to the fight. Lemmy Koopa (SMB3), The End (MGS3), and the HAG-1 (Banjo-Tooie) are good examples of this performed in different ways.
3. There's just something that feels...special about them. Something that makes them memorable, which could be related to the above two.

As for the current categories...I guess What The *crag*, Show me your moves, and Questioning your Faith.

[Spiny]

[Paper_Waluigi]

[Warlord_Mike]

Some more:

Will the Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up?: Just before fighting the Boss, who's disguised as a friendly character, you have to choose who's the real friend, and who's the Boss. Consequences for choosing wrong may entail the death of your friend or some other consequence.

Arena/Colosseum: The fight takes place in a big, open area, which may contain many spectators (Colosseum) or few or none at all (Arena).

Partner in Distress: Fighting the Boss is required to free one of your pals, though it may not necessarily be a true Boss (could be a common enemy, as well).

Baseball/Tennis: Damaging the Boss requires reflecting their attacks back at them. Doing so either damages them, or leaves them open to attack.

Dodge THIS!: The Boss has one or two attacks that deal massive damage, are unavoidable, or a combination of both. Often is the case with "Low Blow."

Duel of the Snipers: Attacks between the player and the Boss take place only at long ranges. Typically involves rifles, pistols, or other ranged weapons.

Fisticuffs: The opposite of the above description, attacks between the player and the Boss are exclusively at close range. Often involves fists or melee weapons (swords, maces, etc.).

Strike at the Core: Somewhat tying in with "Achilles Heel" or "One Hit Wonder," damaging the Boss requires peeling off protective armor or the like and attacking the weak spot (the Core).

Just a Warm-Up: Before fighting the Main Boss of the area, you fight a weaker, yet still powerful, Boss before it. Sometimes known as a "Gear Check;" if you can't beat the weaker Boss, you're NOT ready for the Big Guy yet. Frequent theme in MMORPGS (as far as I know, anyway).

Rampaging Bull: The Boss runs around the arena, requiring you to either continuously fire on them, or hit a certain weak spot that stuns them for a moment and leaves them open to attack.

Beyond Salvation: Someone who WAS once your ally has either been overcome with evil or is so assimilated with an evil entity that you have no choice but to destroy them. Often has some heart-wrenching moments when they die. Is NOT to be confused with "Never Was on Your Side."

Wait for an Opening: The Boss is too quick to hit except for a few brief moments where they stop to perform an attack or other action. "Eagle Eye" often ties in with this.

Spiny, maybe it'd be a good idea to say who suggested the ideas by putting them in blocks.

Other than that, this should give people more ideas.

[Spiny]

[Mana7]

[Tails Doll]

I like bosses who aren't exactly bosses sometimes, or have freakish ways of attacking, or are just plain fun to fight. Like Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid 1), Computer Virus (Kirby Super Star), Hag 1 (Banjo-Tooie), Adolf Hitler (Bionic Commando), Kefka (Final Fantasy 6), The Great Commander (Star Fox), Gruntilda Winkybunion (Banjo-Kazooie), Bob the Evil Goldfish (Earthworm Jim), and Bowser (Super Mario Brothers 1)

[Warlord_Mike]

Yep. Still more:

Your Own Worst Enemy: The Boss is either a Clone or the "Evil" side of you.

Protect the Idiot(s): As you fight the Boss, you need to keep one or more NPCs, usually with little or no combat experience, alive. They typically will charge onward even into the line of fire.

Move Carefully: The "Boss" either consists of minor or no enemies, but you're in a building rigged in such a way that if you make one false move, you're dead. Thus, you need to plan your moves in such a way that you'll get through alive.

EXAMPLE: Half-Life's "Residue Processing" "Boss" is the machinery of the treatment plant. You can get crushed, torched, or dunked in acid, and being heavy machinery, you can't destroy any of it. Later, in "Surface Tension," there's a chamber that appears to contain Nuclear Missiles which is riddled with tripmines and has 3 Headcrabs. Thus, you must carefully kill the Headcrabs without setting off the mines and then make your way through the room; otherwise, you'll find yourself part of a Nuclear Fireball.

David Vs. Goliath: Doesn't need much description. The Boss you fight towers over you, while you attack him with everything you got or search for a weak spot. Typically, the Boss can't move very fast in these fights.

Aquatic Adversary: The Boss fight takes place either in or underwater. Attacks may be either Melee or Ranged.

Flying Foe: The Boss fight takes place either in the air or in Space. Combat is often ranged.

Halting Their Advance: You have to prevent the Boss from reaching a critical point, be it retrieving information or taking a vital field position. Killing the Boss may or may not be part of the objective. Tends to overlap with "Stalling For Time."

Flawed Engineering: Often associated with "Environmental Hazard," defeating the Boss requires you to take advantage of the shoddy workmanship of the arena. However, unlike the other category, Flawed Engineering is restricted to Arena fights only.

THIS...IS...SPARTAAA!!!: The Boss fight takes place either near or over a huge drop (can be a pit, cliff, or other such formation). When defeated, the Boss typically falls over the side to their doom.

Elemental Weakness: Certain elemental attacks (fire, water, wind, etc.) deal more damage, or are the only way to damage the Boss. May tie in with "Environmental Hazard," but this style has the option of the Player using said attacks naturally.

Invisible Enemies: Fighting the Boss requires a special visor to see them, often because they use cloaking or some similar method.

That should do for now.

EDIT: Couple more I'd like to put up:

Jealousy is an Evil Beast: The Boss is envious of the player; things like "Mom always liked you best" or something similar.

Luke, I am Your Father!: The Boss is related to the player somehow, be it brother, sister, neighbor, etc. "Beyond Salvation," "Your Own Worst Enemy," and "Jealousy is an Evil Beast" play heavily in these fights.

[Geno]

The David VS Goliath ones are really epic. I need to go play Shadow of the Colossus now... XD

[Brak Obama]

The best boss should be a character that angered and annoyed you throughout the game, and when that boiling rech its peak it's all worth it once you have the chance to beat the crap out of him.

[Spiny]

[Goron Mask]

I like the bosses who have awesome music and have to be killed in the most random way possible.