Platforming games have long been a staple in the gaming world, producing some of the most recognizable mascots like Crash Bandicoot, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Mario. Theseheroes face all sorts of villainsand challenges during their platformer adventures, with mini-bosses and final bosses to contend with as they save their respective worlds.
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In essence, all villains in platformers are strange to one degree or another, whether from their design or the motivations behind their evil-doing ways. But an eclectic few tips the scale just over the edge, making for some remarkably memorable (and creepy) moments with villains in gaming history.
8Ripper Roo
Like Crash Bandicoot,Ripper Roo is one of Dr. Neo Cortex’s failed experimentswith the Evolo-Ray. Unfortunately, the result of these experiments has caused the kangaroo to go blue and lose his mind, making Ripper Roo an unpredictable (and frustrating) boss in the firstCrash Bandicootgame.
What’s strange about Ripper Roo is that he goes under an extensive change betweenCrash BandicootandCrash Bandicoot 2. As revealed in an alternate ending for the first game, Ripper Roo has therapy and studies for eight years at university, becoming an accomplished scholar. But when Crash meets him for the second time inCrash Bandicoot 2, Ripper Roo soon falls to his old ways after being hit with one too many TNT squares.
7Toasty
The first boss ofSpyro the Dragonseems like a menacing figure. The pumpkin-headed scarecrow Toasty is wielding a scythe for one, which is daunting for the little dragon to take on. But, protected by Shepherds and their Sleeping Dogs, players certainly have their work cut out for them to actually get to the first boss battle ofSpyro the Dragon.
Beating Toasty is easy enough, aside from having to flame the Sleeping Dogs protecting him. But, as Spyro starts to wear the boss down, it soon becomes evident that Toasty isn’t as imposing as he looks. Turns out that Toasty is actually a singed sheep on stilts – one that’s definitely got a bone to pick with Spyro.
6King K. Rool
A popular villain among Nintendo fans, King K. Rool has one goal in theDonkey Konggames – to take over Donkey Kong Island. The leader of the Kremlings will do anything to reach that goal in theDonkey Konggames, which often involves stealing Donkey Kong’s banana hoard much to the avail of the Kong family. However, the more King K. Rool fails, the more unstable he becomes.
Despite how often Donkey Kong and his friends beat the crocodile, he still thinks that stealing their banana hoard and starving the gorillas and monkeys will give him what he wants. King K. Rool really needs to rethink his strategy if he plans to take the island for himself one day, that’s for sure.
5Major Burrows
Major Burrows may not beone of the most demanding bossesinSuper Mario GalaxyandSuper Mario Galaxy 2, but he’s definitely strange to look at. The abnormally large creature looms over the Gusty Garden Galaxy, leading the Undergrunts. Burrows and the Undergrunts resemble moles, which can only be defeated by Ground Pounding and then using a spin attack.
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In the firstSuper Mario Galaxy,the Undergrunts were quite a rare species, but as of the second game, they’ve become more common. And despite Major Burrow’s deceit in the first game, he reappears once again in Boss Blitz Galaxy during the events ofSuper Mario Galaxy 2.
4Belcha
InDonkey Kong Country 3,players face a creepily sentient wooden barrel at the end of the fifth stage, Murky Mill. Living in Belcha’s barn, Dixie and Kiddy Kong are challenged with avoiding the barrels coming out of Belcha’s mouth, which contain insects that Dixie can jump on, grab hold of with her hair, and throw at Belcha or toss into his mouth. The latter will cause him to belch backward, and eventually fall off a platform completing the level.
Aside from Belcha being a living object, the design of its bloodshot eyes and wooden teeth inDonkey Kong Country 3adds to the overall creepiness.
3The Root Pack
Among the bosses and extra bossesadded in theCupheadDLC, the Root Pack are among the strangest. They’re the first boss players will come across, consisting of four sentient root vegetables on Inkwell Isle One, and act as the bosses for the Botanic Panic! Level.
Players will deal with three phases of the Root Pack inCuphead, first with Sal Spudder, Ollie Bulb, and Chauncey Chantenay. Horace Radiche is a secret boss that only appears if the player decides not to fight Ollie Bulb. Aside from Horace Radiche, the three main veggies appear inThe Cuphead Show!where their personalities are further explored.
2Dimitri Lousteau
In theSly Cooperseries, the titular raccoon and his gang come across Dimitri Lousteau inSly 2: Band of Thieves. The purple marine iguana was once an art student but gave up on his dream as an artist due to heavy criticism. He soon turned to a life of crime, specializing in forgery. As a criminal inSly Cooper, the iguana operates from a nightclub in Paris, using it as his base to further his criminal enterprise.
However, Dimitri puts his life of crime behind him inSly 3: Honor Among Thieves,becoming an ally to Sly and his friends and using his expertiseto help them pull off heists.
1Louise
Crash Bandicoot 4reintroduced a lot of fan favorites as bosses, but players weren’t expecting to face a mutated sea monster at the end of the “Jetboard Jetty” level - especially one with the name Louise.
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Louise’s design inCrash Bandicoot 4takes on the form of a sea monster/lobster hybrid with purple scales and menacing yellow eyes. She’s a formidable foe, forcing players to avoid her thrashing tentacles while throwing Pi-Rats back at her while controlling Crash on the Jet Board. And for those wanting to 100% the level, learning Louise’s every move is a must to come out unscathed.
