Aesthetically: The Noise in general from The World Ends With You franchise are probably some of the coolest enemy designs I've seen. They've got mostly solid bodies, but then some part of them will always be made of this cool graffiti like stuff. Admittedly, it did look better in the 2D original game, than it did in the 3D sequel, but it still looks cool in both. Looking through the enemy list, the best looking one (not counting bosses) is probably the scorpion class enemies, like [url=https://game8.co/games/NEO-TWEWY/archives/338715]this guy[/url]. Conceptually: One of the things I really love about Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, is some enemies cannot be damaged by basic attacks until they are first weakened with a special spell; undead enemies need to be struck with Holy, while flying enemies need to be struck with Gravity. In Tier 3 Rebena Te Ra, you can find a bat that is both undead, and flying, so--in theory--what you do is blast it with Gravity, then follow up with Holy, before finishing it off. Gravity and Holy are both pulled off via the game's incredible spell fusion, so in theory, you fire off these double fusion spells, and that is fun. Unfortunately, in practice it's kind of annoying. The weakness inflicted by these spells will wear off, and unless you're playing with a bunch of pros, people will usually take too long to cast both spells, and one will wear off right when the other starts. Mechanically: I really love the Phantoms in the early game of Prey. Early game, you are simply not strong enough to take them on head-first. If you fight them in straight up combat, you'll lose, plain and simple. So you need to get creative with how you take them down. This often stealth, and a stun gun. It was always really tense coming up against one, and I loved it. Unfortunately, as you progress you do eventually get strong enough to take them down a bit easier, and the game kinda loses its edge. Miniboss (aesthetic): CrossCode is a game where ancient bird people have left behind TECHNOLOGY that lets you control the four elements; Heat, Chill, Shock, and Wave. The whole game is based around these elements, so by the time you reach CrossCode's postgame DLC, you'll be a master at using them. As you progress through the postgame dungeon, you'll eventually come across the miniboss; Gynthar! This big robo-bird-man is also a master of the four elements, and confronting him feels so amazing! You're both swapping between your elements, throwing out all these different attacks, and just, ah, I love it. Miniboss (Mechanically): The Strider from Sonic Frontiers is this giant spider thingy. It attacks you by throwing out some electric rings, but if you dodge this attack the rings become grind rails. If you go around the whole ring, it'll light up, and propel you to the next one, eventually throwing you onto this big trio of rails surrounding the Strider's core. It'll blast the rails with various attacks, as you try to make a full circle on each one. Once you do, it opens up its core, and you basically just get to wail on it. The minibosses in Sonic Frontiers are all pretty amazing, tbh. Some of the best boss design in the series. Just kinda a shame its level design sucks. Boss (Aesthetically): Either 02 from Kirby 64, or Star Dream, from Kirby: Planet Robobot. Honestly, every final boss in Kirby is so amazing at establishing the mood. It's great. 02 feels kind of sad. Like, he's already lost everything when we killed him the first time, and he's desperately struggling for life against the merciless killer that is Kirby. In Planet Robobot, it's just this huge spectacle destroying the Access Arc, and makes you feel so powerful! Boss (Mechanically): Lingering Will, Kingdom Hearts II. This guy is legitimately just the pinnacle of boss design. He's tough as nails, but you can counter every single one of his attacks, and if you die it's 100% your fault. He's the culmination of everything you've learned, and unless you've actually put in the time to master the game, you won't win, but at the same time he never feels cheap, or unfair. I love it.

Jack Thompson

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