Summary
Spectacle battles are always a treat in video games. Thoughtfully crafted and more intimate, emotional moments in a game’s narrative or questline are greatly appreciated, but there’s something about a fight scene or enemy encounter that just makes you say “woah”, which is incredibly satisfying. These battles, of course, often have as much work put into them as any other aspect of a game, and if they’re in a game likeDark Souls, where huge enemies are usually as powerful as they look, it canbe quite a challengefor players to overcome.
Battles against huge foes can mean a lot of things for a lot of different games. What are we fighting? A huge dragon? Are wegoing the JRPG routeand taking on some kind of belligerent god? In particular, many games have moments where players can take on Giants and their relatives, like cyclopes or huge trolls. Besides being classic high-fantasy fare, these battles often give players a moment to truly test their skills against colossal, seemingly insurmountable foes.
FromSoft is no strangerto difficult bosseson a huge scale, and it’s no surprise that as both enemies in the overworld and milestone-defining bosses, giants appear as huge, dominating threats to challenge players and their builds.
Of particular note, besides the halberd-wielding giants outside the capital city, is the huge Fire Giant boss that can be a pretty significant obstacle for many players. It’s one of the few fights where your mount is absolutely necessary, not only to close the distance but to take that distance again when some huge AoE attacks begin.
Giantsare an iconofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimnot only due to their unique aesthetic and presence in the overworld but also because of their propensity for launching players up into the air with their colossal hammers.
It’s a bit obscure, but for those willing to go on some deep dives throughElder Scrollslore, there is a fair amount of lore on these typically placid creatures who herd mammoths and ponder at campfires.
Similar toSkyrim,Dragon’s Dogmahas a huge creature in its series that has become something of an icon. The Cyclops—who acts as many players' first foray into the world of giant-slaying inDragon’s Dogmaoutside the tutorial—is an iconic enemy who packs a huge punch.
Players can’t just slash at the Cyclops like they can with any ordinary enemy - they (or their pawns) need to climb atop these beasts and maneuver around them, climbing up to weak spots that can be hit for enhanced damage.
There are many freezing and mountainous areas inTales of Maj’Eyalthat help add a level of variety to thehuge open world map, and within them lie different varieties and classes of Giant that can all pack a huge punch.
Giants can hurl boulders at you from afar, doing huge amounts of physical damage at range, while storm giants can blast players with lightning bolts or summon icy vortexes that absorb damage, keeping them alive even longer.
Among the many types of beast and foe that Geralt of Rivia is expected to defeat, Giants are one of the most fearsome and powerful. Following suit with many fantasy titles,includingDungeons and Dragons, there are different varieties of Giant with their own strengths and powers.
The “Lord of Undvik” quest is probably the most famous example of a quest featuring a Giant in this game, with Geralt tasked with defeating an Ice Giant named Myrhyff, who has taken over Undvik for some time.
Giant foes inImmortals: Fenyx Risingare given an extra level of spectacle with the vibrancy and art design that colors the whole game. It makes every encounter feel more saturated and present while also helping to engage the player.
Giant, demonic entities or towering minotaurs are all par for the course in this title, and players will need to ensure they’ve thoroughly explored the open world and gathered whatever loot and experience they can get to take down these huge enemies.
Despitestarting off relatively powerfulinShadow of War, the game makes it clear fairly quickly that there are still foes who can crush Talion without a second thought. Graug is the name given to these creatures, colossal giant-like beasts who dwell within Mordor and well outside the bounds ofLOTR’s canon, alas.
Graug can be tricked, manipulated, or even temporarily branded to aid Talion in battle, but no matter what approach is taken, trying to tackle these beasts head-on will lead to nothing more than disaster.
Few games have ingrained themselves in the collective cultural memory of gamers likeShadow of the Colossus. A legend worthy of its renown, this game is giant-slaying at its finest, with creatures so big they’re practically a new bout of terrain for players to explore.
The art design and quiet, ruined beauty of these creatures is absolutely part of what’s made this game so memorable, and the remaster helped bring the title to a new generation of players. Felling every colossus feels like a unique and earned experience.
