History DiscOneFinalBoss / VideoGames

** Happens roughly a million times in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', which was ''made'' of YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle. Particularly with Remiel. While you know that Lord Forcystus isn't a final boss by any means, you do fight him at the end of Disc 1 (''Symphonia'' uses two discs on UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube).

** The first two ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games do this. In ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, it is [[DemBones Dry Bowser]], and in the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii sequel]], it is the third battle against [[OverlordJr Bowser Jr.]]

* In ''VideoGame/LikeADragonInfiniteWealth'', Wong Tou is the last of the three criminal faction leaders to be fought, and the most likely lead on the whereabouts of Ichiban's mother. But when Ichiban and Kiryu interrogate him in front of his men, shit hits the fan the ''second'' Wong identifies the "Overseer" he and Dwight Mendez took orders from, setting up Bryce Fairchild's role as Ichiban's BigBad.

** Since ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', it's been a RunningGag that the local NebulousEvilOrganization be {{Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain}}s that act as a smokescreen for the ''real'' BigBad. In order that's been [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon a rich sociopath who won't be winning any Mother of the Year awards]], [[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon a fallen angel]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield the chairman of the British Pokémon League]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet a mad scientist]] and [[ParentalNeglect terrible parent]] who doubled as TheProfessor for the region]].

*** [[UpdatedReRelease Persona 5 Royal]] turns [[spoiler:''Yaldabaoth'' of all people into this, provided the player is able to reach the highest possible rank for the Consultant Confidant before the start of the third term. Even though the Metaverse has apparently been destroyed and the Conspiracy is foiled in their schemes, the protagonist begins to notice unusual occurrences throughout the third school term. It's revealed that the source of these occurrences is Takuto Maruki, the new guidance counselor for Shujin Academy, who turns out to be a Persona user with the power to manipulate people's cognition to grant their deepest desires. Yaldabaoth's influence, Maruki's failures, and his anger at his research being stolen by Shido have caused Maruki's Persona to go berserk and carry the risk of bringing back the Metaverse, forcing the Phantom Thieves carry out one last heist in their school term.]]

** Subverted in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG''. After the prologue, you spend roughly half of the game in search of the Princess, who had been thrown from Bowser's Keep (along with Bowser and Mario) when the sword Exor fell from the sky. Near the midpoint of the game, you finally find her... being held captive by some random lunatic named Booster, who intends to marry her. After pursuing Booster through a series of weird minigames, you finally confront him in the wedding hall... but instead of facing off with him in a climactic showdown, ''[[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere the wedding cake randomly comes to life and attacks you]]''. The cake turns out to be [[ThatOneBoss one of the most difficult bosses in the game]] and a major wake-up call if you haven't been leveling up effectively. Booster then eats the cake, the "wedding" is concluded, Mario rescues the princess and the second half of the game (which focuses on defeating the ''real'' BigBad) begins shortly after. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment None of this is ever explained or brought up again]]. And, unless you failed the "Hide Behind the Curtains" minigame in the last floor of Booster's tower, Booster remains TheUnfought. You will be excused if you thought that the giant sword that crashed into Bowser's Keep at the begining of the game is Smithy, the Big Bad everyone keeps talking about. Once you reach the roof of Bowser's keep and come face-to-face with "Smithy"... it turns out that no, the sword's name is Exor and defeating him merely creates a portal to the FinalDungeon. Smithy is at the very end, creating copies of the previous bosses.

*** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' has the [[spoiler: Antasma '''tutorial''' battle. The only other time he takes this [[OneWingedAngel]] form is his ''final boss battle'' in the Dream World. It even plays the same music!]]

*** In ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'' and its [[VideoGame/KirbyNightmareInDreamLand GBA remake]], he's the one responsible for splitting the Star Rod into 7 pieces, and having it guarded by his numerous allies. [[spoiler:He's doing this to protect Dream Land from Nightmare, the evil wizard responsible for causing all the nightmares in Pop Star. Kirby fights him once he gains the last piece from Dedede]]. [[spoiler:While the original NES game makes it fairly obvious he's not the FinalBoss since the typical Boss Theme is being used, the remake does a much better job at hiding it — using a variation of Gourmet Race (basically the GBA version of the Fountain of Dreams soundtrack in Smash)]].
*** In ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'', Dedede is once again causing problems to Dream Land — except this time, he's possessed by the Dark Matter Blade. This game takes it up a notch in which Kirby ''has'' to collect all the Rainbow Drops for to face the Dark Matter Blade himself as the game's TrueFinalBoss.

*** [[spoiler:In the Meta Nightmare returns mode, after Meta Knight defeats Haltmann 2.0, the Star Dream analyzes him as its new administrator and tests him by summoning three powerful swordsmen bosses in past Kirby games: Dark Matter Blade, Queen Sectonia, and finally — Galacta Knight]].

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'': Some people were fooled into thinking that the fight against [[spoiler:[=ExDeath=] in Galuf's world]] was the final battle, despite the 12 legendary weapons having not been unlocked yet.
** The Ultima Weapon in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', who has access to powerful magic and who happens to be the final boss of the [[DiscOneFinalDungeon Floating Continent]]. Emperor Gestahl himself turns out to be [[spoiler:a BigBadWannabe. He's assassinated by his [[TheDragon second in command]], Kefka, who then proceeds to [[CrapsackWorld lay waste to the world]]]].

** After completing the seven chapters, a hidden eighth chapter is revealed, a normal medieval quest to save the princess from the Lord of Dark... [[spoiler:but while he set things in motion, he's small pickings next to the real Lord of Dark, whose presence still influences the story, and Straybow, the actual boss of the chapter. And once Straybow is dead and Alethea kills herself, Oersted becomes the new Lord of Dark, Odio.]]

** The first game leads you to believe that the final showdown with the BigBad, Gruntilda, is a quirky board game/quiz show where you test your memory about the game and run through a few minigames. After you beat it, she skedaddles, Banjo and Kazooie rescue [[DistressedDamsel Tooty]], and the whole gang goes back home for some well-earned rest and relaxation. The credits roll... and as soon as they're done, Banjo and friends are shown busy throwing a party when Tooty pops up and tells Banjo that he must also defeat Grunty, so they return to the lair.

* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' has Martin Li -- Mister Negative -- as the main villain Spidey contends with during the first act of the game. After he is defeated, however, he is recruited into the Sinister Six, led by [[spoiler:Peter's [[TreacherousAdvisor mentor-turned-supervillain, Otto Octavius -- Doctor Octopus.]]]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelsSpiderMan2'' features Kraven the Hunter as the main villain for its first half. After he is defeated, however, [[spoiler:Venom (posessing Harry Osborne)]] takes center stage is the BigBad.

* ''VideoGame/MarvelsSpiderMan'' has Martin Li -- Mister Negative -- as the main villain Spidey contends with during the first act of the game. After he is defeated, however, he is recruited into the Sinister Six, led by [[spoiler:Peter's [[TreacherousAdvisor mentor-turned-supervillain, Otto Octavius -- Doctor Octopus.]]