History Main / BullfightBoss

* The highway battle in ''VideoGame/SilentScope''. Sniper on foot versus bad guy in hijacked semi truck. The goal is to headshot him through the windscreen before he gets to you, as each near-miss pass costs a life square, but simply rapid-firing as quick as you can go will eventually get him.

* ''VideoGame/Battletoads'': In the arcade game's first stage you can fight [[ALoadOfBull General Slaughter]], or subvert this by kicking him into the stage's foreground.

* ''WebSeries/ZeroPunctuation'': Yahtzee references this trope in his review of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', annoyed at how common the trope is in video games.

This is a Bullfight Boss. After charging at you, [[TacticalSuicideBoss it is usually vulnerable for a few moments]] before regaining its senses. Sometimes, it throws a couple long-range attacks at you before charging again. Sometimes, it tires out after charging several times and is vulnerable, or may have this type of attack in its attack pattern. Sometimes, it has a weak spot on top which you must hit as you are sailing over it. And sometimes, simply dodging the charge isn't enough, the only way to beat it is through DeadlyDodging, baiting the boss into a stage hazard (which may harm it directly or leave it vulnerable). [[BreatherBoss Usually an easy boss to fight]]. (''[[ThatOneBoss Usually.]]'') If it's an actual bull, [[BullSeeingRed you can probably puzzle out the color of the item needed to provoke it into charging.]]

* In ''Manga/DevilMan'' ''The Birth'': When one of the people transforms into a dragon/dinosaur demon with long horns. When he faces off against Akira, who's fused with Amon to become Devilman, he charges at him with his horns trying to impale him. Akira jumps out of the way, grabs his horns, and throws him off the catwalk to his death.

* In ''Manga/DevilMan'' The Birth when one of the people transformed into a demon he becomes a dragon/dinosaur demon with long horns, when he faces off against Akira who's fused with Amon to become Devilman he charges at him with his horns trying to impale him, Akira jumps out of the way, grabs his horns, and throws him off the catwalk to his death.

* The Were-bulls in ''VideoGame/SeriousSam'' charge at you full speed, but take a while to turn, making it possible to sidestep them to avoid getting hit. In fact, one of the best ways to take them out without using a lot of ammo is to use the chainsaw, sidestep out of the way at the last second, and slash them as they run past. Rinse and repeat.

** The Moblin leader miniboss from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening Link's Awakening]]''.
** Ironically, the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' fight against Goht, the Masked Mechanical Bull, is not this, but ChasingYourTail. It does have an actual example later on, though: the Garo Master miniboss.
** A miniboss fight against an armored Goron in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', as well as the boss fight against Fyrus. The two fights on a bridge against the Bulbin King are a jousting-type variat, as you have to hit him at the ''exact'' moment he and Link approach each other, or else he'll land his hit instead. And there is also [[spoiler:Ganon's monstrous form]]: Rather than dodging, you have to meet him head on and wrestle him to the ground before attacking.
** The Moldorms in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' appear to be ChasingYourTail enemies, but they also charge and will stun themselves if they charge into a wall.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' has a boss fight against a Knucklemaster in Skull Woods. The easiest way to dodge is by merging with the wall it runs into.

* The Globe Holder from ''[[VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time]]'' had elements of this in the second phase, and ''Defender of the Future'' features a great white shark as the bull.

* [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Turned]] from ''VideoGame/BloodRayne 2'' are massive, hulking monsters with horns in lieu of eyes who can, if you're far enough from them, charge at you, demolishing anything in their paths. If they hit a wall, they stay down for a few seconds, allowing you to slice them up. One in Xerx's skyscraper can be dispatched easily by tricking him into charging in a window, resulting in DisneyVillainDeath.

* [[spoiler:Atlas aka Fontaine]] from ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}''. Which led to some disgruntlement amongst folks who hoped [[spoiler:the final boss]] would be more "epic." Also, the drill-endowed Big Daddies.

* [[spoiler:Viola AI]] from ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders: The 2nd Runner'' is much like this. The first couple of times are just pretty much an all-out brawl, but when fighting when there are barriers that deal collision damage, the general tactic is to lurk next to the wall, and have her smash right into them when she charges. A variant is her other fights, where you have to have her smash into an object you're holding -- generally other enemies or an oddly placed steel plate.

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' has [[spoiler:Clayface]]. It's not necessary to do so, but you're in for quite a long battle if you don't bait them into crashing into the furnace type things in the corners.

* The Berserker in ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar''. You actually need to lead her to a door, so she bashes it in with her charge, allowing you to take the fight outside. Where you shoot her with a massive space-laser...

The first boss in ''VideoGame/Splatoon'' (and the third in ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'') is the Mighty Octostomp, a big metal cube with legs and a face whose main strategy boils down to "run or slide towards the player, jump, and try to land on them face-first." The player has to get the Octostomp to notice them, get out of the way before they get squashed, cover one of the sides of the machine in ink so they can [[ColossusClimb swim to the top]] to [[AttackItsWeakPoint attack an exposed tentacle]]. Later fights against this boss add other elements the player needs to consider (buckles holding on an ink-proof cover that will prevent the player from climbing until they shoot them off, extra faces that prevent the player from dodging sideways, etc.), but it all ultimately boils down to the same strategy for both the boss and the player. It's even easier in the sequel if the player uses [[GunsAkimbo Dualies]], as pressing the jump button while moving and shooting will have them perform an evasive somersault in that direction.

This is a Bullfight Boss. After charging at you, [[TacticalSuicideBoss it is usually vulnerable for a few moments]] before regaining its senses. Sometimes, it throws a couple long-range attacks at you before charging again. Sometimes, it tires out after charging several times and is vulnerable, or may have this type of attack in its attack pattern. Sometimes, it has a weak spot on top which you must hit as you are sailing over it. And sometimes, the only way to beat it is through DeadlyDodging. [[BreatherBoss Usually an easy boss to fight]]. (''[[ThatOneBoss Usually.]]'') If it's an actual bull, [[BullSeeingRed you can probably puzzle out the color of the item needed to provoke it into charging.]]

* SNES game ''[[VideoGame/{{Asterix}} Asterix & Obelix]]'' had the eponymous two fight against an actual bull. Combining it with DeadlyDodging.

* For ''VideoGame/MadWorld'', it's more like a bull fight mini boss and there are three of them. The first two are Big Bull Crocker and Big Long Driller, who charge like a bull and elephant, respectively. Keep in mind that the former fights with two [[ChainsawGood chainsaws]] strapped together and the latter fights with a [[ThisIsADrill huge drill]]. Yee Fung is a fat guy that does a charge, [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog spin dash style]]. He's pretty quick too.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''

* [[CaptainObvious In bullfighting: bulls.]]

** ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyLostInTime'', ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyRabbitRampage'', and ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyInDoubleTrouble'' -- surprise, it's a battle with Toro the Bull from "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs". [[note]] The latter game, however, is a downplayed example. You actually need to use Toro as a trampoline to reach the floating dynamite sticks above the arena, which you need to blow up the holes and search underground in order to find trap parts to defeat Toro himself. The UsefulNotes/GameGear version has Toro replaced with a lion instead. [[/note]]

* SNES game ''[[VideoGame/{{Asterix}} Asterix & Obelix]]'' had the eponymous two fight against an actual bull. Combining it with deadly dodging.

* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', Mugly and Thugly are exactly this, and they're defeated by hitting them from above each time you jump to evade their charge. [[BigBad Lord Fredrik]] in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' does this on occasion. Jumping on his back as he charges at you is the only way to hurt him. Towards the end of the fight, he moves slighty faster, making it harder to land on him.

** ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyLostInTime'', ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyRabbitRampage'', and ''VideoGame/BugsBunnyInDoubleTrouble'' -- surprise, it's a battle with Toro the Bull from "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs". [[note]] The latter game however, is a downplayed example. You actually need to use Toro as a trampoline to reach the floating dynamite sticks above the arena, which you need to blow up the holes and search underground in order to find trap parts to defeat Toro himself. The UsefulNotes/GameGear version has Toro replaced with a lion instead. [[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' Has three miniboss Metal-Head creatures, the rhino like ram-heads located in the Mountain Temple level. To defeat them, you need to shoot their unarmored underbelly, which is only exposed when they rear up on their hind legs after you dodge them charging you down.

* ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'' has a quick and terribly brutal form of this. One of the Rocket Racers liked to use his CoolBoard to slam his fist into people's faces at 60 miles an hour. After taking a number of these punches, Peter decides to lean on a wall and goads the Villain into attacking him. Predictably, Peter jumps out of the way just as they're about to collide, mangling Rocker Racer's fingers after his fist goes through the wall.

* ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' Has three miniboss Metal-Head creatures, the rhino like ram-heads located in the Mountain Temple level.

** The Moblin leader miniboss from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening''.
** A miniboss fight against an armored Goron in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', as well as the boss fight against Fyrus.
** The best example from Twilight Princess are the two fights on a bridge against the Bulbin King. And there is also [[spoiler:Ganon's monstrous form]]. Somewhat of a variant since rather than dodging, you have to meet him head on and wrestle him to the ground before attacking.

** The Moldorms[[note]][[FanNickname they have no name since you can't scan underground]][[/note]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' appear to be ChasingYourTail enemies, but they also charge and will stun themselves if they charge into a wall.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' has a boss fight against a Knucklemaster in Skull Woods. A variant of sorts, as the easiest way to dodge is by merging with the wall it runs into. [[note]][[FridgeLogic But if it's hitting the wall, why don't you get hurt...?]][[/note]]
** In ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'', Rebonack's first phase has a mounted iron knuckle charging Link until Link can do enough damage to the horse to force him to dismount.

* Most bosses in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' Subspace Emissary, while not entirely based on this, will do it every once in a while as part of their routine.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'': the Plated Beetle mini-boss/enemy, and [[spoiler:the second half of the Ridley boss fight]].
** The first boss of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' as well.
*** Several of the (boss) fights in Fusion could easily degenerate into bullfights, most notably the golden space pirates and SA-X.
** The Phazon Seed boss in Bryyo also does this a little bit in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 3''. Ditto for the Elysia Leviathan guardian in one of his forms, and [[spoiler:hunter Ghor]]. Not to mention the final boss...
** You'll be doing a lot of bullfighting in the Torvus Bog section of ''Metroid Prime 2'' and the early parts of ''Metroid Prime 1''[='=]s Phendrana Drifts. Both the grenchler and Baby Sheegoth enemies, as well as the Grapple Guardian, keep their vulnerable backs to you unless you goad them into charging (or grabbing electrified pillars, in the Guardian's case). The Alpha Blogg also reveals its weak point while charging, with a twist: it's on the front, and it opens about halfway through the charge (which hurts a lot, so it can be a hard battle before you get the timing right).
* Several bosses in ''VideoGame/StarTrekEliteForce II'' are like this.
* [[spoiler:Atlas aka Fontaine]] from ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}''. Which led to some disgruntlement amongst folks who hoped [[spoiler:the final boss]] would be more "epic."
** Also, the drill-endowed Big Daddies.

* Berserkers in ''VideoGame/ShadowWarrior2013''. These EliteMooks can adjust their charge if you dodge, but won't stop it if you hide behind a wall or tree, exposing their vulnerable back.
** Curiously averted with the game's first boss, a giant bull-headed suit of armor. He charges you, but is only vulnerable in a short window ''before'' the charge.

* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' has this for the first stage of the FinalBoss fight.

* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' has a fight with a bull early on, complete with stereotypical Spanish music and inexplicable crowd cheers. You have to lead him into ramming targets, one of which he gets stuck on so you can hop on and ride him by the horns.

* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', Mugly and Thugly are exactly this. Likewise, [[BigBad Lord Fredrik]] in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' does this on occasion. Jumping on his back as he charges at you is the only way to hurt him. Towards the end of the fight, he moves slighty faster, making it harder to land on him.

* [[MeaningfulName El Odio]] from ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' is a ''literal'' bullfight boss; you even have to stab him with ''banderillas''. But then subverted halfway through the fight, when [[spoiler:the real boss, the matador, appears, forcing you to fight him while protecting the bull]].
** The Brain Tank has the same habit of charging the player. Unfortunately, it also has a confusion attack, which messes with the controls so that you dodge ''into'' the path of the tank.

* Topmaniac from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''.
** Not for most players. He only charges once you kill all the Topmans and Topminis he summons. Most players would never wait that long and would just stomp on him right away.
** Bowser in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' is a vertical bullfight boss, continually crashing into the floor until he breaks through.
** The Bowser fights in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' are similar, the first case being tricking him into smashing the glass covering the core of his generators, and the second being getting his fist stuck in the planet before smashing a meteor into him.
** Rollodillo in ''Galaxy 2'' will try to steamroll you, but leaves himself open from dizziness after you dodge it, allowing you to get a hit in [[LiteralAssKicking on his butt]].
** And then, of course, there's the Big Bully and the Chill Bully from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. All they do is charge, and are MadeOfIron, so dodging and punching them from behind is how you win.
*** Or punching them as they charge at you; needs good timing to pull off, of course...
* The TyrannosaurusRex in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3b-a10ttGU attacks this way]] and is killed with DeadlyDodging.
** Because of the game's Enrage feature, where when you shoot a monster enough times, they will charge at you. Combined with the [[BulletTime Adrenaline]] [[DeadlyDodging Dodge]] feature, it turned EVERY monster fight - be it bosses or regular animals - into a Bullfight Boss.

* Amusingly fitting is Taurus Fire, an anthropomorphic bull boss from ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' who attacks frequently... By charging you. It's a pathetically easy attack to avoid due to its rather long start-up as well as the combat design of the series requiring that to not get run over you merely have to press left or right... Once.
** It's made more complicated by the fact that the move's startup animation is very similar to that of an attack that needs to be shielded instead, and the aforementioned move ''can't'' be shielded. It's also extremely fast in the final rematches.

* The ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' franchise is all about fighting huge-ass beasts that can fling you around like a ragdoll without the proper [[CrazyPrepared skills, items, and equipment]]. One early-stage monster, the Bulldrome, is basically this trope. Later bosses, however, mix it up in different ways: some will charge at you, do a skid turn, and charge again before you can attack; others recover too fast to take advantage of their moment of weakness (you need to exploit other movements and not attack when they charge); and there are a couple of monsters for which you have to watch their body language so you know when to dodge (the actual attack is too fast to dodge).
** This is actually the best possible strategy to fight the notorious Tigrex. Remember that gigantic tiger/T-rex/dragon hybrid? Its charge is an almost surefire OneHitKill. But time it so that it'll charge headlong into a wall and it'll get its teeth stuck, giving you a very clear shot at him and most possibly a valuable drop. This is also the key against many big Wyverns like Monoblos and Diablos.
** ''Tri'' introduces the Barroth, who fits this trope to a "t". [[WakeUpCallBoss It comes in very early in the game.]]
*** The Barroth is also notable in that it doesn't charge straight forward; it will adjust its course during a charge in order to hit you. One also has to be careful of the tail swipe that follows right afterwards.
** There are even normal enemies, such as Bullfangos and Rhenoplos, that behave like this.
** ''Monster Hunter 4/4Ultimate'' features the Seltas, a rhinoceros beetle-like creature that will fly straight towards you, intending to spear you with its horn. If you dodge while near a cliff face, the Seltas will get its horn stuck briefly, allowing you some free hits.

* ''[[VideoGame/DawnOfWar Dawn of War: Retribution]]'' has Daisy, Ork battlewagon. It has ridiculous amounts of HP and tends to become invulnerable during the fight, so massed lascanons won't do much. Constant and quite numerous Ork reinforcements also don't help. Luckily, while its charge attack can easily wipe squads, it allows you to lead the vehicle into explosive barrels that will take down 90% of its HP.
** Several bosses of the first mission have charge attacks. Seeing as you only have the very basic (and incredibly squishy) troops and level one heroes, dodging them is highly preferable.

* Several story mode spellcards from the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' fighting games were like this: Marisa's "Stardust Reverie" and Remilia's "Bad Lady Scramble" in ''Immaterial and Missing Power''; Iku's "Acanthodii of the Thunder Clouds," Remilia's "Bombard Night," and Aya's "Sarutahiko's Guidance" in ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody''.

* Almost every ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' game ends with an unarmed one on one duel (there are two in [=MGS1=]). Evading and striking at the opponent's back or sides after a miss is the only way to get through these, as they can usually punch out Snake with only two or three good hits.
** The last boss of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' acts like this for a part of his duel, leaving flame trails with each charge.

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' has [[spoiler:Clayface]]. It's not necessary to do so, but you're in for quite a long battle if you don't bait them into crashing into the furnace type things in the corners.

* Happens quite often in foil fencing. Two fencers will run at each other and try to score a point. The director will have to decide who attacked first, and therefore got the point. The director often has to throw out the point.
** Unless it's epee, in which case he just awards the point to both.