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A Legacy Boss Battle is a boss from one game that appears as a boss in a later installment as a throwback, often in the form of an OptionalBoss or {{Superboss}}.

In those cases, the boss rarely changes its tactics and techniques, as the intent is to preserve their original battle to begin with. At best, you may see a new move or two, but otherwise the whole thing is relatively unchanged. Sometimes, the recycling happens because the developers wanted to cut costs or had little time to come up something more unique. Other times, the battle is just popular enough to be considered worth the effort.

Of important note is that most Legacy Bosses are only fightable in the post-game or side areas, and have little to no role in the plot, making them closer to a reward, EasterEgg or just a way to tug your nostalgia strings (for this reason, they are generally [[DifficultySpike much harder]] than the original boss fight). If they ''do'' appear in the main path, then they are likely a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere and the game will do only the bare minimum to justify their presence.

Remakes in particular love to do this, adding bosses from the original entries' sequels as a form of CallForward. If the boss' game of origin is from another franchise, then these might be {{Mythology Gag}}s or {{Lawyer Friendly Cameo}}s as well.

Compare and contrast DegradedBoss, RecurringBossTemplate, PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo, HijackedByGanon, SuddenSequelHeelSyndrome. NostalgiaLevel is the stage version.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Action Adventure]]
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Ridley, a SpacePirate pterodactyl/dragon-thing, has made an appearance for a boss fight in every game in the franchise except for four.[[note]]''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'', ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'', and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread''[[/note]] His moveset also tends to barely change, featuring the same fireballs and tail swings he is famous for. His appearance in ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' (a remake of ''Return of Samus'') is perhaps the straightest example of this, as he was not in the original game at all, but reappears as [[spoiler:the TrueFinalBoss]] even if it doesn't make much sense in the long run.
* ''VideoGame/IllusionOfGaia'' has Solid Arm, a boss originally from the first game in the series, ''VideoGame/SoulBlazer'', who's [[GuideDangIt only fightable]] if you [[GottaCatchThemAll collect all fifty Red Jewels]].
* ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'' has two fights against Marcellus - the first a full-on boss battle, the second a DegradedBoss encounter. He originally appeared in ''VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords'', in which he was also [[RecurringBoss fought twice]].
* Both ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' and ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'' feature boss battles against a [[MixAndMatchCritter spider-scorpion demon]] named Phantom. Strangely, Phantom's reappearance in ''2'' is given no explanation or acknowledgement from the characters despite being killed by Dante in the first game, and you need to fight him to progress the stage, making him a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere as well.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fighting]]
* Geese Howard in the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' series. To date he's been in every game in the series except ''Fatal Fury 2'' and ''VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves'', and of those, only ''one'' has him as not as a boss or a final boss. Usually, they use a "Nightmare" version of him to justify his appearances, seeing that he's canonically supposed to be dead in the Fatal Fury timeline.
* Rugal (or [[OneWingedAngel Omega Rugal]]) in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''. First appearing as the final boss for ''The King of Fighters '94'' and its direct sequel ''The King of Fighters '95'', Rugal returned again as the final boss for [[DreamMatchGame '98]] ([[UpdatedRerelease UM]]) and 2002 (UM). Now whenever the series has a DreamMatchGame, fans can expect Rugal not to be too far behind.
* ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'':
** Heihachi Mishima recurs as a boss character, since he is usually the one who hosts the Iron Fist tournament. He is the final opponent in the first game and ''4'', and the penultimate opponent in ''3''.
** The Arcade Mode of ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'' ends with a string of bosses from previous games: Heihachi and Jinpachi (final boss of ''5'') in Stage 7, Ogre (final boss of ''3'') in Stage 8, and Jun/Unknown (final boss of the first ''Tag'') in Stage 9.
** The boss characters in ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' are special matches against The Devil, Shin Heihachi, [[spoiler: [[Franchise/StreetFighter Akuma]], [[VideoGame/FatalFury Geese Howard]] & [[Series/TheWalkingDead Negan]]]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Hack and Slash]]
* Orochi, Da Ji, and Kiyomori from ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'' can optionally be fought in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors: Strikeforce'' after clearing certain objectives.
* ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'': Destroyman is fought in every main game as a story boss, returning as the cybernetic twins New Destroyman in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'' and as Destroyman True Face in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroesIII''. There's generally no reason for this since he's a pretty minor foe in the grand scheme of things, and his moveset does not change much in-between releases (at least between the first and second games).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:MMORPG]]
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' features dungeons, raids, and bosses that are outright callback to previous games in the series, with most of them having remixes of songs from their original games. To name a few, one can fight the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII Cloud of Darkness]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Calcabrina]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Exdeath]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Ultros and Typhon]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Mateus]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics Argath Thadalfus]], and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI Absolute Virtue]].
* Gal Gryphon from ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' reappears as an event boss in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''.
* Dungeons and Dragons Online added a raid called 'Killing Time' which involves re-playing some of the early game's most iconic boss fights, both from dungeons and other raids.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Party Game]]
* ''VideoGame/MarioPartyTheTop100'': The Final Battle from ''VideoGame/MarioParty4'', which was originally the last Story Mode minigame of that game and settled the fight between the player's character and Bowser, serves as the final minigame in Minigame Island. The fight remains the same aside from some tweaks and changes, but is now presented in a different context from its original game's premise.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Platformer]]
* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** After defeating all the Robot Masters in ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'', four new stages open up, each having two Doc Robots (one as a mid boss, one as an end boss). Each Doc Robot takes on the exact same attack pattern of one of the eight Robot Masters from ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'', and their sprite is even seen descending into the Doc Robot before the fight starts.
** The boss of Wily Castle 1 in ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' is the Weapons Archive, which deploys robots that use the weapons and tactics of one Robot Master from each of the past nine games. Also, there are three DownloadableContent stages that each feature one of the [[VideoGame/MegaManDrWilysRevenge Mega]] [[VideoGame/MegaManIII Man]] [[VideoGame/MegaManIV Killers]] as bosses.
** There are several in ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'':
*** The WarmUpBoss in the optional training area is a weakened version of Magma Dragoon from X4, having access only to his most basic attacks.
*** When you reach the end of the first Zero Space stage, Doctor Wily's logo is visible in the background for the first time in the X series. Then after the BossWarningSiren, a remix of the ''VideoGame/MegaMan1'' fortress boss theme plays, and the Shadow Devil, a recolor of the Yellow Devil from the same game, makes its entrance.
*** The second Zero Space stage boss is Rangda Bangda from ''VideoGame/MegaManX1'', complete with a remix of the fortress boss theme from that game.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'': Dynamo appears again as a RecurringBoss, even if he has no real bearing in the plot or major differences in his moveset. He's exclusive to the secret routes you can take, but only after dealing with High-Max or Nightmare Zero, so he's mostly there to give you a way to obtain better [[GameplayGrading ranks]] (and equips as result).
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX8'': You can fight classic Cut Man, 8-bit sprites and all, as a bonus miniboss at the Troia Base level, assuming you have a ''[[VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission Command Mission]]'' save file in your memory card.
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'', Omega from ''VideoGame/MegaManZero3'' appears as a {{Superboss}} in the N area. Defeating him nets you the Model O Biometal, the strongest in the game. If you have [[OldSaveBonus completed both Zero 3 and 4 in their cartridges]], linking them to the DS slot can let you fight 4 of each game's bosses in the same area and defeating them all gives you the same reward.
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManZero3'', taking a secret detour in the second fortress stage will take you to a teleporter. Go inside, and you'll meet [[spoiler:Phantom from the first game, or rather his "ghost" since he died.]] Defeat him and you'll get the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity Plus One Foot Chip]].
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'', the boss of SpaceZone is Tatanga, who was the final boss of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand''.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''
** Both Puzzle Plank Galaxy's missions has Mario (or Luigi) fighting the Mandibug bosses for the Power Star: the Mandibug Stack for the normal star, and Bugaboom for the hidden star.
** Throwback Galaxy is basically a [[MeaningfulName throwback to]] ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'''s [[MeaningfulName Whomp's Fortress]]. So who also returned to become the galaxy's boss? Whomp King. And he sure TookALevelInBadass big time.
** Boss Blitz Galaxy is a World S BossRush mission, where all five bosses are ones from [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy the original game]] not fought anywhere else. In order, the bosses fought are Dino Piranha, King Kaliente, Major Burrows, Boldergeist and Fiery Dino Piranha.
* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'', [[spoiler:Galacta Knight from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Ultra'']] appears as an extra boss in [[BossRush the True Arena]]. In this game, he cannot be fought everywhere else.
** In ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'', [[spoiler: Dark Meta Knight from ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'']] acts as the final boss of King Dedede's mode.
** In ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'', [[spoiler:clones of Dark Matter from ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and Queen Sectonia from ''Kirby Triple Deluxe'', as well as the real Galacta Knight]], are the last three bosses of Meta Knight's mode.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** A Pre-FinalBoss example. In ''VideoGame/SonicAdvance'''s final stage, Dr. Eggman uses both the Egg Mobile's wrecking ball (Egg Mobile-H) from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'' and the drill-tipped vehicle (Egg Mobile-D) from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', complete with the boss themes from both games, before the actual FinalBoss battle occurs. Notably, each fight has half the durability they had before. And there seems to be no other reason for Eggman to go to the trouble of reenacting fights that he had lost before.
** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I]]'', all of the boss fights [[TurnsRed start out]] as Legacy Bosses (though the [[EternalEngine Mad Gear]] boss works rather differently from its [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Metropolis Zone]] predecessor), befitting a game made entirely up of [[NostalgiaLevel Nostalgia Levels]]. ''Episode II'' [[SubvertedTrope pretends]] it's going to do the same in [[TempleOfDoom Sylvania Castle]], only to have the ''real'' boss turn up and destroy the ''Sonic 2'' CallBack totem poles.
** Years before the above two, ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' has two boss fights partway through Sky Sanctuary Zone, in which Mecha Sonic pilots replicas of the Green Hill Zone boss from ''Sonic 1'' and the Metropolis Zone boss from ''Sonic 2''. Interestingly, while the bosses' behavior was essentially identical, the newer game's slightly different physics made the former more difficult and the latter considerably easier. Flying Battery Zone even has a replica of the Wing Fortress Zone boss from ''2'', but unlike before it is too high up to hit normally, and the machine instead defeats itself.
** Every boss in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' except the FinalBoss, due to the game's nature as a MilestoneCelebration. The console version has [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Death Egg Robot]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Perfect Chaos]] and [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Egg Dragoon]], while the handheld version has [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Big Arm]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 the Biolizard]] and [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Egg Emperor]].
** As a {{Retraux}} throwback to the Genesis games, ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' includes several Legacy Boss Battles, such as the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Death Egg Robot]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Metal Sonic]], the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Final Zone]], and even VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine.
* The Black Plague fight in [[VideoGame/ASuperMarioThing [=A2XT=]]] is an updated version of his original level in the rom-hack ''Super Mario Infinity'', room design and battle mechanics included.
* ''VideoGame/ActRaiser2'': You can fight the final boss from the first game by using the password "Xxxx Yyyy Zzzz".
* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has the Squid Baron, who first appears in ''VideoGame/ShantaeRiskysRevenge'' as an important part of the storyline and later appears in ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndThePiratesCurse'' as a Filler Boss with new tricks up his sleeve and [[ThatOneBoss higher difficulty]]. This gets multiple lampshades throughout the game, as the Squid Baron, aware of his nature as a video game character and why he returned for another game, repeatedly bemoans his reduced role in the plot.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy'': Konk is the first boss in the first four games.
* ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt3'': In Sunrise Palace 2, [[spoiler:Gunvolt and Kirin will face down against illusions of Viper and Jota from ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'' and Tenjian and Zonda from ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt2'']] as DualBoss {{Mini Boss}}es. Not only do they use their attacks from their past appearances, for their {{Limit Break}}s they'll work together to do a stronger CombinationAttack with them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Time Strategy]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'' has an optional fight against an enormous monster called the Butcher, a boss from the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Role Playing Game]]
* The {{Trope Namer|s}} is ''Videogame/DragonQuestIX''. In it, you can fight every single BigBad (and some Dragons) from all the previous games as some of the {{Superboss}}es. However they use the same [[RandomlyGeneratedLevels grotto]] system as the other {{Superboss}}, but with a few differences. Such as only one floor, and the fact that you can level up the bosses by giving up the EXP rewards. Beating them usually gives you some cosplay gear related to their original games or some Orbs.
* In the ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' series, there's the Dragon, Drake and Wyrm (later known as the Storm Emperor, Blizzard King and Great Dragon respectively). They're mighty dragons corresponding to FireIceLightning and have been in every mainline game and their remakes except for ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyVBeyondTheMyth''. Defeating them is the objective of postgame quests and are key to raising the level cap by 10 each (except in the first two games).
* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy5'' features two bosses from the previous four games in the [[NostalgiaLevel Data Bunker]] simulations:
** The ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy1'' simulations feature the game's first two bosses, King Slime and the Beholder.
** The ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy2'' simulations feature its third and fourth bosses, Giga Golem and the Sandworm.
** The ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy3'' simulations feature Vegetable Forest's boss, Jack, and the Kitten Kingdom Ruins' boss, the Protector.
** Finally, the ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy4'' simulations have Lankyroot Jungle's boss, Rafflesia, and the Waste Disposal Plant's boss, the Praetorian.
* ''VideoGame/IllusionOfGaia'' features a boss battle with the first boss of ''VideoGame/SoulBlazer'' in the bonus dungeon, assuming you can collect all fifty Red Jewels to access it.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** If a Disney world is recycled in a subsequent installment, then it is expected that their villain will be too, since there is only so much room for its plot to expand and the games usually don't dabble in supplementary materials (say, TV series), if there is any. Out of the Disney villains who appear in the first game, the only one who does not make a return in a sequel is Clayton, and that is because Disney lost the license to ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}''. Special mention goes to [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Hades]], who is fought in nearly every game since his world also appears in nearly every game.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] appears as a {{Superboss}} in ''Videogame/KingdomHeartsI'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. The first one as one of the coliseum matches with no context except for one ''Final Mix'' exclusive cutscene, the latter game has him cameo during the 1000 Heartless War where he asks where Cloud is, vanishes, and then taunts Cloud a little bit later.
** Axel, the only Organization XIII member who survives the events of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'', returns as the prologue boss in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. The ''[[UpdatedRerelease Final Mix]]'' update adds the Absent Silhouette {{Superboss}}es, where you fight against the deceased members from ''[=CoM=]''.
** [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII Xemnas]] and [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Young Xehanort]] invert the trope; they [[EarlyBirdCameo first appeared]] as {{Superboss}}es in ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts|I}}: Final Mix'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', respectively, albeit with their identity hidden from the characters (and the audience).
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'':
*** The Keyblade War sequence consists of a string of Legacy Boss Battles, including Ansem Seeker of Darkness, seven members of the original Organization XIII (Larxene, Luxord, Marluxia, Saix, Xigbar, Xemnas, and Xion), Riku Replica, Vanitas, Master Xehanort, Terra-Xehanort, and Young Xehanort.
*** The RecurringBoss fights of the Demon Tower and Demon Tide, who were previously fought in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts02BirthBySleepAFragmentaryPassage''.
*** The Schwarzgeist from ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' appears as a {{Superboss}} for the Gummi Ship, as that game's dev team was recruited to make the Gummi portions of the game.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has a few examples:
** Cynthia, [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Sinnoh's champion]], appears as a {{Superboss}} in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''.
** Later, in ''Videogame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', you can face ''every'' Gym Leader and Champion from preceding games. Most of them are fought in the World Tournament, but some of the retired Gym leaders from Black And White, and N are fought in different areas, and only one Gym Leader is excluded (Koga, as he left to join the second Kanto Elite Four, and his daughter Janine took over as Gym Leader and is present instead).
** [[OlympusMons Mewtwo]] appears in a cave that is off-limits until after the end of ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY.''
** To enter the Battle Tree in the postgame of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', you have to do battle with either Red or Blue from [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue the first generation]]. Within the Battle Tree, they, along with various other cameos you've encountered in the game like Colress or Grimsley, can appear as opponents at various streak milestones.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a new storyline where the player has to face the bosses of the villain teams from preceding games.
* ''Metal Max 4''[='=]s DownloadableContent Bosses are these. Including [[spoiler:Noah and Ted Broiler]].
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]''[='s=] ''Dragonborn'' DLC has a {{Superboss}} fight against the ghost of Karstaag, a Frost Giant slain by the PlayerCharacter during ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''[='s=] ''Bloodmoon'' expansion.
* In later versions of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' starting with the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance version, there are bonus dungeons featuring four bosses each from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV IV]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV V]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI VI]]''. There are no bosses from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' because that game is usually bundled with ''I''.
* Lashiec, the penultimate boss of ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarI'', returns in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', complete with his [[NostalgiaLevel Air Castle]] dungeon.
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarUniverse: Ambition of the Illuminus'' features a boss battle against Mother Brain, a tribute to the end boss of ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII''. The battle's theme is even [[http://www.absolute-video-games.com/audio/4325/mother a hard-hitting techno remix of the final boss theme]] from [=PhSII=].
* The Gal Gryphon from ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' is brought back as a limited event boss in its sequel, ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''. Its moves, arena, and music are completely intact, and its strength is amped up to handle ''12'' players at once.
* The [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Final Dungeon]] of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' has bosses from ''I'' to ''VI'', with only a couple of them being optional. This was dropped in the later 3D remake, however.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' has previous ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' bosses fightable. [[VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia Phantasia's Dhaos]], [[VideoGame/TalesOfEternia Eternia's Shizel]], [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny Destiny's Barbatos]], and [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Symphonia's Kratos]] are all opponents in the coliseum's 200-Man Melee.
* In the BonusDungeon of ''VideoGame/ManaKhemiaAlchemistsOfAlRevis'', you can fight the dark versions or Alvero, Yula, and Crowley, bosses from ''VideoGame/AtelierIris3''.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'' has two optional fights against the Star Magician and the Dullahan, two of the strongest {{Superboss}}}es of the previous game, now even ''stronger''.
* The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' features optional bosses from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyThe4HeroesOfLight'' that are distributed via [=StreetPass=].
* Ozzie, Slash, and Flea, a group of recurring bosses from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', can be found and fought in the Bend of Time on the sequel ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. Since they're only found during a NewGamePlus, they're harder than in the original game.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' has this in the form of [[spoiler: The Old Dragonslayer, AKA Dragonslayer Ornstein]] and the Belfry Gargoyles (only this time you fight ''six'' of them, not two).
* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'', ups the ante with several bosses that are references to or copied whole-cloth from ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI''. [[spoiler: Up to and including the FinalBoss, a composite of 4 [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Previous Player Character Cameos]] (in phase 1) and Gwyn (in phase 2)]].
* ''VideoGame/DarkChronicle'' has the bonus dungeon Zelmite Mine, with the BigBad, [[spoiler:the Dark Genie]], from the first game as the boss at the end.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
** ''VideoGame/Persona1'' and the ''VideoGame/Persona2'' duology combine this trope with VaryingTacticsBoss to keep you on your toes:
*** [[spoiler:Takahisa Kandori]] from the first game returns in ''Eternal Punishment''.
*** Tatsuya Sudou, Ginji Sasaki and [[spoiler:Shadow Maya]] are fought in both parts of ''P2''.
** In an example that's both this and a CallForward, the PSP version of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' adds an optional boss battle against Margaret, the Velvet Room attendant from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}''. This is because the PSP UpdatedRerelease of 3 was developed ''after'' 4.
** The [[ThatOneBoss infamously difficult]] Sleeping Table from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' returns in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' as a miniboss in [[spoiler:[[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Yomotsu Hirasaka]]]], though thankfully nowhere near as difficult as it was originally.
** In the UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/Persona5'', you have the option to fight [[spoiler:the Protagonists of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'']] as {{Superboss}}es.
* Both the ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' games does this with it's {{Superboss}}es. The first game features [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne the Demi-fiend]]]] and the second game features the return of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII the Four Archangels, Seth, and Satan]].]]
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' has battles against the Four Fiends from the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', though only one (Lich, though identified as "Earth Guardian" during the boss battle) is fought as a boss - the rest are CutsceneBoss battles and later fought as DegradedBoss encounters in Memoria (though Marilith's name is mistranslated as Maliris).
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': Some of the optional monster hunts pit you up against revamped boss characters from previous games, such as perennial favorite Gilgamesh or slimy lech Ultros/Orthros (here redesigned as a flan rather than an octopus).
* A few DLC bosses in the Coliseum in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' are these, including [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII [=PuPu=]]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Ultros and Typhon]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI Omega]] and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Gilgamesh]].
** In the main game, all the optional bosses that can be fought in Archylte Steppe are either exactly the same as or functionally identical to Cie'th Stone mission bosses from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' - Ochu, Gigantuar, Immortal and Long Gui are taken from the previous game (though Long Gui is severely downgraded in terms of difficulty), while Yomi fights exactly the same way as {{Superboss}} Vercingetorix from the previous game.
* Plenty of bosses in the ''VideoGame/WildArms'' series appear in multiple games. Sometimes, they're important to the storyline, sometimes they're not. For the biggest example, you have the {{Superboss}} Ragu O Ragla, whom appears in all 5 installments.
* In ''VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork'', a ''lot'' of navis have played this role, being bosses in multiple games. Sometimes they're optional, sometimes they're not. The most notable examples are Gutsman, Protoman, and Bass.
* ''VideoGame/MegamanStarForce'', being made by the same people and a sequel to ''Battle Network'', of course has some bosses who recur through the series.
* ''VideoGame/LastScenario'' and ''VideoGame/ExitFate'', being made by the same person, have an enemy called "Pestilence" that appears in both games.
* The final boss of ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon Zwei'', the Guardian Dragon, makes a comeback in ''Panzer Dragoon Saga'' as an earlier boss, as it was found and brought back by the Empire in an injured state but no less deadly.
* ''VideoGame/OctopathTravelerII'' has a full-blown boss fight against [[spoiler:Galdera, the TrueFinalBoss from [[VideoGame/OctopathTraveler the first game.]]]]
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' features a number of unique enemies who reappear from previous games, such as Immovable Gonzalez, who appeared in both the previous two installments. The expansion, ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3FutureRedeemed'' also includes a handful of these, notably; Dark Murakmor, a bird-like monster that perches on Colony 9's anti air battery 3 returns as Tenebrous Muramasa (Tenebrous being a synonym for Dark). Avalance Abassy, the first game's highest level {{Superboss}} returns as Fogdweller Abassy, where it reprises it's role, though only level 100, oppsed to Avalanche's level 120.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shoot 'em Up]]
* ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerStarResistance EXTRAPOWER Star Resistance]]'': Dark Force isn't fought in-story until ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce Attack of Darkforce]]'', which this game is the prequel to, but he can be fought here as an optional SuperBoss in the BossRush mode.
* The original forms of Mandler is fought several times throughout the ''VideoGame/TerraCresta'' series, including ''VideoGame/SolCresta''. In both ''Terra Cresta II'' and ''Sol Cresta'', it now has a OneWingedAngel form for the final battle.
* Some bosses in ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' show up in more than one game: Cirno (''Embodiment of Scarlet Devil'' and ''Perfect Cherry Blossom''), Yuyuko (''Perfect Cherry Blossom'' and ''Ten Desires'') and Sanae (''Mountain of Faith'' and ''Subterranean Animism'').
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Third-Person Shooter]]
* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'':
** The Octostomp was one of only two story mode bosses who debuted in [[VideoGame/Splatoon1 the first game]] who would reappear in ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', with the other being...
** [[TheGeneralissimo DJ Octavio]], who serves as the FinalBoss of the first two games' story modes. In ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', [[spoiler:however, he's the ''[[DiscOneFinalBoss first]]'' boss.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Turn-Based Strategy]]
* Many Creator/NipponIchi games in this genre have {{Superboss}} battles against characters and bosses from other Nippon Ichi games. Often, the boss will be unlocked after defeating them.
** Perhaps the most iconic example is [[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Baal]], described as the strongest demon in existence and the strongest {{Superboss}} in each game he appears in. Despite this status, Baal has suffered from being DemotedToExtra in later Nippon Ichi games. [[VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject One game]] has him explicitly replaced by ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom''[='=]s [[UnexpectedCharacter Valvoga]].
** When Baal isn't the final {{Superboss}}, [[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Pringer]] [[VideoGame/PhantomBrave X]] usually is. Unlike Baal, Pringer X has less plot surrounding him, coming off as a [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere random]] robot penguin that's insanely powerful.
** And then there's [[DemotedToExtra Asagi]], who may be the silliest example here. In her [[VideoGame/MakaiKingdom initial appearance]] she was an EarlyBirdCameo {{Superboss}} for a game still in development. When that game got cancelled, she reappeared as an OptionalBoss in other games in order to pull a HostileShowTakeover. Since the player beats her, she tragically fails each time.
** Priere, the main character of ''VideoGame/LaPucelle'', almost always appears as this trope in ''Disgaea'' games. The twist is that she appears in her demonic form from the secret joke ending of her game. This resulted in ''La Pucelle[='=]''s remake having an AlternateTimeline Demon Priere story.
** Earlier ''Disgaea'' games have a fight against Marjoly, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure''. In ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'' her servant [[CatGirl Myao]] is fought instead. Later games have Marjoly DemotedToExtra, first by becoming DownloadableContent in ''VideoGame/Disgaea3'', and then being absent in later games.
** ''VideoGame/DisgaeaDimension2'' has a boss fight against [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Darkdeath Evilman]] from ''VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject''. He is specifically summoned to challenge the main character.
** ''VideoGame/Disgaea5'' features a PaletteSwap of Darkdeath Evilman called "Proto Darkdeath".
* In the ''VideoGame/ShiningForceGaidenGames'', Woldol, the BigBad of the first game, returns from the dead as the boss of the stage before the second game's Big Bad.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Rail Shooter]]
* If you take the alternate path on Corneria in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''[[note]]Save Falco then fly under all the archways in the water section[[/note]], the boss fight is the Attack Carrier from the original ''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]''. Defeating it will take you to Sector Y instead of the Asteroid Field stage.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Light Gun Game]]
* The Magician, the FinalBoss of ''[[VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead The House Of The Dead]]'' reappears as the penultimate ([[BossRush unique]]) boss of ''The House Of The Dead 2'', in a form only slightly weaker than his incarnation in the previous game. He also appears as the final boss in ''The House of the Dead 4 Special''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Survival Horror]]
* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'' features Golden Freddy as an opponent on the 6th night. While in [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys1 the original game]], he's basically an EasterEgg who rarely [[DropInNemesis appears suddenly in the office and]] [[spoiler:crashes the game if you don't immediately look away]], in the sequel, he wanders the halls with the other animatronics, though he's by far the deadliest of them all.
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilGunSurvivor 2'' has [[ImplacableMan The Nemesis]] from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' pop up as the final boss of the game, somewhat justified in that the events of the game are a nightmare Claire is having during the events of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novel]]
* Most ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' games start out with a case facing off against Winston Payne, nicknamed "Rookie Killer" due to his [[InformedAttribute apparent record of defeating rookie attorneys.]] Despite this nickname, Payne's cases are by far the easiest in their respective games. Even when not facing off against Winston himself, his brother Gaspen Payne or their ancestor Taketsuchi Auchi take his place.
[[/folder]]
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