History SerialEscalation / VideoGames

** How many different {{final boss}}es can we have? Before the Halloween Update, three. After, four. As of Wrath of the Lamb, a total of six, with a temporary bugged seventh. As of ''Rebirth'', there are a total of eight final bosses. Mom, Mom's Heart, It Lives, Satan, Isaac, ???, The Lamb, and Mega Satan. Then ''Afterbirth'' adds Ultra Greed to the mix. And [[spoiler:Hush]] isn't technically a final boss, but it way more difficult than the previous bosses, so it might as well be one. ''Afterbirth+'' then adds Ultra Greedier and [[spoiler:Delirium]] who is now the final boss faced after [[spoiler:Hush]] but has a chance to be fought after every other final boss including Mega Satan. Since ''Repentence'' is the final official expansion,'''[[spoiler: The Witness]]''' from ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaacAntibirth'' -- now renamed [[spoiler:Mother]] -- is officially part of the final count alongside [[spoiler:'''DOGMA''' and the TrueFinalBoss, '''THE BEAST''']], adding the number to '''[[spoiler:FIFTEEN]]'''.

* So what the hell else can we build in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''? Another mass mob holocaust? A minecart station that has hundreds of destinations? Another giant creeper statue? Replacing every block with TNT? Make a Minecraft-like game within the game with gravity and liquid physics? There's even a mod that lets you watch ''Website/YouTube'' videos inside the game.

** How much [[MadeOfIron damage can Alex regenerate from?]] [[LovecraftianSuperpower How much gorier can the superpowers get?]]. How many tanks, helicopters and APCs can he hijack/destroy with a whip, claw, hammer, blade, super-jaws-of-life-esque-arms, armor, and shield, all made out of ''himself''? Or more correctly, made out of [[ImAHumanitarian the countless soldiers, zombies, and civilians he devours]]. How much of a bastard can most of the main characters, ''[[RefugeInAudacity including the protagonist]]'', turn out to be? [[spoiler:That last one goes to pot a bit when Alex grows a conscience, but at least the Blackwatch ups the ante on their front to make up for it.]]

** Series-wide, this is showcased with the third-party characters included over the years. First, it was Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog and [[VideoGame/MetalGear Solid Snake]] in ''Brawl'', then Franchise/MegaMan, VideoGame/PacMan, [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ryu]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud Strife]], and [[VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} Bayonetta]] in the Wii U and 3DS titles (and that's before delving into the possibilities opened up by [[VirtualPaperDoll Mii Fighters]], with some DLC including costumes of yet ''more'' third-party characters), and then [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} the Belmonts]], [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ken Masters]], and several DLC characters, including the likes of [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker]], VideoGame/BanjoKazooie, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] and [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora]].

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

* The MediaNotes/ConsoleWars is uses this as one of the marketing weapons of the war. Consoles are constantly advertised has having bigger memory bus/more colors/better sound than it's predecessors/rivals. For example, while Sega and Nintendo were duking it out during during the 16-bit era in the Platform/SegaGenesis vs Platform/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} war, SNK released the Platform/NeoGeo and claimed it was a 24-bit console[[note]]It was actually 16-bit, it even used the same M68K cpu as the Genesis[[/note]]. When Sega and Sony were duking it out during the Playstation vs Saturn war, Nintendo came out with the Platform/{{Nintendo 64}} and claimed it trumps both just by the sheer bus size alone. And when Sega tried this with the Platform/Dreamcast}} by marketing it as a 128-bit console in the 6th Generation era, Sony and Nintendo to retaliated using the same tactics with the Platform/PlayStation2 and [[Platform/NintendoGameCube GameCube]][[note]]although Nintendo's were more subtle- they did not outright claim that the console was 128-bit, but the demo for the console that they showed off at expos and trade shows was called ''Super Mario 128''[[/note]]. Thankfully, people has since wised up, and new laws made these kinds of marketing claims illegal.

* Creator/Crytek keeps doing this with their games' graphics. First came ''VideoGame/FarCry1'', which could only be maxed out by a perfectly top-of-the-line rig, and even now is beyond many stock computers. Then ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'', which was designed so that it couldn't be run on max on any existing computer. It literally couldn't be run on anything that existed. Currently, it can be done, but it needs seriously powerful components. Surprisingly, ''VideoGame/Crysis2'' was actually pretty reasonable on launch due to being [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole optimised for Consoles]]. Then they released the [=DX11=] & Hi-Rez Texture Pack for the PC version and unless you've got at least a ''pair'' of cutting edge graphics cards, you'll be playing a slideshow.

** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'': Between both versions (3DS and Wii U), the game blows its predecessors out of the water in several regards (with the only drawback being the absence of a dedicated Adventure Mode like in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl''), and the DownloadableContent would further increase the number of stages and characters. However, it's less readily apparent when the versions are viewed separately, since Sakuari and his team needed to make many concessions in order to make things work (especially the technologically challenged 3DS version).

* The UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars is uses this as one of the marketing weapons of the war. Consoles are constantly advertised has having bigger memory bus/more colors/better sound than it's predecessors/rivals. For example, while Sega and Nintendo were duking it out during during the 16-bit era in the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis vs UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} war, SNK released the Platform/NeoGeo and claimed it was a 24-bit console[[note]]It was actually 16-bit, it even used the same M68K cpu as the Genesis[[/note]]. When Sega and Sony were duking it out during the Playstation vs Saturn war, Nintendo came out with the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}} and claimed it trumps both just by the sheer bus size alone. And when Sega tried this with the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] by marketing it as a 128-bit console in the 6th Generation era, Sony and Nintendo to retaliated using the same tactics with the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]][[note]]although Nintendo's were more subtle- they did not outright claim that the console was 128-bit, but the demo for the console that they showed off at expos and trade shows was called ''Super Mario 128''[[/note]]. Thankfully, people has since wised up, and new laws made these kinds of marketing claims illegal.

* The UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars is uses this as one of the marketing weapons of the war. Consoles are constantly advertised has having bigger memory bus/more colors/better sound than it's predecessors/rivals. For example, while Sega and Nintendo were duking it out during during the 16-bit era in the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis vs UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} war, SNK released the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo and claimed it was a 24-bit console[[note]]It was actually 16-bit, it even used the same M68K cpu as the Genesis[[/note]]. When Sega and Sony were duking it out during the Playstation vs Saturn war, Nintendo came out with the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}} and claimed it trumps both just by the sheer bus size alone. And when Sega tried this with the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] by marketing it as a 128-bit console in the 6th Generation era, Sony and Nintendo to retaliated using the same tactics with the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]][[note]]although Nintendo's were more subtle- they did not outright claim that the console was 128-bit, but the demo for the console that they showed off at expos and trade shows was called ''Super Mario 128''[[/note]]. Thankfully, people has since wised up, and new laws made these kinds of marketing claims illegal.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'':

** And now that ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' came out, the baseline of crazy has exponentially increased. [[spoiler: The game STARTS with Raiden taking on a Metal Gear RAY and [[CurbstompBattle destroying it it with almost insulting ease.]]]] How bat-shit insane can we make the new villains? How advanced can we make the technology? How many enemies can we cut up? [[LudicrousGibs In how many pieces?]] [[RuleOfCool How many more spectacular feats of physics-defying badassitude during the next Boss Fight?]] [[GutturalGrowler How much more like Batman can we make Raiden sound?]] Then again, this one was made by Creator/PlatinumGames, so the escalation was to be expected.

** Newer and much faster charts than Love is a Danger Zone 2 (now treated as just one more Lv23 song among many others) can be seen at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBZ0YpKNrYg "Cleaner Lv26 Double"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQa91iG_94 "Crashday Lv26 Double"]]

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'': It's just a battle between a plumber and a big turtle. How epic can they get this to be? [[spoiler: Try having the final showdown set in the center of a sun that's in the center of the goddamn universe. Then punching said giant turtle into the magma of said sun, causing it to explode into a black hole that temporarily sucks in all existence. Good lord.]]

* ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland''. How many more versions of Bowser will you fight in the final battle? Baby Bowser and then his giant form? Baby Bowser, Normal Bowser and then HIS giant form? Or how about in the latest game, Baby Bowser, Giant Baby Bowser, Normal Bowser and Giant Normal Bowser all in a row?
* ''VideoGame/WarioLand''. How more ridiculous will your enemies get? [[VideoGame/WarioLand Pirates?]] [[VideoGame/WarioLandII Bubble creatures and Basketball playing rabbits?]] [[VideoGame/WarioLand3 Mutant mice, sausages and fox demons?]] [[VideoGame/WarioLand4 Murderous cuckoo clocks, flying teddy bears and mutant cats?]] [[VideoGame/WarioLandShakeIt Robot clowns, race car drivers and frying pan using fish chefs?]] And that ignores the bizarre stuff in ''VideoGame/WarioWorld'' and ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise''.

* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': How epic and shiny can the attacks get? How high can the [[PowerLevels damage and level caps]] go? How many {{Little Miss Badass}}es can we cram into the game? How cracktacular can we make the [[OnTheNext next chapter preview]]? What hilarious but utterly depraved deed will our [[CardCarryingVillain "heroes"]] try now? How hard can we smash the [[NoFourthWall fourth wall]] this time? Just how evil and powerful is BonusBoss Baal? He's a Demon Lord; he's a Supreme Demon Overlord; who instantly reincarnates upon defeat; actually he's as old as the universe, and takes a new body every time he loses, he can have more than one body at a time. The damage cap has been shown to be over [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOqrRUcjDQ8&NR=1 1.1 Quadrillion.]] In the third game, there is absolutely ''[[{{Cap}} no cap]]'' to stats. Videos feature damage so big, it [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale goes off the scale]] - last digits don't fit on the screen.

** Also, how ridiculous can the [[BonusBoss optional superbosses]] get? I started it off with the BossInMookClothing Warmech, who did obscene damage but abided by the 4-digit HP max of bosses in the game. V had Omega and Shinryu, who were even more devastating and had 5-digit HP totals higher then anything else in the game.

*** X had a whole arena of [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]], many with HP totals higher than Omega Weapon, but the strongest was Nemesis, who had ten million HP but even he was weaker then non-arena superboss Penance who had '''twelve million HP''' a well as '''independently acting arms each with half a million'''. XII was even worse with Yiazmat who has over '''fifty million HP''', can '''trick you into restoring all of it,''' doubles its stats and halves the damage cap of damage dealt to it when it nears death, and can combo for over a hundred thousand HP. XIII was seemingly a step back, with the superboss having 15 million HP, but considering the damage cap being higher, they had to raise its strength ''through the roof.''

** The BonusBoss song [=RAW=], which is [[EndlessGame literally impossible]].

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' had a [[OurDragonsAreDifferent High Dragon]] as a BonusBoss, which was really frakking hard. ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' upped the ante by giving you a ZergRush of little dragons to fight while the High Dragon spat fireballs at you. What's next? [[DualBoss Two High Dragons?]]

* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER 3}}''. What horrifying new Chimera will you fight next? How much more abuse will [[TheWoobie Salsa]] be put through? What unbelievable feat of badassery will the [[BadassAdorable adorable]] characters pull off? How many more terrible things can an immortal PsychopathicManchild do? How can said PsychopathicManchild still remain a sympathetic villain? How much more severe can we make the MoodWhiplash this time? How much can the world and PsychopathicManchild [[TheWoobie emotionally torture Lucas?]] Just how much [[WidgetSeries stranger]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments funnier]] and [[TearJerker more heartrending]] can [[{{Utsuge}} this game]] ''possibly get?''