# Multi-Stage Boss Fights Are the Worst Video Game Mechanic

> Boss fights that heal mid-fight frustrate players, especially in games like Control Resonant.
- Title: Multi-Stage Boss Fights Are the Worst Video Game Mechanic
- Summary: Boss fights that heal mid-fight frustrate players, especially in games like Control Resonant. Multi-stage boss fights that heal during mid-fight cutscenes…
- Keywords: control resonant, multi-stage boss fights, the dancer, fromsoftware, souls games, elden ring, legend of zelda tears of the kingdom, ganondorf, boss fight, game mechanics, video games, gaming
- Source: Polygon — https://polygon.com/multi-stage-boss-fights-worst-video-game-mechanic
- Author: Ford James
- Published: 2026-10-05T20:00:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: control resonant, multi-stage boss fights, the dancer, fromsoftware, souls games, elden ring, legend of zelda tears of the kingdom, ganondorf, boss fight, game mechanics, video games, gaming
## Boss Fights Have Been Around Since Video Games Started
Boss fights have existed for almost as long as video games have, serving purposes like story progression or guarding rare loot.
## Some Bosses Have Hidden Second Stages
Some bosses, like those in FromSoftware's Souls games, have second or third stages where they transform into more powerful versions.
## The Dancer Boss Fight in Control Resonant
The Dancer in Control Resonant is a second or third boss that players beat but then enters a second stage, healing mid-fight.
## Players Feel Cheated When Bosses Heal Mid-Fight
When players defeat a boss only to have it heal during a mid-fight cutscene, it evokes frustration and takes away achievement.
## Souls Games Handle This Better
Souls games are less frustrating because players expect second stages, making the anticipation part of the process.
## The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Example
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Ganondorf fight has a second stage that feels intimidating but isn't particularly tough.
## Players Need Checkpoints Between Stages
Adding a checkpoint after each stage would prevent players from restarting the fight after dying in the second stage.
## Fixing the Problem Would Help Players
If the second phase starts when health is at halfway, it would feel less like a cheat and more like a visual mind trick.
## Key takeaway

Multi-stage boss fights that heal during mid-fight cutscenes frustrate players by resetting progress after defeating a boss.