So I've been prepping my Let's Play channel for quite some time, I bought a mic, gathered a few games I really want to LP, and now I've gathered a bit of cash to get a controller for emulators. (I would REALLY love to do ALL my games via capture card and real console, but I just can't afford it yet.)

But the question remained on what game to play first?

An obvious answer would be a favorite game, but I wanted something a bit more personal... It could be the first game I ever played, but it was at such a young age and I don't have as many fond memories of shooting ducks in Duck Hunt as I wish I did.

Then I thought of the perfect answer, the first game I have ever beat! The first game that I went through from start screen to final boss would be the best starting point for an LP series done purely out of passion for the hobby that we call video games.

But what was that first beat game? That first Final Boss that I defeated and had my first taste of video game victory?

Well the answer is Super Mario World 2, most commonly known as Yoshi's Island!

Yoshi's Island was a fun one. I spent years trying to beat Super Mario World as a kid... too bad I didn't understand saving. I had to restart each time I went to bed so beating that game would take me forever. Then the sequel came to my house and although I was tempted to wait until I was done with the first one, I jumped on it as soon as I had it in my hands.

I sat and said to myself that I was NOT going to stop on this one. I was going for one straight run through. Bed time would have to wait, I had a baby brother to save!

I plowed my way through the perfectly constructed levels, the beautiful and extremely memorable soundtrack, and even some very creative bosses!

So it was to my surprise when i got to the end and I found this boss... this little twerp!

Actually surprised wasn't quite the word I should use. I was a tad disappointed. The levels and bosses leading up to this point were so creative and clever, this really couldn't be the end. That's weak!

After fighting a fairly easy boss and beating Baby Bowser I thought of myself as the victor. A tad disappointed at the end, but overall satisfied with my journey and my first complete game...

Then I was introduced to a new game mechanic... the Second Stage or Final Form Final Boss!

Kamek uses his magic and then something completely unpredictable happens...

The screen goes dark and I find myself standing on a destroyed castle staring off into a dark empty screen and then... he rises!

From the blackness of the background rose a giant, dark, and intimidating foe unlike anything I have ever faced before. The twerp boss from before is now serious! The gloves are off and its go time!

Needless to say as a kid I did not seeing this coming at all and it scared my pants off! The rest of the game was so happy and cheery. Even the difficult bosses didn't seem all that frightening. But THIS, oh man. I may have needed a new pair of pants after this!

And the thing is if it isn't his size, the contrast from the first round, the darkness, or that freaking amazing final boss track that really freaked me out, it was the fact that he starts from far away and then slowly... ever so slowly, moves closer to the screen.

He gets bigger, and bigger with on screen with each step, getting closer and closer to Yoshi and Mario, and their collective life span reaching ever shorter and shorter. Not to mention he isn't just coming after the dynamic duo on screen, but since he's creeping ever closer to the screen, its like he's coming after ME! The player! Sitting on my couch sucking in juice boxes, snuggling with my security blanket, for a while petrified in sheer terror!

It got even worse as the battle went on. Eventually he just books it and charges full force like a freight train (which I had a deathly fear of as a child, and a bitter hatred now), a never stopping juggernaut! When I got to that point I tossed my controller and ducked for cover!

...But no! I wasn't going to give up. NO! Little Colon left his blankie, took a long sip of his juice box, possibly had a change of pants, picked up that controller, sat back down and said, "No! You listen here you reptilian scum. God damn it, that's my brother you've got there. You can be as big as you want, move as fast as you can, you can be as scary as can be, but you will not stop me! I will not rest, I will not falter, I will not back down to the likes of you! Nay, it will be ME who you stop YOU!" *the faint sound of a crowd cheering plays in the back*

(I may have paraphrased a bit, but I do remember a speech to the inanimate tv screen and I remember it to be pretty moving)

So yes I picked up my controller. Spammed those eggs into the background of the screen, dodged many-a-peril, but in the end I did come out on top. And it was me Mario who was finally reunited with his brother and reached a happy ending. No help from friends, no help from family, just me, my blankie, and a Super Nintendo living out my all time favorite memory in video games!

And so that was my first final boss and first game completed. And I'm really looking forward to reliving such an experience when I start my up coming LP of Yoshi's Island as soon as I get everything around. I'll make sure to mention to you guys when I get that started. LPing is a hobby I've been meaning to start for years now and having a fun viewership such as you guys will make it all the better!

So now I ask you to share your first experience of a video game boss, preferably of the Final variety? I feel that first final boss, no matter what it is, is usually a treasured memory and an entertaining experience to hear about.