Day 50: Metal Gear RAY

(Warning: Spoilers for Metal Gear Rising Revengeance are present here)

I wish I had a less predictable way to end this marathon, but honestly I cannot see this marathon ending any other way, because this first boss is probably the most perfect first boss I've ever faced.

Like I said a few days ago when I talked about Gomorrah, the last few entries in the marathon are all first bosses from Platinum Games, including this final entry. I've talked about pretty much all of the first bosses from this company's more well known titles: Little Eddie, Engels, Gomorrah, Fortitudo, and Diekuu Ohrowchee. All that's missing is the first boss from the game I consider to be Platinum's magnum opus.

I'm not even going to say this bosses name (mostly because you already read the title of this chapter), as there is only one true way to call introduce him...

Me: Lyra, you ready?

Lyra: I was born ready.

Me: All we need to say are three simple words for you to know where this is going.

Lyra and I inhale deeply and...

Lyra & Me: RULES OF NATURE!

Holy shit, man, the Metal Gear RAY is no doubt the best way to introduce gamers to the awesomeness that is Metal Gear Rising Revengeance's boss line-up.

Where do we begin, other than the fact we're fighting a damn Metal Gear, a plot point that is reserved for later moments in most MGS games? Well how about that set-up?

After the escort of Prime Minister N'Mani goes south, resulting in Desperado leader Sundowner kidnapping him, Raiden jumps in to save the day only for Sundowner to call in the Metal Gear RAY. Now it's up to Raiden to slay this mechanical monstrosity and save N'Mani from Sundowner's clutches.

Lyra: Spoilers, he doesn't.

(Cue a cutscene that occurs after this fight)

Sundowner: All we're saying...give war a chance! (Stabs N'Mani to death)

Me: Well...that fucking sucks. On the bright side though, WE STILL GOT TO FIGHT A METAL GEAR RAY AS THE FIRST FUCKING BOSS!

In this fight, you must break off the Metal Gear RAY's armor with Raiden's high-frequency blade, all while the boss bombards with all kinds of attacks. It can shoot missiles which will get stuck in the ground, and the only way to disarm them is by slashing at them, shooting a rain of bullet fire at you, which needs to be dodged with Ninja Run, launching an energy beam from its mouth, it'll try and ram into you, and it'll even try and stomp on you, which you can parry and use the opportunity to enter Blade Mode and slash off some of its armor.

Once the Metal Gear RAY has only 0.1 of its health left, one of the most badass quick time events takes place. The Metal Gear RAY will try and hit Raiden with one of its arms, but Raiden will block it with his sword before grabbing the RAY's arm, throwing it into the air, an cutting its arm clean off!

With the Metal Gear RAY pacified, Raiden gives chase to Sundowner.

Now, if the fight ended here, Metal Gear RAY would definitely have cracked this marathon's Top 10, maybe even the Top 5. But get this...we're not done fighting this thing yet!

That's right, the Metal Gear RAY will re-appear as Raiden makes it to the top of a building and the fight will continue.

Like before, you need to slash off the boss' armor and its remaining turret via Blade Mode, all while the RAY attack you with a bite attack which can be parried, its energy beam which needs to be jumped over, and a barrage of missiles from its remaining arm which can be gun down with blade mode.

Once the boss reaches 0.1 health again, Metal Gear RAY will jump away from you while firing off more missiles. Another quick time event will occur where Raiden will get to the Metal Gear RAY by leaping from missile to missile! Contra III: The Alien Wars ain't got nothing on this shit!

Once Raiden makes it to the Metal Gear RAY, he'll slash off the boss' other arm before it finally goes down...is what I would say if the boss didn't pull another fake out!

After cutting off the boss' arm, it'll appear to be dead, only to come back to life seconds later to grab Raiden with its mouth and throw him up to the top of a clocktower. Now Raiden must run down the clocktower while avoiding the Metal Gear RAY's energy beam and countless missiles all while the clocktower falls apart.

Eventually, Raiden will make it back to the Metal Gear Ray where he will impale the boss through the head with his blade and proceeds to drag it down its body, cutting it clean in half, finally ending this fight.

To top everything off, we have one of the most badass music tracks to any boss fight I've ever heard: Rules of Nature! I can't even find the words to describe how awesome this song is. Let me just say there's a reason why these 'Rules of Nature Goes With Everything' videos started appearing around the time of this game's release. Even the most mundane things get packed to the gills with adrenaline when you play this song. There's nothing else I can say except it's Rules of Fucking Nature.

Lyra: AND THEY RUN WHEN THE SUN COMES UP! WITH THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE! ALIVE! FOR A WHILE! NO CHOICE! GOTTA FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE WILD!

Me: I love this song.

In conclusion, Metal Gear RAY is the total package. The music is awesome, the concept and set-up are amazing, the fight is fast paced and fun, the quick time events and finishers are cinematic as hell, and last but not least, this fight has the perfect length. It doesn't go on for too long like the Diekuu Ohrowchee, but it's also longer than some of the other bosses on this marathon. All of these aspects makes the Metal Gear RAY, in my opinion, the best first boss in gaming.

And that's all I have for my Top 50 Favorite First Bosses. For those of you who have read all the way through, thank you. Like last year's Lent Challenge, I didn't expect for a lot of people to read it as this is just a fun way to do Lent for me.

Also like last year's Lent Challenge, the order of these bosses aren't anything set in stone. As I rematch certain bosses and fight new ones, this order is susceptible to change. Hell in the production of this marathon I got the chance to play 'Hades,' and Megara is actually a really fun and challenging first boss. Consider her an honorable mention as well.

But, yeah, that's my 2021 Lent Challenge. Next year we talk about my personal favorite boss type, the Penultimate Boss.

Until then, or whenever I decide to overcome my current bought of writer's block so I can upload part two of Bahamian Rhapsody for South Park Emotional Warzone, I'm WildCard0531, wishing you happy and COVID-19 free Easter. Maybe next year I can upload a Lent challenge and this whole pandemic will be nothing more than a memory.