Tides of Annihilation’s Boss Fights Won’t Punish You for Losing

by

Eclipse Glow Games’ Tides of Annihilation is gaining recognition for its impressive boss battles, but its unique approach to failure might be even more noteworthy. Unlike many action games that restart battles after defeat, Tides of Annihilation seems to be trying something different. While the bosses appear large, visually stunning, and complex, they might actually be more forgiving than players anticipate, considering the game’s dramatic style.

In a recent Game Rant interview, producer Kun Fu explained that boss fights in Tides of Annihilation won’t focus on harshly punishing errors. Instead, the team wants players to learn from failures and keep progressing. Fu suggested the fights are designed to encourage repeated attempts without feeling overly punishing. While details are still limited, it sounds like Tides of Annihilation might offer a less punishing experience than typical ‘soulslike’ games – or at least be more forgiving.

Tides of Annihilation Is Filled With Boss Fights, But Shouldn’t Feel Punishing

Tides of Annihilation Has Plenty of Boss Fights Awaiting Players

Although Tides of Annihilation isn’t a “soulslike” game – the developers at Kun Fu and Eclipse Glow Games have made that clear repeatedly – it still features a large number of challenging boss battles. Players will journey through a unique London, blending modern and medieval Arthurian elements, and face many bosses during their adventure. As Fu explained in a recent interview:

Our game features many boss battles, and each boss is designed with a lot of detail. However, the way their story unfolds and how much that story impacts the fight itself is different for every boss.

While Tides of Annihilation isn’t strictly a boss-rush game, boss battles are central to the experience. Not all fights will be equally important to the story; some will advance the plot, while others will test your skills or simply provide a change of pace. However, even these less story-driven fights will still feel connected to the game’s world and overall narrative.

It appears Tides of Annihilation is following a common pattern in action-adventure games: key boss battles drive the main story forward, while other boss fights are optional and intended for players who enjoy thorough exploration.

Tides of Annihilation’s Boss Encounters Seem Built for the Player’s Success

The most exciting parts of Tides of Annihilation aren’t necessarily in its standard combat. Though some of the game’s design feels familiar, Eclipse Glow Games seems to have some clever ideas to make the challenging boss fights more accessible and prevent players from feeling overwhelmed. When asked about what happens when players fail a boss fight, Fu responded with:

When we design a boss fight, we start with a really clear idea of what we want players to feel during that part of the game. We think a lot about how frustrating it is to keep dying and trying the same thing, so we try to make sure each attempt feels meaningful and keeps the story and the fight flowing. We want it challenging, but not just a grind!

What really stands out about the boss battles in Eclipse Glow Games’ Tides of Annihilation isn’t just how they feel during the first try, but also how they feel after many attempts. Unlike some similar games that don’t seem to consider how much time and effort players invest in learning a boss, Tides of Annihilation actively tries to prevent things from becoming frustratingly repetitive. While the designer, Fu, didn’t share exactly how this approach will play out, he did mention a surprising detail that should reassure players who might be overwhelmed by the impressive scale of these fights.

To make longer boss fights less frustrating, we’re adding moments where players can pause and recover. We’ll also give players rewards based on how well they do, so even if they try a fight multiple times, they’ll still feel like they’re making progress.

Long boss battles often benefit from letting players pause for a breather, like with a short cutscene or a chance to save and heal – though not all games offer this. However, Tides of Annihilation seems to be taking a different approach to repeated failures. According to the developer, players will be recognized for their effort during each attempt. This could involve receiving an in-game bonus to help them progress, or even earning experience points based on how far they got, which might be enough to keep them playing instead of giving up.

Although specific details are still emerging, if Eclipse Glow Games follows through on these plans, Tides of Annihilation could offer boss battles that are difficult but not frustrating. We won’t know for sure until the game is released, but Fu’s ideas suggest a combat system that encourages progress and keeps players engaged. At the very least, this approach indicates a design focused on keeping players invested in the game’s story, which could make even optional boss fights worthwhile.

Read More

2025-12-04 14:04