A Super Mario Bros. question

[-Dezsi-]

Hello!

There is one thing that I was recently thinking about, regarding Super Mario Bros..

Was SMB the first game ever to introduce a boss?
If so, then this game is truly a revolutionary and influental
gem in video game history, not that it wasn't anyway.

I hope someone knows, as I haven't been able to find any info concerning this.


Looks like Bowser's at it again!

[Koopaslaya]

Depends on you definition of "boss."

Push Button...
Receive Bacon! ®

[MEGAߥTE]

Well, there's Donkey Kong, for one.

[Lizard Dude]

Well, Donkey Kong doesn't really have a boss. Just four levels. "Beating" Donkey Kong is just doing another level.

I think Dungeons and Dragons pen-and-paper RPG invented "boss" monsters in the way we're thinking of them. As for action video games, I don't know. Maybe SMB was the first.

“I’m a stupid fatty and I love to play with my Easy Bake oven.”

[SuperSonic_Yoshi]

Not sure.

Also, wasn't it the first to have secret level warps?

[liquidmetallock]

I'm sure there where "boses" before.  I would count Donkey Kong.  Otherwise, on that logic, Bowser is just who you beat to go from castle to castle.

If you define Boss as the most powerful oponet in the game, then even old Arcade games had bosses.

For example, the Dragon in Joust.

dude....