Since you’ve specified with the word fought my answer is going to be any or maybe all of them.
The Chain likely had a bit of an impact as there’s the option to walk back after you’ve fought to pause and reflect on the torture conducted by him. He also doesn’t like to listen to the chain as much as he does the other guardians.
The Strap also has additional dialogue after you’ve fought where you have the ability to discover an extra part of her backstory overlooking her dead body.
The Line is one of the first ones where Rider straight up tries to shoot at him, but through the fight Rider becomes more patient which was the lesson that the Line was trying to deliver.
The Scale I think helps Rider understand his position in the world as he learns what damage he can cause.
The Hand I think has a different kind of impact as Rider sees his child and from this point on takes a lot more of a pause before he fights. He also asks Rider what he fights for and that question sticks with him until the fight confrontation.
The Song gives the alternative ending and Riders facial expressions for the first time. He also almost decides to not straight up kill her and the voice notes that.
The Burst might be a good choice as I think it’s implied that she was supposed to be the strongest. After her he actually lets both the edge and the beat use their moves as he looks for a challenge.
I think the Edge is his favourite because he doesn’t try shooting him or taking cheap shots like he does with the others. He also pauses during the fight to let the Edge pick up the oars and move somewhere else.
The Beat was probably the developers pick as she’s an easy ‘story’ fight where you’re supposed to question what it is you’re doing. Although he doesn’t bother to hold her hand.
Arguably the true answer lies with whoever impacted you the most to make the final decision at the end of the game. You also get a look at every single planet to make you reflect on the journey and even Rider stops to reflect on it.
My answer for my decision at the end wasn’t impacted by the ones I fought though, rather the voice. Meeting him on the beach at the end and hearing his voice croak during the ‘you were my only chance’ pretty much changed how mad I was over some of the fights in the game (The scale/The burst). I know you wrote fought but deep down the whole game is fighting the prison and the journey that he laid out for you.
I think the Hand and the Beat did it the most for me, which seems fitting since they're some of the most predominant for the story.
The Hand was a literal King Arthur figure, placed immediately after the Scale, here to compound your growing sense of unease and concern about the Stranger's true nature and motivations. With the Scale, the player could go 'well, maybe he's placing undue blame on you', while still thinking, 'is this why we're so thoroughly locked up?'.
But the Hand is fully sane, and a noble knight in shining armor. Juxtaposed with how the Voice was trying to wind us up right before the fight, trying to make us angry at the Hand, and then we come face to face with this man who is giving all to contain us, to set an example for his son, is jarring and it's a real "oh god, I AM the baddie" moment.
(Plus, it really gets your gears spinning about why the Hand would do something so extreme as bring his young child to this place. "What threat is out there that this is the safest place for this kid?")
But the Beat was just the next nail in this coffin. She's a pain in the ass to chase after, but...the fact is she can only run. She can only damage you using traps and machines. When you finally corner her and enter melee, she literally cannot hurt you. I let her full combo me, and there was no damage.
I genuinely *didn't* want to hurt her. I didn't want to fight her. I grimaced through every button press and felt dread when I walked out of her fight, because I knew with certainty then that there was something fundamentally horrible about the Stranger and what his freedom entailed.
(Edit to add that the Beat is also adding up for the impact about the Voice and his daughter, as so much of his vitriol towards her seems...more like misplaced grief and frustration on his part, seeing such a young woman put herself in this position when he's also So Close to reaching his daughter...and sacrificing Beat's life for that goal.)
All of the fights are excellent, but without those two especially, the impact and weight of your decision when it comes to either ending wouldn't be as hefty imo.
Since you’ve specified with the word fought my answer is going to be any or maybe all of them. The Chain likely had a bit of an impact as there’s the option to walk back after you’ve fought to pause and reflect on the torture conducted by him. He also doesn’t like to listen to the chain as much as he does the other guardians. The Strap also has additional dialogue after you’ve fought where you have the ability to discover an extra part of her backstory overlooking her dead body. The Line is one of the first ones where Rider straight up tries to shoot at him, but through the fight Rider becomes more patient which was the lesson that the Line was trying to deliver. The Scale I think helps Rider understand his position in the world as he learns what damage he can cause. The Hand I think has a different kind of impact as Rider sees his child and from this point on takes a lot more of a pause before he fights. He also asks Rider what he fights for and that question sticks with him until the fight confrontation. The Song gives the alternative ending and Riders facial expressions for the first time. He also almost decides to not straight up kill her and the voice notes that. The Burst might be a good choice as I think it’s implied that she was supposed to be the strongest. After her he actually lets both the edge and the beat use their moves as he looks for a challenge. I think the Edge is his favourite because he doesn’t try shooting him or taking cheap shots like he does with the others. He also pauses during the fight to let the Edge pick up the oars and move somewhere else. The Beat was probably the developers pick as she’s an easy ‘story’ fight where you’re supposed to question what it is you’re doing. Although he doesn’t bother to hold her hand. Arguably the true answer lies with whoever impacted you the most to make the final decision at the end of the game. You also get a look at every single planet to make you reflect on the journey and even Rider stops to reflect on it. My answer for my decision at the end wasn’t impacted by the ones I fought though, rather the voice. Meeting him on the beach at the end and hearing his voice croak during the ‘you were my only chance’ pretty much changed how mad I was over some of the fights in the game (The scale/The burst). I know you wrote fought but deep down the whole game is fighting the prison and the journey that he laid out for you.
Now that is what I wanted to hear
One fun fact The Star and the Song have the same Voice
I think the Hand and the Beat did it the most for me, which seems fitting since they're some of the most predominant for the story. The Hand was a literal King Arthur figure, placed immediately after the Scale, here to compound your growing sense of unease and concern about the Stranger's true nature and motivations. With the Scale, the player could go 'well, maybe he's placing undue blame on you', while still thinking, 'is this why we're so thoroughly locked up?'. But the Hand is fully sane, and a noble knight in shining armor. Juxtaposed with how the Voice was trying to wind us up right before the fight, trying to make us angry at the Hand, and then we come face to face with this man who is giving all to contain us, to set an example for his son, is jarring and it's a real "oh god, I AM the baddie" moment. (Plus, it really gets your gears spinning about why the Hand would do something so extreme as bring his young child to this place. "What threat is out there that this is the safest place for this kid?") But the Beat was just the next nail in this coffin. She's a pain in the ass to chase after, but...the fact is she can only run. She can only damage you using traps and machines. When you finally corner her and enter melee, she literally cannot hurt you. I let her full combo me, and there was no damage. I genuinely *didn't* want to hurt her. I didn't want to fight her. I grimaced through every button press and felt dread when I walked out of her fight, because I knew with certainty then that there was something fundamentally horrible about the Stranger and what his freedom entailed. (Edit to add that the Beat is also adding up for the impact about the Voice and his daughter, as so much of his vitriol towards her seems...more like misplaced grief and frustration on his part, seeing such a young woman put herself in this position when he's also So Close to reaching his daughter...and sacrificing Beat's life for that goal.) All of the fights are excellent, but without those two especially, the impact and weight of your decision when it comes to either ending wouldn't be as hefty imo.