Recurring opponent

Related:
* Mandatory loss
* Hunted

Commonly used as comic relief, but in things like horror games this takes another twist. Not for opponents of the same type, rather the same character (e.g. Dr. Robotnik, Nemesis, etc.).

This happens either with the opponent not really dying (knocked unconscious), fakes death, runs away, raises from the dead, etc.

In some cases the character powers up between fights (either themselves or by acquiring new death-dealing tools such as better guns, better tank, better mount, etc.), and in other cases they're as good as they were before, and rather serve as a test of your grown skills (how much easier it is the next time) than a greater challenge (how nothing seems to have changed).

This is NOT for opponents that recur across multiple games, but those that recur within the same game.