Darius (1986)
Darius Plus (1990)
Darius Alpha (1990)
Super Darius (1991)
Darius Gaiden (1993)
Darius R (2002)
Relatives: Thunderbolt Fans
Darius bosses aren't exactly easy by most standards, but a few of them belong to the Fish-In-A-Barrel (no pun intended) kind. One of these is the original incarnation of Electric Fan. Many's the time I've dispatched him with a totally unpowered laser. His Darius Gaiden version is another cup of tea altogether- but why prejudice the reader?
From top to bottom:Electric Fan in his original Darius and Darius Plus/Alpha forms.
Tips: Strategy-wise, Electric Fan is pretty much the same, except in Darius Gaiden.He only has once chief mode of attack- launching out anchor thingies which are eminently destructible, and fire off a dangerous laser. As would be expected, he only reveals his weak spot just before, during and after he fires off his laser. Ideally, just try and stay aligned with his 'head' and fire away when he reveals his weak spot. But do not hang around too long in line, that laser can kill you on a level 2 shield. The best time to do this is when he moves down and uncovers his weak spot; then travel down with him, but a bit higher, and go for it.
Darius Gaiden's Electric Fan is another cup of tea altogether, but still not a real threat. He first of all bounces in with the energy of a panzer column, and kicking up a dirt cloud big enough for one too with the satellite 'thingies' one usually found in Darius. He then shoots out bullets from his tentacles and - dig this - clownfishes! They're quite destructible. You can now blow off his tentacles too; concentrate on them as the bullets can be a pain. After a while he attempts to suck you in, and then spits out a hail of blue balls which rain down on you (hallelujah...). They're indestructible, but not much more than weaving through a 'Pachi bulletstorm (in fact, since you will probably be moving back and forth almost exclusively, the analogy is even better). He then bounces across the screen (slide under him), sweep back, repeats the sucking attack but spitting out more vicious green balls, and restart. The more and more you attack him, the smokier he gets and you can strip off parts of his main body. He fires more bullets at you as well.
When you do get him, what tentacles are left blow off and he explodes in the usual Gaiden fashion.
Rating:
Colour Scheme:
(Darius) 47% (Darius Plus &c) 62% (Darius Gaiden) 77%
Design:
(Darius &c) 67% (Darius Gaiden) 82%
Attacks:
(all 'old' Dariuses) 31% (Darius Gaiden) 77%
Name:
76%
Real-Life Inspiration: Obviously a sea anemone, mais quel sea anemone? Research to be done...
