Darius II/Sagaia(1986)
Darius Twin(1991)
Super Darius II(1992)
Code Numbers:
In Darius Twin:HH02
In Super Darius II:KL2H, I think. I need to check it up. It's possible the Sagaia number's the same.
Relatives: Nil.
Killer Hijia (I prefer this spelling) is one of the many middling bosses one comes across in the pre-Gaiden games. He does have a semi-nice name and isn't as middling, as, say, Golden Eyes or Burst Out. But why bitch? The less difficult he is, the better it is for all the parties involved (especially me, since screenshots become easier).
Killer Hijia in Super Darius II(left) and Darius II forms. The disparity in size is a bit distracting.
Tips: In both the Super Dariuses, Killer Hijia has the same attack pattern. He first chiefly fires four three-bullet arcs, one for each point of the compass, moving vaguely across the screen. His jaw also is continously working at something. Wonder what it is. When you've hit him enough, he will start to explode and sink. But wait, he coming back to throw one more attack at you:
The damn fish actually splits open and launches four (perfectly destructuble) missiles at you! For some reason, I find this one of the coolest boss attacks Belser has thrown at me so far. Otherwise, it's the same bullet arcs. As you inflict more and more damage to him, he turns from a fetching copper-chloride green to an angry red (see top pic) and eventually blows. However, when he dies in Sagaia and if he's using his missile attack, you can get this artefact:
Darius Twin saw Killer Hijia change his name, put on a bit of weight and get a more fetching paint job. But he's if anything easier than version 1.
He now has four attacks, all of which can be pretty much dealt with by sitting in one spot. He first fires a three-bullet arc, then a five-destructible bullet arc, another bullet arc, two homing missile and then tries to ram you. As he moves back, the bugger gnashes his jaw, which I found hilarous for some reason, and launches two more destructible-bullet arcs. Merely avoid the bullet arcs and stay at the leftmost corner of the screen to avoid his ramming attacks. In fact, stay pinned to the left side of the screen, moving only to avoid the bullet arcs, and that's it. His ramming attack will never hit you if you're at the extreme left. And yes, he gnashes his teeth all the way down when you get him.
Colour Scheme:
Sagaia/Super Darius II:68% Darius Twin:76%
Design:
Sagaia/Super Darius II:70% Darius Twin:77%
Attacks:
Sagaia/Super Darius II:72% Darius Twin:61%
Name:
(both)58% (for a 'killer', he leaves much to be desired).
Real-Life Inspiration:Looks like the mackerel (aji as they call it over there). Thanks to Ying Zhang for that! He also has this to say about his split-wide-open attack:
It's actually a joke referring to a Japanese fish dish called Aji no
hiraki, which is to take a makerel and cut it open in the belly but with the
back intact to split it open into 2 half (linked in middle), soak it in salt
water, hang it dry for a day, and then fry it :))
This technique (at least the cutting-open) to cook fish is a common one, called 'butterflying' in Hawaii. And spell it backwards and see how the boss got its name
