King Fossil (Japanese: キングフォスル, Hepburn: Kingufosuru?) [Japanese name: King of Fossils] is a recurring boss and in many ways the mascot of the whole Darius Series. It has resurfaced in every Darius game except Darius Force, Darius Twin and G-Darius, where similar bosses take its place. It sets the standard for the way all Darius bosses would make an entrance. It is shaped after a Coelacanth (Coelacanthiformes).
Website Summary
For Dariusburst: Another Chronicle EX
King Fossil is a flagship that is similar in shape to the coelacanth, Fossil I have believed that the series of the base ship. Although the same name of the ship species have been identified from long ago, evidence is isomorphic ship has not been confirmed. Improvement of the results over the long time, large number of blind spot that was seen in the early type, the smallness of the thermal power has been improved. In particular maneuver depth charge is a nasty attack, so as not to lose the escape, it is necessary to sufficiently secure the retreat.
Darius Odyssey Guidebook Bio
- Name: King Fossil
- Motif: Coelacanth
- Type: General-purpose Battleship
- Size: 109.84 m / 360.4 ft
- Zone: A (Cosmic Cave)
- Weapon: Diffusion Particle Gun (Jaw), etc.
- Name: King Fossil
- Motif: Coelacanth
- Type: General-purpose battleship
- Size: 113.17 m / 371.3 ft
- Zone: C (Underwater)
- Weapon: Diffusion particle gun (jaw), etc.
- Name: King Fossil
- Motif: Coelacanth
- Type: General-purpose battleship
- Size: 156.18 m / 512.4 ft
- Zone: Chronicle Mode
- Weapon: Mobile Depth Charges, Etc.
Gameplay
Darius, Super Darius, Darius II & Super Darius II versions
Given that it is the very first boss, King Fossil has a very simple attack pattern and is fairly easy. It only moves up and down and occasionally opens its mouth, firing waves of three (Game Boy), four (GBA and PC-Engine) or five (Arcade) bullets in an arc. Since its mouth is its weak point, it can only be damaged when it is open. A good strategy is to get up close and bomb it from slight above its mouth when it opens.
Darius Gaiden
King Fossil got a major overhaul for its appearance in Darius Gaiden, including a new light blue paint job and a much tougher attacking pattern. It will start the battle using the traditional arc bullet spread from its mouth, as well as sending anchor drones. After some damage, it will shoot its own scales at the player (which are indestructible), after which it will shoot bombs that explode into a circular bullet spread, as well as firing semi-homing torpedoes.
Sagaia (Game Boy)
Its pattern is the same as in its other incarnations, however the player will fight it a second time and his attacks will be different. During the second encounter, its attacks will consist of two shots composed of two bullets orbiting each other, and two egg-like destructible bullets coming from both the top and bottom of its body, creating an arc pattern that closes at the end of the screen.
Rainbow Islands
King Fossil appears in the NES port of Rainbow Islands, another Taito game. It appears as the Level 7 boss. Its main attacks consist of shooting three fireballs at once and floating around the stage, trying to crush the player.
Darius Burst: Second Prologue (iOS)
King Fossil reappears in the Mission Mode of Darius Burst: Second Prologue in a number of missions as a variation of Iron Fossil. Strictly speaking, though, it is just the placing of King Fossil's head onto Iron Fossil's body, and there are no changes in the attack pattern whatsoever.
Darius Burst Another Chronicle EX
King Fossil also reappears in some of the online events in Event Mode and in locations in Chronicle Mode. The appearance is the same as mentioned above for Second Prologue, except that there is a notable change in the attack pattern that makes King harder to fight. The original bullet arcs are replaced by lines of the purple orbs that explode after they hit the player or after they stop moving and pulsate. In addition, King will also spray these orbs out in random directions and distances every time it sheds scales. Other than that, there are no other changes to the rest of the pattern and King Fossil should easily succumb after following the usual strategy.
Battleship Information
Weak Point(s)
King Fossil's main weak point is its mouth, but it's damageable only when it's open and King Fossil only opens its mouth for attacking.
The upper and lower fins can also be destroyed for extra points.
Name's Origin
As all Fossils, King Fossil is a coelacanth. The coelacanths are living prehistoric animals that lived for milions of years in the seas. Now only exists two species of coelecanths, both of them belong to the family Latimeridae. The most representative species is the common coelecanth (Latimeria Chalumnae).
Cameos
Rainbow Islands (GBC)
King Fossil makes a cameo appearance in the Game Boy Color port of Rainbow Islands. In the intro, it kidnaps the president of Rainbow Islands. However, the game's heroes, Bubby and Bobby easily rescue the president and force King Fossil to retreat.
Space Invaders 1995
King Fossil appears in Space Invaders 1995 as one of the three bosses riding the No. 106780 Yamato battleship in the Food level, who shields the other bosses (who are Darius bosses as well), before getting blown off the battleship by the player.