- For the actual enemy called "Kimkoh", see Kimkoh.
- For the enemy referred to as "Vicious Slave Hawk" in the Contra III English instruction booklet, see Metal Alien.
Taka (奴隷獣 タカ Dorei-jū Taka?, lit. "Slave Beast Taka") is a boss in the Contra series. It is a giant tortoise-like alien monster who appears in various installments, either as a boss or a miniboss.
Appearances
Contra III: The Alien Wars
First appearance of this enemy in the series; it is encountered at the end of the Occupied City Street.
The heroes arrive to what appears to be a dead end, with a high wall blocking further progress. After a brief moment of uncomfortable silence, the earth suddenly begins to tremble and the sound of approaching stomps can be heard every time louder and louder. The wall suddenly breaks apart and from the opening emerges a humongous monstrosity: Slave Beast Taka.
Taka is a gigantic alien monstrosity that somewhat resembles a tortoise. It has an equally gigantic hive affixed to its back, from which it releases swarms of flying insect-like aliens. The hive's opening can be destroyed, preventing any more aliens to come out.
Taka can also vomit myriads of disgusting slug-like creatures that will start crawling on the ground. Another ability consists in extending its neck a great distance in order to bite its prey with its powerful jaws. If this wasn't enough, it can also unleash a powerful energy blast from its mouth.
This boss can only be harmed by damaging the big, core-like heart exposed underneath, although this too can shoot back projectiles at great speed.
Contra: Legacy of War
In Legacy of War, Taka has two attacks: Unleashing its flamethrower and releasing bug-like aliens at the player.
Contra: Shattered Soldier
Slave Beast Taka initially behaves and attacks the same way it did in Contra III, although this time its heart is absent and is instead replaced by another hive. The new weak point is its head.
After sustaining enough damage, it will turn around and reveal a giant human-like face, commencing the second phase of the boss fight. Its two attacks are either vomiting, sometimes having dead bodies to come out, or sniffling, where bugs fly out.
Gallery
Trivia
- The English instruction booklet for Contra III: The Alien Wars names this enemy as "Beast Kimkoh". However, in the Contra universe, Kimkoh is a totally different creature, most known for being the final boss in Super C for the NES. Whether this name change was an error or a liberty taken by the localization team is unknown.
- The European instruction booklet for Super Probotector: Alien Rebels names this enemy as "Vicious Slave Hawks". In the English instruction booklet, the same name is given to another enemy otherwise known as the Metal Alien.