Gaja (魔神ガージャ Majin Gāja?, lit. "Fiend Gaja")[1] are a race of female fiends that once had beautiful mermaid-like appearances, but indulged in pleasures until they lost most of their flesh and became hideous monsters. They wiggle their serpent-like bottom halves to roam around as they please on both land and in water. They wield a pair of Jamadhar push daggers.[2]
They are common enemies in Ninja Gaiden II, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus, and Ninja Gaiden II: Black.
Description[]
Skeletal gorgon-like serpent fiends, with a long tail, two arm, many spikes and a skull helmet on top of their head. The red variant is called "Blood Gaja (ブラッドガージャ?)".
Behavior[]
In their own groups, Gaja tend to attack simultaneously and relentlessly, but act more passive when fighting alongside other fiends such as the Van Gelves. They sometimes burrow underground and reemerge nearby.
Abilities and Powers[]
- Slash and Swipe Combo: slashes once, swipes with her tail, and then slashes twice. Second hit Guard Breaks. Disabled when dismembered.
- Lunging Slash Combo: slashes downwards and then slash twice with both daggers. First hit Guard Breaks, or is unblockable at close-range.
- Slash and Slam Combo: stabs twice, slashes, uppercuts, then slams down with her tail. Final hit Guard Breaks, or is unblockable at close-range.
- Tail Slam: jumps into the air and slam down with her tail. Guard Breaks, or is unblockable at close-range. Disabled when dismembered.
- Throw Attack: swings her tail around to grab Hayabusa. Often roars before performing the attack. Must be escaped, but the first four hits are always confirmed. Disabled when dismembered.
- Projectile Attack: a lightning bolt only be used by the Blood variant. Guard Crushes.
Story[]
Two Gajas Fighting Ryu
Ryu Hayabusa first encounters them in the Aqua Capital, they would appear many times to try and kill Ryu, as he kills every fiend that gets in his way. In hell they are summoned by Zedonius, fighting comfortably in lava as if it was water.
Strategy[]
Gaja are extremely dangerous enemies both on land and on water: focus on not missing Counter Attacks opportunities and dodge the Tail Slam and its Slash and Slam Combo version by timing a delayed dash into the Gaja. The first hit of the Lunging Slash Combo appears Unblockable at close-range, but if it lands at a distance, it'll simply Guard Break. The Throw Attack is devastating for Ryu's Health, but they sometimes telegraph the move by screaming first.
The Lunar Staff offers both a high dismember rate and wide crowd control against Gaja, from its simple Quick, Quick Attack string to the longer combos such as the Dragon's Talon Spin (Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong Attack), Gleaming Shadow (Quick, Quick, Strong Attack), Strange Soul (Quick, Strong, Strong, Strong, Strong Attack) and Gate of Betrayal (While blocking — Quick, Quick Attack), but most effective is to chain an Izuna Drop (While jumping — Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) kill into an Hazy Shadow (↻ Hold Strong Attack, Release with Essence) Ultimate Technique. While they're vulnerable to this Throw Technique, they cannot be launched by the Falcon's Talons' Izuna Drop (While jumping towards enemy — Strong, Quick, Strong Attack), but Thunderous Earth (→ Strong Attack) is still an efficient tool for a quick dismemberment.
The Kusari-gama is also a good choice for its crowd controlling ability, with moves such as Immense Tragedy (Strong, Strong, Strong, Strong, Strong, Strong Attack), Great Sweep (Quick, Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong Attack), Raging Star (Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong, Strong, Strong, Strong Attack), Great Shears (While running — Quick Attack), Furious Whirlwind (↻ Strong, Strong, Strong Attack), and its jumping Strong, Quick, Strong Attack. However none of its Throw Techniques can grapple Gaja. The Art of the Wind Blades Ninpo, or The Art of the Piercing Void in the narrower corridors where Gaja are often found, will decimate this enemy hordes, and as effective is also either of the Tonfa's Ultimate Techniques. To note is also the fact that, while regular Shuriken won't stun them, but will still increase your Combo Meter, they're fully vulnerable to Incendiary Shuriken.
Besides outright avoiding fighting these fiends on water whenever possible, use the Gatling Spear Gun and keep firing the Gatling Spear Gun at the Gaja's yet-to disappear corpse to increase your Combo Meter for more Yellow Essence. This projectile weapon generates a hitbox all around Ryu that can catch Gaja running straight into him, but there's still a chance he'll get hit and end up underwater, where there is no chance to defend against Gaja's relentless offense.
Etymology[]
- The name may derive from the sanskrit word गर्ज (Garja), meaning "roar".
Trivia[]
- While the Tonfa's shorter Izuna Drop (While jumping — Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) does work on Gaja, the longer variant (Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong, Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) tend to miss after the launcher.
- Gaja are a cross between a Gorgon from Greek Mythology and a Naga from South East Asian Mythology. Although they resemble the Naga, typically a humanoid above waist and serpintine below the waistline, their backstory and corpse like appearance is similar to Medusa, a beautiful maiden cursed into a hideous Gorgon.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Called "Water Demon" in Prima's Ninja Gaiden II Official Guide.
- ↑ GameSpy's Ninja Gaiden II Environment Showcase #3: "Inside the marble room of the Lycanthropes' Castle, Ryu is attacking the Fiend Gaja with his Eclipse Scythe. These fiends once had beautiful mermaid-like appearances, but indulged in pleasures until they lost most of their flesh and became hideous monsters. They wiggle their serpent-like bottom halves to roam around as they please."