Parodius

Parodius is a series of horizontally-scrolling shooters developed by Konami. The games are tongue-in-cheek parodies of Gradius, as well as many other Konami franchises, including Castlevania and Goemon. The original was released for the MSX in 1988. An arcade remake, titled Parodius Da!, followed in 1990.

Description

The game was not released anywhere outside of Japan, so there is a large amount of Japanese text in the game. However, the game has been translated. The translated manual is also available. When the Parodius deluxe pack was released in Europe, the game's ending and beginning sequences were translated into English, as was the speech that appears from the White Bell. However, everything else was retained from the Japanese version.

One of the characters you can play as is Goemon; his full name is Ishikawa Goemon, the Japanese version of Robin Hood.

Sequels

There are five games in the Parodius series:

• パロディウス ～タコは地球を救う～ Parodius: Tako wa Chikyû o Sukû ("Parodius: Tako Saves the Earth") (1988, MSX2)
• パロディウスだ! －神話からお笑いへ－ Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e ("It's Parodius! From Myth to Laughter") (1990, arcade)
• 極上パロディウス Gokujô Parodius ("Ultimate Parodius") (1994, arcade)
• 実況おしゃべりパロディウス Jikkyô Oshaberi Parodius ("Chatting Parodius") (1995, Super Famicom)
• セクシーパロディウス Sexy Parodius (1996, arcade)

Numerous ports have been created. "Parodius Da!" has been ported to the Famicom (NES), Super Famicom (SNES), and PC Engine. All five games are available on both the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

Unique Aspects

At the end of stage 2 you have to play Rock Paper Scissors. If you lose, you have to play the stage again; if it is a draw you have to fight.

The Rain Doll at the end of stage 3 is a Henohenomoheji. Stage 5 is Oyaji. Stage 6 is a Tapir, which is believed to eat human dreams in Japan.

Bell Power-ups

Yellow Bell 

All minor enemies on the screen die instantly. (Smart Bomb)

White Bell 

Wrap around horizontally. You can fly off the left or right of the screen and appear at the other side.

Green Bell 

Wrap around vertically. You can fly off the top or bottom of the screen and appear at the other end.

Cyan Bell 

Time Freeze. Stops scrolling & enemies for a few seconds.

Purple Bell 

Mine. Destroys all enemies on the same height.

Blue Bell 

Rotary drill. You are immune to most enemies for some time.

Dark Green Bell 

Up Laser. You have the Up Laser for some time.

Red Bell 

Vector Laser. You have the Vector Laser for some time.

Bonus Stages

There are three known bonus stages.

The first is in stage 1. When you have defeated the moai, fly under its neck.

The second is in stage 4. At a certain point, you have to fly up out of the screen or you'll hit a dead end. Fly into the dead end instead, and go to the far upper right corner.

The third is in stage 5. Fly under all the jumping gravestones.

Passwords

The following passwords have an effect. To enter, press <F1> to pause the game, type the password, press <ENTER> and <F1> to resume the game.

   * ZENBU
     All power-ups. The password literally means "everything".
   * KONAMI
     Always have Red Bell (Vector Laser).
   * BUTAKO
     Always have Dark Green Bell (Up Laser).
   * TAKO18TH
     Always have Blue Bell (Rotary Drill).
   * PARO
     Always have White Bell (wrap around horizontally).
   * KATAI
     Increases the Shield durability. (note, this does not work with the ZENBU password)