Parodius Da! - Shinwa kara Owarai e - (1992)
Parodius Da! - Shinwa kara Owarai e - (literally "Parodius! - From Myth to Comedy -") is a legendary scrolling shooter developed and published by Konami for the Super Famicom, released on June 10, 1992. It is part of the Parodius series, which is a comedic parody of Konami's own Gradius series, featuring absurd, surreal, and highly humorous elements. The game features a cast of quirky characters, including the iconic Vic Viper (with a penguin pilot), a ghost, a cat, and a girl on a unicycle, each with unique weapons and abilities. Konami, renowned for their shmups, brought their signature polish and humor to this title, creating a game that was both challenging and hilarious.
Gameplay and Weapon System
Parodius Da! is a horizontal-scrolling shooter that retains the core mechanics of the Gradius series, including the "power-up" system where players collect energy capsules to upgrade their weapons. However, the game's presentation is radically different: instead of serious space battles, players fight giant penguins, squids, cats, and other absurd enemies across whimsical stages set in candy lands, space, and even inside a giant cat. The game features multiple characters, each with unique weapon sets, such as the "Option" system and various beam and projectile attacks.
The game features seven stages, each filled with hilarious enemy designs and surreal boss fights, including a giant cat that shoots lasers, a whale that fires missiles, and a giant octopus that plays the drums. The game's difficulty is challenging, with complex bullet patterns and fast-paced action, but the game's humor and lighthearted tone make it more accessible and forgiving than its parent series. The game also features a two-player cooperative mode, adding to the fun.
Parodius Da! was a commercial success and received critical acclaim for its humor, creativity, and solid shmup mechanics. It became a cult classic and spawned several sequels, including Fantastic Journey and Sexy Parodius. The Super Famicom port was praised for its faithful conversion and remains a nostalgic favorite for fans of both shmups and comedy games.