Play Parodius - Non-Sense Fantasy Online

Summary

Parodius: Non‑Sense Fantasy feels like a Gradius shooter that’s been hit with a psychedelic paint‑splatter. Konami kept the tight side‑scrolling action but swapped the serious sci‑fi aesthetic for cartoonish enemies, goofy music, and a healthy dose of absurdity.

You can pilot four very different flyers: the classic Vic Viper with its familiar missile‑laser setup, the Octopus borrowing Salamander’s bomb‑like missiles, TwinBee’s rocket‑punch and three‑way gun, and Pentarou wielding a photon torpedo from Gradius II. Each character brings its own weapon configuration, so the playstyle shifts dramatically depending on who you choose.

TwinBee‑style bell power‑ups pop up randomly, granting one‑off tricks like screen‑clearing blasts or massive energy beams. The enemy roster is a mash‑up of Gradius ships, TwinBee critters, anime‑inspired foes, and even scantily‑clad women, all rendered in a deliberately over‑the‑top style.

Bosses range from a neon‑glowing "Viva Core" to a moai‑spitting Yoshiko, and the final showdown ends with the classic Gradius escape cutscene. The SNES port adds a quirky bath‑house level and an "Omake" stage (renamed "Lollipop" in PAL releases) that lets you continue instantly after a death.

Critics loved the chaos: Super Play placed it 93rd on its Top 100 SNES list, calling it "Gradius on hallucinogens," while Mean Machines gave it 93%, CVG 88%, and Power Unlimited 82% for its relentless fun and wild audiovisuals.

Storyline

In Parodius – Non‑Sense Fantasy, the Great Octopus has threatened Earth, prompting a desperate call for heroes. You and Parodius’s friends set out on a worldwide quest to uncover the truth behind the menace. The journey takes you across the entire planet, searching for clues and confronting bizarre obstacles. Ultimately, you must locate the Great Octopus and destroy it to save the world.