Parodius Da!: Shinwa kara Owarai he (1992). Play online

Summary

Parodius! From Myth to Laughter (in Japan “Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e”) is Konami’s love‑letter‑turned‑zany spoof of its own Gradius shooter. The game keeps Gradius’s iconic power‑up bar, but you can pick one of four pilots—Vic Viper, Octopus, TwinBee or Pentarou—each inheriting a different classic weapon layout. A neat twist is the TwinBee bell items that pop up randomly, delivering one‑time effects like screen‑clearing explosions or massive energy beams.

The enemy roster is a wild mash‑up: familiar ships and flora from Gradius and TwinBee collide with anime‑style caricatures, cheeky scantily‑clad figures, and off‑beat bosses such as the neon “Viva Core”, the moai‑themed “Yoshiko”, and a silent final foe that triggers a comic‑escape sequence. On the TurboGrafx‑16 the arcade’s Stages 5 and 8 disappear, replaced by a “SPECIAL” level and a fresh intro featuring bizarre Japanese characters instead of the history‑telling arcade opening.

Storyline

In Parodius Da!: Shinwa kara Owarai he, the Great Octopus has menaced Earth, prompting a frantic call for heroes. You and the quirky cast of Parodius pilots set out on a globe‑spanning quest to uncover the truth behind the invasion. Each stage takes you across varied locales, from bustling cities to surreal dreamscapes, as you hunt down the hidden enemy. The ultimate goal is to confront the Great Octopus and put an end to its destructive plans. Victory means saving the planet and restoring peace to a world on the brink.