Another Parodius release on SNES, faithful to the arcade. Wacky and colorful, for offbeat shmup fans.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player3+
Description
Konami parody shoot-'em-up with absurd characters in zany levels, European version. Published by Konami, released in Europe in 1992. Characters including octopus Takosuke and TwinBee, extravagant themed levels, burlesque giant bosses and memorable soundtrack. European version of Konami's Parodius Da!
Parodius review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
A zany shoot'em up parody by Konami: octopuses, penguins and delirious bosses in a flood of garish colours compose a joyful chaos. The absurd inventiveness of the settings and the visual humour overflow with energy. This graphic whimsy, unhinged and polished, stands as a delightful gem of the genre.
Deliciously absurd, Konami's music mischievously subverts great classical airs and house themes in arrangements as funny as they are inventive. Each madcap level overflows with a joyful, rousing energy. This musical madness, irresistible, laid the foundations of an unforgettable series of parody shooters.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Subverting Gradius with absurd humour, warrior penguins and improbable bosses: this parody shooter keeps all the genre's rigour beneath its goofy looks. The familiar power-up system and the frantic pace grab you from the first wave. Colourful, funny and demanding, it proves a space shooter can make you laugh as much as it tests your nerves.
The European PAL SNES edition of Konami's Gradius-parodying horizontal shooter, distributed in PAL under the shortened 'Parodius' title. The PAL cart is rarer than the Japanese Super Famicom version, and PAL boxed CIB in the original cardboard box is valued for the coherence of a Konami SNES PAL shmup collection. The cote climbs steadily, sustained by physical scarcity and by the Parodius line aura that transcends its individual releases.
Is Parodius still worth playing in 2026?
Parodius Da! - Shinwa kara Owarai e, also released as Parodius outside Japan, is the first Parodius ported to the SFC, namely the original Konami parody of Gradius. The Gradius capsules stay faithful to the series grammar, but the bosses go from penguins to dancing statues, and the humor is drier than in the sequels. The difficulty stays demanding, the port polished. Recommended to fans of Konami horizontal shooting and to anyone wanting to understand how the Parodius branch started.
