Parodius da! - Shinwa Kara Owarai he (Japan)
Getting to Know Parodius da! - Shinwa Kara Owarai he (Japan)
Parodius da! - Shinwa Kara Owarai he is a side-scrolling shooter that landed on the NEC TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) in 1990, brought to us by Konami. It is a parody of the Gradius series, swapping serious sci-fi for absurd humor and characters from across Konami's catalog. This Japan-only release is a straight port of the arcade original, keeping the same frantic shooting and wacky presentation intact.
You pick from a handful of bizarre characters, each with their own shot types and speed, then blast through stages themed around everything from ancient Egypt to outer space. The core loop is classic horizontal shooter stuff: collect power-up capsules to upgrade your weapons, dodge enemy fire, and take down giant bosses at the end of each level. What sets it apart is the constant silliness, with enemy penguins, octopus bosses that laugh at you, and background jokes that break the fourth wall.
Today this version remains a beloved oddity in the TurboGrafx-16 library because it captures the era's arcade shooter energy without taking itself seriously. It is not the deepest game in the genre, but its charm and solid shooting mechanics make it an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a fun, colorful blaster that does not demand perfect memorization. If you already know Gradius, this is like seeing that universe through a funhouse mirror.
How to Play Parodius da! - Shinwa Kara Owarai he (Japan) Online
Getting Started
After hitting Start on the title screen, you will see a character select screen. Pick one of the four pilots. Each has a different speed and default weapon, so try them out to see which feels best. The game expects you to hold the attack button (S) for continuous fire. Collect the colored capsules that appear from certain enemies to power up your current weapon or switch to a different one. The power-up system works like Gradius: you earn a bar that fills, then press the select button to activate the next upgrade in line.
The core loop is straightforward: fly from left to right, avoid bullets and obstacles, and destroy everything that moves. Parodius throws curveballs like enemies that drop sliding penguins or popcorn that turns into a giant smiling sun. Do not panic, just keep shooting and moving. Each stage ends with a boss that usually has a specific weak point, so watch their patterns.
Since this is the Japanese version, all menus and text are in Japanese. But the menus are simple: a few options for difficulty (Easy, Normal, Hard) and a sound test. You can figure it out by trial and error, or look up a translation guide online. The game supports two players simultaneously, so grab a friend for double the chaos.
Parodius da! - Shinwa Kara Owarai he (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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