Parodius
Also known as Parodius, is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed by Konami for the MSX. It is the first title in the Parodius series, although it is often confused with its sequel Parodius! From Myth to Laughter. The name itself is a portmanteau of "Gradius" and "Parody" and, eponymously, the game is a parody of the Gradius series of space-based horizontally scrolling shooters.
Also recorded as Parodius: Tako wa Chikyū wo Sukū
Parodius
- Date
- 1988.
- Publisher
- Konami.
- Genre
- shoot 'em up.
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Documentary summary
Also known as Parodius, is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed by Konami for the MSX. It is the first title in the Parodius series, although it is often confused with its sequel Parodius! From Myth to Laughter. The name itself is a portmanteau of "Gradius" and "Parody" and, eponymously, the game is a parody of the Gradius series of space-based horizontally scrolling shooters.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
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In this article
The object
The object
Many of the characters and enemies are derived from that famous shooter series, while other elements are extracted from other Konami titles, such as Antarctic Adventure and TwinBee. This game is of particular note in the series as being heavily infused with Japanese culture and folklore.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Parodius: The Octopus Saves the Earth • Developer — Konami • Publisher — Konami • Composer — Kinuyo Yamashita • Series — Parodius • Platforms — MSX, mobile phone • Released — MSXApril 28, 1988 Mobile i-modeDecember 1, 2006S Appli! • Genre — Scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer
Gameplay
Gameplay
The gameplay is very similar to the Gradius games, with other aspects from games such as TwinBee. However, the characters are replaced with silly characters taken from either these or other Konami games, as well as Japanese culture. The music is mostly taken from classical music pieces. The player can play as either Tako, an octopus, the Penguin (father of Pentarou) from Antarctic Adventure and the exclusive MSX game Penguin Adventure, Goemon from the Ganbare Goemon series, the Popolon knight from the MSX game Knightmare or the Vic Viper spaceship from Gradius. The game is composed of six stages consisting of various obstacles and enemies such as penguins and bees, as well as more traditional Gradius enemies such as moai. As with Gradius, the game utilizes a similar selection-bar based power-up system.
Ports
Ports
Parodius was later included in Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol.3 for PlayStation, Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack for Sega Saturn and Parodius Portable for PlayStation Portable with enhanced graphics. In addition, it was released for mobile phones in December 2006 and for Wii Virtual Console on January 12, 2010, and Wii U on December 25, 2013, in Japan. Also, the MSX version was re-released for Windows PCs on Online Store Project EGG on April 11, 2014, in Japan.
Reception
Reception
Zero rated the game 93/100, praising its animated landscapes, gameplay, music, and overall weirdness. Games-X called the game "brilliant," pointing to its graphics, music, and gameplay, but criticized the continue option upon game over. Parodius was awarded "Best Game that Never Came out in the U.S." in 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
Legacy
Legacy
In 2021, Konami announced a contest encouraging indie developers to make games based on some of its classic series, including Parodius: The Octopus Saves the Earth.
Primary material
Context
Parodius is recorded as video game. Published by Konami. Developed by Konami.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Parodius. Zero. 87. October 1991.
- 2.Parodius. Games-X. 16. May 17, 1991.
- 3.Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide. Electronic Gaming Monthly. volume needed. December 2020.
- 4.Konami. パロディウス (PC).
- 5.Shigeta, Ryuichi. Konami is Inviting Indie Developers to Make New Games Based on Some of Its Classic Series — Famous IP from the past may be revived through indie creators' eyes. IGN. Ziff Davis. October 2, 2021.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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