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Parodius (NES)

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Title Screen

Parodius

Also known as: Parodius Da! (JP)
Developer: Konami
Publishers: Konami (JP), Palcom Software (EU)
Platform: NES
Released in JP: November 3, 1990
Released in EU: 1992


DevTextIcon.png This game has hidden development-related text.
GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.
RegionIcon.png This game has regional differences.
PiracyIcon.png This game has anti-piracy features.


PrereleaseIcon.png This game has a prerelease article

Parodius is a port of the loony arcade spinoff of Gradius with cameos from other Konami IPs.

Sub-Page

Read about prerelease information and/or media for this game.
Prerelease Info

Build Dates

An ID string listing the build version and date can be found at the end of the Japanese version's PRG ROM:

MASK900916

A similar ID can be found in many other Konami games.

It's likely the "mask ROM" version of the game; most of the final versions of Konami's games feature "MAST" or "MSTR" as the beginning of the string, to indicate the "master" or "final" build.

The numbers represent the date. So, this build was compiled on September 16, 1990.

Anti-Piracy Features

As with most of the games Konami has published after 1990, the Japanese version of the game features a copy-protection routine. It calculates the CHR ROM checksum to ensure its consistency, and additionally checks for the string "© konami" in VRAM, setting a flag if either or both of the tests fail. If the flag is set, the game will only allow you to play Level 1. Frustratingly, this can be induced if the game cartridge is dirty or inserted improperly.

Unused Graphics

Parodius Da!-THE END.png
This can only be found in the Japanese version and translates to "The End".

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japan Europe
Parodius da! (J) -!--0.png Parodius(NES)-title screen.png

The title screen was completely redone for the European release: The Japanese version has a recreation of the arcade version's title screen, featuring a small Parodius logo that has an animated Takosuke moving two fans and the game's title in Japanese; the European version removed the latter and has a bigger Parodius logo that no longer features the unique Takosuke animation, instead it has the Vic Viper's in-game sprite, which replaces the Japanese version's small Vic Viper ship as the cursor for the Player selection. Additionally, the copyright text is pink in the Japanese version but white like everything else in the European version.

Power Meter Placement

The European version shifts the status bar 8 pixels downwards to make use of the extra lines of PAL resolution.

Japan Europe
Parodius Da level 1.png Parodius level 1.png

Ending

The European version has a different and funnier ending in which it says "Is this the end of GRA...", only to delete that and type in "Parodius?!?!!".

No don't we'll get su- oh wait we made both games
Unfortunately, the European version also completely removed the karaoke lyrics that appeared on-screen while the credits played.

Ending BGM

Japan Europe

The European version features a completely different piece of music from the Japanese version that plays during the credits. Both Japanese and European ending themes for the Famicom/NES versions differ from the music played in the arcade version and other ports (except for the Game Boy version, which also uses a different ending song).