Gokujou Parodius! Such a damn nice game!

[brainerdrainer]

I just got Gokujou Parodius! in the mail and I gotta say this is my new favorite game! I don't understand why it never made it's way to North America. Kids would be obsessed with this game for sure. The graphics, power ups, bosses..... everything is so awesome about Gokujou Parodius! Maybe I'll have to check out the other Parodius games.


Gokujou Parodius by Y=MX+B, on Flickr

[SpoonyBard]

If I remember right, it was mainly that they thought it had to many japanese cultural jokes and references to be appreciated by an american audience. Not to mention it's a little racy at some points.

A great game though! Have fun with it!

[AppleQueso]

Parodius is a great series.

[noiseredux]

Spoony's right. It wasn't localized because so much of the humor could be lost in translation.

Apple's right. I honestly think the Parodius games are better than the Gradius games.

[ExedExes]

Great series. I still like Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius best, if only for the numerous Konami-themed stages in that game (Lethal Enforcers!)

[fastbilly1]

Apple's right. I honestly think the Parodius games are better than the Gradius games.

There is no honestly, it is simply truth.

[Erik_Twice]

Apple's right. I honestly think the Parodius games are better than the Gradius games.

I used to think that but after playing both heavily, I don't agree.

In fact, they aren't really that similar, they have a very different design philosophy and were made by designers with very different sensibilities. The Gradius series are very traditional Konami games, focused on logic, placement and enemy patterns like Castlevania.

This is clear by how the series handles movement. Hazards are common and enemies must be destroyed to open safe vectors of attack. How you move through the screen is extremely important.

Parodius isn't as restrictive, it's more focused on how you kill each wave of enemies. Stages tend to focus on shooting not navigation, like other shooters of the era. Of course, it still has a huge Gradius influence but it has a different frame of mind.

Parodius also takes elements from more "modern" shooting games like an advanced rank system and scoring.

Spoony's right. It wasn't localized because so much of the humor could be lost in translation.

They were localized for European territories, they simply weren't released in the US, probably because you defeat Medusa by giving her an orgasm and there are boobs in practically every title.

Remember how heavy video game censorship was back then.

[mjmjr25]

What are you playing on, Brainer? SFC, PSX or SAT. There are multiple version on each console, as well as some 8-bit games as well.

I agree, more enjoyable than Gradius and the power-up system is different enough that the game-play similarities are there, but it's not an easier version by any stretch.

I like this series quite a bit, challenging, fun music, fun enemies, and has some scoring...

[noiseredux]

and has some scoring...

is this a reference to Sexy Parodius?

[mjmjr25]

...for those scoring at home, or even if you're by yourself.