Parodius - let's discuss.

soop · 01/21/2013, 09:54 AM

After spending a little more time with Parodius on the weekend, I found it slightly complicated and quite interesting.

Firstly, my friend chose the Vic Viper, which I thought was a tad plain. Obviously there doesn't seem to be too much variation, but I went for the Twinbee and liked the second stage power-up, the rocket punch, which adds the initial oomph needed to build upgrades.

Then the downside is the penalty inflicted when you die - you lose all your power-ups. I've never been a fan of this.

I also take a slight issue with the sheer unpredictability of some of the levels. While in cases it's refreshing, it's nice to be shown a brief example of what's about to happen - for instance, penguins (or moles, w/e) sneaking up from the left side of the screen, or the clown platform on level 2 that rises up, then unexpectedly lowers down.

And lastly I'm a big fan of the risk/reward of the bell power-up system. Often the temptation of a super-weapon from a bell has caused me more deaths than the enemies directly.

esteban · 01/21/2013, 10:24 AM

I am glad you have spent some more time with this game.

For me, the Parodius games offer some of the best things that Konami ever gave us: the designers/developers were able to transcend the "rules" of the more serious games and provide an interesting variety of options/creativity. It was truly a "mash-up" before it became trendy and commonplace.

--> --> -->THE REPLAY VALUE OF PARODIUS DA! (and its brethren) is the best part, in my opinion. A key to this, however, is that both Gradius and Twin Bee were ESTABLISHED SERIES. A mash-up like this works best in this situation, IMHO.

Sure, I replay the Gradius (Salamander) and Twin Bee games... but the sheer fun of replaying Parodius with different ships is enough to hug the damn HuCARD.

BROADENING MY OUTLOOK: I happen to really enjoy the Gradius series more than Twin Bee, so Parodius has only helped me gain more appreciation for Twin Bee*. I suspect that many folks who are unmoved by Gradius/Twin Bee still enjoy Parodius, thereby making Parodius the MAINSTREAM CROSSOVER HIT for folks that aren't hardcore shoot-em-up fans.

That's what I reckon, anyway.

*I played the hell out of Stinger (NES), but lost interest in Twin Bee during 16-bit generation because the THUNDERFORCES and SOLDIERS were ripe for playing.

DEEP THOUGHTS with Jack Esteban: I don't know how folks feel about it, but I always wondered what it would be like if you were allowed to switch ships on-the-fly (and offensive preferences): I don't like the fact that a HUGE part of the strategy (and fun) is from committing to a particular ship/attack preference, experimenting with stages, and determining the pros/cons of your choices. Now that I think about it, perhaps this is the LAST THING I would want in a Parodius game...

soop · 01/21/2013, 10:31 AM

QuoteBROADENING MY OUTLOOK: I happen to really enjoy the Gradius series more than Twin Bee, so Parodius has only helped me gain more appreciation for Twin Bee*. I suspect that many folks who are unmoved by Gradius/Twin Bee still enjoy Parodius, thereby making Parodius the MAINSTREAM CROSSOVER HIT for folks that aren't hardcore shoot-em-up fans.

Good point. I like Twinbee more than Gradius and Salamander - I suspect mainly because it's more forgiving. But yes, it does offer an insight into Gradius and Salamander.

Opethian · 01/21/2013, 10:34 AM

chain yellow bells for points

dont pick up every power up. the more powered up you are the harder the game gets.

make sure you have 2 speedups in the speed level ^_^

soop · 01/21/2013, 10:37 AM

Quote from: Opethian on 01/21/2013, 10:34 AMchain yellow bells for points

dont pick up every power up. the more powered up you are the harder the game gets.

So get yellow bells over coloured ones? The white bell is both powerful AND amusing.

And it gets harder with power ups? I had NO idea.

PunkCryborg · 01/21/2013, 10:56 AM

Bonus mode like a pro to get skillz

soop · 01/21/2013, 11:00 AM

Quote from: PunkCryborg on 01/21/2013, 10:56 AMBonus mode like a pro to get skillz

What is Bonus Mode? Didn't even check it out.
Also, is it 2-player? I don't think it is, but I remember seeing it on one of the games we were playing unexpectedly.

_Paul · 01/21/2013, 11:14 AM

My preference is the octopus. He's cute.

majors · 01/21/2013, 11:18 AM

Buy this man a beer! Parodius is a top 5 for me.

Glad you have fallen for it's charms, soop. I love the special mode when I just want to get a quick game in. Put that bitch on hard and go for score (def go for yellow bells for score!)

BigusSchmuck · 01/21/2013, 05:01 PM

I still want this game at a decent price. I'm really not ready to drop $40+ for this yet.

Tatsujin · 01/21/2013, 05:54 PM

Pce paro is great and really show'd off the power of the pce.
i only so wish that they didn't cut out those two levels

nectarsis · 01/21/2013, 06:19 PM

Top tierPCE shooter, one of my faves (along with Star Parodia, and HANA TĀKA DAKA!?) for the cute em up trifecta

NinjaCrackerX · 01/21/2013, 07:05 PM

Quote from: guest on 01/21/2013, 11:14 AMMy preference is the octopus. He's cute.

^ My favorite character next to Koitsu (the little guy riding the paper airplane later in the series). Love seeing the little back-up Octopi help him as well!

Duke.Togo · 01/21/2013, 09:41 PM

I have the Famicom version, but haven't checked the PCE one. It sounds like I need to give this one a look!

roflmao · 01/21/2013, 10:52 PM

Quote from: BigusSchmuck on 01/21/2013, 05:01 PMI still want this game at a decent price. I'm really not ready to drop $40+ for this yet.

You might want to keep an eye on hit-japan's ebay acct. I picked it up loose from him for about $20 shipped not too long ago.

As far as the game goes, I've owned the Super Famicom version for a lot longer and I'm still adjusting to the little differences in the PCE version. For some reason I find the PCE version harder than the Super Famicom version. I still enjoy the PCE version, but it hasn't lived up to the hype, imo. At some point, though, it may click with me and I'll go bananas over it. That's happened with other games.

The octopus is my favorite character to play.

esteban · 01/22/2013, 12:50 AM

OCTOPUSSY is his name.

Tatsujin · 01/22/2013, 03:58 AM

soop · 01/22/2013, 05:00 AM

I might try the octopus next.

PukeSter · 01/22/2013, 05:54 AM

I'm a big fan of Salamander. Fast, short and fun, with lots of variety, unlike the long, plodding journey in Gradius. Parodius is better than Gradius, but out of the three, Salamander has the best gameplay.

Mathius · 01/23/2013, 12:07 PM

I have never been a big fan of Twin Bee's bell power-up system. Thankfully in Parodius you can pretty much ignore the bells if you so wish. Though I do grab the gold ones for score.

I also have the SFC version and it is wondrous to behold. I do enjoy the PCE version's music better, however. The system's buzzy soundchip fits the style of the game better than the SFC's MIDI sound.

gradius · 02/14/2013, 07:50 AM

Octopus is my favourite character too.

I've never played the PCE version despite owning it a number of years. The super famicom and more recently the pcb are the versions I know the best.

I have all the gradius/salamander/Parodius games on pcb. Sexy Parodius is my fave in that series but the original Gradius is my all time fave, it's the reason I got into arcade gaming!

majors · 02/14/2013, 09:11 AM

Quote from: gradius on 02/14/2013, 07:50 AMSexy Parodius is my fave in that series but the original Gradius is my all time fave, it's the reason I got into arcade gaming!

Took me a bit, but I managed to score a Sexy. I always loved he Saturn port so when I got into cabs and PCB's, I had to track it down. I bought Sexy from Try-inc via a firend living in Japan but when I received it, I found out it was Chatting. Little communication break down there. Luckly, a buddy stateside stays current on the FS: threads and saw one go up and snaged it for me. Sold the Chatting, replaced it with Sexy and I've been a happy camper.

pc_kwajalein · 02/16/2013, 12:19 PM

The guys at Konami must've had a blast making the Parodius games.

Of all the Parodius titles, I think I favor Parodius Da! the most. They say you never forget your first, and Da! was the first I played. Sexy, Chatting, and Fantastic are all excellent games, but gimme my Da! and I'm a happy camper.

Mathius · 02/16/2013, 01:06 PM

Quote from: pc_kwajalein on 02/16/2013, 12:19 PMThe guys at Konami must've had a blast making the Parodius games.

Of all the Parodius titles, I think I favor Parodius Da! the most. They say you never forget your first, and Da! was the first I played. Sexy, Chatting, and Fantastic are all excellent games, but gimme my Da! and I'm a happy camper.

Da! was my first experience too, followed my Sexy. I still haven't played any other game in the series. Maybe I'll pick up the collection for the Saturn one day if I can find a good deal.