Parodius (NES)

Parodius is a port of the loony arcade spinoff of Gradius with cameos from other Konami IPs. This version is missing a few stages but compensates by adding an extra amusement-park-themed stage plus a few secret areas (two of which reference omitted stages).

Sub-Page#

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#

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 loop level 1 endlessly.

Frustratingly, this can also happen on legitimate copies, if they're dirty or inserted improperly.

Unused Graphics#

This can only be found in the Japanese version and translates to "The End".

Regional Differences#

Title Screen#

Japan	Europe

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 Tako 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 Tako 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

Ending#

'...But what does it mean?' This game has text or audio that needs to be translated. If you are fluent with this language, please read our translation guidelines and then submit a translation! Notes: Japanese ending text and karaoke translations could be provided.

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?!?!!". Unfortunately, the European version also completely removed the karaoke lyrics that appeared on-screen while the credits played.

Ending BGM#

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).

References#