Play Parodius on GB Online

Konami released Parodius on the Game Boy in 1990, a time when the handheld was packed with straightforward arcade ports and puzzle games. This one stood out immediately, not just as a scaled down version of the arcade original, but as a genuinely odd and fully formed shoot 'em up that fully embraced its own bizarre identity. It felt like a secret you'd share with friends who appreciated something different.

You control one of several strange aircraft, like a twin engine penguin or a spaceship shaped like a baby, and your goal is to fly from left to right, destroying everything in your path across seven stages. The core mechanics are pure Gradius; you collect power up capsules to build a customizable arsenal of options, missiles, and lasers. The signature bell item changes your shot type entirely, offering a temporary but often chaotic advantage. The pacing is relentless, and the screen fills with enemy fire and absurd obstacles, from giant dancing girls to waves of sushi. It feels like a delightful, frantic struggle against a world that has completely lost its mind.