There was a time during the age of theNESand arcade cabinets when legions of companies were planting the seeds that would bloom into renowned video games. One such developer wasKonamiand they were legendary among players. For years, everything they developed and published turned into gold.
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It was Konami where game designerHideo Kojimamade a name for himself, and franchises likeMetal Gear Solidand Castlevania were born. Granted, that was classic Konami. As formodern Konami, their gold shine has sadly faded. Still, their library of achievements should not be forgotten, so t’s time to focus on what truly matters: the games.
10The Simpsons Arcade Game
Best Arcade Beat ‘Em Up
The Simpsons Arcade Game
Back in the arcade, all you needed was a quarter or a token, and the hope that there’d be no line blocking the cabinet. Among the various arcade games by Konami,The Simpsonswas not only one of their most-beloved cabinets, but alsoone of the best Simpsons gamesever made.
Playing this game with friends was like watching the show with you in the role. The rush of cartoon violence was amazing as you picked your favorite Simpsons character and then watched them clobber the opponents on screen. Each stage was based on a familiar location from Springfield and would feature a boss to fight at the end, leading to a final confrontation with Mr. Burns. Fortunately, The Simpsons Arcade Game has been ported to modern consoles, so now you can play without losing tokens.
9Policenauts
The Lost Masterpiece
Policenauts
Before Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima wrote and directed a hard science-fictionvisual novelcalled Policenauts. The story takes place in the future as the player assumes the role of PI Jonathan Ingram, a former police officer with astronaut training, better known as a Policenaut. With murder and mystery afoot, he leaves Old Los Angeles for Beyond Coast, the first functional space station.
What made Policenauts stand out from otherpoint-and-click adventuresat the time was its style and detail. Featuring animated and fully-voiced cutscenes, the game feels like a full-length movie. The gameplay balances investigative scenes with dialogue choices to progress the story andFPScombat. All this is common nowadays, but for the Mid-90s, this was mind-blowing. If you love buddy cop stories, science-fiction or just Kojima’s style of storytelling, this Konami game is a must-play and deserving of a rerelease for modern systems.
8Contra: Hard Corps
Saving the World as a Cybernetic Wolf
Contra: Hard Corps
Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s,Contrawas the biggest title among gamers. It was pure side-scrolling action as you’re blasting away aliens and soldiers with an arsenal of unique weapons. With every best-selling franchise, sequels were bound to follow. When it comes to picking the best Contra, it’s a hard decision, but the answer is theSega Genesisexclusive, Contra: Hard Corps.
The game is absolute insanity. You have the option to play as four different characters, two of which are a combat robot and an anthropomorphic wolf cyborg. If that alone isn’t enough to convince you, the classic Contra combat you love is still here, the soundtrack is a banger for the Genesis, the sprite work is amazing and the game features levels with branching routes that lead to six different endings. And again, you fight aliens and save the world as awolf cyborg. The ‘90s were amazing.
7Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
The Most Happening Games Around
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
Who doesn’t love theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? They’ve been an icon since the ‘80s, with legions of comic books, cartoons, movies, and of course, video games. Believe it or not, Konami played a big role in the Turtles’ rise to popularity, being responsible for making the first Ninja Turtles game on the original NES, as well as the classic arcade fighter.
Having produced so many, trying to choose the best out of the bunch would be just as challenging as skateboarding through a sewer. So, why not all of them? Thanks to The Cowabunga Collection, you get thirteen games developed by Konami, including the fan favorites: The Manhattan Project and Turtles in Time.
Though the collection was made by Digital Eclipse, the original games were all developed by Konami.
6Suikoden II
Konami’s Final Fantasy
Suikoden II
Konami’s had a hand in a fewRPGsover the years, yet the one that stands out as the best is Suikoden II. For a game that consists of 16-bit sprites and text boxes, the story is gripping with worldbuilding, war and the weight of fate. The combat is the traditional turn-based system, but it does add a spin with one-on-one duels and large-scale battles.
For the fantasy players out there who have never heard of this game, that’s probably due to the fact that Suikoden II didn’t do well on its original release, panned by critics for its 16-bit graphics when 3D games were already common. Fortunately, the game has rightfully gained a cult following and an HD remaster.
5Silent Hill 3
“Monsters? They Looked Like Monsters To You?”
Silent Hill 3
TheSilent Hillgames remain one of Konami’s biggest flagship series. Truesurvival horrorwith grotesque monsters and grim stories, all centered around the cursed town of Silent Hill. The third game was the first to feature a female protagonist, Heather Mason, the daughter of Harry Mason from the original. The cult has returned to take Heather, planning to use her to birth a god that will bring paradise.
With the cult hounding her, and the horrors of the otherworld consuming her life, Heather has no choice but to return to where it all started: Silent Hill. The game is perfect horror. The monsters and locations all feel ugly and unsightly, and that’s a compliment. The musical score is haunting, while the voice acting and animations are phenomenal. It’s hard to imagine this was a 2003 game because the graphics still hold up. A pure slam dunk for horror lovers.
4Metal Gear Solid
“The Best Is Yet To Come”
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid was a groundbreaking achievement that forever altered the stealth genre and storytelling in gaming. When a nuclear test facility is taken over by rogue special forces, Solid Snake is called back into action. In one of the biggest missions of his career, he’ll be thrown into a story of lies, conspiracy and a confrontation with his twin brother, Liquid Snake.
Though the graphics are showing their age, the gameplay and story are as strong as ever. Metal Gear Solid is not only one of Konami’s best games, but is often considered Hideo Kojima’s magnum opus. Sneaking through Shadow Moses Island feels as great as ever, battling the members of Foxhound in epic showdowns is still cool, and of course, that feeling of facing the iconic bipedal tank, Metal Gear Rex, can never be topped. Everything that made MGS great all started here.
3Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Greatest Vampire Game Ever
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
If you’ve heard of Castlevania, you’re familiar with the setup. Dracula and his minions arise to terrorize the living. A vampire hunter with a whip embarks on a quest to put them back into their graves. It’s a cycle that’s worked for multiple releases. There have been so many amazing Castlevania games, however, that players to this day are divided over which ranks the best. Yet most can agree it’sSymphony of the Nightthat takes the throne.
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The game not only was a mind-blowing experience as you assume the role of Alucard, Dracula’s son, but Symphony of the Night also went on to spawn the subgenreMetroidvania. You roam the castle, battling monsters and terrors as you get stronger, leveling up your stats and acquiring powers to reach new areas. Even the music is deserving of a chef’s kiss for how it sets the mood for every level and cutscene.
2Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Origins of Big Boss
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
It’s not often you get a prequel that surpasses the original, but of all the games in the MGS franchise,Metal Gear Solid 3has the best balance between story and gameplay. Instead of Solid Snake, players assume the role of his father and the original antagonist, Big Boss. Set in the era of the Cold War, a madman is preparing to unleash a new weapon that could spell the end of the war, and only a fledgling Big Boss can stop it.
The story is a masterpiece as you follow Big Boss from one encounter to the next, sneaking through the jungles and military bases using camouflage and whatever gear you come across. The boss fights are intense as you battle the Cobra Unit and its fierce members. If there’s any game worthy of being called an emotional rollercoaster, it’s this one. MGS3 was such a success it spawned a full remake.
Honorable Mentions: Silent Hill 1, Contra III, Super Castlevania IV, and Metal Gear Solid 2 and 5 are all wonderful, yet this list can only contain so much greatness.
1Silent Hill 2
The Horror That Changed Everything
Silent Hill 2
It was a tough call, but in the end,Silent Hill 2remains Konami’s greatest success andthe saddest story ever seen in horror. You are James Sunderland, a widower who’s come to the foggy town after receiving a letter from his wife, which is impossible because, according to James, she’s been dead for three years. With no clue what to expect and nothing to lose, you embark on a journey to find her in Silent Hill.
To this day, the game still manages to shock newcomers with its narrative, delivery and monsters, including the infamous Pyramid Head. The combat may be awkward, but the game is not about fighting. It’s about survival, and most of all, experience. With one of the biggest twists in gaming and a sound score that’ll take your breath away, it’s no wonder this game was deserving of a remake.
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