7 of Konami’s Best Games

Konami has been a leading name in the video game world for a generation now. Speak to any gamer about their favorite games of all time, and they are sure to mention at least one title from the Japanese developers.

This post is more than just a Konami game review, it will go through 10 of the best games to come out of the legendary Konami studios. These are games you should most definitely play if you haven’t already, or revisit if you’re an old fan.

Contra

Contra was one of first and probably one of the best run and gun arcade shooters released back in the late 80’s. It made its way onto the NES and Famicom. The game also made it onto the PS2 using a port back when the PS2 was at its most popular.

The game is set in the distant future, 2633 A.D, and two soldiers are sent to destroy an enemy faction in an archipelago off New Zealand. The gameplay is a mixture of side-scroller, platform and pseudo-3D. Loved for years, Contra is easily one of the best side-scrolling shooters to make its way onto a gaming system.

Metal Gear

A series familiar to anyone who has spent any time gaming, the original Metal Gear was first released back in 1987, and over 20 titles in the series have been released since. It has also been released on every platform imaginable, from the Game Boy Color, to the Nokia N-Gage, PS Vita, and the Xbox One.

The games feature a range of storylines and characters, with each being unique to its title. The main Metal Gear games span an almost six decade timeline, from the Cold War to the near future. If you haven’t already, playing any Metal Gear game will get you hooked on the series instantly.

Silent Hill

Silent Hill is another series you are probably familiar with, or have at the very least heard of. The horror genre was changed with the release of the original Silent Hill. Set in the fictional town of Silent Hill, the game takes players on a whirlwind ride of adventure and psychological horror.

Each game follows different characters and different storylines within the town, and there are also a number of spin-off games, such as Play Novel – Silent Hill, which was a visual novel released for the GameBoy Advanced. Easily the benchmark for horror games, Silent Hill is a series anyone can get into, as well as thoroughly enjoy, horror fan or not.

Dance Dance Revolution

An arcade favorite for years, Dance Dance Revolution is a series that made its way to home consoles when fans were able to buy the dance mats. The game is simple, follow the symbols on screen by stepping on the corresponding symbol on your mat.

There are dozens of titles in the series, with soundtracks that feature some of your favorite songs. Dance Dance Revolution was the game series that seriously changed how we game, and is still very much a fan favorite across arcades and homes worldwide.

Castlevania

Castlevania is regarded as one of Konami’s best ever games, and is one of the best selling game series in the world. The action-adventure horror game has been released on a multitude of systems, from arcade, to handheld and home systems.

Set in the castle of Count Dracula, the game features many different horror film elements, such as vampires, werewolves and zombies. It is meant to make players feel like they are in a horror film themselves. Whether you are a serious gamer or not, you should play at least one Castlevania game in your lifetime, it is guaranteed to not be the only one you’ll want to play.

Pro Evolution Soccer

There hasn’t been any soccer game that has really come close to dethroning the FIFA series, however, PES has come very close, and has been converting more and more people who were once lovers of FIFA.

It features league play, all your favorite players, as well as some of the biggest tournaments in the world. While it is similar to FIFA, many people prefer it due to how it doesn’t struggle with the same problems that EA has created for FIFA. definitely a game worth your time if you are a fan of the sport genre.

Bomberman

Bomberman is another very famous and beloved title and series that took the world by storm when it was first released. It is a strategic, maze-based game mainly centred around its single player modes.

It’s simple, make your way through the level and defeat all the enemies on your way to the exit. While the objective is easy enough, players are required to strategise and think, as levels aren’t always as easy as they seem. If you enjoy games that require you to think, while still being incredibly fun and addictive, Bomberman is definitely for you.

These are only a handful of the best games that Konami has released over the years, however, it is highly recommended that you give them all a chance, they didn’t get as popular as they are because of luck, and you’ll quickly see why they are so loved.