Summary
While there are many video game companies fans would love to see make a return to form,Konamiis one of the most in-demand. The company rarely makes video games anymore, despite owning such powerhouse IPs asMetal GearandCastlevania, but in its heyday, Konami produced some ofthe best games around.
Like many older game companies, some of Konami’s best entries were found in the arcade. Konami produced fan-favorite beat ‘em ups, shooters, and licensed games that broke the stigma on licensed titles. Looking at these classic arcade games, its little wonder fans want the Konami of old back.
10Silent Scope
A Light Gun Shooter Elevated By Its Unique Arcade Cabinet
As far as Light Gun arcade shooters go,Silent Scopeis often edged out by its more famous peers. It had a fairly standard plot for the time: rescuing the president and his family from a group of armed terrorists. What made the game stand out, however, was the plastic sniper rifle mounted on the cabinet.
In addition to beinga different weaponfrom the usual pistols found attached to arcade cabinets, the sniper rifle contained a second screen in its scope that offered a zoomed in view of the main screen. This gave players unparalleled accuracy in lining up headshots. It was the perfect game for helping players live out their sharpshooter fantasies.
9Metamorphic Force
A Brawler That Felt Like A Saturday Morning Cartoon Show
Metamorphic Forcefeatured a group of four warriors summoned by a holy Goddess to defeat the evil lord Death Shadow. These warriors had the ability to change into more powerful bestial forms once they collected a certain power-up. With its wild premise and incredible western-influenced art style, it would have fit in with a lot of the Saturday morning cartoons many kids were obsessed with at the time.
The game’s premise sounds similar to Sega’s classicAltered Beastgame. In fact, even the ancient Greek imagery in the first level can draw comparisons. But with its better graphics, faster gameplay, and unmistakable personality, many fans considerMetamorphic Forceto be the superior game.
8Frogger
A Simple Premise That Became An Arcade Legend
The few people who haven’t already heard ofFroggermight tilt their heads at theabsurdly simple premise. Players control a strangely aquaphobic frog from a top-down perspective, and must guide it across a busy highway and a perilous river to reach its home. The controls are equally simple, requiring only a single joystick.
However, this simple gameplay worked to the game’s advantage, asFroggerbecame a hit with all ages. The challenge of avoiding cars and hopping on floating logs and turtles was shockingly addictive. With its fun, simple gameplay and adorable presentation,Froggeris a beloved classic to this day.
7Gradius
One Of The Most Iconic Side-Scrolling Shooters Ever Made
Aside from fighting games and brawlers, spaceship-based shooters are a classic staple of arcades. It feels like most companies have at least one, but Konami’sGradiusis one of the most iconic. Playing asthe legendary shipVic Viper, players would navigate across a horizontally scrolling screen full of enemy vessels and laser-spitting moai statues.
Gradiuswas especially beloved for its weapon bar system that allowed players to exchange their power-up tokens for new weapons and enhancements on the fly. This added an extra layer of strategy on top of the already hectic space combat. This level of challenge has madeGradiusone of the most imitated games of all time.
Dance Dance Revolutionis a title so universally loved that even non-gamers have heard about it. The machine’s innovative design consisted of a floor with four arrow buttons on it. Players had to move their feet to hit the correct arrows as they appeared on-screen, all in time to the music.
The game was a smash success, owing to its use of popular licensed tracks and unprecedented level of physical interaction. Players actually felt like they were dancing in ways no arcade game had done before.Dance Dance Revolutionwas so good that it created a flood of imitators in therhythm game genre.
5The Simpsons
An Unlikely Combination That Beat The Odds
Today, a lot of gamers wince when they hear about licensed games. Especially when it comes to unlikely mashups, such as turning the animated family sitcomThe Simpsonsinto an arcade brawler. Yet Konami accomplished the impossible and madeThe Simpsonsone of the best arcade games of all time.
Players control either Homer, Marge, Bart, or Lisa as they brawl through the iconic streets of Springfield to rescue the infant Maggie. The fun gameplay, introduction of team-up moves, and faithful recreation of the show’s art style and humor helped to win over even the strongest of doubters.
X-Men The Arcade Game
There were two things in the 90s that almost every kid seemed to love: beat ‘em up arcade games, and theX-Men. Konami had the brilliant idea to put the two together in the money printing machine known as theX-Menarcade game. Though it was inspired by thePryde Of The X-Menpilot instead of the more iconic 90s cartoon series, the game was still a hit among arcade-goers.
Players had their choice of sixiconicX-Mencharacters, with some machines even allowing up to six players to play at once. The game was instantly beloved for its fun gameplay, use of beloved characters, and hilariously cheesy dialogue.
Video games are perfect for letting gamers act out their wildest fantasies, but it’s surprising how few there are about the old west. Konami was one of the most notable companies to help players live out their cowboy fantasies in the legendarySunset Riders. Players play one of four bounty hunters in their quest to take down legendary outlaws.
The side-scrolling shoot ‘em up’s gorgeous art style looked like a cross between an old western movie and a Saturday morning cartoon. That, coupled with the fun and fast gameplay, madeSunset Ridersan instant classic. Though it hassome poorly-aged stereotypesof Native American characters,Sunset Ridersis an IP many gamers hope Konami revives.
TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesalways seemed to be immune to the curse of licensed games being bad, especially in their arcade beat ‘em ups. While all of these games are beloved,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Timeis widely regarded to be one of the best beat ‘em ups to ever grace the arcade.
Aside from the time-hopping plot leading to some creative settings, fans loved the game for its fun and tight gameplay. Of particular note was the newfound ability to throw enemies at the screen. Even with newerTurtlesgames coming out, this legendary classic is widely hailed as the best.
WhileMetal GearandCastlevaniaare easily Konami’s two most famous IP, an argument could be made forContrataking the third spot. This arcade classic is famous for its fast and furious run-and-gun gameplay, with the player being able to shoot in 8 directions and pick up different weapon types, but its probably most famous for itsnotoriously high difficulty.
Players die after taking a single hit inContra, which causes even the most experienced gamers to sweat bullets. The home console version is famous for popularizing the extra-life-granting Konami code, which players insist is less cheating and more turning the game down to normal difficulty. Despite its steep challenge,Contrais the biggest of Konami’s arcade legends.
