There have been a lot of question swirling around Konami and what the future holds for them. Reports that Konami would exit the console business entirely are still being bandied about, to which the company has said, “don’t believe everything you read.” Regardless of what the future holds, we’d love to see these eight great Konami franchises continue, even if Konami walks away from games development. Whether the IPs are sold, or just licensed for use, these franchises deserve to live on.
Think we missed one? Tell us what it is in the comments!
Bomberman
With the exception of an iOS release in 2014, Bomberman has not been seen or heard from since Konami absorbed Hudson Soft in 2012. Gameplay is usually puzzle-based, with the player needing to use bombs to kill enemies, destroy obstacles, and open a path to the exit. However, there are a number of other genres with Bomberman games as well, including platformers, kart racers, and more. I’m not sure why Konami hasn’t made more use of the franchise, but I’d love to see it return.
Pro Evolution Soccer
The main (really only) competitor to EA’s massive FIFA franchise, Pro Evolution Soccer has been around since 1996, when it began as Goal Storm. It’s known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven in Japan. While it’s never had the licenses that EA manages to purchase, what PES does have is a very dedicated fan base, who often create option files and patches that modify player names to match their real-life counterparts.
Suikoden
The Suikoden series of role-playing games has been around since the mid-1990s, and is loosely based on a classical Chinese novel titled Shui Hu Zhuan by Shi Naian. Over its life, we’ve seen prequels, sequels, and even spin-offs, in addition to the main games. Typically found on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms, the series puts players in control of a party of up to six people that take on opponents in turn-based battles. After the lackluster response to 2012’s Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki, the series has gone quiet, but we’d love to see it make a comeback.
Contra
There have been a lot of Contra games over the years, with installments on nearly every platform since the NES. The games are primarily side-scrolling shooters that pit players against enemy soldiers, aliens, and more. Power-ups change and upgrade weapons, and almost all of the titles let you play cooperatively with a friend. Although it’s been a while since there was a Contra game that caught the attention of the masses, with today’s market embracing indie-style shooters, it could be the perfect time for a comeback.
Gradius
Konami’s side-scrolling shooter Gradius put players in control of a ship that needed to shoot down enemies. Some enemies would drop pick ups, and those pick ups could be converted into weapons to upgrade the ship. The series was so popular that Konami spun off Life Force and Parodius from it, among other titles. Although the most recent thing to bear the moniker is a pachislot machine released in Japan, a new video game release would be welcome indeed.
Metal Gear
Hideo Kojima’s long-running Metal Gear series is one of the most recognizable franchises Konami owns. Prior to the release of Metal Gear Solid 5 earlier this year, the series had already sold over 41 million copies at retail. Although Kojima and Konami have apparently parted ways, it’s entirely possible that this series will live on, even if the games may look a little different. After all, 2013’s Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was developed by Platinum Games with some input from Kojima Productions, and was well-received.
Silent Hill
One of the first games that comes to mind when discussing survival horror titles, Silent Hill has been a fixture in the genre since the original game launched in 1999. It’s always set in the titular town, and you typically play as a normal person caught up in horrific events. With its combination of survival horror and psychological horror elements, Silent Hill is a fixture in the game world, and although recent releases have not been as well received, a wider market for these sort of games leaves plenty of room for a quality game in the series to be successful.
Castlevania
With nearly 40 games bearing the name, the Castlevania series is one of the longest running and most prolific of all time. The games have transitioned from 2D side-scrollers to 3D adventures such as the more recent Lords of Shadow titles, but all of them have similar elements, including vampire, werewolves, and the undead. The tale of the Belmont family and their vampire hunting exploits has stood the test of time, and has appeared on nearly every major gaming platform since its emergence on the NES. It’s the very first series I think of when someone says Konami, and deserves a chance to continue its success, even if Konami hangs up its spurs.
