Cliff Notes – What is the best Konami franchise?
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Revival of Classic Franchises: Konami is re-engaging with its legacy, hinting at potential new titles like Castlevania and a return to Pro Evolution Soccer, following positive reception of Silent Hill f.
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Diverse Fan Preferences: While Metal Gear Solid is often considered Konami’s flagship franchise, opinions vary, with some fans expressing a desire for games like Bomberman or Contra instead.
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Market Trends and Spoilers: The gaming landscape is shifting, with concerns over spoilers diminishing the excitement of discovery in new titles, as players seek to experience games without pre-existing knowledge.
Games Inbox: What is the best Konami franchise?
Would you rather have a new Castlevania or a new PES? (Konami)
The Tuesday letters page is desperate to avoid spoilers for Silent Hill f, as one reader finds some great deals for Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2.
Publisher favourites
Very interested to see the positive reviews for Silent Hill f and, at the same time, a sign that Konami is already looking at doing another Metal Gear Solid remake, or maybe even a new game. After years where they basically weren’t a video game publisher anymore it’s great to see them come back into the fold, even though neither of those franchises are particular favourites of mine.
But if Konami is going all in from now on, what else should we expect from them? They’ve already done a Gradius compilation and surely Castlevania is their next big one, but what about a new Frogger, a big budget Contra, or a proper new Suikoden? Or, what I’d really love to see, the end of eFootball and a return to the glory days of Pro Evolution Soccer.
Curious to know what is considered to be Konami’s best franchise, though? I assume most people are going to say Metal Gear, but I feel it has a fairly niche audience, it’s just they’re very loud. Personally, I’d rather play another Bomberman, which Konami also own, than another Metal Gear – especially without Kojima.
Hastar
Radio silence
So glad that Silent Hill f turned out to be a good one and not just by copying Silent Hill 2. I’m really intrigued to know what these gross scenes are in the game but with my search history I’m basically not going on YouTube until I’ve played and beaten the game.
It’s a shame nowadays that the minute something is out, and usually a bit before, every single bit of information about a game, or a movie, is available and there’s no real chance to experience it for yourself.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
I’m not complaining about spoilers exactly, I just miss that sense of not knowing. Of figuring something out and thinking you might be one of the first to do it. But I know that if I get even a little stuck on these ‘hard’ puzzles I’ll be able to look up the solution in an instant and that’s annoyingly tempting.
Brett
Alternate ending
Really looking forward to playing Silent Hill f this weekend, after all the positive reviews. I like how it has a serious story but it isn’t just a rerun of Silent Hill 2 (I assume, I can’t see how it can be). I do agree Silent Hill is a bit of an odd series to try and making a hundred sequels and spin-offs to, but at the end of the day as long as we get a couple of good ones out of it what does it matter?
The makers of the bad games still got paid and if Konami take a bath on the whole deal that’s their problem, not mine. Some of these companies are so big they can afford to take a chance and I kind of like that Konami is just brute forcing itself towards some good games.
As for playing it myself, I’m curious about the extra endings. Are they something you can work out for yourself or am I going to be having to google how to do it? Which I’d rather not do.
Specter
GC: Once you beat the game once you’re told, in broad terms, what you need to do to get the different endings.
Niche racing
Hey GC, just wondering if you’ll be reviewing Formula Legends? Just had it advertised to me, and it looks right up my street – F1 adjacent, covering multiple decades and arcade racing (I don’t have the time to dedicate to getting good at sim racers these days).
Also, £20 and from an independent studio… I almost want to just take a punt just to say, ‘more of this, please!’
StellarFlux
GC: We don’t think we know anyone that could review it fairly. If you do take a risk on it though, we’d welcome a Reader’s Feature on it.
Galaxy of bargains
I see on the weekend Amazon UK was listing Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 at £79.99! They have since discounted the game with 38% off so the actual price now is £49.95 with an RRP price of £79.99. ShopTo have it for £49.85, as I have a gold account with ShopTo I can get it £1 cheaper. I would be getting it day one, but I have pre-ordered the Lego Game Boy, so will get Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 later in the year.
Luckily, I had pre-ordered the Lego Game Boy as it has sold out now on Amazon. I thought the price of the Lego Game Boy was very good (£54.99); although I did like the Lego NES it was out of my price range. I’m glad, with the release of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, they did not limit its release like they did with Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
Andrew J.
GC: The Lego Game Boy is still up for pre-order on the Lego website.
Expensive month
Much appreciation to GC for their positive and well-informed review of Silent Hill f. That’s another title I’ll be adding to the list. I don’t quite know how I’ll manage to have the time, however. Because I’ve currently downloaded Hell Is Us, Dying Light: The Beast, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Cronos: The New Dawn to my PC and in less than two weeks, Ghost Of Yōtei releases on PlayStation 5.
Yeah, I’m in for a massive bonanza of gaming and I couldn’t ask for less. I haven’t unfortunately pre-ordered Yōtei yet actually, since I’m unsure if reviews will differentiate it from Tsushima or it will be reviewed as a title that’s entirely familiar. Three days until the embargo is lifted and if it reviews well my pre-order is secured and my list adds another chapter.
Since Sony are so confident in this, they lift the embargo a week to release date. I’m expecting Ghost Of Yōtei to score a 93 on Metacritic. Same as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I adore the first game and I loved my playthrough of Jin’s story.
Shahzaib Sadiq
The one game
One word why console sales are falling: Roblox. Kids don’t need a console for it. It plays on everything.
As much as I hate it, the game keeps kids occupied for hours. I do hope the stricter parental options come in sooner than later. I’ve seen things I should not have on a 7+ game.
Bobwallett
Uniformly expensive
Interesting reading Garrick’s letter yesterday about saving his money as a child to buy a Mega Drive. I remember doing exactly the same, ordering a brand new one from Special Reserve and then also getting a special six button controller and a copy of Street Fighter 2 Special Championship Edition.
The prices were £190, £30, and £60, respectively.
I’ve just used the Bank of England inflation calculator to see what these prices would be in 2025. They would be £560, £60, and £160. So a total of £780 for a console, controller, and one game. The Mega Drive was one of the cheaper consoles as well.
A Panasonic 3DO on release in 1994 was £400, or £851 in today’s money.
Also in 1994, Neo Geo games were around £150 *each* or £320 in today’s money. For one game.
Gaming today is no more expensive than at any other time. But yes, there are a lot more demands on pay packets now and inflation on other goods is also very different. There are many factors today which are much worse than 30 years ago, just look at house prices, but just a reminder that our hobby has never been cheap!
Rolph
Inbox also-rans
That Wayne Rooney story is not what I expected to read in terms of the game, but I guess it makes sense. SOCOM was such a boring franchise though. The gameplay was okay but the whole presentation and everything was so cookie cutter, I think it’s very obvious why Sony never brought it back.
Inkle
A history lesson based on GTA? Something tells me the lecturer just wants a couple of easy weeks’ work. GTA isn’t even set in the real America, it’s all just a joke. A bit like this history lesson.
Yogi
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