Tag Archives: Konami

Before the first bullet, before the jungle, before anybody could blame the other player for scrolling the screen too far, there was a little ceremony. Someone picked up the Nintendo controller and pressed Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Then Start. If they had done it properly, Contra became a considerably more generous host. The guns still killed you. The pits still killed you. The alien infestation was… Read more

When players first explore Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest on the NES, they eventually come across Dracula’s grave. What might look like a simple detail is actually a hidden historical reference that ties one of gaming’s most iconic villains back to real history. The inscription on the grave reads “1431–76,” which are the exact birth and death years of Vlad Tepes, better known as Vlad the Impaler. Vlad Tepes ruled Wallachia during the… Read more

The Accidental Horror of Silent Hill’s Fog When players think of Silent Hill, the first image that often comes to mind is its thick, suffocating fog. It is one of the most haunting visuals in all of gaming, setting the tone for fear, dread, and the unknown. But here is the twist: that fog was never meant to be scary at all. The original Silent Hill was released on the PlayStation in… Read more

Hideo Kojima is known for pushing the boundaries of video games, but during the development of Snatcher he almost took things into a whole new dimension — smell. Kojima wanted the game’s floppy disks coated in a special chemical that, when heated by the computer, would release the scent of blood. His vision? To fill the room with the “stench of a murder scene” during key moments in the game. Imagine playing… Read more

The dark halls of Dracula’s castle have opened once again but this time on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Thanks to the hard work of developer Rumbleminze the original Castlevania has been fully ported to SNES hardware offering a native 16 bit experience that combines classic gameplay with modern enhancements. https://bsky.app/profile/rumbleminze.bsky.social/post/3lufxzd6dbs2a First released as Akumajō Dracula for the Famicom Disk System in September 1986 and later brought to the NES in 1987… Read more

Konami's beloved compilation, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, is set to be delisted from Steam in Japan later this month. The news comes as a shock to fans, as the collection was released less than two years ago on August 30, 2022, across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. According to a recent "Notice of End of Sales" post on the game's Steam page, Japanese players will no longer be able to purchase the collection from Friday, March 29, 2024, onward. However, there… Read more

Crisis Force: A Deep Dive into NES Excellence Crisis Force is not just a game; it's an exemplar of the technical marvels that were possible on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), despite being released in the twilight years of the console's life. This shoot 'em up, released exclusively in Japan in 1991 by Konami, has since garnered a dedicated following among retro gaming enthusiasts around the globe. Technical Mastery by Konami Konami,… Read more

Note: We ran through this 3 players. Something I've always wanted to do. The game audio is still too loud and overshadows the commentary. My son's and I enjoyed this one. They were the age I was when I used to play it in the arcade. To see them enjoy retro gaming makes me be happy. Perhaps we will run through a few more 3/4 player games soon. The Simpsons Arcade Game… Read more

The Punisher Arcade Game Review: A Retro Rampage with a Father-Son Duo In an era where pixels were mightier than photo-realism, "The Punisher" arcade game stood out as a gritty gem in the crown of 90s side-scrolling beat 'em ups. DashingDerek and I decided to revisit this classic, not in the neon glow of an arcade, but on our trusty PC, armed with a couple of gamepads and hearts full of nostalgia.… Read more

Retro Review: "Contra III: The Alien Wars" – A SNES Classic In the realm of retro gaming, certain titles are spoken of with a near-mythical reverence, and "Contra III: The Alien Wars" is one such title. Although my own gaming roots were firmly planted in the soil of the Sega Genesis, with its much-touted "blast processing," I never laid hands on "Contra III" until 2023. The experience was a mix of delight… Read more

This is a casual playthrough of the first level. The game is very well done, if you would like to see a Long play let us know in the comments. Very Konami. Asterix is a horizontal-scrolling beat'em up arcade game released in 1992 by Konami. It is based on the French comic series Asterix and Obelix. The player fights as either Asterix the Gaul or his best friend, Obelix, as they take… Read more