The Top 10 Arcade Games Made By Konami (2024)

This game may have been intended as a James Bond Moonraker game but never got the license (to kill). The intro even mimics the iconic impression of looking down the barrel of a gun at Bond with its own "spotlight" effect. It features jet-packs, rockets emblazoned with arachnids (close to the Octopus symbol of Spectre), Walther pistols, uber-henchman Jaws (he even has the metal teeth), a painting of Ernst Blofeld, and the end boss is Hugo Drax all without the license.

SPY also features several different modes of play with varied degrees of success. The opening jetpack mission is similar to Space Harrier only with very inconsistent perspective making avoiding shots and hitting a challenge. Moving on, we get stages that are part brawler and part shooter, a few behind-the-back perspective changes, and limited jumping ability. SPY may not be the best game, but as a fan of Bond I found it "interesting". If not a big fan of Bond, consider Aliens or Bucky O'Hare for this spot.

Try this one: Rolling Thunder (series)

Gaiapolis is unique on this list as a fantasy-themed brawler and presented from an overhead action RPG prespective on a vertically scrolling screen. The main characters are on a quest to save the land and find a mythical being called the Golden Hawk to recover weapons of light from the titular flying citadel to defeat the evil King of Darkness. Prince Gerard Himerce, Elain Shea the fairy, and Duke Galahad the dragon have all banded together with the same goal but for personal reasons. Also, the Prince is the average character while the Dragon is slower and stronger and the Fairy is quicker, weaker, and less likely to be caught in an attack animation. Each character has a unique dash attack and combo attack animation, but they share the same magic (powered-up by collecting more blue diamonds). They can also block if you hold down the attack button.

There are special eggs scattered throughout the stages that hatch a companion creature who will attack on command until their stamina runs out. Each character can open chests to obtain equipment, XP, or healing items. Defeating enemies also grants experience points to automatically level the character granting better stats. The levels and art style are very attractive and there are a few splendid animation sequences though the bulk of the story is told in mostly static images. One particularly poignant moment comes in Atlantica when the heroes view the Graveyard of the Old World. Some levels have hidden treasure and equipment hiding in unusual places encouraging very limited exploration (for instance: one area has destructible walls hiding a new sword for the Prince within). Gaiapolis is very long for a brawler taking over an hour to beat, but maybe not as in-depth with only one main attack button, the creature button, and a button for using magic. It is not really as deep as an actual RPG either, but instead a fusion of the two. I would classify it most as an "adventure-brawler with light RPG elements." However you think of it, it is unique and has a special appeal in its look, sound, and experimental approach.

Try this one: The King of Dragons

Along with the NES GI Joe games, the arcade game is one of the best games based on the license. It has four Joes: Duke, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, and Scarlett. Unlike the other shooters on this list, it is a behind-the-back perspective on-rails shooter. There is limited ability to aim shots higher and lower with a cross-hair as well as move side-to-side as the stage itself continuously scrolls forward. Even though the game is in 2D, the techniques employed give it a 3D feel. For the time-frame it also has a very good intro animation and explosion effect.

Par for the course, Cobra Commander and his army are out for world domination and the Joes must find his secret base to stop him. They encounter familiar vehicles such as the H.I.S.S. tank and the Razorback as well as fighting a slew of lesser B.A.T.s and Viper soldiers across three missions comprised of multiple stages and various environments. Other name villains like the Baroness and Destro appear as bosses. Each Joe carries unlimited ammo and pickups grant up to nine missiles (used for screen clearing attacks) and a cosmetically shown rapid-fire negating the need to hit the fire button for each individual shot. Though the cross-hair and rounds-fired graphics vary for each character, there is no real difference between their weaponry. Much of the challenge comes from having the reflexes to avoid the constant on-screen chaos and still managing to collect the pickups and defeat the enemies. Luckily the precision aiming is much more polished than the similar segments found in SPY.

Try this one: Gundhara

Much like Sunset Riders, and from the same development team, Mystic Warriors released as a ninja-themed (though certainly not very stealthy) take on the eight-way shooter. Mystic Warriors featured five playable "ninja": Spyros and Brad the Americans, Kojiro the samurai, Keima the Kabuki performer, and Yuro the kunoichi (my favorite). Up to four players can play at a time depending on the version. Once characters are selected the remaining ninja is captured (or a random ninja is if fewer than four players) by Skull Enterprise. There is actually a plot spoiler tied into this element, so I will just say the ninja are fighting to stop the Skull forces.

Each character fires shuriken at a rapid pace and can also attack at close range using their particular melee weapon. Levels allow allow players to jump to a higher plane or back to the lower as in Sunset Riders and Moo Mesa and there are some unusual takes on skiing and swimming. In a nod to Sunset Riders there is a brief movie screen ad for that game in the drive-in and various other comical elements to the background. Also like the two games mentioned earlier in this paragraph there are a lot of environmental hazards and traps to avoid or use against enemies. One unique power up is the chikara orb that destroys all on-screen enemies, and there is also the shinobi orb that provides a protective barrier. One of my personal memories is of a recurring boss character similar to one seen in Metal Slug games who is a cyborg carrying massive machine guns.

Try this one: ESP Ra.De.

The Simpsons art style lent itself very well to the technical abilities of the arcade machines though the opening sequence doesn't do the best job at depicting the characters. Springfield is very well represented and for the fans there are all kinds of references, in-jokes, touches, and cameos. At first, the Simpsons may not seem like ideal material for a brawler, but it works amazingly well. The setup is similar to the opening sequence to the show, as it is mostly a comedy of errors started by a chance encounter as Smithers steals a diamond, baby Maggie is mistakenly mixed in, and the Simpsons try to save the tot as they battle minions sent by Mr. Burns to impede them.

Homer attacks with punches and kicks, Bart has his skateboard, Lisa has a jump rope (but why not a Saxophone?), and Marge wrecks all with a vacuum cleaner. Power ups grant health or improved attack, objects in the stage can be picked up or used as weapons, and there are competitive mini-games pitting players against one another (or AI) for points. The Simpsons' most unique feature is the team attack. Depending on the combination, two players combine, such as Bart riding on Homer's shoulders while attacking high with his skateboard as Homer throws punches. There are moments of background animation, character facial expressions, and attack/defeat animations which are chuckle worthy in many of the Konami arcade releases and in this case they are more in line with the particular Simpsons humor and sometimes as much fun as the combat. Even the "generic", made-for-the-game enemies fit the universe well and come with their own offbeat sensibilities.

Try this one: Undercover Cops

Join up with Marshall Moo Montana, Dakota Dude, Cowlorado Kid, and newcomer Buffalo Bull to rid the West of deplorable desperadoes. Comprised entirely of anthropomorphized characters with names based on famous Western icons or movie roles and on some wordplay, Moo Mesa built on Contra and Sunset Riders to become its own game, though in many ways it is much less difficult.

Moo Mesa featured all of the eight-way shooting and added a "stampede" move for breaking through walls, usable items like a tomahawk and dynamite, and a three-hit health meter. Flying chickens drop power-ups when shot, that include upgrades for each Cowboys default, infinite ammo weapon. There are some stages comprised of holding onto a bird of prey while firing that play similarly to games like Gradius, and a stage based on running from one moving platform to the next, but what is especially unique to this title is that the order of play for every level except the first and the boss finale can be chosen at will.

Try this one: Dungeon Magic

This particular X-Men game was based off the pilot episode for a planned X-Men cartoon series titled: X-Men - Pryde of the X-Men. Konami also made a special combined cabinet to allow play of all six characters simultaneously. There is even an HD port available on XBLA and PSN, so give it a try if you never have as it is still one of the better X-Men games. Playable characters are: Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Dazzler.

Other than the ability to play with 2-6 people (depending on the cabinet) X-Men had a three button layout for jumping, attacking, and using a mutant power. The mutant powers were devastatingly destructive, but cost a set amount of health to unleash and a cutoff for how much damage you could take before the power was unavailable. Of course, there were pickups for storing mutant power attacks. Like the comics and many other Konami licensed games, X-Men is very colorful. The character sprites are large and there are a host of villains from the comics as bosses, with Magneto waiting at the end. Stages take place on a pseudo-3D isometric plane allowing for foreground and background movement as in TMNT or Captain America and the Avengers, and while the combat is not particularly deep it is fun.

Try this one: Guardians Denjin Makai II

Continuing the blistering difficulty of Contra into a wild West theme sporting colors as garish as a rodeo clown outfit, Sunset Riders brought four neon-coordinated gunslingers to the screen with plenty of the expected Konami level interaction and humor. Like many other games on this list, the cabinet came in a two or four player version.

Sunset Riders added some things to the Contra formula like the ability to slide, the environmental hazards and the flash-red-when-damaged bosses from games like TMNT, and more variations on traversal such as horseback riding and rope crossing. Again with unlimited ammo, each of the four bounty hunters now picks up a silver or gold Sheriff's badge to gain an area shot and rapid fire denoted by different colored bullets instead of weapon pickups like Contra. Sunset Riders also offered a competitive aspect in that every kill had a monetary value and whoever hit the boss characters more gained more of the bounty. Each of the bosses had voice acting, a theme, and a particular vulnerability to their attack patterns. While this game was fairly faithfully ported on home release, it did fall prey to some censorship as certain elements were removed or altered.

Try this one: Vasara (series)

Konami was pretty much synonymous with Ninja Turtles video games from 1987 through at least the Sixth Generation of consoles. In 1989, the game that would steal most of my spending money away from comics and toys was this one. Turtles in Time would come along later with improved graphics and mechanics, but literal years of play on this cabinet made me choose it as the entry.

As one of the four brothers, you (and some friends) start your adventure trying to rescue April O'Neil from a burning building and the clutches of Rocksteady. Other characters from the 1987 cartoon show appear and TMNT combines environmental interactions with side scrolling brawls and all the trappings of the genre. There are small touches and flourishes, such a the turtle's one-liners and animations like falling into manholes, that give the game charm. And the color-coded foot soldier robots each have their own special attacks.

Try this one: Cadillacs and Dinosaurs

Contra (aka Probotector or Gryzor) is still one of the most difficult games ever made, even with the famous "Konami Code." It is part of gaming's legacy and has seen many iterations over the decades. Contra primarily focused the eight-way attack mechanic on a 2D plane, but it also had levels with a behind-the-back perspective.

Contra originally starred Bill Rizer and Lance Bean as commandos sent to stop a terrorist organization called Red Falcon bent on world domination. The terrorists were changed to an alien invasion force in some region releases, and the subsequent sequels fell more in that direction. Contra required players to memorize enemy tactics, level layout, and timing to survive as one hit meant instant death. Along the way new weapons could be collected, all with infinite ammo, along with a rapid fire upgrade and a temporary shield. Those Dark Souls fans who have never tried this, but love challenging difficulty might give this one a try.

Try this one: Gunforce (series)

Konami had quite an impact on the arcade scene and delivered several fantastic games. Though I couldn't list them all, I hope it was a fun trip down memory lane, and here are a few honorable mentions:

Gradius (series)
Gyruss
Time Pilot
Shao-lin's Road
Rush 'n Attack
Yie Ar Kung Fu
Xexex
Frogger
Bucky OHare
Run and Gun (series)
Punk Shot
Crime Fighters/Vendetta/Violent Storm (series)
Aliens
Monster Maulers
Metamorphic Force
Twinbee (series)
Blades of Steel
Parodius (series)
Beatmania (series)
Haunted Castle