The Best Konami Game On Every PlayStation Console

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Prior to dominating console games, Konami initially made its mark in the arcade scene, responsible for creating iconic titles like Castlevania and Metal Gear on the NES. They maintained a strong partnership with Nintendo until the advent of 3D gaming, at which point they began favoring Sony more during the PlayStation 1 era. This was a common move among Japanese companies during that generation as the PS1 gained popularity, while the N64 failed to recapture the magic of the NES or SNES.

Moving beyond the original PlayStation 1, Konami contributed a wealth of memorable gaming experiences to the various PlayStation consoles. Here’s an intriguing question: Which Konami game stands out as the best among its peers on each of the seven current PlayStation systems?

Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night (PS1)

A Not So Miserable Pile Of Secrets

Konami endorsed the PS1 robustly by offering four exceptional games, such as Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Suikoden 2. However, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night stands out as the cream of the crop. This game played a pivotal role in shaping an entire genre, and it even holds a unique distinction in meme history with iconic lines like, “What is a man…a miserable pile of secrets.”

Symphony of the Night is a game that can be played over and over again on any device it’s released for, thanks to its robust RPG features and intricate equipment system. Although the graphics may not be state-of-the-art, it more than compensates with its trailblazing Metroidvania gameplay style.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

What A Thrill

During Konami’s PS2 era, two Metal Gear games were locked in a fierce battle for supremacy, with notable titles like Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Silent Hill 2, and Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner also vying for attention. However, among these, it was Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater that emerged victorious as not only Konami’s top PS2 game but also a fan favorite and often hailed as the best in the series. This is the game where Hideo Kojima successfully demonstrated that Big Boss could be just as compelling a protagonist as Solid Snake.

Throughout the subsequent installments, I found myself appreciating more and more why Big Boss experienced his tragic demise in the original “Metal Gear”. The captivating storyline was just one aspect that made this PlayStation 2 gem stand out; its innovative camouflage system and creative boss battles were another. Not to mention, it seemed as if the developers had pushed the limits of the PS2’s capabilities to their absolute maximum.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP)

Portable Perfection

Among Metal Gear series, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) might be the most favorably received platform, boasting games like Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and its add-on, both Metal Gear Acid titles, and a motion-controlled reinterpretation of Metal Gear Solid. But what truly sealed the deal was Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. It offered an exceptional portable gaming experience with bite-sized missions and a unique spin on Nintendo’s Pokemon-style gameplay mechanics.

Players might opt to seek out and enlist troops for Mother Base instead of catching adorable creatures. Furthermore, Peace Walker seemed more like a complete main series sequel rather than a casual spinoff, primarily due to the captivating background story of Big Boss.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3)

Slice And Dice

Guns of the Patriots and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow both had their merits and were innovative in their own ways, nothing quite compares to the over-the-top elements found in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, be it its gameplay or storyline.

What number of Metal Gear games offer players the opportunity to physically cut through Metal Gears and rock out to heavy metal tunes? The alliance between Konami and PlatinumGames transformed Raiden into an even more badass cyborg ninja. Sadly, this spinoff has yet to receive a follow-up or remaster, despite maintaining its outstanding reputation over the years.

Silent Hill: Book Of Memories (PS Vita)

Slim Pickings

The PlayStation Vita received very little support from Konami, which makes this choice debatable. Silent Hill: Book of Memories, despite being a peculiar action RPG reminiscent of Diablo, was not a traditional moody horror game like the other titles in the series. However, just because it didn’t fit the usual mold doesn’t mean it’s poor quality. In fact, over time, both fans and critics have come to acknowledge its strong points rather than focusing on what it wasn’t.

It’s important to mention that the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection functioned well on the PS Vita, offering enjoyable games such as Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. However, unlike its console counterparts, this collection did not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, which feels incomplete. A collection, intended to celebrate a company’s achievements on a system, seems less fitting without this significant title.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (PS4)

Kojima’s Last Stand

Hideo Kojima’s final major project at Konami, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, was released before he parted ways with the company due to creative disputes and established his own studio. While some argue that the game was left incomplete according to Kojima’s standards, it still offered a remarkable experience upon its launch.

The game significantly improved upon concepts introduced in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, refining aspects like close quarters combat mechanics and the Fulton balloon system. Furthermore, its expansive open-world design allowed players to devise innovative stealth strategies. It served as a fitting farewell for Kojima, and provided a satisfying conclusion to the enigmatic one-eyed antihero Big Boss’s storyline.

Silent Hill 2 (PS5)

James And The Giant Pyramid Head

The future of the PS5 is still uncertain, but it has already hosted some great games from Konami such as Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster, Gate Rune, and Dunan Unification Wars. Moreover, upcoming titles like Silent Hill f and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater look promising. However, the remake of Silent Hill 2 currently stands out as the best Konami game available on the system.

I’ve always held that Silent Hill 2 was the crown jewel in the series. The chilling narrative about James Sunderland searching for his late wife amidst the eerie inhabitants of an abandoned town, coupled with the terrifying yet iconic monsters, has left a lasting impression on me as a gamer. Kudos to Bloober Team for meticulously remaking such a classic for Konami. They’ve managed to maintain the original game’s integrity while adding their own unique touch that solidifies its place as a horror masterpiece.

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2025-08-02 05:34