February2021
News Silent Hill, Gradius And Contra Composer Akira Yamaoka Teases New Project
Update: Konami states it did not ask for interview to be taken down
Update: A Konami spokesperson has issued a statement making it clear that the company was not behind the request made to Al Hub to remove the Akira Yamaoka interview. Given that he's not a Konami employee, you could say the statement makes it unlikely that Yamaoka's next project is...
January2021
News No, Konami Isn't Exiting The Video Game Business
"We have not 'shut down' our video gaming division"
While video games seem to be fairly resilient to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that hasn't stopped some companies from taking a good, hard look at how they operate – one of which is Japanese giant Konami, the firm behind titles like Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, Pro Evolution...
Feature 6 Huge Video Game Franchises Missing From Nintendo Switch
They've all played with power in the past
Unless you've been living on a deserted island for the past four years (hey, lucky you — wish you'd stayed there now, right?), it's hard to miss how Switch has taken Nintendo back to the sort of mainstream success is achieved with the Wii two console generations ago. Wii U might have bombed commercially...
All aboard with the chart-topping hit
This digital board game's only been out a few months, and yet in that short period of time, Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! has utterly dominated the Japanese charts and sold over 2 million copies (digital and physical sales combined). It topped the Japanese multi-format charts when it...
News Konami's Puzzle Shooter Block Hole Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release
Better known as Quarth
This week's arcade archives release is the puzzle shoot 'em up Block Hole by Konami. It's available now on the Switch eShop. Block Hole was originally launched in Japanese arcades in 1989 and was sold in this region as Quarth. Home version releases, like the 1990 Game Boy title, went with the name Quarth globally. Here's...
News Konami's Anniversary Collections On The Switch eShop Are Currently 75% Off (US)
Get 'em while you can
Right through until the 21st of January, Konami is offering its retro collections for a whopping 75% off in the US. Instead of paying the usual price of $19.99, each one will only cost you $4.99. That includes the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, the Contra Anniversary Collection, and Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection...
December2020
News Konami's Gradius III Blasts Onto The Nintendo Switch eShop This Week
"Enjoy playing the best game in the series"
Just over a month after Hamster's release of Gradius II on the Switch eShop, we've now got Gradius III to top it off. The third entry in the scrolling shoot 'em up series was released by Konami in the arcade in 1989 and followed with a SNES port in 1990. Here's a bit about it: "The story of Planet...
November2020
News Don Your Green Beret, Konami's Rush'n Attack Hits The Switch Today
Always in a rush
Hamster is releasing Konami's 1985 run-and-gun shooter Rush'n Attack ("Russian Attack" - get it?) on the Switch eShop today. The title – which was released under the alternative name Green Beret in Japan and Europe – is part of Hamster's superb Arcade Archives range. You're tasked with going behind enemy lines to rescue POWs...
News Konami's Gradius II Blasts Its Way Onto The Switch eShop This Week
A classic returns
The year might be slowing down, but Hamster's weekly Arcade Archives releases are still going strong. Today sees the arrival of Konami's 1988 shooter, Gradius II. This includes three Japanese versions and two overseas versions (also known as Vulcan Venture). Here's a little bit of backstory, straight from the PR: "Players will...
October2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #64 - International Superstar Soccer 98
Fresh blood is coming in... again
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the series where we throw two or more regional box art variants into a ring and watch them kick seven shades out of each other in a fight for your vote. Last time we watched Advance Wars: Dual Strike give itself fifteen birthday bumps in a two-way bout between East and West. It...
News The Man Behind Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Is Working On A Follow-Up, But There's A Catch
"The market has hit a point where these kinds of games actually make sense"
Sam Barlow's stock has risen sharply in recent years thanks to the award-winning FMV titles Her Story and Telling Lies, but back in 2009, he was employed at Climax UK as the lead writer and designer on Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a horror title which has since gone down...
September2020
News Arcade Archives Contra Runs And Guns Its Way Onto Switch Tomorrow
Bill and Lance are back!
If you are still recovering from the dumpster fire that was Contra: Rogue Corps, then it might be time to go back to basics and enjoy Bill and Lance's first arcade outing in Arcade Archives Contra. Konami's arcade classic is coming to Switch tomorrow, thanks to good old retro publisher HAMSTER. Here's an overview of the...
August2020
News Hamster's Arcade Archives Brings A Konami "Masterpiece" To Switch This Week
Get ready to shoot 'em up
The shoot 'em up library on the Nintendo Switch continues to expand - with Hamster Corporation this week adding Konami's 1990 "masterpiece" Lightning Fighters (known as Trigon in Japan) to the Arcade Archives library on the eShop. Here's a bit about it from the official press release, along with some screenshots: "SUPER...
News FIFA Rival Pro Evolution Soccer Won't Be Making The Switch This Year
So much for "getting closer"
Last month, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer brand manager for Latin America said the long-running football series was "getting closer" to a possible release on the Nintendo Switch. As promising as it sounded at the time, it seems there's nothing planned for this year. PES European brand manager, Lennart Bobzien, confirmed...
July2020
News PES On Nintendo Switch Is "Getting Closer", Says Series Brand Manager
Also wants to bring ISS to Nintendo Switch Online
Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer might not be the force it once was, but the series still has its long-time fans, and those same fans would no doubt appreciate being able to play the game on Switch. While that might seem like a pipe dream for some, Robbye Ron, PES brand manager for Latin America, has...
News Konami's Seminal Shooter Gradius Blasts Off On Switch Today
Shoot the core!
Alongside the likes of Space Invaders and R-Type, Konami's Gradius is considered to be one of the most influential shmups of all time. Released in arcades in 1985, it introduced the world to the notion of the 'weapon bar', a feature which allowed players to tactically upgrade their Vic Viper ship. Gradius has since inspired multiple...
News 16-Year-Old Student Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To "Blow Up Konami’s Headquarters"
Individual was upset by connectivity problems with Konami's PES mobile game
A 16-year-old student has been arrested in Japan for allegedly threatening to blow up Konami's Tokyo headquarters. According to Yomiuri, the suspect made the threats between June 16th and June 18th on the review section of an online app store. Another Japanese outlet,
June2020
News Konami's Cowboy Classic Sunset Riders Is Galloping To Switch This Week
Update: We've got a release date!
Update: We now have a solid release date, for Japan at least: June 11th. That's tomorrow, you guys! Bury with me my money, indeed. Original Story [Thu 19th Mar, 2020 12:15 GMT]: Fans of six-shooters and saddlebags will be pleased to learn that Konami's seminal arcade shooter Sunset Riders is heading to the...
News Konami Looking To Fund And Publish More Games Like Skelattack In The West
It's part of a long-term initiative
Earlier this week, Konami surprised many people when it published a brand-new game on the Nintendo Switch and other platforms called Skelattack. If you're still wondering how this came about, it's all part of the Japanese company's new strategy to strengthen its position within the western market. Senior...
May2020
Run for your life
Dead by Daylight fans are in for a treat on 16th June - with Behaviour Interactive announcing it has teamed up with Konami's horror series, Silent Hill. This next paid DLC will add Cheryl (Heather) Mason as a survivor and Pyramid Head as a killer. There'll also be a new map for all players (based on Midwich Elementary School), a...
Poll Box Art Brawl #44 - Super C / Probotector II
Return of the evil forces
Welcome all to Box Art Brawl, the weekly series where we scrutinise regional box art variants from around the globe and vote on the best. Last week we examined the European, North American and Japanese covers of Super Turrican. At the time of writing, the easy winner is Japan with 66% of the vote. However, both Europe and...
News There's A Whole Host Of Castlevania Soundtracks On Spotify Now
Listen to them - children of the night. What music they make!
Konami's Castlevania series isn't just famous for its tight gameplay, sprawling fortresses and inventive boss battles – it's also a series with some of the best music in the history of video games, and while Konami doesn't seem to have plans for any new entries right now (that's a...
April2020
News Take To The Skies In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release MX5000
A Konami shmup
Hamster has added another Arcade Archives game to the Switch eShop. This time around, it's Konami's 1987 shoot 'em up, MX5000 (otherwise known as FLAK ATTACK). Like previous releases, this one will set you back $7.99 / £6.29 and supports up to two players. You'll take control of "the latest fighter aircraft" of the Roufanis...
March2020
News PC Engine Mini Production And Shipment Delayed Indefinitely By Coronavirus
Update: Japanese version now available to order
Update [Wed 18th Mar, 2020]: Well, that was unexpected. The adorable Japanese white PC Engine Mini is now available to order from Play Asia. We're not sure how much stock the online retailer has, so you'd better act fast! <products id="10326"> Update [Fri 6th Mar, 2020 12:05 GMT]: Konami has...
Rumour Sony Could Be Raiding Konami For Castlevania, Metal Gear And Silent Hill IP
Smash and grab
Konami and Nintendo go back a long way. It's highly debatable whether the former would have enjoyed the success it has had over the years without the NES, as titles such as Castlevania, Gradius and Contra all found a receptive audience on the system. Likewise, you could argue that the NES (not to mention the SNES and Game Boy)...