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RetroforceGO! recording episode 33 early today: The bygone greatness of Konami photo

Your friends at RetroforceGO! are recording early today, (today being Sunday, not Saturday night) and I'm not sure why. Let's pretend it's because of something totally manly and awesome. We're recording early because Dyson lost a limb while wrestling a gorilla, and we have to go out later to track down said primate and kick his ass. Yeah, that's it. It's totally not because one of us has to go to a meeting for their day job tonight.

This week's episode is all about Konami and how awesome they were before they became Dance Dance Revolution INC. Back when they made games like Gradius, TwinBee, Contra, Axelay, Castlevania and hundreds of other classics. We were there. We entered the sacred code on our controllers before it even had a name. 

Hit the comments with your questions, and make 'em good: starting this week, the commenter with the best question wins $25! Why didn't we do that back when Podtoid started doing it? Because we were busy wrestling gorillas! Also, we forgot. 


Continue: More RetroforceGO! stories





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94 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Guagloves's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:36
Guagloves
What is the farthest you have gotten in any Contra game without dying once?

Also Homing Missiles FTW!
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:43
Chad Concelmo
THE LEGEND OF THE MYSTICAL NINJA! OMG!
madninja's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:44
madninja
Darn you! I had awesome questions before! I kid. Now that people know that I am Chad Jr. I will be replacing Chad this week.

Serious time, can't wait yet again. What was your first reaction to Metal Gear? And what is your favorite moment in a Konami game?
DynamicDonut's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:46
DynamicDonut
Drat, I never really played many Konami games, but here's a question anyway.

-What is your opinion on the Lethal Enforcers series? Do you think it stood the test of time?
-Do you think there should have been a TMNT 3 or "The Simpsons 2"?

Can't wait to hear about Twinbee. I've been too lazy to actually pick any of the series up.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:51
Necros
What, Konami isn't still good? I suppose they haven't made that many new IPs (Coded Arms, meh), but they've still got a bunch of good installments of games like Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid. Just my two cents.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:51
Necros
What, Konami isn't still good? I suppose they haven't made that many new IPs (Coded Arms, meh), but they've still got a bunch of good installments of games like Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid. Just my two cents.
sleepingagain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:55
sleepingagain
this is going to sound sad, but more of a retro confession, the only way i could remember my left and rights when i was growing up was with the konami code

and what is the one konami series that needs to die?
Heyasuki_'s Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 00:55
Heyasuki_
Dynamic there WAS a TMNT 3 and it was awesome same with TMNT: Tutles in time. Here's my question why do you think Konami has such a hard time making a good 3D Castlevania? Also we need Castlevania II to get the same HD upgrade as Bionic commando is getting on XBLA.

My favourite Konami game has to be TMNT 3/Castlevania II

Peace,

Heyasuki
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:05
Buster
hey, if you're talking about konami, that means you can talk about treasure since the people that started treasure left konami right topher?

also most of the time i was in el salvador i was playin Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the ds, it had rainbow bell and gradius on it. good times were had.also it has 8 bit voice when you start it up
GrumpyTurtle's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:09
GrumpyTurtle
I played the crap out of the NES and SNES Tiny Toon games.
Finding The Simpsons Arcade game was a must any arcade I went to.
The only game that comes close to Chrono Trigger play throughs multiple times for me is my burning love for Silent Hill.
And I love love love The Adventures of Batman and Robin for the SNES, best Batman game ever.
GrumpyTurtle's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:13
GrumpyTurtle
Also, my question... Forgot to type it.
What pros and cons in gaming do you think have come from growing up playing video games?
AKA, what things have changed as you've gotten older, and how have them impacted your gaming
Poorly phrased, but I couldn't figure out how to write it better
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:16
ScottyG
Chad, could you do your evil laugh on the show? On the last episode of Podtoid they were talking about how scary your evil laugh sounds, and now I must hear it! ^_^

If it helps here is a link to Laser Dolphin. It's a game where you're a dolphin...

That shoots lasers...

That has to save the Prime Minister who was abducted by aliens...

If that's not worth enough awesome points that I can cash in to hear your evil laugh I don't know what is. :)
geoffuws's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:16
geoffuws
Konami is still well good.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:18
Tubatic
There's a section of Konami, I think, that remembers their past greatness.

Zone of Enders 2. If you haven't played it, its really worth checking out. What's the relevance? The Vic Viper from Gradius makes a few cameo appearances in it! They tricked it out so it turns into a mech, but its still pretty slick as old school homages go.

And my question: which did you truly hate more Tecmo's birds from Ninja Gaiden or Konami's Medusa Heads from Castilevania?
Yashoki's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:23
Yashoki
I <3 Konami if only because of the Castlevania Series, I cant wait for this Episode. Konami is such win.
3r0t1c n3rd's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:23
3r0t1c n3rd
How many controllers have you destroyed while playing contra/castlevania?
Xelotath's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:28
Xelotath
Another RetroforceGo!, another awesome topic. Konami should feel proud. I still hope you'll talk about Contra IV even if it's recent. Anyways, how do you feel about castlevania, did you like it better in the nes days or does your vote goes to the metroidvania style games? Notice that I'm totally excluding the 3D ones.
Xelotath's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:28
Xelotath
Another RetroforceGo!, another awesome topic. Konami should feel proud. I still hope you'll talk about Contra IV even if it's recent. Anyways, how do you feel about castlevania, did you like it better in the nes days or does your vote goes to the metroidvania style games? Notice that I'm totally excluding the 3D ones.
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:30
Atlas
Why did the chicken cross the road?

Why?!?
microwavefood's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:37
microwavefood
I like kfc
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:42
ScottyG
Oh, and as for an actual question...

Obviously people think of the Contras and Castlevanias when they think of classic onami. What I want to know though is where the TMNT beat 'em ups rank with all of you.

Personally, I'd take TMNT: The Arcade Game or Turtles in Time over a Castlevania game any day. ^_^
Knives's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:49
Knives
-Do you think Konami is wondering why the fuck Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania weren't as popular as Guitar Hero and Rock Band? ( I like to imagine them in their offices going "Jeez!! What the fuck!??!", while pulling their hair out)


-Think they'll try it again or will they just continue to milk DDR?


-Where would the world be without the Konami code?


-Did any of you ever finished zombies ate my neighbors in one sitting?


-Why is Atlas Fontaine?
Why?!?
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:54
Topher Cantler
@Buster- Fun fact: Rainbow Bell is TwinBee.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 01:54
naia-the-gamer
I love Konami. They're one of my favorite developers. They made the best TMNT games ever.

Are there any older Konami franchises that you would like to see brought back (like Capcom is doing with Bionic Commando)?

Have any of you played the Suikoden games and what do you think of them?

That's about all the questions I can think of. I will await the podcasty goodness to appear in my iTunes ^_^
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:03
Topher Cantler
Also buster, we decided to do an entire episode on Treasure, since Chad and I are both huge fans. That'll be coming up soon. :D

Are we the only ones who've played TwinBee? Pop'n TwinBee? TwinBee's Rainbow Bell Adventure? I fucking love TwinBee games.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:05
Wedge
What happened to Konami?

All they've got now is Kojima, who is awesome, not just because of Metal Gear, but Zone of the Enders and Boktai/Lunar Knights series.

Castlevania is being driven into the ground, Bemani is dying out, Silent Hill is being outsourced into oblivion and then they have... what... Winning Eleven Soccer?

They used to be full of awesome in the NES/SNES days. Here's some awesome Konami properties I'd implore you to not forget

Sunset Riders
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Lethal Enforcers
And of course, BLADES OF STEEL.

They did a lot of decent licensed games too, probably most well known for their TMNT stuff. I'll never forget the Konami logo beaming it's line across the screen on my SNES.

And man, they had the best fucking audio team in the early 90's, doing tons of awesome arrange albums.
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:08
s0lesurviv0r
Anyone remember Rocket Knight Adventures(I think that's the name of it.)? Castlevania was probably more awesome back before the internet days, kids huddling around a lunchtable discussing hints, secrets, and flatout lies in the game with each other.

"Invisible bridge, NO WAY!"
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:11
s0lesurviv0r
They definitely need to resurrect the Zone of the Enders series. Lethal Enforcers also, Sega and Namco shouldn't be doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to light gun shooters, dammit!
Dyson's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:22
Dyson
Hey, you two aren't the only ones who love Twinbee. If you recall, I talk long and often about the NES game Stinger, also known as Moero! Twinbee: Cinamon Hakasei wo Sukue in Japan.

And, we have the contest again?
toast!'s Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:27
toast!
i'm with chad...

LEGEND OF MYSTICAL NINJA!

who else played halfway thru that game and then blew all their money on the lottery in the carnival level?
LethalHairdo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:31
LethalHairdo
DAMNIT!!! I was going to mention Rocket Knight Adventures (or Sparkster if you only had SNES). Also...if I'm not mistaken...Konami IS responsible for Frogger.

My question:
Do you think the fact that retrogames were often times difficult the reason gaming was more "underground" or not as widespread back in the day? Is gaming today easier because more people play or do people play because it is easier today?
A Humble Mr Perfect's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:36
A Humble Mr Perfect
The best game Konami ever released was Tiny Toons: Buster Busts Loose. They were the front-runners of between-level Mini-Games. My question is, what is your favorite mini-game?
Mine was the Plucky Duck Bingo.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:37
ArrestedDeveloper
Which do you prefer: Old school Capcom or Old School Konami? If Konami, is it because of the openings of both Double Dribble and Blades of Steel?

Which Konami series needs a reboot?

Which Konami series needs to die?

Skate or Die?

Who wins in a fight (both in their prime): Big Boss or Solid Snake?

Chad, You are Sebastian in the never ending story and must use your imagination to create Fantasia again, what, if any, changes do you you make.

We know Ron's opinion, is MGS4 staying PS3 exclusive?

Most overrated Konami game?

Colette, a wizard comes to you one day and offers you a chance to own a chocobo that will love you and live forever, the only set back is that to bring your pet chocobo into existence every dolphin will die. What do you do?
Daft's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:48
Daft
Once I played all the way through Super C without dying once. It was the single greatest achievement in my life.
Ritalin Twitch's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:49
Ritalin Twitch
Contra or Castlevania: Which game is best enjoyed with a twinkie weiner sandwich?
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 02:53
Atlas
Consider the following --

A large black man approaches you from behind. He points suggestively towards the coins in his pocket. The darkness of the alley is only broken by the whites of his eyes and his pearly white teeth.

Do you

A. Accept the payment and eat a particularily disgusting piece of gum off his shoe

B. Take his offer for unsolicitated bum sex (otherwise known as rape)

C. Make fun of his weight problem until he cries and runs home to Aunt Jemima
droobies's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:06
droobies
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start

or

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select Start?

Discuss.
A New Challenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:14
A New Challenger
How shitty was the VC this week? I mean, really!

I suck at questions. Go back to audio quizzes, I loved those.

What was the first Castlevania you ever finished? Mine was Circle Of The Moon last month.
El Mabo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:20
El Mabo
Aparently, Konami developped Frogger back in 1981!
it's like ther second or 3th game, and they allready had a succes on their hand!

They off course release all of the classic such as the TMNT series, Zaxxon, Metal Gear on MSX etc...

But I remember more playing Antarctic Adventure on my Colleco vision, Goonies II and the Amazing BLADES OF STEEL on my NES, the quarter hungry Simpsons game in arcade and the TMNT 2: Turtles in Time home SNES version.

I remember being interested by the Lethal Enforcers series, but now that i did(n't) play the game on a (not)emulator... seems like a case of Retro Gogles.

Oh, and even if it mean that some dolphin will cry somewhere, Chad:
I reeeeealy want to hear your evil laught.

Thanks!

Keep up the good work!
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:45
AgentMOO
Question:

What would it take to make Konami relevant again?

Are 2d mechanic/3d graphic hybrids feasible as full $60 console games in this generation? I recall back when Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project came out I loved every minute of it. The mechanics were 2d like the orignal two Duke Nukem games but it was completely dismissed because it wasn't a FPS game.
seltzermx's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:48
seltzermx
I don't know if this has been asked before.
Do you guys actually make a profit from the ads here? I'm not saying you're millionaires, but enough to not have real jobs?
RJG's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 03:52
RJG
The downfall of Konami can be traced directly to the rise of Treasure.

Also, am I the only one who thinks Metal Gear is horribly overrated? The first was great for its time, but the second and third, man...

...anyway. Favourite Treasure game released while at Konami? I think I might have to go with CV4. The original Contra's were great, Gradius too, but Castlevania IV was tits.
laggikoN's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 04:18
laggikoN
ArrestedDeveloper: That's the most horrible thing I've ever heard. You're one evil, twisted person and you're going to make someone cry. Thank whatever im not Colette this week.
A New Challenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 04:33
A New Challenger
Who hated the new Konami logo when they introduced it and retired the old one?
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 04:43
Samit Sarkar
My question isn’t really Konami-specific, but I thought I’d ask it anyway:

We all collectively creamed ourselves upon hearing of Bionic Commando Rearmed, the update of the 1988 NES classic — and twice more afterwards, when videos and [url=http://www.destructoid.com/info-and-screens-of-bionic-commando-rearmed-reaffirm-awesomeness-65439.phtml]screens were posted. And everyone knows how Chad splooged when he found some mock-ups of what HD updates of Sonic 2 and Super Metroid could look like. So what are your opinions on so-called “HD 2D updates” of classic retro games? Do you think that a developer could just put a new-gen HD sheen on the graphics of an old-school game and then sell it for, say, $10–20 on the PSN? (More importantly, would you be satisfied with that?) Or, would you have to see something more along the lines of what Capcom is doing with Rearmed (additional functionality, including co-op modes and new character abilities) for you to fork over your hard-earned cash?
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 04:45
Samit Sarkar
Wow, I fail at BBCode...let’s try that again.

We all collectively creamed ourselves upon hearing of Bionic Commando Rearmed, the update of the 1988 NES classic — and twice more afterwards, when videos and screens were posted. And everyone knows how Chad splooged when he found some mock-ups of what HD updates of Sonic 2 and Super Metroid could look like. So what are your opinions on so-called “HD 2D updates” of classic retro games? Do you think that a developer could just put a new-gen HD sheen on the graphics of an old-school game and then sell it for, say, $10–20 on the PSN? (More importantly, would you be satisfied with that?) Or, would you have to see something more along the lines of what Capcom is doing with Rearmed (additional functionality, including co-op modes and new character abilities) for you to fork over your hard-earned cash?
Septon's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 05:02
Septon
Im shocked none mentioned Snatcher. It has to be one of my all time favorites.
3r0t1c n3rd's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 05:03
3r0t1c n3rd
I remember playing a pretty damn good Twinbee game on the SNES, but I can't remember the name. :(
myaimistrue's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 05:04
myaimistrue
ArrestedDeveloper: The Never Ending Story Question is my new conversation starter with complete strangers, thanks!

Ok, here's my question:
When playing Blades Of Steel in your youth, did you with purpose try to constantly pick fights so that the awesome boxing mini-game would start? And when playing said fighting sequence, did you deploy any tactics whatsoever or close just your eyes, scream your lungs out and mash all the buttons?
myaimistrue's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 05:14
myaimistrue
Also, have you ever met anyone with a Konami Code tattoo, and if so, how Awesome/LAYM was it?
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