Which of the Big 3 Konami franchises is your favorite? [Archive]

treismac

12-20-2011, 06:12 PM

While I have love for all three, Contra is definitely my favorite. I imagine that Castlevania will probably win this poll, though.

NerdXCrewWill

12-20-2011, 06:27 PM

Out of these three, I picked Castlevania, although my preferred Konami franchise is Parodius!

Castlevania III is just too good. Gradius has some good stuff too, but nothing touching Castlevania III, in my opinion. Castlevania 1, Bloodlines, Rondo of Blood, etc. are all nearly as good, too.

Junkyrdsalesman

12-20-2011, 06:32 PM

castlevania outta those three. otherwise it's probably a tie between silent hill, suikoden, and MGS

NerdXCrewWill

12-20-2011, 06:38 PM

suikoden

Oh crap, dude. The first two (sorta the third one too) in that series are amazing. Beats the pants off Parodius, now that I think about it.

Baloo

12-20-2011, 06:46 PM

Very tough choice, they're all quality series, especially the early installments in the NES era. I think I'd have to go with Castlevania, probably had the most quality games out of the three.

TRM

12-20-2011, 06:59 PM

My gut instinct would say Castlevania, but in reality, that series now leaves a bad taste in my mouth so if we are talking about the modern games, I am not sure which I would prefer.

j_factor

12-20-2011, 07:00 PM

Aussie2B

12-20-2011, 07:07 PM

Castlevania easily for me. Although I don't care much about the series past SotN or so. Once Igarashi fully took over and started cranking out rehashes of SotN (not to mention lame Devil May Cry rip-offs and stupid crap like Judgment), I lost interest. But when it comes to the older titles, they can't be beat. Castlevania has actually had a pretty big impact on my life. The first Castlevania is largely responsible for turning me into a fan of video games (I didn't play it back then, but I was so fascinated watching the NES Castlevania games). I found out about Digital Press on a Castlevania forum, and, most significant of all by far, I met my fiance (been together over 10 years) because of our mutual love for the series.

treismac

12-20-2011, 07:41 PM

I went with Gradius. I like all three, but there are no bad Gradius games (some bad ports, but no bad games). Whereas, there are sucky Castlevania games (Dracula X, 64, etc.) and sucky Contra games (Force, Legacy of War, etc.).

Just as some people don't include Super Mario Bros. 2 in the Mario universe, I don't include Contra Force in the Contra universe. I don't think I even bothered playing that game past the second level in emulation. I would, however hypocritical it might sound, pick it up for $10 because it has the name "Contra" on it, irrespective of how much the game fetches on eBay.

Parodius Duh!

12-20-2011, 07:51 PM

Castlevania, no doubt about it.

buzz_n64

12-20-2011, 07:56 PM

Contra hands down.

Parodius Duh!

12-20-2011, 07:57 PM

Just as some people don't include Super Mario Bros. 2 in the Mario universe, I don't include Contra Force in the Contra universe. I don't think I even bothered playing that game past the second level in emulation. I would, however hypocritical it might sound, pick it up for $10 because it has the name "Contra" on it, irrespective of how much the game fetches on eBay.

its not even supposed to be a Contra game, or even made by Konami. It started off as "Arc Hound" in Japan by some random company I dont remember, sat around as a prototype, then Konami bought it and released it as Contra Force to make a quick buck.

treismac

12-20-2011, 08:02 PM

its not even supposed to be a Contra game, or even made by Konami. It started off as "Arc Hound" in Japan by some random company I dont remember, sat around as a prototype, then Konami bought it and released it as Contra Force to make a quick buck.

I knew that it wasn't originally even supposed to be a Contra game, but I didn't know that Konami didn't even make it. Double lame.

Parodius Duh!

12-20-2011, 08:05 PM

I knew that it wasn't originally even supposed to be a Contra game, but I didn't know that Konami didn't even make it. Double lame.

it was developed through konami but by a third party. They didnt actually have their hands on the game. My bad I was thinking of another title but similar terms of development.

kupomogli

12-20-2011, 08:09 PM

Castlevania

Sunnyvale

12-20-2011, 08:09 PM

Contra. The king of shmups, the only reason you must own a NES, the reason I like Konami to this day.

Nice poll, treismac.

Game Hoarder

12-20-2011, 08:10 PM

Castlevania from the three choices given, but Silent Hill is my real favorite.

Dire 51

12-20-2011, 08:11 PM

Game Hoarder

12-20-2011, 08:18 PM

Seconded - although I'm apparently one of the few that actually likes Castlevania: Dracula X.

I haven't played Dracula X, but I actually like Castlevania 64.

treismac

12-20-2011, 08:25 PM

Contra. The king of shmups, the only reason you must own a NES, the reason I like Konami to this day.

Nice poll, treismac.

Ha! Contra (Bionic Commando, Duck Hunt, and Mike Tyson's Punch-Out too) was one of the reasons I decided to fix up my NES, since the game(s) never came to the Wii's Virtual Console for whatever stupid reason. Actually, that stupid reason is why I am collecting retro video games today. :)

Aussie2B

12-20-2011, 08:31 PM

I'm kinda meh on Gradius IV myself. I need to give it more of a shot, but, as shallow as it sounds, the fugly graphics really turn me off to the game.

I like both Dracula X and Castlevania 64 (well, the improved and expanded Legacy of Darkness version, at least; haven't played the original version). Neither come close to the best Castlevania games, but they're still pretty fun and a lot more enjoyable than the no-challenge rehashes of recent years.

nothingisttrue

12-20-2011, 09:31 PM

jackal

substantial_snake

12-20-2011, 10:04 PM

This is a good poll, pretty hard.

I'm going to say contra since I had the most fun with that series growing up.

Cryomancer

12-20-2011, 10:14 PM

Goemon or TMNT. Ah shit, those aren't options.

Guess I'll say Castlevania then.

Daria

12-20-2011, 10:34 PM

Suikoden.

Ace

12-21-2011, 12:13 AM

Gradius for me. Favorite Shoot-em-Up series of all time, period.

retroman

12-21-2011, 12:19 AM

hmmmm...all three are good...a few stinkers in the Contra's, but for some reason i choose that over Castlevania...i like Castlevania, but Contra has a ...i cant explain it..kind of hold on me..

Ryudo

12-21-2011, 12:45 AM

Goeman

treismac

12-21-2011, 12:47 AM

hmmmm...all three are good...a few stinkers in the Contra's, but for some reason i choose that over Castlevania...i like Castlevania, but Contra has a ...i cant explain it..kind of hold on me..

I know what you mean. It was the video game that I got for Christmas with the NES, so I have a special love for the series and that game in particular.

MarioMania

12-21-2011, 01:25 AM

Of cource Castlevania is winning the poll

I picked Gradius

Satoshi_Matrix

12-21-2011, 01:35 AM

I have a lot of love for all of three, but I love platformers more than any other type of game, and that's mainly what CV is, so Akujamou Dracula, I'm looking at you.

Wraith Storm

12-21-2011, 08:46 AM

I voted for Contra.

I was never a huge Gradius fan. I much preferred Salamander/Life Force.

Castlevania would probably have gotten my vote but I am so sick of the "Metroidvania" style games. The 8-bit and 16-bit offerings were my favorites, but were a long way from those. Maybe Konami needs to hand the reigns to Wayforward and let them take a crack at it. Those guys know their stuff.

Its hard to beat Contra for pick up and play fun. The 8 and 16-bit offerings are amazing and Wayforwards Contra 4 a couple of years ago really gave the series a shot in the arm.

Tatsu

12-21-2011, 09:25 AM

I also go for the Castlevania series. SOTN is in my top 5 games of all time and the first NES games aswell as the sequel on the S-Nes are classics. The new 3D-Castlevania games are not my cup of tea but all in all there are more good Castlevania games than there are Gradious or Contra games (imho of course).

tom

12-21-2011, 09:30 AM

Frogger and Gyruss and Time Pilot are the best of Konami.
But as far as your choice goes...castlevania tops

djshok

12-21-2011, 10:30 AM

Contra for me, but it's a tough call between that and Castlevania.

Frankie_Says_Relax

12-21-2011, 10:45 AM

I love all three, but I've probably played more Castlevania games to completion than Contra or Gradius.

vintagegamecrazy

12-21-2011, 02:21 PM

Castlevania for sure here. Love the older ones especially and finishing them feels oh so great because of their difficulty.

jonebone

12-21-2011, 02:35 PM

Contra, but I never really played Castlevanias at all. Just one of those series I missed, though I did own Simon's Quest (CV II) as a kid.

Ninja_with_ Glasses

12-21-2011, 04:20 PM

What about Yie Ar Kung Fu? Two games counts as a franchise, right?

kedawa

12-21-2011, 07:19 PM

That's kind of a tough call.

The only Castlevania games I really like are Super Castlevania IV, SotN and one or two of the portable games.

I really like the NES Contra games, but the rest of the series doesn't interest me.

Gradius I never paid much attention to. I like the Salamander games, and I know they share a lot in common, but there are so many damned space shooters that I just never gave a damn about Gradius.

I guess I'll just have to go with Castlevania.

jackal

What about Yie Ar Kung Fu? Two games counts as a franchise, right?
I can at least say that I like every game in each of these 'series', and would love to see them both get updates/sequels of some kind.

Bloodreign

12-21-2011, 07:41 PM

Contra. The king of shmups, the only reason you must own a NES, the reason I like Konami to this day.

Nice poll, treismac.

Contra's a run n gun, not a shmup. ;)

Gradius for me, along with Parodius and one not related to any of the three choices here, Twinbee.

jwmollman

12-21-2011, 09:29 PM

I haven't really played any of the Contra series. I do love the Castlevanias, but Gradius III for SNES is a really good game too. My vote goes to Castlevania because I'm most familiar with it.

I also like Konami's Silent Hill series. Well, only Silent Hill 1, 2, and 3. After playing Silent Hill 4: The Room, I got turned off by the different style.

SpaceHarrier

12-22-2011, 02:16 AM

Castlevania. I like Contra, but I love to get sucked by some vampires.

thegamezmaster

12-22-2011, 08:22 AM

Gotta go with Castlevania but all three are great!

Sunnyvale

12-22-2011, 02:43 PM

Contra's a run n gun, not a shmup. ;)

If you'd like to split hairs, run n gun is a subset of shmups, imo.

RPG_Fanatic

12-22-2011, 03:03 PM

I would have to say Castlevania wins out.

Tron 2.0

12-23-2011, 01:06 AM

Castlevania frist and contra for a runner up.

I didn't vote for gradius either i do like the serise still but it hasn't been,active lately.Come to think of it neither has salamander i wish konami would give it a update.

Haoie

12-23-2011, 01:33 AM

Out of those 3, Castlevania.

No Metal Gear?

Baloo

12-23-2011, 02:06 AM

If you'd like to split hairs, run n gun is a subset of shmups, imo.

You really think so? I alway saw it as more of a subset of platformers.

The Great Dane

12-23-2011, 12:37 PM

Contra for sure. Although the series hasn't had much success in years. The new Wii Contra is awesome though.

treismac

12-23-2011, 02:56 PM

Contra for sure. Although the series hasn't had much success in years. The new Wii Contra is awesome though.

Yes it is. It is a shame, though, that the game isn't longer. Still, it's a great game and I love the way you "pop" the Wii Remote to change weapons. It's a cool touch to say the least.

Sunnyvale

12-23-2011, 04:16 PM

I keep looking for a copy of Wii Contra used, but no luck so far.

Bloodreign

12-23-2011, 07:03 PM

I keep looking for a copy of Wii Contra used, but no luck so far.

The Wiiware section would like to see your Wii points. ;)

Tron 2.0

12-24-2011, 02:09 AM

I keep looking for a copy of Wii Contra used, but no luck so far.
What !? Unless you mean contra rebirth that's on wiiware.

Snapple

12-24-2011, 02:33 AM

Sign me up with the one guy who said Suikoden. Best Konami series for me.

Suikoden 1, 2, 3, and 5 are all amazing games in their own right. It's very sad that the series has kind of died while Final Fantasy lives on. Not that I haven't loved some FF games, but Suikoden made strengths where a lot of JRPGs have their weaknesses.

QuickSciFi

12-24-2011, 04:53 AM

Castlevania

Blitzwing256

12-24-2011, 10:58 AM

Sunnyvale

12-24-2011, 02:12 PM

The Wiiware section would like to see your Wii points. ;)

What !? Unless you mean contra rebirth that's on wiiware.

Wait, it's not a physical game?!?

Nevermind. I'm out.

Sunnyvale

12-24-2011, 02:15 PM

You really think so? I alway saw it as more of a subset of platformers.

Now we are splitting hairs ;)
I've always viewed a run n gun as a shmup with specific circumstances. Running and gunning, namely. Although I could see where the platformer influence is felt in these as oppossed to space shmups, for example. But every run n gun I know of is basically a shmup. Killkillkilldodgebulletskill.

The 1 2 P

12-24-2011, 09:44 PM

While I love the Contra series, Castlevania: SOTN is one of my all time favorite games and Castlevania Chronicles wasn't that bad either. So Castlevanie gets the nod. But Contra is a very close second. And it also should be mentioned that if this poll was for the systems released before the PS1 came out then Contra would be the winner.

treismac

12-27-2011, 12:28 PM

I believe it is safe to crown Castlevania the winner as it is standing strong at 60% of the votes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/24/Castlevania_NES_box_art.jpg/250px-Castlevania_NES_box_art.jpg

Congratulations, Castlevania!! May your sequels delight the hearts of vampire hunting gamers for years and years to come.