After an hour or so with Konami we here at BigShinyRobot.com think you should be given a run down of what they have coming for you this year. It’s definitely a blend of hardcore and casual, leaning a bit to the casual side. Without further adieu the Konami lineup!
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Without nerding all over the place again, let’s just say that my biggest disappointment was a lack of playable game on the floor. Without a playable demo I still had the opportunity to watch the trailer four times. If you notice at the end there are some striking features on the gentleman confronting Gabriel. Never you fear internet peoples, the polite young lady at the booth who was tagged as a “brand master” did confirm that the person fighting Gabriel at the end is in fact Alucard! Very excite?!? Yes I am! Was…Still am….
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow MIrror of Fate
I cover most of the awesome in my hands on, but it’s well worth the time and money you’ll be investing. The combat and weapons system is unique enough that I believe it could refresh the handheld Castlevania franchise.
Zone of Enders: HD
Remixing a cult classic from the Playstation 2, ZOE HD will feature completley redrawn models, animations, and will run at 60 fps. Launching for XB360 and PS3 in the coming weeks, it’s a great option for a nostalgia trip.
Metal Gear Solid HD
Releasing for Vita this Tuesday, the handheld remake of the Metal Gear series looks perfect for those looking to relive the adventure, or like me play it for the first time. WIth an MSRP of $39.99 and 2 games I’ll be giving it a quick gander for sure.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
If you haven’t seen the trailer, then you’re missing out. The latest iteration of Metal Gear from Konami is fast-paced, stealthy, and beautiful. The hack-and-slash combat system rivaled that of the greats including Devil May Cry, mixing that with the additional touch of the Metal Gear series gave it a distinct look. After a hands on session I found the controls to be fluid, and the game to be enthralling. If you’re a fan of the series, don’t miss this opportunity to take Raiden on his bloody trail of vengeance.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013
It wasn’t playable on the floor, and there was no video footage for it, there was however a giant sign, and they assured me it would hit shelves this Holiday season.
Silent Hill: Book of Memories
Bringing us a twist on the Silent Hill series, this re-imagining puts you in a top down hack-and-slash style game. The game play is fun, combat was pretty fluid, and yet something was missing. I’m not sure what it was, or how to describe it. It could be something as simple as branding it differently, maybe if I wasn’t in a Silent Hill mindset while playing. Whatever it is I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, I just know that I didn’t get it.
Karaoke: JoySound
Yeah, you thought that another Karaoke game would never hit shelves didn’t you?! Well you’re wrong, double wrong really. Aiming for a holiday 2012 release Karaoke Joy Sound brings together a few things you’d never expect from Konami. 8 player multiplayer is the beginning, as well as a huge music library placed to a psychedelic video for you to sing over. As you play you earn coins that you can spend on costumes for your characters and, you can purchase rental tickets with real cash money, and stream additional songs to keep the party going all night. I wasn’t ready to embarrass myself in public, but those of you with singing talent, or who are full of alcohol are sure to be ready to give this one a go.
The Mobile Roundup:
Konami is making a huge push into the mobile realm with facebook gaming and a few app releases. Notably Frogger Pinball and Puzzle Hunters. For a casual game they look great, and there was a line for pretty much the entire convention. If you need something to do on your iPad or Facebook I recommend you look into these.