Game Info
Game Name: Konami Classics Volume 1
Developer(s): Konami
Publisher(s): Konami
Platform(s): XBox 360
Genre(s): Compilation
Release Date(s): December 15, 2009
ESRB Rating: E 10+
You can battle aliens, cross road and river to reach the safety of the bog, or storm the castle to battle Dracula and his evil minions.
The first of Konami’s collections for Xbox 360, Konami Classics Volume 1 has the hit arcade games Super Contra, Frogger, and Castlevania: Symphony of Night all on one disc for your enjoyment. All the games on the collection were released for Xbox Live, but here are collected for a simple low price.
Super Contra
Super Contra goes overhead view!
Bill Rizer and Lance Bean have been brought in again to protect the world from alien invaders. The danger is bigger and aliens are badder, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Super Contra ( or スーパー魂斗羅 エイリアンの逆襲 Sūpā Kontora: Eirian no Gyakushū?, “Super Contra: The Alien Strikes Back”) was released on January 8, 1988 in the arcades and was the follow-up to the popular Contra game released in 1987. The NES version of the game was known as Super C.
The game, like Contra, is quite challenging. It is a standard side scrolling game (which sometimes turns into a top view gunner similar to Ikari Warriors or Commando) with a limited number of continues, so the chances of finishing the game might be rather slim. The challenging game doesn’t really improve on the gameplay of the original Contra and features most of the same weapons.
If you’ve already got Contra, Super Contra seems rather redundant. If you are a big fan of Contra however, it is nice to have some new game layouts…and you will probably like the challenge. The original version of Contra is available on the Konami Classics Volume 2.
Frogger
Always loved the original Frogger art…business man Frogger
Why did the frog cross the road? To get to the other side! You are Frogger and your precious swamp seems miles away. Cross the dangerous road and river, avoiding cars, snakes, otters, and alligators, and you might just make it home.
Frogger was released in 1981 and worth purchasing this disc alone. The game was a revolutionary game that changed the style of gaming and inspired sequels, generic versions, a song called “Froggy’s Lament”, and even a Saturday morning cartoon (as part of Saturday Supercade).
Getting across that road has never been more fun!
I had Frogger for the Intellivision and played it into the ground. I have to admit that the arcade version is much, much more challenging. The boards are much harder, the sides of the screen mean death, and the cars get fast…quick.
This has its pluses and minuses. I actually had downloaded this game before even buying this disc. With the original Frogger, I could play a long time before the difficulty increased. I feel it was a bit more advantageous to get people to like the game, but here, the game was designed for arcade and intentionally more challenging to get people to pump in the quarters.
Frogger is a fun game that even jaded kids I think can enjoy for its simple style of play. Playing this game, I do long for the days of Intellivision and games that you could play for hours regardless of the simplicity.
Castlevania: Symphony of Night
You are Dracula’s son Alucard and once again you must enter your father’s castle to end his reign forever…Find your weapons protect yourself and defeat the darkness within.
Richter is back! For a minute…
Castlevania: Symphony of Night (or 悪魔城ドラキュラX 月下の夜想曲,, AkumajōDracula X: Gekka no Yasōkyoku, Devil’s Castle Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight) was released on March 20, 1997 for the PS1. The game is a sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood which was somewhat remade as Castlevania: Dracula X in the United States. The game is widely considered one of the best (if not the best) game in the series.
Original art for Symphony of Night…
I love Castlevania: Symphony of Night. It takes the best aspects of the original Castlevania (1986) and Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (1989) and combines it with elements of Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (1988). It is one of the strongest side scrolling games ever with tons of areas to explore and various level of challenge…and once you think you’ve beaten the game, it gets flipped (literally) with an upside down castle.
The ability to level up your character and buy new weapons for Alucard helps keep this from being simply a typical side-scrolling game. The game is something different and can make anyone a fan of the Castlevania series…get out there and get it. I still hope for a new sequel that would equal this game.
With two great games and one game that is pretty good, Konami Classics Volume 1 is a great buy. I’ve seen it for ten dollars or so and this easily makes it one of the best games for the value. If you can’t find this collection at least consider downloading Castlevania: Symphony of Night and Frogger…you won’t regret it.
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