Konami As hard-hitters can re-enter the public sphere Silent Hill 2 Remake and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake EaterBut there was a time when the publisher-developer was unstoppable. Indeed, in the late 90s and early 2000s, Konami was a powerful force in the game industry, setting bold trends and breaking new ground with innovative projects.
Looking at this era of Konami year by year, one stands out as a clear exception. 2001 saw three games that would come to define the PlayStation 2 and games released moderately in unexpected ways. Given the long-lasting cultural impact of these releases, it's hard to believe they all started within the same year, but that's just the level Konami was working with back then.
- Metal Gear Solid 2 Metacritic Score: 96
- Metal Gear Solid 2 Appreciation and reward: Game Informer Game of the Year 2001, PSM Game of the Year 2001, Japan Game Awards Excellence Award 2001, Edge Innovation of the Year 2001
Hailed by many as the best entry in metal gear series, Metal Gear Solid 2 is a landmark release for the gaming medium. It represented an almost incredible leap in power between the PS1 and PS2, making the first. metal gearWhat was considered cutting-edge a few years ago, seems obsolete. The graphics and scope were just out of the way MGS2 Innovative: Its story was not only risky and experimental, but also made sociopolitical commentary unethical of its era. It accurately predicted many of the current problems of modern society, such as the proliferation of misinformation provided by the Internet. These balls are wrapped in a sophisticated stealth-action sandbox that still feels great to play, helping to create immortality. metal gear In the history of sports history.
Silent Hill 2
- Silent Hill 2 Metacritic Score: 89
- Silent Hill 2 Appreciation and reward: IGN Editor's Choice Award
However it was not critically acclaimed MGS2 Upon release, many contemporary gamers will probably keep Silent Hill 2 On the same level as Kojima's creations. Again, the game was a significant technical improvement over its PS1 predecessor, and its story, while not as cerebral, was. MGS2Which, was remarkably arresting and uniquely awkward. even today, Silent Hill 2The story of love, lust and crime is effectively remembered in a way that most video game stories fail. The quality of the story was understated compared to last year Silent Hill 2 remake, which left the original plot and script virtually untouched despite major changes to every other design element.
Realm of the Enders
- Realm of the Enders Metacritic Score: 78
- Realm of the Enders Appreciation and reward: Japan Game Awards Excellence Award 2003 (Field of the Enders: Second Runner Up)
Realm of the Enders Nowhere near as famous and genre-defining games metal gear or silent hillBut it's an undeniable cult classic, with yet another unexpectedly deep story – a theme that defined Konami's 2001 output. Its compelling sci-fi plot about Earth's battle against Martian colonists is pulpy but compelling, with plenty to say about war, existentialism, and fate, lending the game a nuanced edge. Realm of the Enders It would later receive an even better-received sequel, winning the Excellence Award at the Japan Game Awards in 2003.
Looking back at Konami's 2001 run, you can chalk some of it up to luck, but it reads like the result of a smart investment. Specifically, investing in talented creators and producers like Hideo Kojima, Masashi Tsuboyama, Noriaki Okamura, and Yoji Shinikawa. It's bittersweet, as Konami has had some rough years since 2001, and especially after the highly publicized split between it and Kojima in 2015. But after recent successes Metal Gear Solid Delta and Silent Hill fHopefully another 2001 may be in Konami's future.
