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[Instigator]

Konami was a pretty strong third-party developer in the 16-bit era. It already had some established franchises of its own as well as having a knack with licensed properties (I especially liked their Tiny Toons games on Genny and Sneeze). Their support of the Genesis was timid and a mixed bag, obviously not considering the system a priority, but one game changed all that: Rocket Knight Adventure.

RKA didn't look immediately too appealing and even seemed a bit dated by Genny standards, but sticking at it, being curious and even enjoying some of the soundtrack (whoever composed it deserve some accolades), I discovered a surprisingly varied action game, among the very best on the system.

The company knew it had a winner with RKA when they released the sequel, Sparkster, on SNES and Genny barely a year later. Unfortunately, unless the original RKA development team was shot and ditched somewhere, I have no idea why the sequel sucks so much. What happened? :lol

 

[bjork]

The bit with the dueling big robots made people forget it imo.

 

[ourumov]

I enjoyed Sparkster on the SNES...Awesome graphics btw.

 

[duckroll]

Rocket Knight Adventures was fucking awesome, but Sparkster was forgettable imo. RKA ranks as one of my favorite action games to date, just as Landstalker is my favorite adventure rpg to date. The Genesis had a ton of gems, too bad Sega had to drive a stake in their heart and leave the hardware scene.

 

[john tv]

I was expecting Jackal...

 

[Blimblim]

This would be my favorite Konami game ever. But I doubt many here played it

 

[Rlan]

I didn't like RKA too much, but I LOVED Genesis Sparkster. Much more vertical movement than RKA, and just constantly boosting around the place is a ton of fun

 

[jerrymaguire]

the level where you have to view your character position by means of its reflection in lava was pure design genuis. there were also some twin layer platform action where you go in front and behind a waterfall...

brilliant game. but no 3D iteration please... though a renewed NDS version could be cool.

 

[Project Midway]

I was expecting Jackal...

I was expecting Combat School... :\

 

[Powdered Toastman]

I was expecting Combat School... :\

King's Valley 2

 

[Azure Dream]

The Simpsons Arcade Game... oh, wait...

 

[Tarazet]

I opened up this thread thinking, "I hope this is about Rocket Knight Adventures."

 

[Gattsu25]

I loved this series and would like a portable revival of it

 

[Instigator]

I opened up this thread thinking, "I hope this is about Rocket Knight Adventures."

Feeling lucky?

What else do you hope/wish for? :lol

 

[Rei_Toei]

 

[zmet]

I was expecting Jackal...

Me too...

 

[Canadian Psycho]

I own and love both RKA and Sparkster (SNES), but I've always wondered whether Sparkster on the Genesis was the same game as its SNES counterpart (with necessary graphics downgrade) or a different game altogether (w/ different stages, etc.).

 

[Myoclonic Jerk]

isnt James Pond Konami's ?

 

[Unison]

isnt James Pond Konami's ?

No, that was EA (well, they at least published it in the US...).

But Rocket Night Adv. rocks... I haven't forgotten it at all!

 

[radios shipping overview]

James Pond was by smallish UK dev Millennium.

FWIW, Cybernator was by NCS/Masaya and Metal Warriors was by Lucasarts.

 

[SantaC]

I was expecting Jackal...

I was expecting Cybernator...

Cybernators soundtrack must be the most underrated ever.

 

[sprsk]

rocket night adventures did rule

it always reminded me of a treasure game.

 

[HCgamer]

Hard as hell but a great game. I am up to level 3. Konami did a fantastic job on the Genny.

 

[explodet]

Jackal and RKA are both good answers.

Although you do see vehicular combat in games these days, you don't see a platemailed opossum with a jet pack and sword.

 

[Father_Brain]

All three games are fan-fucking-tastic. Just to be clear, Sparkster for Genesis and SNES are completely different games.

 

[Stinkles]

I was expecting Jackal...

Jackal owns all video games. Man it was freakin HARD though. Even on MAME, with mad credits, I get spanked. Nothing worse than losing your big "X" rocket power and then encountering a gang of those slow moving, yet deadly little jerks.

 

[Reilly]

for the win...

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Highrolla Cockamamie said so!

 

[Mashing]

This thread has a disgusting lack of Jackal.

 

[Instigator]

for the win...

 

[Stinkles]

Fixed.

 

[lachesis]

Knightmare II, by far, far away.

with map like this with 10 sub-level with huge bosses, 5-6 different array of different weapon systems, with extensive level system and secrets gallore, it was the definition of ARPG.

My favorite 8bit game (on par with Y's II and Metal Gear).

lachesis

 

[Mashing]

That game reminds me of Goonies II. It also had a REALLY huge map as well. Had lots of fun playing that game.

Wasn't that a Konami game as well? I forget

 

[lachesis]

That game reminds me of Goonies II. It also had a REALLY huge map as well. Had lots of fun playing that game.

Wasn't that a Konami game as well? I forget

Goonies II is also done by Konami.

 

[Warm Machine]

I was expecting the game where you have to shoot up all those evil flowers.

 

[Tarazet]

Feeling lucky?

What else do you hope/wish for? :lol

Nothing. MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED. </Federman>

 

[Mike Works]

Fuck, Konami was so god damn awesome on the SNES and NES. It's too bad they altered their focus when it comes to releases with the PSX and PS2.

 

[Instigator]

Fuck, Konami was so god damn awesome on the SNES and NES. It's too bad they altered their focus when it comes to releases with the PSX and PS2.

You will get the wrath of many people, with SSx leading the charge.

 

[Mike Works]

Oh no, ssx?

Give me Sunset Riders and Zombies Ate My Neighbors over Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill any day.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Fuck, Konami was so god damn awesome on the SNES and NES. It's too bad they altered their focus when it comes to releases with the PSX and PS2.

A lot of them did

 

[dock]

I read a while back that much of the Rocket Knight Adventures team left to join Treasure (when they split), just before or shortly after completion. This would also vouch for the shitty sequel.

 

[belgurdo]

Loved this game back in the day.

Never understood why the difficulty jumped up by 300% when you got to the pig capital, though.

Sparkster had the requisite sequel improvements, but it just wasn't the same

 

[Spectral Glider]

I still love Gyruss. One of my all time favorite arcade games. And Jackal did rule.

For a time, Konami dominated my NES. Top Gun, Jackal, Rush n Attack, Life Force, Castlevania, Contra....it was like everything they put out was quality gold.

 

[Father_Brain]

Not sure why people are bashing the sequels - they're both fantastic. The series is quite possibly the pinnacle of the "set piece" school of platformer level design.

 

[Gunstar77]

I was expecting Axelay:

 

[the year 20XX]

I was expecting Stinger!

 

[NotMSRP]

The good old Konami we all knew and loved is dead.

 

[Project Midway]

^^^ a true forgotten Konami classic

=)