Top Five Konami Video Game Franchises

Konami is one of the most underrated video game publishers. That may sound odd considering that they are also one of the biggest in the industry. Although their best games won't light up the sales charts, they have a rampant hardcore following. Here are the top five Konami franchises.

5. Silent Hill
Resident Evil may be the most popular survival horror franchise but Silent Hill is not that far behind. The Silent Hills are as pure as any other games in the same genre can get. Those games basically perfected the formula: freaky atmosphere, disturbing creatures and an engrossing story. You can't find any scarier games out there than the ones found in the Silent Hill franchise.

4. Contra
Contra is probably the must testosterone filled franchise in the gaming industry. The games all about gun blazing through the absurdly difficult levels. The biggest feature of the franchise is the cooperative mode where you and a buddy can go "Rambo" on entire armies. Although the 3D games are not very good, the 2D Contras are unmatched in terms of cooperative mayhem.

3. Suikoden
Konami has only a handful of Japanese Role-Playing games. Fortunately, all they need is the Suikoden franchise. Two things set Suikoden games apart from other Japanese Role-Playing games: the ability to recruit 108 party members and fighting in all-out war skirmishes. The best game in the franchise, Suikoden II is worth hundreds of dollars alone. It and other games in the Suikoden franchise (except the fourth game) are well worth the price of admission.

2. Castlevania
Even though it debuted over 20 years ago, the Castlevania franchise is still as fun as it is today that in the past. Exploring Dracula's castle while defeating his numerous enemies along the way never gets old even after all these years. The Castlevania franchise has consistently delivered 2D gaming bliss whether you are playing the popular Symphony of the Night or the lesser known Rondo of Blood. As long as you avoid the 3D installments at all costs, Castlevania is one legendary franchise.