If you haven’t heard already, Hideo Kojima is no longer an employee of Konami. Instead, he will only be working s a contractor until the completion of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which is expected to launch later this year on the 1st of September. After that project is completed, he will be leaving the publisher for good. This piece of news ended up being extremely controversial when you considered how much influence Hideo Kojima has over Konami. Not to mention that the publisher also removed the director’s name from the games and studios, angering even more fans.
Although the Meta Gear Solid franchise will continue beyond Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Hideo Kojima won’t be a part of the series in any way. With that said, he will most likely join another new employer and continue to develop games. Based on his previous efforts, fans will be in for a treat no matter what his next project will be. Below is our list of the best non Metal Gear that Hideo Kojima has worked on in one form or another in the past.
Snatcher/Policenauts
Before Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima directed Snatcher (released in 1988) and Policenauts (released in 1994). The former really changed how games are perceived from a cinematic and storyline standpoint. Policenauts further refined the action and adventure elements of its spiritual predecessor but, unfortunately, was never official translated for the English-speaking audience. Not to mention that Snatcher was only released in North America for the obscure Sega CD system (the CD add-on for the Sega Genesis).
With that said, you should play these cult hit classics one way or another, especially if you are a hardcore fan of Hideo Kojima.
Zone of the Enders Series
Aside from Metal Gear Solid franchise, Zone of the Enders is arguably the best known series that Kojima has been associated with. He helped produced both projects, the first of which was released for the PlayStation 2 on March 26, 2001. While the original version showed plenty of promise, a lot of fans bought it just to try out the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty demo.
The concept of powerful giant robots that have destructive powers and can warp instantly was not fully realized until the release of Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner. The sequel has remained one of the best action games, especially when it comes to the epic scenarios and intense boss battles, even by today’s standards.
Fortunately for those who don’t have a PlayStation 2, Konami would eventually released the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, which came out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 30, 2012. You can buy the compilation on Amazon with this link.
Boktai Series
In between the releases of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kojima launched Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand for the Game Boy Advance. A stealth-based portable action game that uses a photometric light sensor on its cartridge to track sunlight, which replenishes the Gun del Sol weapon. This unique concept was used again in Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django, the Japan-only Shin Bokura no Taiyo: Gyakushu no Sabata as well as Lunar Knights.
Hideo Kojima helped designed the first game. He was also the producer all four games of the series. You can purchase the English releases of the series with these next pages: Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand, Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django and Lunar Knights.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Castlevania was one of the franchises that have a hard time making the jump from 2D into 3D. While Mercury Steam developed Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Hideo Kojima helped the concept be realized and took an advisory role. As a result, the reboot ended up being the best 3D installment in the franchise thanks to its grand scale along with a solid mix of combat, puzzles and platforming. With Kojima not helping with the sequel, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 ended up being a major disappointment.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was first released on October 5, 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was ported to the PC on August 27, 2013. You can purchase it now with this page.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
A lot of Metal Gear Solid and Nintendo fans were shocked when it was announced that Solid Snake will be playable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The partnership did not end there either as Hideo Kojima also helped design the Shadow Moses Island stage, which is based off of the location from the first Metal Gear Solid game. The level features destructible structures as well as Metal Gears appearing in the background.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl came out for the Nintendo Wii on March 9, 2008. You can purchase it now here.
P.T.
Last but not least is last year’s P.T. The mysterious game was first announced at Sony’s Gamescom press conference with very little details. The free-to-play downloadable experience takes place inside a haunted house from a first-person perspective. Even veteran survival-horror players felt unease, and eventually shock, while wandering the hallways. If you managed to beat P.T., you will learn that it was actually a teaser for Silent Hills, which is being co-directed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro. However, the fate of the project is up in the air with news of Kojima’s departure.
As you can see above, fans should have plenty to be optimistic about even though Hideo Kojima is no longer associated with Metal Gear Solid. Hopefully, we don’t have to wait too long to see what he is up to after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.