Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • RPG Hub
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand

Fans really want what Hideo Kojima calls his "most experimental game" - but he already made it over 20 years ago on the GBA

News
By Dustin Bailey
Published 4 January 2024

Kojima says OD is "just as different" as his 2003 GBA cult classic

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
(Image credit: Konami)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Hideo Kojima has taken to social media with comments about his "most experimental game," and in the process has revealed that a whole lot of his fans don't actually know his back catalog very well.

"It seems I have been acknowledged by creating games that go against the current of the times, such as 'hide-and-seek' games where you sneak into a building without being detected by the enemy, or 'delivery games' where you enjoy moving around in an open world," Kojima said on Twitter, obviously referring to Metal Gear and Death Stranding. His next reference, however, was not quite as obvious for many commenters.

"For me, the most experimental game was 'defeating vampires outside your house' using actual sunlight around you. It was met with fierce opposition from the staff and even within the company," Kojima said. "In that sense, 'OD' is just as different."

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

It seems I have been acknowledged by creating games that go against the current of the times, such as "hide-and-seek" games where you sneak into a building without being detected by the enemy, or "delivery games" where you enjoy moving around in an open world, For me, the most…January 4, 2024

It seems a lot of people want Kojima to make that vampire game. "The vampire game idea sounds solid though," one commenter said. "The answer is yes. We need the vampire game," another responded. "A Kojima Vampire game sounds kinda interesting," yet another noted. "Isn't that Alan Wake?" someone asked. "Make the vampire game Kojima-san I promise you we will buy it," another fan begged.

I - alongside about a million other commenters under that post - am here to tell you that Kojima did design and produce that vampire game way back in 2003, under the name Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand. This isometric action game for GBA had a sunlight sensor built into the cartridge, so you had to literally go outside to charge up your in-game weapon with real-life sunlight. It's certainly not the cinematic experience Kojima would eventually be known for, but it sure fits with his interest in bizarre game mechanics.

Hideo Kojima's OD being "just as different" as Boktai is particularly interesting. I can't imagine we'll be hooking up sunlight sensors to our consoles anytime soon, but it looks like that experimental spirit is never quite going away.

Recently, Hideo Kojima said it’s going to be a "tough year" with Death Stranding 2, OD, and more on the go. 

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Dustin Bailey
Dustin Bailey
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently based in Missouri. He's been covering games (with occasional dalliances in the worlds of anime and pro wrestling) since 2015, first as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His love for games was sparked somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and these days you can usually find him splitting his entertainment time between retro gaming, the latest big action-adventure title, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator.

Latest in Action
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced gameplay showing Edward Kenway standing in front of a vast ocean and a fluttering Union Jack
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is getting its "final major update" this week
 
 
BioShock
Live Action Movies BioShock director confirms they're "still working on it" but says its world is "tough to crack"
 
 
Mario defeats Bowser in the original Super Mario Bros
Nintendo Miyamoto says the most interesting thing about Super Mario bros is that you don't fight Bowser
 
 
Marvel's Blade
Action Games Microsoft extends Arkane Lyon deadline to "explore options," including helping finish Marvel's Blade
 
 
Screenshot from Katana Zero DLC's trailer
Action Games After 7 years of development, Katana Zero DLC is now "the size of a full sequel"
 
 
the legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time
The Legend of Zelda Zelda: Ocarina of Time designer wanted Navi to be a "cute girl," but it "wasn't possible" on N64
 
 
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced gameplay showing Edward Kenway standing in front of a vast ocean and a fluttering Union Jack
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is getting its "final major update" this week
 
 
Mass Effect 5
Mass Effect Mass Effect 5 was Journey composer's "biggest dream project" – here's 20 minutes of music he created
 
 
Cortana
Games Microsoft is looking to cut over a quarter of the whole company in new voluntary buyout program
 
 
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 trailer grabs
Cyberpunk Cyberpunk 2077 player recreates Kingsley from Edgerunners season 2 in-game, and it's hilariously OP
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Atsu holding katana
Open World Games Ghost of Yotei developer Sucker Punch reportedly hit with layoffs
 
 
Best 3DS games - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Games "Just because you can order at a restaurant doesn’t mean you’re a chef," lawyer says of AI vibe code
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. "Thank you to those at BioWare and EA who recently emboldened me to dream of what my place in that universe might sound like"
    1
    Mass Effect 5 was Journey composer's "biggest dream project," and he was in "serious discussions" with BioWare to handle the soundtrack – here's 20 minutes of music he composed for the RPG
  2. 2
    Microsoft is looking to cut over a quarter of the whole company in new voluntary buyout program with 60,000 employees reportedly eligible
  3. 3
    My PS2 is officially 26 years old, but my all-time favorite games still hold up on it
  4. 4
    Cyberpunk 2077 player recreates Kingsley's build from Edgerunners season 2 in-game, and it's so OP you can kill most enemies using nothing but your fists
  5. 5
    Ghost of Yotei developer Sucker Punch reportedly hit with layoffs, despite selling millions and "significantly" contributing to Sony's financials

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...