http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2007/6/20-35

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Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced Contra 4 (working title) for the Nintendo DS. Marking the 20th anniversary of the quintessential action franchise, the game pushes 2D side-scrolling action in an all-new direction with gunplay that spans two full screens, original gameplay mechanics that grant players deadlier abilities than ever before, and frantic multiplayer functionality.

Contra 4 takes place two years after the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars. After saving earth from invasion by Red Falcon, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean are confronted with a new extraterrestrial menace: the terrifying Black Viper. Joined by hard-boiled mercenaries Mad Dog and Scorpion, the warriors must once again wage war against an entire army of invaders.

Refining the 2D side-scrolling genre the series established 20 years ago, Contra 4 delivers pure action at a fever pitch as players jump, shoot, and dodge oncoming hazards. Utilizing a new dual screen presentation, the action spans both screens of the Nintendo DS, giving players the opportunity to battle across expansive environments in which death can come from any direction. The use of both screens for the game’s core action also allows for massive boss battles as players try to seek and destroy the weak points of sky-high enemies. A first for the series, Contra 4 introduces a grappling hook accessory that lets players grab onto elements of the environment directly above them. Whether using it to avoid oncoming dangers or attack from a strategic vantage point, the grappling hook allows for new combat situations and dramatic set pieces that underscore the game’s adrenaline-soaked pedigree.

Continuing the multiplayer tradition of previous games in the series, Contra 4 lets two players battle together against Black Viper’s army of vile alien forces and reclaim Earth for mankind.

Developed by WayForward Technologies, Contra 4 is planned for release on the Nintendo DS in 2007.

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The spiel certainly sounds promising, and being the Contra fanatic that I am, I can't help but get excited.  I am keeping cautiously optimistic though, what with WayForward (Sigma Star Saga) handling development duties.  The screenshots are looking pretty good; they're clearly aiming for a throwback to the older Contras.

Contra's 20 years old....... damn, where does the time go?

I was excited about this until I read about it being farmed out to Wayforward Technologies instead of an inhouse project. Now I'll wait to read impressions and reviews before I get excited. I hope I don't have to remind people what happened when Konami farmed Contra out to Appaloosa (or whatever their name was). Hopefully, they put some effort into it, instead of figuring it's a cool license on a handheld and they can get away with just making junk.

Appreciate the news Angela...

They really are sticking it to us folks who like to play games the good old fashioned way...In the comfort of their home, on their tv, and home stereo....

Can't really blame Konami, or any other developer, when they make games for these 'portable only' systems..(oh wait I can, how many terrible games get a port on EVERY system)...sigh

I imagine one of the reasons a lot of those games are horrible is because time and money spent in developing them crossplatform would otherwise be spent on making one version really good.  There are very few multiplatform games among my favorites.  I just wish that 2D were seen as a viable option on things other than handhelds (read: the DS, as devs still seem to think that PSP games need PS2 graphics), but I also understand the movement toward the DS, seeing as it is significantly outselling any of the home consoles in most regions.

That said, I still prefer to play games on my TV, in any instance where the game does not require the unique hardware that the DS provides.

"Let's Attack Aggressively"

I'm very happy to see it'll be coming to the DS, since most DS games are forced to actually focus on the Gameplay aspects as the primary element, rather than the home console crutch of relying on high end graphics as the attraction.

I can't say I'm that excited about this, though I will buy it if it turns out to be decent.  I would have preferred something a little fresher since this sounds more like a tribute than something really new.  As for WayForward, Shantae was fun if stiff, but Sigma Star Saga was pretty weak (the less said about Ping Pals, the better).  I certainly hope they make sure to get the controls right (something WF isn't too good at) or else the whole effort is pointless.

According to the new Nintendo Power, Jake Kaufman (virt) is the composer.

*jumps up and down*

I think a traditional Contra game is very cool... but I'd really rather play it on the big sceen (a TV) than the small DS screens. I fail to see why a company like Nintendo or Sony don't produce an adapter so that their handhelds can connect to their current consoles (Wii & PS3) and be played on the TV. It would be awesome, and an instant best seller. Then again, companies are often retarded.

cheers,

-avatar!

^Maybe it has something to do with how Nintendo has claimed that DS is not an official successor to the Gameboy handhelds.  Then again, it probably has more to do with the dual screen setup and especially the touch screen functionality.

Eh, how would you want to play touch screen games on a TV?

You're right.  It's absolutely impossible.  I couldn't possibly fathom a guess as to how a company who makes video game systems and games could possibly envision or create a device that would allow touch screen activity on a custom 'controller', that would also display on a tv, split screen....it's just impossible to think...Never could happen.  Just NOT possible

</*end sarcasm*>

I'm more thinking of either the thick borders on both sides of the TV when you would want to have both screen on it at the same time (when opting for e.g. wiimote pointing control) or the awkwardness of looking from the TV to the controller and back GC/GBA style (when opting for a touch screen as part of the controller).

I guess someone will release "highscreen" TV just for playing DS games on it sometime...

wait, who's Jake Kaufman? what's "virt"?

Ramza

Didn't think there was a VGM fan alive who doesn't know of virt.   You've seriously never heard of any of his work?

http://virt.vgmix.com/index.php?page=arrange

You'll definitely want to hit up "My Frequency is 140.85," Super Metroid's "Crystal Flash," and, of course the legendary "Contravirt."

This Virt is news to me...wow, 2 tracks so far, REALLY good...

Scans of the Nintendo Power article, including better screenshots and an interview:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3081/contra41bf7.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6842/contra42yc9.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/829/contra43lv2.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9895/contra44qp0.jpg

1up.com's also got a preview spread up: http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3160665

These guys seem to know what they're doing.  I'm hopeful!

Even the artwork is looking nostalgically-stylized to the old NES cover:

Contra  vs  Contra IV

All you need to do is take a widescreen LCD monitor and turn it on its side.  Both DS screens fit nicely this way.  In fact, this is exactly how DS games are shown at trade shows.

Really?  All the ones I've seen over here have two separate screens.

Never heard of him either.  There are some of us that do not keep tabs of the fan scene.

That new art cover is inconsistent.  I feel like it is Bill and Lance + the Bad Boys.  i.e. two military commanders + two street-wise badass law enforcement guys.

That's kind of a pretentious statement. Well, here's another one.

*raises hand* you can add me too!  Then again, I do tend to stick with officially releases, not having the time to sift through the sea of crap out there for fan arrangements to find the few gems.

Who knew that the "fan scene" was a divisive issue? I don't really keep up with fan remixes either, but I am familiar with virt's arrangements--and original material. It's great to see him moving up in the game music world. Even those not interested in fan work should check him out.

I'm rather surprised myself.  But I figured anyone who's even heard the terms "game music" and "fan arranged" in the same sentence knew of virt.  Or his significant correlation to vgmix.com, at the very least.

But yeah, I'm really excited to hear what Kaufman brings to Contra IV.  I think they've got the right guy for the project.

I have seen it that way as well, but I personally think the vertical LCD solution is more elegant.  I assume the capture/development hardware supports a variety of video output configurations.

Check out Gamevideos.com for footage of Contra IV.  This week's episode of the 1up show also contains video clips and discussion of the game.  I like the Contra/Super C art style, but I'm not too thrilled about another impossibly difficult Contra game (the difficulty is readily apparent in the clips).

Syckx from NeoGAF reports that Gamestop's "coming soon" binder in stores details that the orignal NES versions of Contra and Super C will be included in Contra IV.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185094

Please, please, please let this be true. ^_^

That's awesome.

Sure would be nice, not to mention saving me $10 on the Virtual Console.

I'll have to pick this up.  I JUST finished New SMBs (at least round one with Mario - is there another ending with Luigi?)  Anyway, I am finally discovering the DS...Great for the bathroom...oh man....haha, I said that and I'm not even drunk...

I've grown so partial to Shattered Soldier and more recently, Neo Contra (yes, I enjoy Neo Contra... get off me), that I'm actually sorely disappointed with the Rambo/Predator throwback that Contra 4 was revealed to be.

Even if Neo was just a Smash TV parody of MGS, Shattered Soldier took Contra in a direction that I liked very much. My recall sucks, but I think I read (probably in Play Magazine) that the producers "apologized" for what the PS2 Contras had become. Infuriated is what I was! I would have loved to see a Shattered Soldier 2!

Ah well. Look for fan-art soon... LOL

That's interesting to me...1) They are extremely well produced 'classic' style platformer (Neo sorta), shooters, 2) They received pretty favorable reviews (Shattered Soldier did, anyway..). 

I played it this weekend, in fact.  My only critique is the difficulty, which is surmountable, given enough practice (I never did beat either one).

My gripe with Contra IV (as with all games released on the DS), they have to be played on the DS.  Also, in reviewing some of the preview video of the game, the two screens look to be slightly 'off'...That's one thing about the DS and Wii in general...they're way toogimmickie to me.  Great games on both systems though...no doubt.

The game has officially been announced for a November 13th release date.  This, plus Super Mario Galaxy on the same day = INSTANT WIN.

The box art and marketing sheet was also released:

http://i20.tinypic.com/15p4ky8.jpg
http://i24.tinypic.com/2u6fxcn.jpg

I'm a little tepid with the new box art, and would have rather seen the initial piece grace the front.  And "Revisit the franchise defining, side-scrolling action of the original" seems to imply that at least the original Contra is in.  Super C might be an unlockable.

Contra IV: Is Capcom (formerly SNK's) Shinkiro now a double agent?!

Not to be picky, but Super Mario Galaxy actually ships on November 12th, so it'll be in stores one day before Contra IV.  This assumes that UPS and Fed Ex work on Veteran's Day, and I'm fairly certain that they do.  I think only USPS is off.  Feel free to correct me if you know otherwise.