After horrendous attempts of going 3D and using all sorts of gimmicks to beat the dead horse, Konami has finally given justice to its original arcade classic. Developer WayForward Technologies took Contra 4 back to its grandfathers, and created a game for the Nintendo DS with all the elements that got us hooked with Contra's first coming. We played it, died a few hundred times, but ultimately conquered and here's our review.

If you've got the guts to know more about the hardest and manliest games of late, press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, go to the full article.

Konami has opened the official site for its upcoming Nintendo DS action title Contra 4. In true Contra fashion, the front page is in chic black and flames with the cool box art and the Contra logo taking center stage. A "Buy Now" link is also right there to take you to a page where you can make transactions secure.

Contra 4 uses a 2D side-scrolling interface while utilizing both screens of the Nintendo DS. Players can move across the two screens by ascending and descending with a handy grappling hook. In addition to the normal 2D stages, three special 3D bases are also included to add diversity to the time-tested Contra formula.

During the days that side-scrollers were all the rage, nobody can deny that the name Contra was one of the most memorable. Now, after nearly 10 years since it was first released on the NES, Konami delivers the latest in one of the longest running run-and-gun shooters with Contra 4.

In a two-part video we have from IGN, you can see what the opening stage of the newest iteration to the series will look like. From the way things look so far, the developers from WayForward Technologies took a lot of time to capture the essence of the original game.

Anyone who's played any of the previous Contra games will recognize the music, the aliens with overgrown backpacks and, of course, our somersaulting commandos with their big guns. Aside from the nostalgic references to its predecessors, Contra 4 has a few new features thrown into the mix to keep everyone interested.

While the video only shows the the single player mode of the first stage, the team here at QJ.NET can't wait to try out the ad hoc co-op mode the game is promised to sport. Contra 4 is scheduled to be released this November 13 exclusively for the Nintendo DS. In the meantime, check out the two videos we have on the game.

You can check out the second part of the video right after the jump!

For those of us eagerly awaiting the day when we'll be able to finally enjoy some sweet Contra action on our Nintendo Dual Screens, this should prove to be a very worthwhile bit of news. Konami's Contra 4, the game that not only promises to do justice to the series but also get us back into the co-op fray, will be released on November 13 of this year. Awesome!

This news comes from a couple of scans found by none other than the good people over at NeoGAF. We also get a look at what the box cover art could look like - and the words "badass" and "hardcore" fail to describe it accurately. And from the background of the cover art (as well as the synopsis on the second scan), it's safe to say that the alien troops of the Black Viper will be getting riddled with bullets come that blessed day of November.

Spread shot? Check. Massive bosses? Check. Awesome shoot-em-up co-op action? Double check. Updates as we get them, and enjoy the scans!

 

The last time we heard about the highly-anticipated sequel to the legendary side-scrolling series, Contra 4 on the Nintendo DS, we found out about the new direction the game is taking - specifically, how it's going back to its old retro hardcore roots, as well as the new features we'll be using to mow down some of the game's more difficult bosses. Now, here's something just as crucial to your Contra survival - the controls of the game itself!

As pictured at the very top of the article, we can see that Konami's added a few new bells and whistles to the control scheme. Besides the usual essentials - using the D-Pad to move and aim, Y to Fire and B to Jump - we also now have a Grapple button, for that handy grappling hook to move from plane to vertical plane. Then we have the Discard Weapon button, bound to A - definitely handy for those of us who doesn't want to get stuck with any other weapon besides the almighty Spreadshot power-up.

While the new controls should make things a whole lot easier for us with rusty Contra senses, the fact that it does make for a more intuitive control scheme could also be a sign that Konami has a hell of a fight in store for us. And you know what? We're ready. We're up to speed. We can take it. Why? Because we're not just hardcore, we're Contra hardcore.

Updates as we get them!

Fans of the Contra Series wont be disappointed by the way the producers have taken the series. After a decade and a half, Konami is releasing Contra 4for the DS later this year. Utilizing the DS' dual screen, the classic 2D sidescroller promises to deliver all the good things that made it a hit plus a few new features for the two screens.

Producer William Oertel was interviewed during the E3 and he had a lot of good things to say about the game's development. He mentioned a few new enhancements which took advantage of the DS' strengths and a few new features such as the grappling hook, a few new vertical levels, and larger than life bosses that would hopefully appeal to new gamers as they would to old fans of the game.

Also released was a heavy weapons gameplay video which brought a tear to my eye as this writer recalled fond memories of the earlier titles. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, BABA, Start... enjoy those beloved memories of old!

The second video after the jump!

Do you prefer the Spreadshot or the Laser? This is a question that has haunted me and my gaming buddies for quite some time now. We even took the time to dust off an old NES just to see which one was more efficient. If you're like us, well you probably know that Konami's Contra 4 is coming out and it's looking great.

The screenshots look like the game is keeping with the spirit of the three games that have come before it. For those who would care to take a closer look at the images, there are a few screens which appears to be rehashes of stages from previous games.

Most Contra veterans understand though that it was never about the graphics of the game, but the sheer challenge that it offers. Here are the screenshots of Contra 4 from E3, enjoy!

   

The rest of the screens await after the jump!

   

Merely looking at Nintendo Power's free poster for this month will take many a gamer back to memory lane. Check out the free Contra 4 posters rendered in retro style reminiscent of the 80s' gaming magazine issues, courtesy of DS Fanboy.

Old Lance and Bill looked beefed up as ever, with two new people in the background. Wait, is that Vin Diesel in the upper left corner of the poster? DS Fanboy supposes that the two guys are named - strangely enough - Mad Dog and Scorpion, which are names for Lance and Bill in the U.S. localization of earlier Contra games. Will Contra 4 have time paradox in its storyline then?

Do check this space often as we gather more news about this much-awaited Contra video game from Konami for the Nintendo DS!

 

Several spin-offs following the much successful Contra trilogy have passed, and nothing came close. After repeated attempts to woo fans of the classic side-scroller, Konami finally decided to go back to its roots ala New Super Mario Bros. with Contra 4 for the DS. This means more than just doing the Konami code to gain 30 lives all over again, says 1UP as they got their hands on the game's initial stages.

On recreating the authentic experience, here's what Konami associate producer Tomm Hulett had to say:

New Super Mario Bros. is a huge inspiration for us. Nintendo looked back and created a game that was based on the original Super Mario, not Mario 3 or Mario 64, and made a game that feels like the original. That's exactly what we want to do here with Contra. We've gone back to Contra III for the controls, the weapon system, even the platforming, which is something that was lost in the later games.

That isn't to say we'll be getting a recycled package - by the looks of it, the game won't be losing in terms of flair and good animation. New gameplay elements are introduced too, such as the grappling hook, weapon combinations, and full utilization of dual screens.

1UP testifies that Contra 4 does indeed stays true to its roots. Control is supposed to be perfect, music will give a healthy amount of nostalgia, platforming, and combat are as hectic as the originals were back in 1992. Being able to hold a pair of weapons then combine the same types open up a plethora of new ways to dispatch the enemies.

Stages don't stray away from the tried and proven formula. The classic Contra jungle is there, as well as Contra III's auto-scrolling ocean level. "We wanted to start with familiar scenarios, gradually moving into more unique and interesting areas as the game progresses. So the later stages are totally different," said Hulett.

More screens after the jump!

 

It's been 15 years since we last saw Contra in all its classic goodness. Some spin-offs have passed, but a true fan would never be satisfied with half-hearted games alone. Rumors teased some hungry gamers a while back. Wait no more: Konami finally announces Contra 4 to celebrate the explosive action series.

The old 2D favorite will appear on the DS with some new features. With the use of dual screens, new deadly abilities, and multiplayer that we all loved - this upcoming series entry promises to deliver unprecedented action. A grappling hook will also allow players to grab onto elements of the environment directly above them

Following the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean will now face a new enemy known only as Black Viper. Hard-boiled mercenaries Mad Dog and Scorpion will be joining the two in their mission to save the world from invaders.

Contra 4 is slated for release this year, developed by WayForward Technologies. Time to take a trip down memory lane and memorize that Konami code; sounds like we're up for a challenge.