Posts with tag contra
DS Daily: Can they do it?
Contra 4 video even awesomer than our article image
Don't just walk -- run, flip, and shoot your way past the post break for the first Contra 4 video footage to hit the interbutts. The 1UP Show interspersed clips of the WayForward-developed title in this week's episode, supplementing the 1UP staff's hands-on impressions with scenes from Contra 4's various levels, throwing a boss fight in there for good measure.Our thoughts on the game so far, especially considering Virt's involvement with its music and sound design, echo Jeremy Parish's: "It's like they said, "Let's make the best fan game ever,' and Konami said, 'That's so good, we want to make it a real game.'"
Continue reading Contra 4 video even awesomer than our article image
1up jumps over exploding bridge, picks up Contra 4 content
We're going to cut out the introductions and get straight to it: oh man, Contra 4 looks awesome. It's fully 2D, just like we hoped. It's designed as a direct sequel gameplay-wise to the excellent Contra III: producer Tomm Hulett said "Anyone who's played Contra III on Virtual Console recently should be able to jump right into Contra 4 and feel right at home." New features include the ability to hold two weapons and toggle between them, weapon upgrading (two of the same weapon result in a powered-up version), wireless two-player, and a grappling hook.WayForward is taking inspiration from New Super Mario Bros. for Contra 4, in the best way. They're returning to what was great about the series, and designing a new game based on that.
Can you believe that two guys who are supposed to be great commandos keep forgetting their shirts when they go on these missions? Check the screens and see how many enemy soldiers forgot their shirts. Preview: none.
Virt supplying remixed tunes for Contra 4
We've been in love with Jake "Virt" Kaufman's video game soundtracks (e.g. Shantae, Godzilla: Domination, Scurge: Hive) and micromusic remixes for years now, so it pleased us to no end to hear that he would be working with WayForward on Contra 4's themes. Not familiar with his discography? Here are three of our favorite Virt arrangements and chiptune covers that we grabbed from his site:- Contra - "Contravirt" (6.0 MB MP3)
- Castlevania II - "What a Horrible Night" (2.0 MB MP3)
- Michael Jackson - "Thriller (VRC6 Cover)" (4.1 MB MP3)
Konami announces Contra 4
The press release refers to the game as a 2D sidescroller, but we don't know if they're referring only to perspective or to graphics as well. We're hoping for a fully 2D game. There's actually a good chance of it, too. Developer WayForward Technologies is known for sidescrollers like Shantae and Sigma Star Saga, both of which use hand-drawn sprites. Also we must mention Ping Pals, but we hope that has no bearing on Contra.
[Via press release]
Metareview: Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits
In the mood for a little retro on the go? Konami Classics: Arcade Hits may be just what you need. The compilation is receiving solid reviews from most of the major outlets, and the word is that the set is lovingly constructed and filled with extras.IGN (80/100) feels this collection sets the standards for future retro compilations on the DS: "Like any classic compilation, the actual library can be its victory or its downfall, but there are plenty of strong Konami titles in this batch to keep interest high...even if there are the occasional (and expected) duds in the pack."
Nintendo Power (75/100) found this title to be among an excellent example of a retro compilation: "The highlights ... are Contra, Track & Field, Time Pilot, and Gradius, all of which hold up remarkably well considering their age."
1UP (69/100), found the game well done, but essentially flawed: But Arcade Hits suffers from a shortcoming, and a pretty serious one at that: The games in the collection aren't really worthy of the beautiful presentation ... Even worse: Most games collected here were originally manufactured with vertically oriented screens. "No worries," you say. "The DS has two stacked screens! I can deal with a gap in the graphics if it means high-fidelity presentation." Well, better worry after all: All games are restricted to the upper screen only, meaning everything is squished uncomfortably. But you didn't really want to see those little space bullets in Gradius, though. Did you?
Konami Arcade Classics previewed
As admitted Konami fanboys, when we heard about the Konami Arcade Classics collection for the DS, we started seeing the classic cross logo in our minds and humming the Contra soundtrack incessantly. Five months later, we're almost to the point where we can actually play it.
Siliconera has decided to tease us with a preview of the game, showing off some of the emulated classics and how they look on the DS. Of special interest are the vertically-oriented titles Twinbee and Contra, which have an optional tate mode (seen above) which is extremely, extremely bizarre. We appreciate the effort taken to preserve the original games' aspect ratio and give players the option of playing without letterboxing, but why isn't the second screen rotated to match? And how are you supposed to play with all the buttons and the D-pad on the right side?
I am information about I am 8-bit 2.007 [update 1]
Game Informer has posted a nice preview of the 2007 I am 8-bit art show, along with some of the art that will be featured. I am 8-bit is an annual art exhibition that celebrates classic videogame culture and iconography, with an emphasis on Nintendo and their NES-era third parties. It's also the source of some amazing game-related art, like the Donkey Kong-inspired painting shown above, "Mario's Lament" by Reuben Rude. We'd be proud to display any of these paintings, sculptures, or crafts in our own Fancaves.
Just like every year, we'll be gazing wistfully at these previews and cursing our luck for not being Californian or California-adjacent. If you happen to be in the LA area between April 17 and May 12, we urge you to go to Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight and support the very best kind of fanboyism: the kind that manifests in honest creative expression (fanfic excluded).
[Update 1: changed the preview picture to something friendlier.]
[Via 4cr]
ContraVania: a gaming mashup
We're no strangers to the work of Jim Welch who, through his website, maintains a strict regimen of drawing daily. His end products are, often, amazing and instill in us feelings of envy and jealousy. We wish we could produce such lovely pieces of art. Instead, our destiny seems to be on the business end of a laptop, captured in a cage and left to blog until our fingers are tiny nubs and the last sliver of light has disappeared on the dungeon wall.
Video has been, as always, embedded into the post past the jump.
Past illustrations:
