Nintendo Power - August ish

[Glockstar]

SoulCalibur Legends on the cover.

Features/Articles:
SoulCalibur Legends - (duh)
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Wii
Tomb Raider Anniversay - Wii
Contra 4 - DS - (looks sweet)
Square-Enix Party coverage - 10 games covered

Interview with Contra 4 associate producers and director
Interview with Tomonobu Itacocky, I mean Itagaki.
Interview with Eiji Aonuma (Zelda games)

News and Previews:
Front Mission DS
Ghost Squad - Wii
Brain Age 2
Smash Bros
Drawn to Life - DS
My Word Coach - Wii and DS
Carnival Games - Wii
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - Wii and DS
Tony Hawks Proving Ground - Wii and DS

Battalion Wars II - Wii
Luminous Arc - DS
Sonic Rush Adventure - DS
Driver: Parallel Lines - Wii
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution - Wii
Picross DS
DK: Jungle Climber - DS
EA Playground - Wii and DS
Boogie - Wii
Nervous Brickdown - DS - (looks pretty sweet)
Pet Alien - DS
Manhunt 2 - Wii

Geometry Wars: Galaxies - Wii and DS


Reviews:

Wii
RE4 Wii Edition = 9.0
The Bigs = 6.0
Scarface: The World is Yours = 7.5
Legend of the Dragon = 5.5
Pokemon Battle Revolution = 6.5
Ratatouille = 7.5
Harry Potter/Order of the Phoenix = 7.0

DS
Fantastic Four: Rise/Silver Surfer - DS = 2.0
Harry Potter/Order of the Phoenix = 7.0
Brothers In Arms DS = 9.0
SimCity DS = 8.0
Flipper Critters = 4.5
Code Lyoko = 7.0
Hoshigami Remix = 6.0
Glory Days 2: Brotherhood of Men = 6.0

[Gadfly2317]

Flipper Critters sounds like the freaking bomb man.

Seriously though, Contra 4 DS is a must own to me, a sequel to one of my faves Contra: The Alien Wars. I'm hoping for online Co-op. So far, the DS has shown that it can do some solid online gaming, but I haven't seen any co-op yet. Contra is just not the same without Co-op, my wife doesn't play that kind of game, and my Contra buddy lives halfway across the country.

I look at the list and I'm talking about a DS game. Sly way to make your point, troll :wink: . . . I cry Uncle. . . the Wii has a horrible crap to good ratio right now. I expect it to change, but there's plenty of reasons for people to wait for software and price drop. But Glock, I still stick to my point that this is/will be a must play system for pretty much most types of gamers. Anyway, that's sys wars stuff. Sorry.

[Cuddly Knife]

Pssshhhhh, I haven't even read a NP in years. Ever since the ish where NP gave away a sample vid dvd with Twilight Princess.

I have high hopes for SCL. THat's definitely a game that could kick ass if the controls are just right.

And of course, CONTRA 4!!!!!!!
Contra has needed a real sequel for a long time now. It's been fifteen years since the release of Contra III: Alien Wars, and since then we've been getting nothing but crappy attempts as bringing the series into 3D and the ridiculously difficult Shattered Soldier for the PS2. Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the series that made run n' gun gameplay what it is goes back to its roots with Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS, developed by Wayforward Technologies and due out later this year.

Contra 4 will take place two years after Contra 3, which in turn took place two years after Super Contra. This time around Bill and Lance find themselves battling the all new menace of the Black Viper, alongside new merc characters Mad Dog and Scorpion, which are incidentally both names of really bad alcoholic beverages.

Konami promises the game will mark a return to the 2D gameplay we all know and love, utilizing the dual screen nature of the handheld to create some truly massive boss battles and high-flying enemies. In addition, Konami has realized one of the universal truths: everything is better with a grappling hook. Players will be able to grab onto the environment to avoid attacks or just hang around shooting all day I guess. It's a grappling hook, dammit. Love it.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES CONTRA 4 FOR NINTENDO DS™

Explosive Action Series Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Unique Dual Screen Presentation, New Gameplay Elements and Cooperative Multiplayer Mayhem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - June 20, 2007 - 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.

[Glockstar]

I look at the list and I'm talking about a DS game. Sly way to make your point, troll :wink: . . . I cry Uncle. . .

:wink5:


Re: Contra 4:
I don't know where you got that article Cuddly, but I'm pretty danged sure NP said it would have 4-player online co-op. (I don't have the mag with me at this moment.) Wouldn't that be sweet... the bunch of us shooting up bad guys together... kitties and xbots getting along... dogs and cats living together!

[Gadfly2317]

:wink5:


Re: Contra 4:
I don't know where you got that article Cuddly, but I'm pretty danged sure NP said it would have 4-player online co-op. (I don't have the mag with me at this moment.) Wouldn't that be sweet... the bunch of us shooting up bad guys together... kitties and xbots getting along... dogs and cats living together!

That would be cool. Friend Code, Glock? I know you hate Mario, but you should pick up Mario Kart, and maybe we could revive the tuesday night matches with Renz, Trebor and Pandar.

Regardless, if there's online co-op for Contra 4, I'll definitely be wanting to play it with you guys. I don't care about online play in most games, but Contra Co-op would be too cool. Though I'm kinda intimidated by Cuddly's skill level at these kind of games.

[Cuddly Knife]

Come now, I don't kick that much at shmups to intimidate. Wait till you play a shmup with an online leaderboard, then you'll will really be scared. Fanatics. Bad-asses. I'm a puppy in the big scheme. Most of the time I just try to get good enough to beat a game without continuing.

Although I am still proud of my MSR rankings with a 51 for Adventure and 23 Tally. :D... and yet, when I see my score compared to the leaders, I laugh at my lameness. I still can't beat that one without continuing. But it's 89 levels.

And I'm proud of my Ikaruga one-life play-through. I hope that one's a LA achievement so I can prove it.:D........:D<---at the fact it's coming to LA. I wonder if it'll be the Dreamcast version. I wonder if it'll have online co-opp.

Contra 4!!!!!!

[Renzatic Gear]

You've all seen screenshots of Contra 4, right? Very retro. Very cool...

http://users.chartertn.net/greymatt/contra_1.jpg

If it has 4 player co-op, I'll be all over that action like 10 of em. I loves me some Contra.

And yeah, I'd be up for more Tuesday night matches. Gotta get a new Wifi router first, though.

[Cuddly Knife]

I was looking for sceenies the other day and couldn't find anything. Thanks Renz!

I'm guessing the parts where the grass is worn out to some metal walkway is where you'll be able to latch on with your grapple.

[Gadfly2317]

There may always be a better gamer out there, Cuddly, but you aren't conning anyone with that false modesty. . . anyone who can play all the way through Ikaruga on one ship is a gaming god in my eyes. I'm willing to wage you're the most skilled gamer at VGR.

Like that Gunstar GBA cartridge you mailed me. . . it had your saves on it still, and that's a hard-assed game. So I know you're good.

That's the thing about Contra, I think Glock has confessed to sorta sucking at games, so maybe we'd be a better match. I used to play Contra Alien Wars endlessly in college in co-op with my best friend, and I was definitely the weaker link.

In fact, come to think of it, the first time I "beat" Ikaruga was when my old Contra college buddy came to visit, and we popped in Ikaruga and played it co-op all the way through. And he doesn't game, hadn't played in years, and yet he settled in was immediately as good as I was (and I'd been playing it for a long time) and in a matter of about 30 minutes was freaking amazing at it. It's weird how much of the gaming skill is innate in people. I really have to work at it just to do ok, and other people like my friend who's an "ex-gamer" are just completely natural at complex hand-eye coordination high-speed action games.

[Glockstar]

Contra 4
From the NP article:
"...Konami representatives have disclosed that a four-player simultaneous mode is in the works."

And there's a screenshot of 4 player-controlled characters (they're shirtless) doing that very thing. Along with a caption that reads: "Classic, hard-core 2D gameplay meets four-player dual-screen action. Gaming doesn't get much better than this." I wish I could post the pic.


Friend Code, Glock? I know you hate Mario, but you should pick up Mario Kart...

I don't have a FC yet. I'm not online at home anymore. (I post here from coffee shops and libraries.) (My life situation is not going that good right now, and hasn't been for several months. It's a long story; very personal; and I don't want to get into it.) And I'm not about to hang out at McDonalds.

Mario Kart? And Glockstar? Not gonna happen.


I think Glock has confessed to sorta sucking at games...

Hey now, I wouldn't say "suck". :blush2: Oh, well... yes I would. Some games/genres. Like shmups and sim racers. Some I'd have to say I kind of feel like a bad azz in. Like Splinter Cell; and when I'm hunting terrorists in RSV.


Re: Cuddly:
Nothing to be intimidated by, Gadfly. He's good... and you want him on your team. (Though sometimes he does tend to be hog. :p )

[Glockstar]

Oh check it out, NP has digitized their mag. http://www.nintendopower.com/home

Go there, then click on "Current Issue" - along the lefthand side... then click on "Run-n-Gun Revival" to see the C4 screenies.