Contra 4 details, first screenshots emerge

 

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!

 

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.

Now there’s another classic to wait for. Here are the first screens of Contra 4 if you’re not excited enough. Enjoy!