Everything sounds like it’s on the right track, and we here at PGR are eager to see how multiplayer works aside from the co-op campaign, be it top-down or sidescrolling…

What modes could be included? Capture the flag would be really difficult in a straight 2D plane… Deathmatch would be insanely fun though and we can’t wait any longer. BRING IT ON KONAMI!

[Via Press 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. For more information on the game and the Contra franchise, please visit: www.konami.com .

Kotaku, is reporting that EA has confirmed that Spore will be coming to the Nintendo DS, and it should be in our WiFi loving hands some where around this time next year. Hopefully next week at DICE, Will Wright will let slip some juicy details about this super cool franchise coming to the Nintendo DS.

How cool will it be to use that stylus to perform some finishing move that sends your opponent into the next life in some unpleasant manner. This seems to be the series that will just not die. And some how Midway always manages to find some new aspect or some idea that breathes life into this franchise.

Maybe it will be Mortal Kombat the RPG!

Visit Tower Records

The following games are scheduled to be released this week for the DS:

- Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy
- Lionel Trains: On Track
- Star Wars: Lethal Alliance

The following titles are scheduled to be released for the PSP:

- Blitz: Overtime
- Shrek Smash and Crash

You can watch for the following DS games being released this week:

- Brain Boost: Beta Wave
- Brain Boost: Gamma Wave
- Dogz
- March of the Penguins
- Monster Bomber
- Superman Returns: The Videogame
- Totally Spies! 2: Undercover

And on the PSP side of things:

- Hard Rock Casino (delayed from last week)
- Tony Hawk’s Project 8

With all of this momentum behind the Nintendo DS comes a ton of fantastic games to own. Games for the hardcore. Games for the grandparents. Games for the younger crowd. There’s a wide range of software for the system, and we’ve gone through this year’s releases and handpicked the games that will make any DS owner cheer this holiday season.

- Big Brain Academy
- Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day
- Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
- Clubhouse Games
- Elite Beat Agents
- Final Fantasy III
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Tetris DS
- Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
- Yoshi’s Island DS

Unlike console gamers, who always find themselves stuck in front of those dastardly television sets, PSP owners benefit from the freedom to game wherever the hell they want. That’s right, they can enjoy the hottest games of the 2006 holiday season whenever and wherever they damn well please.

- Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
- Daxter
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Killzone: Liberation
- LocoRoco
- Medal of Honor Heroes
- Mercury Meltdown
- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection

The following games are out for the DS:

- Asphalt: Urban GT 2
- Bionicle Heroes
- Brain Boost: Beta Wave
- Brain Boost: Gamma Wave
- Charlotte’s Web
- Eragon
- Final Fantasy III
- Gunpey DS
- Happy Feet
- Monster Bomber
- My Frogger: Toy Trials
- Spider-Man: Battle for New York
- Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2
- Tomb Raider: Legend
- Uno/Skip-Bo/Uno Freefall
- Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex
- Yoshi’s Island 2

Once you’re done picking up the collection of DS titles that tickle your fancy, move on over to the PSP section where you’ll be able to choose from the following newly released titles:

- Activision Hits Remixed
- EA Replay
- Eragon
- GitarooMan Lives!
- Gunpey-R
- Hammy Goes Nuts
- Hard Rock Casino
- Luxor: The Wrath of Set
- Metal Slug Anthology
- Mortal Kombat: Unchained
- NFL Street Volume 3
- Pimp My Ride
- Pocket Racers
- Platypus
- Rayman: Raving Rabbids
- Sega Genesis Collection
- Shrek Smash ‘n Crash
- Star Trek: Tactical Assault
- Thrillville
- Warhammer: Battle for Atluma
- Xiaolin Showdown
- Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force

Check out the following DS titles that are scheduled to be released this week:

- Barbie: 12 Dancing Princesses
- Bomberman Land Touch!
- Chicken Little: Ace in Action
- Digimon World DS
- Elite Beat Agents
- My Frogger: Toy Trials
- Tom and Jerry Tales
- Uno/Skip-Bo/Uno Freefall
- Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex

The following titles are scheduled to be released for the PSP:

- BattleZone
- Hard Rock Casino
- Lumines II
- Reel Fishing: The Great Outdoors
- SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2
- Tony Hawk’s Project 8

Yoshi’s Island DS isn’t just a remake, but an entirely new game… and from all the screenshots I’ve seen, the developers are sticking to the roots of the original.

Back to the website though, it’s bright and colorful and cheery… just like the game. It’s somewhat interactive at this point, playing some cutesy music in the background. The site isn’t entirely operational quite yet, with a “Check back for the full site” bubble in the corner. They’d better get on it, since the game is being released on November 13th!

You know, I was thinking that since this site has changed over to include all sorts of portable gaming news and not just the PSP that I should start including a weekly segment to appeal to our Nintendo lovers out there. Here is a list of the DS games that are scheduled to be released this week… and sorry, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to have a pic of Jack Black up on the site!!

- Nacho Libre
- Children of Mana
- Konductra
- Chicken Little: Ace in Action
- Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City
- Pokemon Ranger
- Scurge: Hive
- The Sims 2: Pets
- That’s So Raven: Psychic on the Scene
- Tom and Jerry Tales

Bomberman Land Touch! is coming to North America! Atlus has recently opened up their highly interactive website to the masses… and by recently, I mean today! I surfed on over to check it out and it is quite innovative, allowing you to maneuver around the site using a stylus. The site gives you all sorts of information about the game itself, including information about the characters, modes, areas, features, a game trailer from the Japanese release, downloadable content in the way of several wallpapers as well as an exclusive interview with game designer and director Gen Suzuki! You can check out the website here.

Atlus U.S.A., Inc., a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced that the official English website for Bomberman Land Touch! is now live.

You don’t want to miss this 100-megaton website, full of features such as character introductions, game mode rundowns, wallpaper downloads, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection details, and an exclusive interview with game designer and director Gen Suzuki!

If you want to check out the entire press release, check out Go Nintendo.com.

After checking out the site I must say that I am definitely anticipating the November 7th release date. I have to say that I’ve spent many an hour playing four-player multi-player Super Bomberman on SNES and from taking a look at some of the images that have been released I’m going to be in for a nostalgic treat! There’s nothing quite so satisfying as expertly planting your bombs to take out fellow family members in a rousing game of Bomberman!! I definitely see a Bomberman Land Touch party in my near future! Now if only I knew more people that had DS’s….

On the DS side, we have a storm of games coming. Dragon Quest Heroes, yet another new Pokemon game (the series just won’t die), Konductra, and a few others are all being released on either the Monday or Tuesday.

PSP Games

• September 19 – The Godfather: Mob Wars
• September 19 – Open Season
• September 19 – World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions

DS Games

• September 18 – Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
• September 18 – Bratz: Forever Diamondz
• September 18 – Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
• September 19 – Danny Phantom Urban Jungle
• September 19 – Konductra
• September 19 – Open Season
• September 19 – The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Trouble

There are several games on the DS front as well this week. Mega Man ZX, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Mario Hoops 3 on 3 and a few others are all coming out this week.

PSP Game Releases

• September 12 – Bomberman
• September 12 – Bounty Hounds
• September 12 – LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• September 12 – NHL 07
• September 12 – Rengoku II: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N.

DS Game Releases

• September 11 – Mario Hoops 3 on 3
• September 12 – Mega Man ZX
• September 12 – LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• September 12 – Harvest Moon DS
• September 12 – Cooking Mama
• September 12 – MechAssault: Phantom War

What do you get when you cross a RPG-crazy Japanese gamer and Final Fantasy III? A special bundle pack featuring the game and a special Final Fantasy III DS Lite. The bundle pictured above flew off the shelves after launch and was sold for $200 USD. Used bundles being sold at almost $500!