Make no mistake, this is the latest entry in Konami’s Contra franchise. For real, check the main menu theme and game over theme. Despite it’s anime look (courtesy of developer Arc Systems) and sci-fi setting, this entry contains all the hyperactive shoot-em-up action that you expect from the series. The story is pretty generic, with the typical evil government and you as a former soldier out to stop them, but who plays a Contra game for the story? You (and a buddy if playing co-op) grab your guns, and blast everything that moves, picking up weapon upgrades you find en route. You can play in traditional arcade mode, or an all new ‘Rising’ mode where you can earn new moves and weapon upgrades. Extra characters are available for download. Uprising is part of Konami’s attempt to start a spin-off franchise with Hard Corps (originally released on the Genesis during the 90s), and if future titles are as good as this, Hard Corps will represent a new direction for the Contra franchise just as it did all those years ago. Weather you’re a fan of Contra, or just like old school 2D action, you’ll want to download this title.

In a follow up to Sindra’s keep playing (read blatant attempt at a 1up), I decided to feature what is undoubtedly the best early Simpsons game, an arcade beat em up from Konami. This also happens to be the first Simpsons game ever made. In the tradition of thier X-men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle games, Simpsons is a fun brawler which is even better when you have friends to join in. There isn’t much to the story: Maggie swallows Smithers’ diamond and he kidnaps her in order to get it back, so America’s most beloved animated family (besides the Griffins) goes after him to get it back. The voice actors from the cartoon reprise thier roles here. If you played Konami’s X-men or TMNT, you’ll feel right at home with this game as well. Although EA released an Iphone remake, it’s a surprise that Konami has yet to release this on PSN or Xbox Live arcade a’la TMNT and X-men. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before they do, as fans of the series will no doubt love this game.

Gradius: TIA is the sequel to Nemesis, a Game Boy-exclusive entry in the Gradius series. Despite its small scale, it’s just as enjoyable as any console or arcade Gradius. You play as a ship whose loadout you select before hand, and you are tasked with escaping your alien pursuers. Although there is no text, there is a bit of a storyline about escape, and at the end of the game, the hunter becomes the prey as you turn the tables. Strangely, there are several Gradius staples that are missing from the series such as moai statues, a space intro to each stage (each stage seamlessly flows into the next), and classic Gradius music. However, the variety of the game’s 5 levels make up for it, as you face off against increasingly bizarre alien creatures and huge bosses. The soundtrack is also pretty good for a Game Boy title as well. Hopefully this will be one of the first games that will be available when legacy Game Boy Games are made available on the 3DS shop.

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Marvel’s video game panel at New York Comic Con had a few cool announcements about the future of Captain America in games, and some unexpected reveals for Marvel VS Capcom 3.

But for classic gamers, the big news is the return of the mammoth X-Men brawler from Konami. Originally released in 1992 with character designs pulled from the Pryde of the X-Men TV Pilot, this machine was different from similar Simpsons and TMNT brawlers in that it allowed up to 6 players instead of the usual 4. With so much action on screen, the cabinet was expanded to two side by side monitors. With the universal adoption of widescreen TVs in the last few years, its expected that not much of that will be lost in this new port.

Konami intends to keep 6 player support with online “drop in/drop out” co-op, just like the old quarter muncher.

The best news is the trailer features a classic spoken line from the game, courtesy of Magneto: “X-Men, Welcome to die!” which leads me to believe all the Engrish is intact. The Juggernaut will also retain his bazooka, even if that makes absolutely no sense.

No release date announce, its expected in 2011

One last trailer of note from me that debuted a few days ago at Tokyo Game Show, and probably the longest trailer I’ve seen come out of the show, was one for the Japanese voice cast of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. This one goes through alot of what’s been seen in previous trailers, but with a wider variety of scenes picturing the rich scenery the game will offer, as well as the heavy story-fueled plot.

Keep in mind this is the Japanese voice cast, as we already know the talents of Robert Carlyle, Patrick Stewart and Jason Isaacs are among the few voicing for the North American and European dubs of the game, but it’s a HUGE cast of well-knowns from Japan – many of whom have voiced for Metal Gear Solid. Notice even Mr, Kojima himself is making a cameo voice appearance.

(PS – Quick Easter Egg for hardcore CV fans – listen really closely at 6:23 and you’ll hear a few familiar chords of “Beginning” from CV3!)

Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece is most likely the reason you bought a PS3, and for good reason. Like its predecessors, Metal Gear Solid 4 bends the rules of video game convention to become a landmark for its generation of gaming, and like its predecessors, it deserves a space on your shelf.
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Its the last day of E3, and all the publishers, studios, businessmen, designers, and artists have played their best hand of the year. There is no comparison in any other industry. Imagine if Hollywood showed a trailer for every movie of the next year on the same weekend. Thats crazy! And yet its E3.

In that spirit, those of us who follow at home don’t get hands on impressions, we just get 2 minute snippets of the games we’ll be playing from now until next E3. Who had the best?
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