Contra conquering DS

Spanning 20 years, 10 games, and ports appearing on systems ranging from the Game Boy to Xbox Live Arcade, the Contra invasion is showing no signs of letting up. Today, Konami announced an all-new installment in the Contra series, Contra 4, will be blasting onto the Nintendo DS later this year.

Developed by portable specialist WayForward Technologies (SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab), Contra 4 takes place two years after Contra III: The Alien Wars, first released on the Super Nintendo in 1992. (A virtual console version is now available on the Wii.) Heroes Bill and Lance again must team up to take down an oncoming alien invasion and its leader, Black Viper.

Contra 4 will feature the same style of 2D side-scrolling gameplay that established the series 20 years ago. Players will combat alien hordes with a variety of futuristic weapons while attempting to avoid pitfalls and other hazards along the way.

According to Konami, Contra 4's action will extend to both screens on the DS, allowing for larger environments and boss encounters. And as is a hallmark of the series, Contra 4 will retain two-player simultaneous gameplay. However, Konami has not yet revealed whether Contra 4's multiplayer will use the DS's cartridge-sharing functionality. The game has not yet been rated or priced.