Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Contra: Shattered Soldier

Written by John Scalzo on June 14, 2002

First Impressions: Repeat after me: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start

Side scroller has become a dirty word in the video game business. Talked about in hushed tones and pushed off as just something for that "Advance" system. The excellent Klonoa 2 was slapped with the dreaded "kiddie" label. Castlevania Chronicles featured a limited production run so it could be called a collector's item and not a serious game. But no longer can side scrollers be pushed to the background. Because you see kids, daddy's home, Contra is returning to throw the hammer down.

Yes, Contra has returned to the 2D realm and I couldn't be happier. Konami hasn't let any details out about the storyline yet, but I'm sure it'll go a little something like this: aliens invade Earth, you and a friend are all that stand between us and total annihilation. The words total annihilation should work their way into every game; the world would just be a better place.

With all my cheering from the rooftops that Contra is back to a 2D view, there will be some 2 1/2D stuff as well. Like the Mode 7 overhead levels of Contra III, some of the mini-bosses and bosses in Shattered Soldier will take place in a pseudo-3D overhead view that will allow you to run circles around the tank, or alien, or lava monster and pump it full of laser fire from all directions. And taking a page from the late, great Smash TV, Konami has said that in these 2 1/2D levels (and possibly the side scrolling levels as well) you'll have independent control of your movement and the direction your shooting. So you could be running away from a giant robot that's shooting at you while still facing him and firing at him.

The other change that Konami has added to the Contra mix is an accuracy meter. There's no official word on what the accuracy meter does yet, but Konami has said there will be multiple endings and "a lot" of hidden levels for players to uncover. Maybe the accuracy meter could have something to do with that? This accuracy meter will probably also tie in with switching to the right weapon of mass destruction when the situation calls for it. After all, what would Contra be if you didn't have a stack of different guns to choose from at any one time? So far four weapons can be seen from the screenshots: a flame thrower, a machine gun, heat seeking missiles, and a grenade launcher. The spreader and the laser are no shows so far, but I have faith in Konami that they won't forget these crucial implements. Also proving that this is not just some DeLorean fueled trip back to the 80s, Shattered Soldier will feature CGI cut scenes that are looking pretty nice so far.

The rest of Shattered Soldier though is pure Contra. Backgrounds, honest to god 2D backgrounds that look right at home in a Contra game. And big, screen filling bosses. Konami has said there are plans to recreate some of the great bosses of classic Contra adventures for use in Shattered Soldier. Judging from some of the early screens they've also decided to recreate certain levels as one screenshot clearly shows the third level of Contra III with the mutant mosquitoes and my favorite weapon, the flame thrower. For some of the new alien menace Konami has enlisted a different set of help. Ashley Wood, a comic book artist who has previously worked on Spawn, X-Men, and Aliens has used his pen to create a lot of the creatures that will be populating Shattered Soldier. And they look cool. Not just cool, old school cool.