[NDS] Konami Classic Series: Arcade Hits

[Blaze 12]

Konami Classic Series: Arcade Hits Hands-on

Gradius, Contra...some true arcade classics are coming to the Nintendo DS.

October 20, 2006 - Classic arcade game compilations are nothing new, but for reasons unknown companies have yet to embrace this concept on the Nintendo DS. Oh, sure, we got the pretty crummy Retro Atari Classics pack near the launch of the system, but the less said about that product the better. Next year, however, Konami will be bringing Nintendo DS owners some of their huge arcade hits in accurate recreations so you can get some 80s gaming on the go.

Konami Classic Series: Arcade Hits will be officially announced by the company next week, but we were given the thumbs-up to break the news on this product. The current roster of more than a dozen games is not final yet, but the definites in this pack include Circus Charlie, Contra, Gradius, Roc'N Rope, Rush'N Attack, Time Pilot, Track & Field, and Yie-Ar Kung Fu. At least four more games will make the list...hopefully more if development time allows for it. Konami stopped by the office earlier this week to give us a taste-test of what to expect in the final product due out in a few months.

In this very early build we got a chance to sample Contra and Time Pilot to see how well the Nintendo DS can handle the arcade emulation. And from what we experienced, the DS can handle it pretty darn well. Contra had the same look, sound, and feel of the original arcade game, and because the original arcade game was vertically oriented (a standard monitor tipped 90 degrees), players could opt to change visual options on the fly with a button press so they can play the game the same way...turning the DS in its book orientation. Time Pilot look like it played much more accurately to the arcade game than the overly easy Xbox Live 360 version for download.

The game's action takes place on the upper screen, with the lower-screen currently unused other than simple functions like pause control. Since the game's still got several months to go in development we'll give the developers the benefit of the doubt and hope they'll put that additional touch screen to use somehow.

Konami Classic Series: Arcade Hits will not only feature the original arcade games, but also unique DS remixed modes. The games will also support multiplayer using the Nintendo DS system's wireless capabilities, but no word on Download Play multiplayer.

Since Konami's currently big on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, what with both Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Winning Eleven supporting the network, we asked about possible online play. So far, it's a no.

We'll have more on Konami Classic Series: Arcade Hits as it progresses in development. But check out some single screen DS shots of the announced games by hitting the media link.