Unlikely Bedfellows; Wing Commander: Arena Shares Spotlight with Super Contra
We knew about Wing Commander: Arena (thanks to EA) and we knew about Super Contra (thanks to some PartnerNet Speculation) but we certainly did not expect them to arrive together. But unless those pesky press releases are merely yanking our chain, we can now safely assume that this Wednesday will be filled with a lot of shooting. Some at felines, some at aliens but shooting all the same.
Press Release after the jump.
Take Flight with Wing Commander Arena on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday!
Electronic Arts brings "Wing Commander Arena" to Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 this Wednesday, July 25 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).
Flash forward to the year 2071: in "Wing Commander Arena," players form an elite flying squadron to combat the enemy armada of the Kilrathi Empire. Featuring four modes of gameplay, nine maps and the first 16 player multiplayer combat on Xbox LIVE Arcade, "Wing Commander Arena" is the perfect mix of arcade fun and modern multiplayer chaos.
"Wing Commander Arena" on Xbox LIVE Arcade is a completely new iteration in the "Wing Commander" franchise. "Wing Commander Arena" will become available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.
Game Features
- The first Xbox LIVE Arcade title featuring multiplayer gameplay for up to 16 players over Xbox LIVE.
- Four gameplay modes: Single Player, Multiplayer Team, Free for All, and Duel
- Players can choose from 18 different ships that can be customized with cloaking devices, mines, energy weapons, missiles and more!
- Skill-based matchmaking for ranked games.
- Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore.
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Contra Franchise with "Super Contra"!
Konami is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the seminal Contra franchise with the release of "Super Contra" for Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, July 25 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).
The fight for freedom continues! Reprise your role as either Bill Rizer or Lance Bean in this follow-up to the arcade classic "Contra," which made waves in arcades everywhere in 1987. The nefarious forces of Red Falcon have been wounded but they are far from defeated! The alien menace has taken control of a military installation in South America and they must be defeated for the sake of humanity. Experience the authentic gameplay of "Super Contra" with an updated look and feel by battling through several risky missions either solo or in two player co-op mode, just like in the original.
"Super Contra" will become available worldwide this Wednesday for 400 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+.
Game Features
- Two gameplay modes: single player or two player co-op, either locally on the same Xbox 360 or over Xbox LIVE.
- Players can choose to play with either the original graphics or the enhanced graphics.
- Compete for the weekly and all time high scores on the Leaderboards.
- Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore.
Comments
I'm looking forward to playing Wing Commander Arena. Although, unlike most of my arcade purchases (Small Arms, Bomberman Live...games that I [i]really[/i] knew I was going to love) I'm definitely going to play the trial and read some reviews before I decide. Even though I'm looking forward to it, for some reason I get the feeling the game is either going to be really well done, or really badly done with no in between. One of my main reasons for thinking that way is that one of it's selling points in 16 players online, and that could be screwed up pretty easily. But who knows, maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Super Contra I won't be buying, though. No interest.
Tawse and Turn
11849
Anyone else finding Wing Commander really slow paced for an arena arcade game?
It controls well, meteor storm is rather fun, and seems pretty solid in general but just feels like it is running at half speed. It has an aura of sluggishness which doesn't fit the game style.
Super Contra I will overlook entirely just due to not liking how it (or Contra for that matter) plays with the 360 controller.
McLean78
72409
I don't like how they put rotate on the left stick and the strafe move on the right stick. What is this, 1997? Is there an option to change that in the full version of the game?
I'm glad that for Super Contra they remembered to make X the fire button and not B. It plays a lot better than Contra for that reason.