Well, Archcraft seems to have finally found their publisher.

It is set that a Q1 2008 release date shall happen, and there are a few screens I just found out about.

This game really is nostalgic for those who played Chrono Trigger and games like that in the days of the SNES.

http://onibox.com/original/designwork/archcraft/environments.htm

I enjoyed it a lot but I already got everything in it and want a Contra 5 with Contra III/Hardcorps on it.

Contra 4 is a great game though if you like actual challenge.

The challenges are hard as nails (well some of them - mostly the later ones) and I would go as far as to say that they are on par with or harder than the difficulty of Arcade Mode on Hard.

Some of the more notably difficult ones:

• Ocean: Get to the end of the level unarmed.
• Harbor: Get to the end the level unarmed.
• Laboratory: Get to the end of the level unarmed.
• City: Race to the end of the stage before the time runs out.
• City: Clear the stage with 90% Hit Accuracy.
• Harvest Yard: Race to the end of the stage before the time runs out.
• Jungle: Complete the stage with 100% Hit Accuracy.
• Harbor: Get to the end with Limited Ammo.
• Jungle: Get to the end with Limited Ammo.
• Laboratory: Race to the end of the stage before the time runs out.
• Jungle: Get to the end unarmed. (By far the hardest, they ADD snipers to the level in it)
• Harvest Yard: Get to the end with Limited Ammo.

Some more pretty difficult ones are the "Rematch" ones. These put you against one of the level's last boss (there are 5 of these, one for the jungle boss, laboratory boss, harbor boss, city boss, and the final boss). You are given a spread by default, and only 1 life. Although even with the one life, these probably won't take you too long once you figure out the patterns.

Also there are Mutt Hunts. These send you through the levels looking for those man faced dogs. Kill them all to win.

There is also Friendly Fire. You must get to the end of a stage and you cannot shoot any hostages on accident or you lose (city people running around frantically are the hostages). If you want any chance at beating these, do not pick up the machine gun in these. It fires so fast that you WILL hit a hostage on accident at some point in the level before you even see him.

Also, there is Bad Guy Blitz. These are the easiest - all you have to do is survive enemies.

Finally there is gunplay. These will have you use weapons from the past (such as the Contra 1 Laser) or "Prototype Weapons" such has homing crush missiles, and you must pass the levels using only them.

All of these challenge modes allow you only one life, so get practicing. Beat all these and I guarentee you'll beat hard mode pretty quick.

Allright I've been whooping this games ass for 3 hours yesterday and 3 today and I finally got everything. It took me quite a while to beat some of the near-impossible challenges, but here it goes:

Unlock:

• Challenge Mode: Beat the game on any difficulty.
• Contra: Beat 4 challenges.
• Super C: Beat 8 Challenges.
• Probotector: Beat 12 Challenges.
• Interview: Beat 18 Challenges
• Lucia (Shattered Soldier): Beat 23 Challenges
• Sheena (Hard Corps): Beat 28 Challenges.
• Jimbo and Sully (Contra III sprite characters) - 36 Challenges
• Sound Test, Bonus Art Gallery - Complete all 40 challenges.

Needless to say I was dissapointed they didn't put the wolf from Hard Corps in.

Some of those numbers may be off as well, I put them in the order you get them and I got something new every 5 - 7 challenges beaten, so those numbers should be about right. I'm pretty sure I didn't forget anything.

Badass game.

I got to the boss of level 4 (Normal mode) in one continue then died. Then I blew all my continues on that one boss.

That's my best run so far.

Well the man above was right, you can't actually "get" it till tomorrow. However, they did have the demo in today where I went and I have it on my DS now. It's pretty sweet but I'm hoping this demo is on easy mode because I've already had a few death-less runthrough's (although I am a Contra, Super C, and Contra III vet).

The demo also ends very early, you don't even get to fight the second form of the wall.

Overall though it's sweet and feels most like a blend of Contra 1 and 3.

Contra aspects:

• Level Structure
• Enemies
• 3D Tunnel Stages (we all knew about those already)
• Weapons: Standard gun (individual shots), Fire (Un-upgraded), Laser, Spread, Machine Gun, Bomb (kills all on screen)

Super C aspects:

• Weapons: Standard gun (individual shots), Fire (Upgraded), Laser, Spread, Machine Gun

Contra III aspects:

• Weapon System (holding 2)
• Weapons: Hunters, Crush Missiles, Spread, Machine Gun (although unlike Contra III, it isn't default)
• Character designs
• Controls: Hold R to fire standing still, L to switch weapons

Contra IV aspects (unique to this new game):

• Control Upgrades: Grappling hook (X), Drop Weapon (A)
• Dual-Screens
• Ability to upgrade weapons

I can say that it is pretty easy to screw up and die in this game (or any contra game, right?) but never does it feel unfair. The enemies are pretty much never placed in the blind spot, and frankly it is your fault if you die.

I'm picking this up first thing tomorrow.

I'm picking it up today. I will inform you of its awesomeness later.

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be able to beat it on hard mode.