So, I finished up Castlevania Double Pack - two great games! I started thinking, "Man, I need to play the next game -Dawn of Sorrow." For some strange reason I decided to visit Konami's official website. "These guys make some pretty darn good Castlevania games, what else do they make aside from Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill? Oh yeah Contra 4."

I read up on the previews and videos and became VERY interested. I found out that in addition to all of the new content, story, and missions that makes up Contra 4, Konami was promoting it as the 20th Anniversary of the original. So this tiny DS cartridge also includes extra features like a Special Edition DVD, with interviews, concept art, short comic books, a series retrospective with original box art, and - to my amazement - unlockable NES versions of Contra and its sequel Super C. Sweet! This rocks because I've never owned any Contra game. Sure I've played some here and there, but I never had my own to play. You're telling me that I can have Contra 1, 2, and 4 with me wherever I go? That's how you get Mario's attention. Sign me up!

I immediately decided that this would be my next game purchase. For what I believe is the 1st time in my life, I want a brand new game, the day it comes out. Sure, I've bought new games before, but they had been out for a couple of months. It was always after reading reviews that I decided it was a worthy purchase. I'm actually quite content buying used games, since there are so many I never played. But, I've never found myself looking forward to a specific release date, so I could finally get my hands on a game. And honestly, I don't know how the rest of the gamers in the world get by with the waiting part. Every game I've ever gotten was immediately available. Now I have to wait? I'm gonna shoot someone in the face if I don't get that cartridge in my DS right now!

I was delighted to see Kotaku post this article last night. Konami Launches Manliest Game Site Ever For Contra 4 Follow the link in their article to see why the post is hilarious. The user comments are pretty funny too. "Hmm, that is indeed quite manly." "Wow, everything is introduced with an explosion, manly indeed!" "This makes me want to lift heavy things repetitively. Somebody spot me." "im gonna go punch a motorcycle!" "Holy Crap! Who's up for some shots of Diesel fuel?!" "I will never close the tab to this website, for fear that my computer will EXPLODE." Some chick wrote: "I feel like a grew a wang just from looking at the site." I thought this one was great: "Its about time that konami actually used MEN in their games and not just girls dressed as men. I'm looking at you Castlevania."

If I were to compare video games to popular music, you would have your "Beatles" Pop-Rock genre which are famous and everyone knows and enjoys - like Super Mario or Zelda. There would be Techno-Dance music for puzzle games. RPGs would be symphonic concert music. Hard Rock for the First-Person Shooters. Contra would be the equivalent of "Hair Metal" Rock. Guess what I listen to all the time...