I'm moonsaulting! I'm moonsaulting!  WWE, here I come!

Hard Corps: Uprising came out a few weeks back on Xbox Live Arcade, complete with two player local and online co-op play.  Its Contra with really, REALLY, pretty graphics.  While that sounds great, our review shed some light on the title - we liked it, but were generally annoyed by some nagging issues.

As a die-hard sidescrolling shooter fan, when I found out a new Contra game, a prequel to the underrated Genesis title Contra Hard Corps nonetheless, was being developed, I was completely stoked. How does the latest title fare? Read on and find out.

Note to self: Don't let the snipers stay alive next time.

Out today on Xbox Live Arcade is Hard Corps: Uprising - a game set in the Contra series which features two player local or online co-op.  Developed by Arc System Works, famous for their Blaz Blue series, the game is beautifully hand drawn and animated giving it a unique look that separates it from other games in the series.

Hard Corps: Uprising is kicking off th Xbox LIVE Arcade House Party this winter.  To celebrate, Konami has a brand new trailer featuring Kenji Yamamoto, the producer of the game, in full house party regalia.  Which in this case, is a party hat and one of those noise makers everybody hates.  The video is chock-full of co-op action.  

Summertime, and the livin's easy... I love the summer.  That's when Xbox LIVE Arcade puts out five games in five weeks to null the void of lackadaisical game releases.  Wait, this can't be right, unless the Summer of Arcade is starting February 16th.  Looks like Microsoft has decided that late winter/early spring is also lacking in quality game releases.  Never fear, game starved readers.  Xbox LIVE's Arcade House Party is here to alleviate the winter doldrums, and everyone's invited, assuming you've got the Microsoft Points to pay at the door.

Last summer we brought you our hands-on preview of the new Contra sequel.  Hard Corps: Uprising may be losing the 'Contra' prefix, but the same run and gun co-op action will be present.  Konami's new title will be available for download on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.  Players will take control of super soldiers Bahamut and Krystal.  But who cares about the characters?  Old favorites like the Spread Gun and Laser will return, and let's face it, getting that big winged "S" is what you really remember from the early games.

More assets are coming out of Gamescom 2010 in Germany, this time for the upcoming game, Hard Corps Uprising from Konami and Arc System Works.  The hand drawn animation style combined with rich backgrounds are stunning  to look at - and really - don't do the game justice unless you see it in motion.

The spiritual successor to Contra: Hard Corps was available on the E3 show floor for some hands on time, and I was lucky enough to co-op through a few levels with the game's associate producer.