Coded Arms Contagion: New Screens

Fact: Coded Arms 1 sucked on the PSP, and sucked hard. Whoever decided over at Konami that the game would be fun if it contained nothing but algorithmically randomized levels needs to be sent back to intelligent game design school and vigorously spanked because they clearly weren’t paying attention the first time around. Their colleagues over in the “uncreative enemy design” department and the “sucky controls team” can join them as well. Perhaps after years of careful study and daily physical discipline they can rejoin society as productive citizens and living proof that rehabilitation really can work. Until then we are left wondering what a good FPS for PSP might look like.

Ignominiously cancelled for Ps3, the Coded Arms franchise will be limping back onto the Playstation Portable this March as Coded Arms: Contagion. This second outing will retain the computer hacker premise, this time pitting the player against an organized team of highly motivated criminals who want to get their hands on military secrets in the heart of the system. Screenshots above confirm that the game will at least look pretty on the PSP, and feature *gasp* outdoor environments for the first time. Unfortunately, some of the ho-hum enemies look frighteningly familiar.

Our suggestions: Ditch the random levels, take a control cue from successful games like Medal of Honor Heroes, and beef up the online multiplayer modes. Do all of these things, Konami developers, and ye shall be forgiven.