Contra heading to PSN and XBLA

Konami is bringing Contra to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade this winter in the shape of Hard Corps: Uprising.

Developed by Arc System Works, Hard Corps features eight levels and anime-style visuals, and is built around the Contra series' famously rock-hard side-scrolling shooter gameplay.

Some power-ups and vehicles should be familiar to fans of the series, and there's also a special Rising Mode for newcomers, in which you can take three bullets before dying rather than the usual one.

There's a two-player co-operative option in there as well, and Konami is considering additional downloadable characters to choose from according to IGN.