Because of the warm welcome and sizzling sales that Konami got with Gradius Collection, and with the evident anticipation for similar classic collections such as Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded, we can see that classic games are making a huge comeback in the current-gen and next-gen gaming industry.

Now, Konami joins the nostalgic bandwagon as they resurrect and bring their classic shooter games to the PSP in three new bundles. The first details on this classic release are found on the latest issue of Famitsu, and the Japanese magazine gives us a glimpse of the titles included in each of the three collections: Salamander Portable, Parodius Portable, and Twinbee Portable.

Each collection reportedly has five titles, but Konami is still keeping mum about three titles that will be included in the bundle. Famitsu shares with us the titles under each collection that Konami has announced so far:

Salamander Portable
Salamander (1986)
Life Force (1987)
Xexex (1991)
Salamander 2 (1996)

Parodius Portable
Parodius da! (1990)
Gokujou Parodius: Kakou no Eikou wo Momomete (1994)
Sexy Parodius (1996)
Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius - forever with me - (1996)

Twinbee Portable
Twinbee (1985)
Detana Twinbee (1991)
Twinbee Yahho! Fushigi no Kuni de Ooabare!! (1995)
Pop'n Twinbee (1996)

Famitsu has also revealed that Salamander will features original and wide modes of play, while Parodius will offer a gallery mode, allowing users to listen to the classic sounds of the series. Whether these modes will be available on all three collections, we have still yet to confirm. Also, Twinbee will require the PSP to be held in a rarely used vertical mode to remind users of the long aspect ratio of the original arcade machine.

All three collections are said to be scheduled for release in Japan January next year, and will sell for 3980 yen. Whether the game will have an American version and/or a U.S. release is still unconfirmed. We'll let you know as soon as we find out.

With summer almost here, most people are now starting to get preoccupied with either looking for summer jobs or planning their summer vacations. But dedicated gamers are of a different sort - waiting for games to be released these coming days is their main business (or sometimes, folly).
Here's a list of games for release from June 5 to 9 this week. I wonder which ones I'll be able to grab...


JUNE 5, 2006

AMF Xtreme Bowling (PS2, Xbox)
MLB SlugFest 2006 (PS2, Xbox)
Origin of the Species (PC)
Magnetica (DS)
IHRA Drag Racing: Sportsman Edition (PS2, PC)
Dark and Light (PC)
Big Brain Academy (DS)


JUNE 6, 2006

Cars (PS2, Xbox, GC, DS, GBA, PSP, PC)
WWII Combat: Iwo Jima (Xbox, PC)
Gradius Collection (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2)
Jaws Unleashed (PC)
Backyard Baseball 2007 (GBA)
Dragon Ball: Advance Adventure (GBA)
The Movies: Stunts & Effects (PC)
Race Driver 2006 (PSP)
Mumbo Jumbo Puzzle Pack (PC)
And 1 Streetball (PS2, Xbox)
Ultra Sudoku & Ultra Kakuro (PC)


JUNE 7, 2006

Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege (PC)
SuDoku & KaKuro Collector's Edition (PC)
Deep Sea Tycoon: Diver's Paradise (PC)


JUNE 9, 2006

Scurge: Hive (DS, GBA)
Juka and the Monophonic Menace (GBA)

Gradius Collection, a compilation UMD with Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III, and Gradius IV, as well as Gradius Gaiden, by Konami is hitting the PSP this June. One of the new features is a save system so you won't have to start all over when you die, like I did playing Gradius in my younger years. The game hits stores on June 6th, so until then go ahead and check out these screens by clicking the thumbnails to get a better look of what's to come.