August 16^th, 2005 (2:39pm) - Konami has announced that Death Jr. for the PSP has shipped to video game retailers nationwide. The newest PSP title from Konami, Death Jr. is an action platforming game that blends elements from a first-person shooter with the exploration of a third-person platformer and serves up a dose of intense gameplay and weapon heavy combat. The game employs a unique particle-effect system and a sophisticated 3D engine. All these features combine to provide beautifully rendered characters and environments that have ever been experienced on a handheld gaming system and establish Death Jr. as a possible must-have title for the PSP system.

Developed by Backbone Entertainment, the game stars Death Jr. (DJ), the teenage son of the Grim Reaper. DJ is armed with a mighty scythe, a family heirloom that serves as both a weapon and a unique platforming tool, along with an arsenal of guns and explosives. He is joined by a "charming" group of friends who play a key role in the storyline. His entourage includes Pandora, an obsessive compulsive goth girl who can’t put her hands on anything without trying to open it; Smith and Weston, a pair of brainiac twins conjoined at the head; Stigmartha, a girl who bleeds from her hands whenever she gets nervous; and the Seep, an armless, legless, foul-mouthed foreign exchange student in a vat.

All is well on the group’s field trip to the Museum of Supernatural History until Pandora insists on opening a box the group discovers. The ancient demon Moloch, along with his truly terrifying group of minions, emerges from the box to reap havoc. DJ must overcome near insurmountable odds to save his friends and the world. Plus, if anyone finds out DJ had anything to do with getting into this mess, he’s going to be in serious trouble with his dad.

DJ is aided by a variety of weapons to help vanquish the demons. When DJ’s scythe melee weapon won’t do the trick, he can make use of an arsenal of other items including dual pistols, a lightning gun, a flamethrower and exploding C4 hamsters. Additionally, players can employ DJ’s extensive move set, including multiple scythe combos, special gun attacks and aerial moves. With help from his friends - especially Pandora - DJ can unleash special combos to lay waste to large groups of foes.

Death Jr. is available exclusively for the PSP system for an SRP of $39.99 and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.