Weapon of Choice is a new 2D run-and-gun shooter birthed from the mind of Nathan Fouts, weapon designer on Resistance: Fall of Man and boss programmer on Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction. Though the game definitely lacks the budget of those PS3 hits, it certainly doesn't lack any of the creativity. I've played a lot of 2D shooters in my day, but I've never seen a weapon quite like the jet pack/bazooka utilized in the video above.

Weapon of Choice is set to hit Xbox Community Games by the end of the year. For screens and info on the game, you can check out its official website here. Hit the jump for more on Nathan's motivations for leaving the Blu-Rays behind in favor of the hand drawn, 2D shooter.  

<a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=49e806a0-4866-4d4b-b7d0-9993042adf07" mce_href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=49e806a0-4866-4d4b-b7d0-9993042adf07" target="_new" title="Weapon of Choice Game DBP Trailer">Video: Weapon of Choice Game DBP Trailer</a>

The reason Nathan is saying good-bye to 3D action games (for now) in favor of this decidedly more old-school flavored project comes from his long term love affair with games like Metal Warriors and Contra, and his desire to make games for those who share that love affair. Nathan says he aims to make Weapon of Choice not the casual, not the hardcore, but a third type of gamer you don't hear about much: the "Prodigal gamer". 

Prodigal gamers are those who cut their teeth on NES and SNES era shooters; games that require amazing platforming, bullet dodging, and fire-button mashing skills. These are gamers who learned to love hard games as children, but as they've gotten older, don't have the same amount of free time they once had to dedicate to their hobby. They aren't casual gamers, because they have a huge backlog of gaming skills, but they aren't quite hardcore either, as family, work, and other grown up responsibilities can't mutually co-exist with 24 hour Halo 3 marathons.

So, I guess it turns out that I'm a Prodigal gamer. Who knew?

Below are a few more details about Weapon of Choice. If things go well, I'll be able to score an interview with Nathan before the game drops.

• CHOICE is your Weapon! Play through non-linear level design and make dynamic mid-level branch decisions. Each level branch features a changing story, many unique aliens, level-specific gameplay, and a distinct, satisfying ending.

• Each 'life' that the player uses is a unique Solus Operative with his/her own Weapon of Choice and special abilities. Every Operative's Weapon of Choice is new and exciting with easy to use primary attacks for casual gamers and advanced, deep abilities for hardcore players.

• Rescue unique Operatives to add to your total number of playable lives! Levels have a downed Operative waiting to be recovered and carried out of the level. If the player can escape that level alive, carrying the new Operative, the player can use the new Operative in subsequent levels and when starting new game sessions.

• Exquisite, hand-drawn art! The game features a wonderful style of hand-painted textures for the wild monsters and picturesque environments. 

• A myriad of meticulous animations breathe life into the game world. Plants move as you pass through them, trees sway in the breeze, and mist flows around the mountains. The custom animation system allows for aliens to smash down trees, reach realistically toward Operatives, and for Operatives and aliens to correctly position their feet to stand on the rugged terrain. 

• Original soundtrack with more than ten classic metal tracks!

So what do you think, guys? Any of you 2D shooter fans think this game has what it takes to run with the big boys?