Nintendo has just announced the release of Custom Robo Arena on the DS. As you might have gleaned from the title; you build 'em then you smash 'em!

Nintendo's promising hundreds of components to choose from as you put your robot together, yielding thousands of possible combinations to be manipulated using the DS touchscreen. Once you've built yourself the most killer of all possible robots you'll be thrust into 3D arena combat to deal out mechanical death.

As you'd hope, the game uses the DS's wi-fi capabilities to allow online multiplayer. You can fight complete strangers, people of similar ability to you or your mates.

The plot's being kept minimal. You're a young boy who's just transferred to Midheart High School (and is no doubt crying out for friendship) and dreams of winning the CustomRobo Championship. Not only that, but you really want to fight Robo-crime with the police force. As a new boy at High School age (14?) SPOnG would have been happy with a packet of Rizzla and a can of strong cider... but then again, but they were more innocent times.

We had to suppress a groan when we saw Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight on the PS3. The prospect of a robot fighting game from Nintendo, however, fills us with boyish glee not seen since Matilda first had a go at Shunt with her chainsaw tail in Robot Wars.

Keep an eye on SPOnG for the first screens as we get them.

Custom Robo Arena is due in shops on May 25th.