Contra

"It appeals to Hyena instincts!"

Before I start this review, I would like to say some works. Thank you to the MAME team for preserving this game forever. I would hate to see great classics like this disappear. While I don't believe in pirating new games that are being sold, like the new Contra: Shattered Soldier for PS2, I think that emulation is vital to preserve games like the original Contra.

Graphics (ten out of ten)

Everything is splendidly detailed, from the jungles to the waterfall to the alien place. The backgrounds are simply top-notch. Sprites are well animated and the way some of the enemies move and fight seem to add drama to this action thriller. Explosions are great and I don't notice as much ''blinking'' as in the NES ports. The only problem seems to be that the first levels water doesn't flow; there's a little waterfall but it seems to be frozen. Otherwise, everything is great!

Sound (nine out of ten)

First of all, the music rocks. While there are slight ''slow-downs'' (not CPU slowing, but part of the music track), most of the music is exciting and fast-paced, which fits the game. I must say that given the game's pace, it should have been even FASTER, but that's a minor thing. The tunes combine 16-bit (SNES-level) quality while being as catchy as 8-bit tunes. Sounds are nothing really special, but they aren't awful and they get the job done.

Controls (ten out of ten)

The Contra machine demands an upright position to play, which can be uncomfortable for some hyenas. However, the nice large buttons are perfect for pawing. Sometimes the game requires pressing both buttons at once, which is hard to do considering the spacing ans size of the buttons; I guess the arcade controls are a mixed blessing. The controls are generally easy to understand and don't require any fancy button mashing. Overall, it's just a good as pretty much any arcade machine.

Gameplay (ten out of ten)

Geez, it's Contra! What more do I have do say? Well, if you don't know Contra, I'll explain it. It's an action thriller full of intense, coming-from-all-sides-and-closing-fast melee and vicious boss fights, which will appeal to any hyena's combat instincts. While it may seem a tad tame when set to the ''easy'' mode, things became super-exciting when the difficulty is jacked-up to maximum (''hardest''). The game also includes other hyena-type aspects, like wading into water and that high-jump. Action takes place either in a classic side (and sometimes vertical) scrolling style, or in 3-D time-limited behind-the-back scenes taking place inside enemy bases. Thankfully, there are only two of these odd scenes, but they aren't too bad. Overall, the game provides that desperate, intense feel that defines the action genre and gives a good, solid challenge to a gamer's skills. Hey, it's Contra.

Buy? Rent?

These questions, although standard for reviews, are inappropriate. A better question would be ''how many quarters should I put in this thing''. Well, how many quarters is really your call, but I suggest that after the game stops accepting continues, you might want to quit.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/18/03, Updated 02/18/03