Contra

"Let's be real here - the 6 is for nostalgia"

Back when videogames were in boom, people didn't have ahold of any time machines--if they did, Contra would do little to them besides killing a bit of time--the game is not an experience, but it is a game that every gamer worth his salt should try out to know all about the roots: and the roots, though dull and outdated nowadays, deserve a salute.

Contra is about two Rambo wanna-bes that start off in a military base fighting human soldiers but somehow end up ridding dear planet earth of alien scum. In the vein of shooting side-scrollers, you need to have a good memory. Repetition is key in memorizing enemy patterns, gun placement, best place to position your Rambo in, etc.

Weapons range from Lasers to shotguns that spread fire in three directions like an arc--my favorite. As far as depth goes, this is it. The graphics are outdated, audio outdated, and lifespan outdated. To extend the lifespan, the game was made challenging, but it is over far too quickly and offers little frills besides shooting baby aliens.

In addition to regular stages, there are semi-3-d ones, which the developers should be commended on. The 3-d sections aren't that much fun, but it does add a bit of variety to the game--you move left and right dodging enemy fire and blowing up key points in walls to advance towards a boss.

End-of-level bosses are a bit of a saving point--I loved observing their patterns and finally having the satisfaction of dishing them pain and eventually death; sometimes things will get intense and palms sweaty as you empty pellet after pellet into the boss's weak points while dodging attacks--multi-tasking 401.

In the end, talking both nostalgia and gaming, you have to try this out, and once you do, follow it up with Shattered Soldier to see how this brick was important in the buildup of greater shooters.

Pros

+Proper birth of the side-scrolling shooter
+A good challenge

Cons

-Over too quickly
-Feels more of a mini-game nowadays
-Nothing special

Story - could be a 1, could be a 10, depending on how cheesy you like 'em
Visuals - 5
Audio - 4

Gameplay - 6
-Fun Factor - 5
-Controls - A
-Difficulty - Challenging

Lifespan - 4

Overall - 6

Don't hesitate to indulge yourself in one of gaming's roots; it's a bit stale, but you'll have some fun blowing alien brains with a primitive three-way shotgun

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/13/08

Game Release: Contra (US, February 1988)