Contra III: The Alien Wars

"If this game isn't in your collection, you're probably a DORK."

Contra 3 happens to be one of the first super NES games, but how many super NES games have even come close to matching Contra 3? ZERO! Zip! Zilch! Nada! Nothing!

Why is that? Read on.

Playability- 10. As with the first two, you play as two Rambo type guys with big-ass guns out to kick some alien butt. like the other Contra games [but to a much lesser extent], the playability on this game RULES! You and a another player have 6 massive guns with ENORMOUS firepower! The flamethrower can REALLY cause carnage! The laser is cool too. Or should I say the laser is too cool? Jumping around the levels while avoiding flames and robotic idiots is as good as it gets. As if ya didn't have enough there, you fight KICK-ASS BOSSES at the end of each level! I'm talkin' bosses that take up more then half of the screen here!

Graphics- 10. the big-ass bosses and plentyful weapons look great! I like the looks of the third boss most of all. Better yet, there are even a few 3D levels with great mode 7 effets! As if blowing crap up in 2D wasn't enough, you can now blow crap up in 3D!!!

Toughness- 9. you die in one hit and there are a lot of things that can hit you. The bosses will run circles around you unless you practice a lot, and I mean a LOT. You don't have many continues, and the bosses are harder then my fists! (you wanna see how hard my fists are?)

Sound- 10. listen to those explosions! They're stunning! Every weapon makes a different cool sound too! And don't forget that the music ROCKS! the two contra guys keep the same loud dying sound they had on the last games. That alone is enough reson to buy this!

Replay value- 10. who the hell can get tired of blowing crap up?

Final word: this is the best 16 bit game ever made, plain and simple. Everything about it kicks ass. Blowing up enemies, grabbing kick-ass weapons, hearing everything blow up... it just can't get any better. I've never played the Genesis Contra game before, but it CAN'T be THAT good because it's on a much weaker system. I also know that it's at least a HUNDRED times better then those last two Contra games! I know that a lot of people compare this to crap like Gunstar Heros and the NES Contra games. Fools.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/07/01, Updated 03/07/01