"Think you're the 2D platformer master? Not anymore you're not."

Contra a game known to many, that carries the legacy of, not only being the manliest game of all time, but also boasts the reputation as the best 2D side-scrolling series of all time, and Contra 4 just further consolidates that title.

In this review I won't waste your time with an over-abundance of cute little narrations, just the straight yes or not on if you want to buy this game or not, here we go.

Game play: 10/10

First off I am probably one of the most critical gamers out there, and for me to give a game a 10/10 is as rare as an albino black person, and mind you, that is extraordinarily rare. Contra 4 offers non-stop action, pulse-pounding, mind-blowing game play, throughout all 9 intense and incredible levels.

Probably the hardest game you will ever play, if you choose to play on hard mode, with insanely fast enemies, few lives, and a whole lot of adrenaline pumping, which makes this game oh, so satisfying when you complete just one level.

The enemy placements and designs are perfect, they're not impossible, but damn it all, they're tough, not to mention the most epic boss fights in any Contra yet, with old bosses revived, and brand new ones here to dish out some whoop-ass.

The weapon arsenal is also incredible, in Contra 4 you have the machine gun, crush gun, homers, laser, peashooter, flamethrower, and of course, the essential spray shot, all of which can be upgraded by grabbing the same weapon twice, and there is no weapon that isn't incredibly fun to use.

Overall, this game pulls off it's difficulty so well, for the simple fact, you almost never get frustrated because it's almost fun to die, and even more fun to get revenge on the enemy that killed you and survive, nigh impossible as it may be. :P

Music/Sound: 9/10

As usual Contra comes back with an intensely masculine soundtrack that pumps your blood as you blast everything in your path, not to mention near the end of the game, the soundtrack begins to get more mysterious and ambiant as you enter the alien territory.

As for sound, it's damn good as well, the guns make the sounds you'd expect them to, the impact noises are immaculate and the death screeches are pure win. :D

Controls: 10/10

As always, Contra is a simple concept game, with intense difficulty, and Contra 4 pulls off the most comfortable and enjoyable controls anyone could imagine to blast the piss out of alien scum, and also a great relief to play a game that utilizes the dual screen, without abusing the insanely useless touch screen.

Boss fights: 10/10 (for a Contra game, yes this is necessary.)

Every boss is has the potential to be insanely difficult, each has a certain weakness to be exploited to a certain weapon, and all of them are BIG AND SCARY, so watching them blow up is a hair short of orgasmic. Just seeing most of them makes your stomach go into a knot, not to mention their entrances are often so epic you want to cry.

Difficulty: 10/10

As expected from Contra, however Contra 4 brings it to a whole new level. I've beaten Hard Corps, III, Contra and Super C all on hard, and all of them don't even compare to this one's hard mode. Constant shooting, enemies everywhere, points skyrocketing, bullets block out the sun, carnage and mayhem are the only words worthy of describing it. now, challenge mode, this mode is like nothing you've ever seen before, you will be faced with 40 separate challenges, all of which with unique weapons to use, bosses to fight and tasks to complete.

Replayability: 10/10

I don't think I've ever had more fun replaying a game in my life, discovering new routes, new ways to beat levels, challenges to complete, new characters to unlock, bonuses and rewards to unlock, it keeps you coming back for more long after the first run-through.


All in all this game is exemplary of what any shooter or 2D side-scroller should aspire for, flawless is the only word to describe this game, and note, this not coming from some fanboy or biased reviewer, I've written many critical reviews on games people absolutely loved, and haven't been this pleased with the purchase of a game for some time now, and I frequently buy a lot of the new games that are supposed to be "very good" so this should tell you this game is worth the 30 dollars as opposed to paying a heftier price for something that just has Final Fantasy in the name, but doesn't deliver, and is also a nice change from top-heavy story oriented games, here you just shoot first and don't bother asking questions XD, the way it should be!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/07

Game Release: Contra 4 (US, 11/13/07)