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Poor design, horrible game play

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I loved the contra games for nintendo and super nintendo. This game is a horrible sequel. The game is very difficult because its designed very badly. There is not enough precision in the interaction with enemies and firepower so a shot hits you when it seems like its far away. The game also drops you in situations where it is impossible for you to survive. It has little in common with its originals and i'm dissapointed in other reviewers for giving it anything above a single star. The positive reviewers have wasted my time and money.

Contra Advance: The Alien Wars

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Do Not Buy This Game.... not like the original SNES version. It is also way too hard. Their is just way too much going on for such a small screen, you cant help but get disoriented. This game should of never been made for game boy. On a big screen with a real controller, yeah it would totally be cool.

Not How I Remember It...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: June 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I was so elated to find out Konami was releasing a new version of the SNES classic Contra 3 for the Gameboy Advance. To my disappointment, I didn't find myself having as much fun with this version as I did several years ago on my old 16 bit machine. My biggest gripe is that the game walks the fine line between excessively challenging and unenjoyably frustrating. What were the developers thinking? You can no longer toggle between weapons; rather whatever you pick up is what you shoot with. This wouldn't be a major issue if certain weapons weren't useless in certain situations. There are also no more bombs so you better pray you have quick reflexes to get you out of those super tight spots. Aside from the difficulty issue, the only other major flaw is the archaic password/save feature which is totally inconvinient for a portable game. Everything else is actually O.K. The game looks just like the old SNES version and has aged quite gracefully making for a really nice looking portable game. Controls are tight and alleviate some of the stress from the frantic learning curve. If your looking for an insanely hard shooting game (and I mean INSANELY HARD) for those long car rides, by all means Contra Advance is a perfect choice. For those looking for a game that is a little more enjoyable and rewards skill rather than luck, you should go somewhere else; and for the old Contra fans, pick it up used for some old thrills, then pull out your SNES and really put some time into the old game.

Hey sweet, it's Contra III for GBA! Oh wait...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was thrilled with the idea of this game. I couldn't imagine playing a game like Contra III on a bus, or at an airport or wherever. I'd probably start screaming and putting random people in the Crippler Crossface or something, and eventually getting sued, only to tell the judge I was playing Contra III, and he would say, "The defendant has pleaded 'Contra III', case dismissed." Contra III had that kind of effect on you, in a GOOD way. Unfortunately, this game has that effect on you in a BAD way.

First of all, it's worth noting that the overhead levels of Contra III were replaced with a couple levels from the Sega Contra game. Okay, that's fine. Oh, and also, you can only hold on to one gun at once and there are no bombs in the game. Ehh, alright, so it's more of a combination between Contra III, Contra: Hard Corps and the original Contra. Oh, and the gameplay controls are ultra-sensitive and there's VERY little margin for error. And the screen seems way too small to fit the impossibly insane amount of things going on. Now I'm really getting annoyed. And I think that's the right word for it. This game is annoying. Annoyingly disappointing. It's only redeeming quality is the superb presentation and graphics, and maybe for letting your closest enemy play it while telling him, "Hey look, its Contra III, and its portable!" "Really? Sweet!"

*five minutes pass*

*said enemy throws GBA at my face as hard as he can*

Some games just weren't meant for the GBA...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Don't get me wrong, now; I loved this game on the SNES. My dad and I played it and played it and eventually beat it together. But putting this game on the GBA reduces the quality. It's still the same game in many ways, but with one major drawback.

THE SCREEN IS TOO SMALL!

With all the action going on in that game--the bullets flying at you, the stray dogs biting at your legs, the enemies running towards you--playing such a busy game as Contra Advance just doesn't work. I found myself squinting at the console most of the time, wondering how I had just died. This is one of the few games that I've bought for the GBA that I've felt this way about. Might want to rent this one first.

Pretty good....well REALLY GOOD!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: November 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Its hard to believe no one knew this was on the Genesis, not as good as the SNES version, but still good nonetheless. All the best levels from the SNES and Genesis version (But still only six stages), all the great weapons are back but did Konami really feel they needed to up the difficulty level? I mean the first one was already Hard enough.

As mentioned, the best levels from Genesis and SNES are there, and its all in its glory. First of all, the game is still fun. the game also has six levels of pure difficulty with the same hard bosses as before. Some bosses have even been made harder! Also, you can link up and play with a friend if you want.

Now the bad...the music is good but coming out of the small GBA speakers it isn't as good as the SNES version. Also, as I said, Konami decided to up the difficulty level. Now, instead of carrying two different weapons you can only carry one weapon at a time. Even if all the great weapons have returned, you can only carry one instead of two. Second, because of the GBA's screen I suffered from a lot of cheap deaths that could've been avoided, and even though fun, playing as two players is still a little frustrating especially when all these cheap deaths are involved.

Overall this is a good game and a great re-release, but when they say Extreme you sure as hell better believe it.

On the good side
+Still has a good level of difficulty
+Updated graphics
+Combination of the best SNES and Genesis levels
+All those wonderful weapons return

But as with the pros come the cons
-Konami felt the need to make the game HARDER then it was!
-You can only carry one weapon at a time
-Some cheap deaths that could be avoided

The game is still great to play, but it isn't nearly as good as it was those years before

It's cool, but not also

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The GBA is nothing but a repository for bad ports of SNES titles that weren't all that good in the first place.
According to some people, anyway. Such close-minded folk will simply have to miss out on this lovely Contra remix, a combination of two of the 16-bit era's best shooters.
The Alien Wars (SNES) and Hard Corps (Genesis) with some extra stuff thrown in for good measure. (The only major omissions: The SNES game's overhead levels are gone, and you can't carry multiple weapons at once.) If you've never played them before, consider this game a handy pocket reference to an age that unfortunately passed long ago. As you'd expect from Konami's 16-bit years, The Alien Wars EX features stupendously well-animated characters and a boopy-yet-catchy soundtrack. The control's spot-on, too, which is helpful 'cuz the smaller screen size means you have a much tinier margin of error during most boss battles. Of course, this being Contra, the game's mind-numbingly challenging a fact that limited continues and an annoying 18-letter password system don't change much. Despite (or perhaps because of) this, this is one hot 'n spicy GBA remake that's actually worth the money for a change.

16 Bit Memory lane...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Contra Advance is a great title that is really much better than I anticipated it would be. At first glance, it seems like the SNES Contra III: Alien Wars, with levels from Hard Corps thrown in for good measure. Well, it is that, but I'm surprised at how well this conversion stacks up in today's age of 3D games. While this version has the SNES' overhead Mode 7 levels replaced with levels from the Genesis' Hard Corps game, it also has the restrictions of the GBA's smaller screen. Makes it a little tougher than the SNES version, as well as replacing the original's feature to have 2 different weapons with the ability to stay in one place and shoot in 8 directions or move and lock your line of fire in one. Better in some ways, but some will miss the 2 weapons feature. Also, music is of course not as good as the SNES version, but what GBA game has super music?

Graphics are identical to the original 16 bit titles, sound effects sound the same, but boss patterns have changed some. Also, because of screen size, there are some rather cheap deaths once in awhile. Surprisingly, this doesn't detract from the game at all. Plays as well as any Contra did. For a portable title, this game is excellent and it's goodness outshines any flaws.

The Best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: October 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Contra has always been a personal favorite of mine.
Now GameBoy Advance is coming out with the ultimate version of one of the greatest games ever made.
Contra Advance - The Alien Wars EX is the classic Super Nintendo game Contra 3.
This time however, the gameboy advance version will made even better on this 32-bit system instead of the 16-bit SNES.
This game will also have some extra levels not seen on the SNES version.
Everyone better get ready because this is the game to own.
Konami at it's finest.
Don't think just buy it, you won't be sorry.

An old school masterpiece

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is a perfect port of the original game for the SNES. Its god old fashioned 16-bit fun. The game doesn't have a very deep story but the action never ends. But don't be fooled this game is hardcore action, and it takes many, many trys to beat it. Some of the old levels have been taken out and replaed with new ones. The controls were very well thought out. As long as youdon't mind the lack of any story line this is the game for you.

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