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Old School Right Down to the Core

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 22
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

In the mid to late eighties a run and gun shoot 'em up game called Contra hit store shelves. It's a game mostly remembered for being insanely difficult. So much so that the developers gave players a code (which would later be dubbed the "Classic Konami Code") that would give them thirty lives and they'd still end up seeing the game over screen. But with persistence (and a good memory) Contra could be conquered. Later, we got Super C as a follow up and later the all time best: Contra III: The Alien Wars. Unfortunately, after that, many Contra games to follow (save for Hard Corps on the Genesis) were not good games at all. The Playstation games were said to be the worst of the series, and even though Shattered Soldier returned to old roots, it just wasn't enough.

Now, fifteen years after Contra III: The Alien Wars, we finally get a true Contra sequel. And it's everything the original Contra back in the 80's was. That is to say it's insanely hard, you only have so many lives and you'll see that game over screen millions of times, maybe within the first level alone. When I say this game is difficult, it's no joke. This game was specifically made for Contra fans. So if you didn't like the series before, you are surely not going to like this game by any means.

Contra 4 takes the basic run and gun gameplay of the original and does nothing to mess with a tried and true formula. You'll go through the levels blasting anything and everything that moves while you jump from one platform to the next to avoid falling in chasms. You'll also be avoiding enemy gun fire and watching out for enemies that are running blindly from one side of the screen to another. Your eyes must be sharp if you want to survive. You begin with a basic rifle, but along the way you'll be able to find other guns. Such as the Machine Gun, the Laser, and the Contra classic: The Spread Gun. There are more weapons to collect. You can carry two guns at a time and switch between them on the fly. You can also "upgrade" a weapon by collecting it a second time on top of the original for an extra punch. Very simple game to play, but insanely difficult to master. Luckily, there are difficulty levels to choose from, but choosing Easy will cause you to miss out on the real experience of what Contra is.

Unfortunately, like the previous games, once you get enemy movements down, it will actually become insanely easy. That is to say if you memorize where every enemy appears and when you'll succeed. The problem is learning this trick of trade as you'll have to die several times. Each level also ends with a boss who is just as difficult as the level itself. Many times you'll do well in a level only to be killed by the bosses. This Contra has the biggest, baddest boss battles yet.

Contra is also unforgiving in the fact that its one hit and you're dead. You have a set number of lives to begin with, depending on which difficulty level you choose. Once all those lives are gone its game over. You have a set number of continues to use. This is not a game for the casual gamer. It doesn't let up for a second.

That may ultimately be the problem with Contra 4. The simple fact that it's just an insanely difficult game overall. So much so that most gamers will be turned off simply because of being frustrated to death. Not even the first level is simple. If you really want to test how good a gamer you are, by all means, pick up Contra 4. Another small problem is that it spans two screens and keeping an eye on both screens when there is literally danger coming from all around can take a moment to get used to. It doesn't help that the little space in between can hide some of those dangers as well.

Contra 4 doesn't use the DS to its full potential. This is a 2D side scroller through and through. There are some 3D effects brought out, but not a whole lot. Your character sprites are a little pixilated. It doesn't push the DS to its limits but the levels are incredibly detailed with great looking backgrounds. The level design of this game is ingenious. For anyone who is a fan of the Contra series, there's a lot of nostalgia in the level designs (the very first level, for example, is a jungle). The game also sounds fantastic, with some great sound effects. Some of which were lifted from the original games. Even better, some levels use old classic tunes that are remixed.

There is also challenge mode. This is a mode where Contra veterans can really test their skills by having to do certain task in some stages. Here you'll do some things like go through a challenge without missing a single enemy or going through a challenge using limited ammo or sometimes even no ammo at all! There are 40 challenges in all and they'll test even the best Contra players.

Contra 4 really is a good game. A game that relies heavily on the old school roots that made the first three games such a heaping success. If you stick with it and don't wimp out, Contra 4 is rewarding.

Pros:

+Intense gameplay to keep you on your toes
+Really great soundtrack
+Simplistic gameplay
+A good challenge

Cons:

-When I say a good challenge... I'm not kidding. And while many will like a good challenge, there will still be some gamers--perhaps even Contra fans--who will believe this game to be a little much

Great trip down memory lane

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 21
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Let me preface my review by saying this:

This game is hard.

Will you die a lot? Yes.

But with that said, Contra 4 is an amazing game that takes me back to the days of the first Contra on the NES. I can remember playing that and getting frustrated because I kept dying...yet, I went back for more. Same thing applies here. You aren't going to get through this game by blindly jumping, moving, and shooting. You will need to remember where X enemy appears, when a power-up is going to appear (and what kind it is), the pattern of a boss...all the skills that used to be required when playing a game like this back on the NES. Patience is key.

Again...this game is hard. You will get frustrated. But not from cheap AI. There really were only a few times where I was killed because of a cheap hit; the only one I can remember at the moment is when an enemy was "hidden" by the space between the top and bottom screens.

But don't let that deter you from purchasing it. If you have been looking for a challenge, want an old-school 2D action game, or are a die-hard Contra fan, this is for you.

If not, go play one of those new modern games that holds your hand, gives you unlimited continues and/or lives, and changes your diaper before you go to bed.

Only real mean (and women) need apply.

Oh yeah baby, this is the Contra I remember

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 19
Date: November 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Konami's legendary Contra series makes it's debut on the DS in all it's old school, arcade shoot 'em up action glory. Proving that the series is best in the realm of 2-D, Contra 4 is a throwback to the glory days of the original arcade game and the 8 and 16-bit era of gaming, as it provides huge levels, insane weapons, and unnerving difficulty. The game's grueling levels are spread about using both of the DS' screens, as enemies come at you from all sides. This alone makes Contra 4 worth checking out, and only adds to the game's difficulty, which even on Easy mode, is provides quite a bit of challenge. The controls are dead-on, the level designs are flawless, and the boss battles are epic; all of which adds up to one of the best action games to hit the DS yet. There are extras included as well to celebrate the Contra series' 20th Anniversary, including a Museum that reflects the series' run on consoles over the years, and an interesting Challenge mode that once completed, can unlock the NES versions of Contra and Super C. The only downside to Contra 4 is what has already been said: the difficulty. The difficulty may be a turn-off for new age gamers who didn't grow up with the Contra series, but for the rest of us who did, Contra 4 is a sheer blast.

very very disappointed !

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 27
Date: December 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

relly wanted to like this game and been waiting for its release, I'm an older video game fan and played the orig Contra in arcades when it came out. Game is incredibly HARD - even on easy setting (which is an incomplete game), combined with an extremely lame save feature (it takes away a continue using it). As an older fan looking for fun - with these features on a hand held system (meant for shorter play times) these things are completly unacceptable. Leave the hard gimmicks for the hard setting. I really think they made a big mistake with the features of this game, and probably will trade it in soon. Its really a shame also
because the graphics / levels/ controls are all great !

PS: 2 those who say " be a man" -The older games were so hard because they were derived from arcade games which were meant to just simply take all your money away from you- at this stage in my life (and im the core "nostalgic' audience for this game) this game isn't fun

Great Remake of a Classic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: December 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As a fan of the original NES version, I had high hopes for this game. I haven't really been to impressed with most of the arcade-style games for the DS. This one is just as much fun as the original (which is included as an unlockable bonus). It has Easy, Medium, and Hard play levels. The medium level is roughly the same difficulty as the original. The hard level is pretty difficult. There is also an unlockable "Challenge Mode" which requires you to perform specific tasks.

Old School Contra

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

For those who are not familiar with the Contra series, it is a platform shooter which began as an arcade series and made it's way unto the NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, PS2, and now the DS. This is the 4th version of Contra, but it is worthy to be called the "true sequel" to Treasure's Contra III: The Alien Wars.

The game is very similar to many of the Contra games in the past, for instance the 1st stage is almost an exact replica of the 1st stage from Contra I, and there are many other stages that are heavily borrowed from other games as well (most notably Contra I, Super C, and Contra III). This is not a bad thing at all mind you and for those who think that taking ideas from older games is a step back in development does not know about how the series took a major fall ever since Contra III.

This game is not easy and that's how Contra games are supposed to be played. There are 3 modes of game play: Easy, Normal and Hard. On easy you get 5 continues and 10 lives, on Normal you get 3 continues and 5 lives and so on (the game is very difficult so if you never had any experience with any Contra games, be prepared to lose a lot of lives on the 1st stage). The game includes 6 power ups which are: Machine Gun, Spread Gun, C Cannon/Blast, Homing Missiles, Fire and Laser. You are allowed to have 2 different weapons (which can be switched with the 'L' button) and the weapons can be powered by twice (normal and hard mode), otherwise if you are playing on Easy, the weapon is powered to the max after getting it.

The game play is very similar to Contra III, except for a few minor inclusions such as a grappling hook and with the DS you will utilize both screens for playing the game. You will not use the bottom touch screen as all functions are done by the button pads.

Conclusion: If you have been waiting for a true sequel for Contra III, then get this game as it will satisfy you with the tight controls and challenging game play. For those who never tried out the series I advise you that this game is not easy at all (even on easy) so be prepared to be frustrated if you cannot pass the 1st stage. Also, this game requires 2 DS carts to play multi player mode (trust me you do not want to play solo and this game was always meant to be played together)

Classic Contra gameplay

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Instead of trying to experiment with new gameplay mechanics, WayForward decided to just use the old mechanics and update the presentation. So basically you have the "feel" of the old games, but with more frames of animation, better graphics with great colors, and so on.

The best thing about this game is how they managed to capture the "feel" of the old Contra. They made certain things right, like the arc of the jumps, the travel speed of the bullets, the way they blink that certain way, the noise that your character makes when he lands on a platform, or the particular noise that a bullet makes when it hits a target. They also kept a lot of the enemies in the same poses and gave them similar animations to the ones in the older games. It's the subtle details like this that let you know that this is a genuine Contra game and not some experimental project that they just slapped the Contra name on.

You see many other franchises lose sight of the little things that made a particular game stand out. They may have similar characters and other qualities that justify it as a franchise game, but the qualities that made the original special are not there. Many of the later Sonic games have been accused of this, as well as the 3D Castlevania titles, and of course the 3D Contra titles as well. Contra: Shattered Soldier, while a decent game, suffered from this as well. In contrast, Contra 4 really is a true franchise title.

Overall, the game plays like a mix of Contra for the NES and Contra III: the Alien Wars for the SNES. If you liked those games, you will enjoy Contra 4.

Contra 4 is an excellent addition to the series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Contra 4 is challenging, fun and contains plenty of unlockable content (including alternate characters to use). It will keep you busy for hours. If you were a fan of Contra 3 or some of the other classic titles, this release is definitely going to satisfy. The only deviations from most of the other Contra games are the grappling hook and the weapon power-ups starting off at half power. The DS has both screens being used at almost all times to show the battle. The top screen often has to be monitored for oncoming fire as you run along the bottom. The only time the top screen is a map instead of an extension of the bottom is the indoor stages.

If you can beat Battle Toads, you might have a chance...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 8
Date: December 28, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have been a Contra fan for a long time, maybe with the exception of Contra Force, but needless to say, I LOVE Contra. There was something about the mindless task of blasting every moving, blinking, or creeping thing into oblivion that fills you with that kind of glee, that only classic games of yesterday can bring.

Well, seeing Contra 4, I was really excited, anticipating another great Contra 2D shooter like the classic ones. Sadly, I was mistaken. :(

What I was expecting was a 2D shooter, full of crazy alien blasting, and a god bit of difficulty. What I got was a hard to see split screen, poor controller layout, and difficulty that is unwarrented.

Now don't get me wrong, Contra games are difficult. But when I can nail all of them in 3 lives or less, and I can barely make it through level one on easy with 10 lives... something is wrong. And the deaths don't come from enemy bullets, lasers, or fast enemies. They come from off screen bullets, instant lasers, raining missiles you can't dodge, and poor vertical scrolling dropping you. Oh, and the no scrolling back left or down should have been left in the past.

To top it off, the parts that are easy, are ridiculously easy. Like the first 3D stage. All you do is duck everything and shoot the one thing that rolls at you. You have to TRY to die. But the jumping is messed up. No more jumping to dodge bullets. Jump, and die. Duck, and live.

The bottom line is, this game isn't much fun without cheats for infinite lives. The difficulty comes more from annoying visual trouble, falling, and the screen being crowded by bullets. The game should be called Jump and Die, not Contra. Do yourself a favor, and just rent this if you must. If you are a glutton for pain, and enjoy almost impossible odds where you rely on memorizing patterns where to dodge and jump, buy 2 copies.

For those of us mortals, stick to Contra, Super C, or Contra the Alien Wars to name a few. This game only seems to succeed in making friends and I mad.

So difficult, it washes away my gamer rage.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Let's see, how can I make myself feel old... hmmm... ah yes, by simply saying "boy does this take me back."

When it comes to throwback videogames, Contra 4 nails it. It takes everything that made the original NES game great and throws in a little extra to make the perfect portable platformer (say THAT ten times fast.)

Two weapons slots, a grappling gun, and upgradeable weapons added an amazing amount of depth. Both screens are used well, I'd say it even trumps the two Sonic games, to the point where I didn't ever think "oh, I'm playing on two screens."

This game is not for the faint of heart. Contra 4, like the original, is hard. Mind bogglingly hard. Luckily, the folks over at Konami give you three difficulty settings, allowing you to have fun in a way that doesn't involve laughing as you burn through another continue on Level 1.
That's really a credit to the designers of this game - in any other game, I would have tossed the controller down, rambling off a series of my favorite swear words, until I couldn't take it any more and had to find something else to occupy my time. The game is so challenging, yet so fun, I can't help but just smile, shake my head, and dive right back in.

If you consider yourself a "hardcore gamer," you need to buy this game.

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