CONTRA

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Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Release: 1987
Genre: Run and Gun
Console(s): Arcade, NES, Indie Game on Xbox, Numerous other consoles

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Synopsis:
In Contra, the player controls one of two armed military commandos named Bill "Mad Dog" Rizer and Lance "Scorpion" Bean, who are sent on a mission to neutralize a terrorist group called the Red Falcon Organization that is planning to take over the Earth. Inspired by Ridley Scott's Aliens.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Gameplay:
The player, whichever you choose, start off with a basic semi-auto assault rifle. However, by shooting weapon capsules, wall boxes, or red guards in "3D Maze stages", you can gain the powerups, which will be listed later.
The play can shoot their weapon in all 8 directions, as this is a D-pad oriented game, meaning you have full capability of your weapon. The player can shoot while jumping, moving, and crouching. However, this freedom comes with a downside, as 1 shot from any enemy will kill you, and remove the current weapon, giving you the previous. The difficulty of this game is almost extreme, as the overload of enemies, powerful bosses, and the fact that you only start with three lives.
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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Weapons:
Basic Weapon: Default Weapon in the game. Semi auto.
Machine Gun: Increases fire rate. Full auto.
Shotgun: Burst fire that fire exploding bullets. Semi auto.
Laser: Fires a laser. Semi auto.
Super Shotgun: Fires 5 projectiles at a time. Semi auto.
Fire gun: Short range Flamethrower. Semi Auto.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Gameplay: (Stages)
Contra, for the NES at least, contains 8 stages. Every other level there is a 3D maze level, in which the perspective changes from Second to Pseudo-Third (the camera being over the back of the character, couldn't think of what to call it). At the end of some stages, there are boss battles, whether it be a military base, giant monster, or powerful enemy. Although the game may seem short, the sequels and replay-ability are astounding as well.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Controls: DPAD, left stick, or arrow keys for movement. A or up to jump. B or RT to shoot.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Graphics: The graphics are considered standard on all the console ports. On NES, the bosses look great for the time, but the normal grunt enemies are dull and do not vary, minus the occasional commander. On XBOX, same problem.
The graphics, though not the greatest, are pleasing to look at, and a graphics freak wouldn't take a second look at it, besides actually playing the game.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Cheats: The hardest problem in the game is the low life capacity, which can be fixed this way. At the title screen, do this combo on your D-Pad (if you are on XBOX or a computer, not sure it works except on emulation devices):
UP-UP-DOWN-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT-B-A. And *bam* you now have 30 lives instead of the standard 3.

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[font=14:89ecc50e59]Overall Ratings:
Gameplay: 9
Gameplay (Stages): 8.5
Controls: 10
Graphics: 8
Overall: 9

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A classic game, that should never be forgotten. Konami really outdid themselves.
By the way, sorry for a really outdated review, but this game is classic, and I thought that people who don't know about it should.

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