Contra (Nes, Famicom) Review

This week's game is Contra for the Nes and Famicom. Contra is a shooting action game for the NES in America and the Famicom in Japan. It was released in February 1988 in America and Japan, and Europe version in 1990 by Konami. It must be noted that Contra is originally an arcade game ported to the NES and Famicom systems, but the home system version is the far more popular version of the game. Contra will probably be on a lot of gamers' minds as one of their favorite games.

In this game, you control one of the two commandos, Bill "Mad Dog" Rizer for the player one and Lance "Scorpion" Bean for the player two, who are sent to destroy the evil terrorist organization Red Falcon Organization. The players must guide the commandos through levels, shooting everything in the way. At the end of the level, the players must confront the stage boss and defeat it to go to the next stage.




One interesting thing about this game, is that it quite shares a lot of the aesthetic of Commando and Terminator movies, which both star the famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even the player characters look a bit like him.

Players are given three lives at the start of the game, and a hit from enemy fire or touching the enemy will kill the player. But the player will respawn at where the player died. The player is given three continues that they can use when they run out of lives.

The players can pick up special weapon powerups for their guns that disappear when the player dies. The player can get it by flying weapon canisters that whist by the player in the air. The player can get one of the six available powerups in the game. They are Machine gun, Rapid fire, Spread shot, Laser, Fireball and the Invincibility shield, that only last for a few seconds.

There are eight stages in the game, each has a different setting.

Stage 1: Jungle

Stage 2: Base

Stage 3: Waterfall

Stage 4: Base 2

Stage 5: Snow Field

Stage 6: Energy Zone

Stage 7: Hangar

Stage 8: Alien Base

The Bosses

Stage 1 Boss:

Stage 2 Boss:

Stage 3 Boss:

Stage 4 Boss:

Stage 5 Boss:

Stage 6 Boss:

Stage 7 Boss:

Stage 8 Boss:

What is interesting in this game, is that up until stage 8, there are no signs of alien invasion or anything involving alien, monster creatures.

What is more interesting is that the alien creatures and boss is vaguely reminiscent of the aliens in the movie Aliens. From the crawlers to the giant alien head, it has a very Aliens-like motif.

In the end, Contra, blends the feel and aesthetics of Commando, Terminator and Aliens, mixing it together and giving the players one awesome game.

Ending:

With fast paced action, two player co-op mode, frantic shooting and tough bosses to beat, Contra is one of the classic games to be remembered. And it helped spawn the infamous Konami Code.