Rapid Spread And A Good Friend

User Rating: 9 | Contra NES

Contra is one of those releases that can stand the test of time...it doesn't matter if you're 12, 16, 25, 35, or 45, when you play this game once; it stays with you forever. Everybody has some comment, "Don't forget the spread gun, dude" or "I remember that last guy was such a pushover compared to the ones before". In short, this is one of the most memorable Nintendo releases of all time....and in my opinion, the best arcade style, 2-player shooter available.

As for the gameplay, there isn't much to say; the pure simplicity is what makes it so fun. You basically jump and shoot in 8 directions, trying to keep the screen clear of any enemies; which include ground soldiers, snipers, turret guns, and even tanks. As you progress you acquire a selection of extra weapons, such as machine guns, lasers, rapid fire, and the infamous spread gun. The atmosphere is wholly arcade style in both the sound effects, boss battles, and the way the screen transitions as you progress like other 2D platformers.

As fun and replayable as Contra is, the game truly shines when you invite a buddy over for some two-player action. The game becomes both easier and harder for different reasons-the doubled amount of gunfire on the screen (especially if at least one of you is wielding a spread gun) clears enemies faster, but the transitioning screen can lead to accidental deaths. One example is stage 3 (the waterfall), where the goal is to constantly ascend the platforms. If one player jumps to fast, the second may end up getting crunched with the moving screen and lose a life. On the other hand, if both players can hold on to spread guns up to the third stage boss (a giant dragon creature), the pure amount of pixels from projectiles on the screen will cause terrible lag each time; which is fun to experience with a friend (especially once you learn to use it to your advantage).

All in all, I love this game. It was a large part of many people's childhoods, and I can still recall up/up/down/down/left/right etc. faster than certain math equations I learned years ago in college. After playing Contra 4 on the DS, my actions to achieve my goal of acquiring another NES console doubled...it was like when I first defeated Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and felt a terrible heartache for Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. In conclusion, Contra is one of, if the not the, best 2D shooter ever made. Keep on spreading!