Let's Just Say Old Habits Die Hard... And That Really Shows Here...
Debuting in the arcades in 1987 and hitting the home consoles in 1988, Contra became a well-received game for its action-packed shooting, and two-player simultaneous game play, an uncommon feature for its time. What Konami wanted to remind you in this title though, is that facing an alien armada by ones self is the thing of godly proportions that few man alive could possibly achieve since one hit from anything and no exceptions, would result in you losing a life. You only got three lives, die and you return to where you were before, and three continues and the only way to get them back was to get a high enough score to earn one.
Despite being nominated as the #1 hardest game by many gaming enthusiasts even to this day, beating the game was something that could be achieved with enough hard work and dedication. Contra probably is the hardest known game to date, but it is also because of this that it has gone on to be recognized as a classic by many hardcore gamers. Unlike some classics, this one got sequels though, such as Super C, Operation C, Contra III on the SNES, it would even go on to make a crappy 3D transition to the Saturn and Playstation years later which wasn't met with warm reception from fans and critics alike. The Playstation 2 games were better received, but not enough to ensure that Contra would be seen in later years. With these titles, many thought that the Contra series was on its last legs and soon to join the list of games that would be mere memories and not an on-going series.
The idea that Contra was dead though was shoved aside by Konami and developer Way Forward, with the release of Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS. Some haters of the current-gen Nintendo like to claim that their systems have no true hardcore experiences and are filled with "games" staring non-talented current-gen "teenage celebrities" or mediocre "cartoons". Is Contra 4 any different however? In other words, it's been a number of years since there's been a Contra game, so is it still the game that gamers from 20 years ago remember? If that's what you're wondering before buying this game, you don't need to worry… Contra's back in style!
Beginning with the story, the title obviously indicates that it takes place after the first three Contra games being the two on the NES and Contra III. The plot takes place in 2638 when an alien named "Black Viper" has begun to launch an attack against the Earth Federation to destroy whatever hasn't been destroyed during the first three invasions. To deal with this, the Federation sends its four strongest commandos (your selectable characters), the classic duo "Bill Rizer" and "Lance Bean" and two new characters "Mad Dog" and "Scorpion", to the Galuga archipelago to destroy Black Viper and once again save Earth from the invading forces… And that's the entire plot in a nutshell, you should know what happens if you manage to beat the game on Normal or Hard (Easy doesn't show you the ending). Contra of course has never been known for its deep storylines and were always just known for a game where you run around and shoot aliens. The emotional stress must be hard on the characters, but you're only playing as them aren't you?
The next order of business is the graphics, since it's a wonder what the graphics of a current-gen Contra game would have. Most of the graphics have that classic SNES look that will make retro gamers feel right at home and the animations are very fluid. There's also a great number of enemy designs that provide variety, and a vast number of them are able to take up a single screen. Some of the more impressive feats come from the 3D-view tunnel stages that sport some very nice graphics, and one of the best renditions you'll find is the boss in Level 6. Way Forward certainly knew what Contra lovers wanted with a revival, 2D side-scrolling action with graphics that match the current times.
On the business of sound, much of the music that was made famous from previous Contra games is all found here. Some of the music is made up of remixes of previous Contra titles and there are also many new tunes to compliment the stages, giving players a sense of thrilling action. The sound effects are also nice, seeing that guns have their own sounds, things are constantly emitting loud explosions, aliens scream when they die, and so to does your character. They aren't the best sound effects made on a handheld console, but they do fit with everything that's going on to a nice degree.
The graphics and the sound are worthy of the Contra name for sure, but has the same gameplay managed to stay intact? If you're just wondering if Contra 4 brings the same hardcore experience of epic scales, you will find every bit of it here. One thing that made Contra famous was the fact that getting hit from anything, no exceptions would result in death. That same curse follows players into this game as well. There is a barrier power up you can pick up to temporarily ward off bullets, but you'll rarely find any. Not only does the one-hit death remain, but the difficulty is added on by the DS's dual screens. You will often have to pay attention to both screens at the same time to avoid getting hit, and unseen bullets from above or below can cause some to proclaim, "Cheap Death!" The core gameplay is overall the same formula from what was set 20 years ago, run, gun, die, and kill the giant baddie bosses. There are a grand total of 9 stages to blaze your way through, though you can only access the last 2 if you beat the game on Normal or Hard (trust me though, you will want to start on easy). The mini-bosses themselves feel like your typical boss in a sidescroller, and the main bosses themselves are giant and merciless in this game, most taking up both screens at the same time, offering great action against such behemoths.
Besides the traditional gameplay, there are two differences that set this game apart from the previous Contra's. First is the grappling hook, which is usable by pressing the X button that will shoot your grappling hook upward. If the hook touches anything that it can latch onto, it will latch and your character will make his/her way up. You'll be grappling from screen to screen pretty often, making another situation where you need to pay attention to both screens at the same time. Another new feature is the ability to power up your weapons by picking up two of the same type of weapons. An example includes the Homing Rocket, picking up one will let you fire one rocket, but picking up the same icon again while you are using it will upgrade your weapon so it can fire 3 homing rockets at a time, the same applying to the spread shot, flamethrower, laser, and machine gun.
So you might wonder, since this game is so short, will there be any reason to play it again after you beat it? Oh yes there is. Beating the game on any difficulty unlocks the "Challenge Mode" which will require you to play through certain stages under certain conditions, some of which include blazing your way through a horde of enemies, getting to the end of the level within a set amount of time, testing out new weapons, killing human-faced dogs, and running through stages unarmed ("No guns in a Contra level? That's unheard of!" I know.).
What do you get for your trouble in beating these challenges? This is where the fan service comes in. Beating 4 the first time will unlock the NES classic itself for you to play on your DS whenever and wherever you want, and 8 times will unlock the sequel Super C. They aren't updated at all, the sound is the same, the graphics are the same, the screen ratio is the same, they are both perfectly emulated. Beating more will get you new characters to play like "Probotector" and "Lucia", comics, and other features for the Museum. Probably the only downside in the unlockable department is that Contra III and Operation C aren't up for grabs. Without a doubt, if both games were included, Contra 4 would be the last Contra game any fan would ever need (unless Contra 5 is made of course), but alas not all dreams come true. Despite this, the unlockables are all still worth fighting for, and provide the same challenge that the actual levels give.
So is this game worth the money you lay down for a DS game? If you're into classic 2D side-scrolling action, or have been waiting for a good Contra title for a long time, it most certainly is. Contra 4 offers great action, boss fights, and a nice amount of extras to perfectly justify a purchase. Be forewarned however, the difficulty may come off as staggering to newcomers of the series. But if you're willing to grunt and groan through the many times you die throughout the stages, Contra 4 can literally be a blast.