A hardcore gaming classic reborn and it is amazing!
Reaching back to the classic NES gaming days when no one realized how truly difficult some games were, because there weren't many to compare them to, Contra 4 is a fast paced, 2D eye-candy romp for only those with the sharpest eyes and the most deft touch of the D-pad.
The gameplay is excellent, featuring at times 10 different enemies on the screens at once and they are constantly coming at you. For screen sizes like the DS, and the perfect scale of the sprites, that's alot of baddies. The controls are perfect and the addition of the grappling arm is a great touch. However, it would be nice if you could shoot while ascending.
It cannot be stressed enough; the difficulty is very high, but the game is NOT cheap. If you die in the game, its your fault for not seeing a bullet or laser, or reacting fast enough to the swooping creature. The only issue is the gap between the screens, because baddies and turrets can hide-out there.
There's the satisfyingly familiar range of weapons, Laser, Fire, Crusher, but yes, the Spread gun still is the most effective. You can hold two weapon types at the same time, and switch between them. Its not too often you'll have to switch, though the mini missles are good for destroying turrets and bunkers but if you find yourself about to die, switching out the Spread gun for another, so you retain it upon re-spawn, is a good strategy.
For old school Contra fans, the second screen is a very nice addition, but can take some time to get used to, as you must split your attention between both screens, in search of floating power-up pods and incoming ordinance.
The sound is dead on perfect for fans of the series, and the voice samples are a nice touch. Being able to unlock the old school Contra games is simply icing. Even the instruction book has homages to the original gameplay, like advancing too fast in multiplayer causing the death of player 2 by scrolling off the screen.
Finishing Contra 4 is still a matter of memorization. Every time you play, you should get a little farther, because most enemies still spawn or sit in the same place. That said, the presentation quality and sheer entertainment value of the game will always keep you coming back.