Very hard, but very fun. A little short, but still keeps the same Contra feel as the other games.
Of course, because this is Contra, you will find yourself trying to beat Easy Mode before all. Though it may seem tough at first, you eventually will be able beat Easy Mode until they end without continuing once. It's just really sad when you beat the last boss on Easy and it tells you that you must beat a harder difficulty to see the real ending.
The multiplayer is magnificent. Not only is it just like the multiplay in the earlier games, but each player unlocks the same thing they would get in single-player after beating a difficulty with a friend. The only downside is that each player needs to own the game, and you don't see the average guy walking down the street ready to play Contra 4 at any given moment.
Overall, Contra 4 is a tough game, but very fun once you get the hang of it. It is a little short, but the difficulty makes up for that. And not only does it feel like playing the older games, you can actually unlock some of the older Contra games!
8/10
from Galen Gamer