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Contra 4

Contra 4 is a side-scrolling shooting game that goes back to roots from the arcade and earlier Nintendo systems. You play as one of four men to defend the world's last hope of survival. You're sent to prevent an alien induced Armageddon before it's too late. Yes, the story isn't going to win any awards but you're in for a surprise.

The graphics on Contra 4 clearly state that 2D gaming isn't dead yet. The visuals aren't groundbreaking. They are still sprite based but the coloring is vivid to give you that feeling of nostalgia (if you're old enough to remember those days). They still have pseudo-3D stages which I can't really tell if they're even using the DS's hardware to their advantage. Bosses still look terrifying as ever. The bullets look bright and colorful. Certain enemies look incredibly gruesome which can give the feeling of, “Maybe I should avoid them”. Most bosses take up both of the screens which will make most people say “Oh god, I'm gonna die…” Both the bottom and the top screen display the action of the game which gives it a larger than life feeling. The problem I have with this is the gap in between the two screens. It's a little hard to judge what can come from either screen.

The sound is completely old school with some quality upgrades. Contra fans will recognize remixed versions of music from other Contra games. Each stage music gives the appropriate background music. The sound only stutters in Stage 2 when transitioning from the Laboratory to the Waterfall. The guns sound like they were stolen from your local Toys ‘R Us. The voice acting is very limited. Each character sounds the same. They all have the same catch phrases: “Take 'em out” “Let's party!” “Locked and loaded!” They also all have the same death scream.

This is one of the most difficult games I've played in a long time. It maintains the same feel from the original series (not talking about spin-offs). You run, shoot, and jump just like the previous Contra games. Yes, that's the difficult part. Although Arcade Mode offers three difficulty settings, it is almost unforgiving with its level of difficulty. It uses the life and credit system seen in many arcade games. Even at the beginning of the game, it pretty much taunts you. You may find yourself wondering how people get passed it. The only answer is, hours of trial and error. You'll find yourself dying enough times to contemplate smashing your DS, eating the game card, piss on the remains, and yell the word “fuck” enough to frighten neighbors within a 400 yard radius. Paying attention to both screens is also a challenge of its own because most deaths can be attributed to ignorance of a particular screen. As I mentioned earlier about transitioning from two screens, is a bit of a pain which adds to the already difficult game. There's an awesome grappling hook thing to easily transition from the bottom to the top screen which can also give you the option of taking different paths. If you have the patience of a saint and are able to beat this game, you'll be treated to a Challenge Mode which will give you nifty unlockables, like the NES Contra games (Contra and Super C) and playable character Probotector (which is something only the Europeans would know). Don't think you're awesome because you beat Easy Mode because it won't even let you see the ending (let alone let you play the last stage) but it is a good way to familiarize yourself with the frustrating and unforgiving world of Contra. Challenge Mode really vamps up the replayablilty after you've finished playing Arcade Mode. It has 40 difficult challenges to play if you're feeling up to toning up your skills. Although the game allows you to choose from a few different characters, they all play the same way. It really makes no difference whether you play as Lance, Mad Dog, or Probotector, they all play the same way. I find that only slightly annoying because I think it would've been cool to see each character have their own unique abilities. You can also play this game with your friends using Multi-Card play cooperatively in arcade mode. Contra 4 also has a pretty cool Museum which gives you the history of every Contra game available. There is no touch screen based gameplay. The only touch screen capabilities are found within the main menu. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how the Contra series would utilize touch screen gameplay.

Contra 4 is a game for enthusiasts of hardcore gaming. Contra fans will know what to expect from a good Contra game. The difficulty level of the game may turn some casual gamers off. Those who are looking for a challenge or looking to relive the wonders of 2D gaming, Contra 4 is where it's at. If you have the attention span of a squirrel, this game isn't for you. This is the first Contra game in a long time that has done the series some justice. Not for the easily intimidated.

Grades
Graphics: B
Sound: B
Controls: A
Gameplay: A
Overall: B