Contra-Series Retrospective -1987-1998

Contra was released to arcades in 1987. The original arcade version is a solid game. As fine as that game may be, it was the NES/Famicom port released in 1987 that would reach the homes of millions. Contra is famous for being one of the hardest 8-bit games of all time. Core gameplay consists of 1 or 2 players shooting your way through various levels picking up various weapons along the way.

The first game was one of the most well-known and played 8-bit games on Nintendo's 8-bit console. Graphics were bright and vibrant for the time, despite being much less detailed than the arcade original. With one hit deaths, the game is relentless in terms of its difficulty. Memorization is the key to mastering any Contra game. Even if you use the famous Konami code, expect to die over and over. 2-D side-scrolling action is occasionally replaced by a front-facing shooting style. Despite its challenge, the game is a true classic among the 8-bit era.

Released in 1988, Super Contra kept the same basic gameplay as the original. Graphics were brighter and more detailed, but the core game was the same. The military theme of the first game was given a more sci-fi look that would continue to dominate the series with many instalments. Facing a never-ending horde of aliens, many people feel that Super Contra was even more challenging than the original. An arcade version of the game was also produced, marking the last time a Contra game would see an arcade release. A respectable sequel, it nonetheless garnered less attention compared to the first game.

Contra would make the jump to 16-bit in 1992. Contra Spirits (Contra III in North America) would take the series to a new level. With some of the toughest boss battles of any game period, III tested the upper limits of one's patience and resolve. With wonderful sound and graphics as well as gameplay, the third entry is the series is regarded by many as the pinnacle of the Contra series. Any fan of the "run and gun" genre should absolutely take this game for a spin.

With all the home releases until 1994 on Nintendo hardware, Contra would make the jump to Sega hardware in 1994 with Contra: Hard Corps for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive. The game's story is quite different from past games and focuses on an elite task force known as the "hard corps" far in the future. Graphics are some of the best on the Genesis/Megadrive. The game features some great scaling and rotation effects, similar to the SNES mode-7.

Hard Corps is an incredibly difficult game. Many would say that the game is even harder than any past entry in the series. Incredibly fast and intense, the game lives up to its name. A very valuable game today, many considered it to be the best Contra game ever released.

After the stellar Hard Corps, the Contra series would enter a dark period for many fans of the series. Developed by Appaloosa Interactive, Contra: Legacy of War would see release on the original Playstation in 1996. Widely regarded as the worst entry in the series, the game shifted into 3-D with a semi-top-down perspective. While the game is not as bad as people say, the game was panned by critics and failed to capture the success of past 2d games. A second game would be made by Appaloosa for the original Playstation. C: The Contra Adventure was released in 1998, only in North America. Featuring a mix of 2D polygonal/pre-rendered backgrounds, the game slightly received. However, it failed to bring the series back on top and was released only in North America.