Contra is considered one of a handful of franchises which have change into fully synonymous with gaming; certainly, likelihood is if you have not performed any Contra video games, then you definitely’ll have no less than heard of them. Konami’s shoot-em-up behemoth could have misplaced a variety of its lustre lately (just about par for the course with Konami as of late, it appears, save for some wonderful retro collections), however its earlier iterations have change into iconic in their very own proper.
From the unique Contra in 1988 all the way in which as much as Contra: Rogue Corps in 2019, the collection has not often strayed from its comparatively easy method — run by a bunch of linear ranges and shoot up a bunch of dangerous guys — however that is arguably its largest draw. In an age the place gaming is extra advanced than ever, Contra is a implausible reminder that you do not want a boatload of options to make a cracking recreation.
So, very similar to our different reader-ranked polls, we requested you high quality folks to price your favorite Contra video games on Nintendo platforms from the listing under.
Should you missed the voting section, then fear not! The listing under is mechanically up to date in real-time based on every recreation’s corresponding ‘Consumer Ranking’ on the Nintendo Life recreation database. This implies to can affect the order proper now, if you want, by clicking on the star subsequent to every recreation and awarding it our personal rating.
So equip your self with a Unfold Shot and let’s try the perfect Contra video games on Nintendo programs!
Notice. Sure, we have included the Anniversary Assortment for completeness’ sake – should you’re not eager on collections being included in our rankings, then merely fake it is not there; the remainder of the listing will nonetheless be in the identical order!
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
Contra’s high-profile return to fashionable platforms landed with extra of a whimper than a bang. Contra: Rogue Corps swaps out the side-scrolling shoot-em-up motion for top-down twinstick gameplay; the issue is it is simply not very enjoyable to play. The capturing mechanics are far too inaccurate and the muddy textures and low decision make for an unpleasant expertise on the Change. There are some good concepts right here, however Rogue Corps is way from the Contra rebirth we had been hoping for.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX actually looks like a neat concept in idea; one of many biggest shoot-em-ups of all time on a transportable gadget? Neat! In follow, nevertheless, Contra Advance introduces various compromises to the expertise that makes it less-than-ideal: blockier sprites; washed out visuals; downgraded audio high quality. All of it provides up, making this one a troublesome advice when the SNES model of Alien Wars is so available.
Writer: HAMSTER / Developer: Konami
A part of the ‘Arcade Archives’ line-up on Change, Contra is the arcade title authentic by and thru, warts ‘n’ all. Its purity and ease are maybe its biggest options these days, however subsequent Contra titles have arguably trumped it when it comes to high quality and replayability. Nonetheless, it is price testing on Change, although we would most likely advocate the extra rounded providing obtainable within the Contra Anniversary Assortment.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Issue 5
A Sport Boy model of the SNES authentic, this was developed by Issue 5, the studio behind the Tremendous Turrican video games on the Tremendous Nintendo and the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron collection. The degrees and total construction had been altered and a password system was added but it surely nonetheless manages to ship a serviceable recreation of Contra on a system with the processing energy of a modern-day toaster.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
That is surely a Contra recreation (or Probotector should you’re a robot-loving European) extra worthy of its title than, say, sure PlayStation entries. It hits on a lot of the points that make a superb entry: difficult gameplay, tight controls, assorted enemies, killer arsenal, macho tunes, large bosses. For a title two years into the mighty moveable’s lifespan, it accomplishes a formidable quantity in shrinking the necessities of the beloved console/arcade collection. Sadly, gamers are pressured to go gung-ho solo, which is disheartening for multiplayer followers and kills a few of its longevity, but it surely’s exceptional simply how properly the sport holds up on the common-or-garden Sport Boy and followers of the NES video games would silly to move this up.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
Out there as a part of the NSO Enlargement Pack — and thus technically obtainable to play on a Nintendo console outdoors of the Contra Anniversary Assortment — Contra: Arduous Corps represented the SEGA console debut of the collection and represented a little bit of a spin-off vibe when it comes to setting and characters. Although maybe not simple to understand for people who have encountered this solely within the Contra Anniversary Assortment, it made some notable modifications in management scheme and gameplay mechanics from its predecessors.
A wonderful entry, it actually stands out as an inspiration for some modern-day ‘neo-retro’ run and gun video games, too.
