Game/Publisher/Developer
Contra, Konami, Konami (NES)
The Trailer
My Reaction
Contra was an instant classic the moment it landed on NES. The run-and-gun action is relentless, the co-op is a blast and the difficulty makes every stage clear feel earned.
Overview
Contra is a run-and-gun action game originally released in arcades by Konami in 1987 before being ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988. Players control Bill Rizer or Lance Bean, two commandos fighting against the alien organization Red Falcon. Across a series of relentless side-scrolling and overhead stages, players blast through waves of enemies, collect weapon power-ups and face down some of the toughest boss fights of the era. Two-player co-op made it a defining couch experience on NES.
What I Liked
- The run-and-gun gameplay is tight, fast and endlessly satisfying.
- Weapon power-ups like the Spread Gun completely change how each stage plays.
- Co-op multiplayer turns it into one of the best couch games on the system.
- The boss fights are memorable and genuinely intimidating for their time.
- The Konami Code lives in gaming folklore because of this game.
What I Didn’t Like
- The difficulty is brutal without the famous 30-lives code; one hit kills can feel unforgiving for newcomers.
Verdict
Contra is a foundational run-and-gun title that still holds up as one of the best action games on the NES. Demanding, relentless and a genuine blast in co-op, it earned its place as a classic.
Rating
80/100