Contra-ry to popular belief, not everyone here at NGamer Towers is a gaming wunderkind. If you prick us with difficulty spikes, do we not bleed/swear? In the case of Contra 4, the answer is a big fat curse-preceded yes. 'Hard' just doesn't do it justice.
If you're one of those hardened oldies bred on the original games - you can tell them apart by their vacant expressions and ability to shrug off gunshot wounds - you'll have some understanding of what's coming.
Bullets: big, round, red and in their hundreds. On one screen this is unforgiving, but doubling up so they can pound you from above and below is downright mean.
Death from above
As such, expect death. Booting up Normal mode, we died in 12 seconds. Then again in nine. A quick six saw us return to heaven, before a hidden turret cut short our roll of 23. Eight later and we were staring at the game over screen.
That's 58 seconds, and that's with an extra two lives that the hard mode doesn't afford you.
As far as DS experiences go, it's a merciless brute that months of Pony Club gymkhana sims haven't readied us for.
The solution? a) Don't get hit; b) Hit them first. The only way through the game outside of the lives-abundant 'easy' difficulty is by memorising the placement of every last soldier and turret, altering your run-through respectively.
Enemies may swarm you from all angles, but they'll always be the same angles. This learning by rote may seem dated - it puts the 'oo me back hurts' into old-school - but it has its rewards.
Off the hook
There's immense satisfaction in finally cutting a swathe through those sections previously holding you back; the relief of progression is one of the most hard-earned rewards in gaming.
It helps that Contra also has action chops to spare, throwing around some terrific dual screen bosses and some highly accomplished set pieces.
One level set upon a nuclear missile as it flies towards its destination is a particular Arnie-worthy highlight.
Wi-Fi Contra co-op is even better, and the only way some will make it through the harder difficulties - though the lack of download play disappoints; twice as much cash has to be handed over to see Contra 4 at its best.
Sure it made us cry, but we lived to tell the tale. And what a tale it is.
We haven't played a game this demanding in some time. Amongst the reams of bright, smiling Touch Generations ware, this is a refreshing kick in the teeth.
Games like this are from a bygone era. Back in the day I had the time to replay a game over and over again until I perfected it. These days, if a game demands that I just pop in the next one. It what comes from having a disposable income and little time. It's a shame really, the feeling of being totally awesome at a game was a really good one.
Games like this are from a bygone era. Back in the day I had the time to replay a game over and over again until I perfected it. These days, if a game demands that I just pop in the next one. It what comes from having a disposable income and little time. It's a shame really, the feeling of being totally awesome at a game was a really good one.
I don't think time is an issue. Most games nowadays take 15 hours to complete. It takes under one hour to get through Contra 4.
It's REALLY tough so you won't get through it on your first try (or second, or twentieth, for that matter). But if you spend 15 hours on this game you will get through it, or at least see significant progress.
Yes, I'm a massive Contra (Probotector to me) fan(boy). Even then, it's true, C4's first level will END YOU in 50 seconds. But I've spent about 10 hours on it and I now don't expect to use a continue until level 4. The first and third levels are particularly easy once you get a hold of what's actually happening. I can make it to level 9 now (on Normal).
Also, no-one seems to mention that weapons can now be double-collected; collect two of any weapon on the same slot and they upgrade to super weapons. You can kill bosses in 30 seconds with these shooters, so it makes everything more manageable (and it's ridiculously satisfying).
You need patience, and a taste for old-school retry gaming. If that's you, seriously, just get the game. It's really, really good.
Yes, I'm a massive Contra (Probotector to me) fan(boy).
Gryzor to me Damn, i loved the original on the old amstrad 464, the guy who created the cpc464's gfx has his own site and was posting in one of the UK Amiga forums which i thought was mega cool. Damn hard game too, took me forever to finish it and its short
cvg mike im also a contra\probotector fanboy i might get contra 4 off ebay. You see i love the challenge of contra learning the patterrns and when to attack is the key to success, ive completed most of the contra\probotector games without cheating or the 32 lives cheats! although contra shattered soldier on ps2 i cant get the s ranking ending! i finished contra games on the nes, snes, gameboy,mega drive, ps2 and cant wait to give contra 4 a blast.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
