26-Feb-2003 Ever tried dodging raindrops? Tricky, to say the least. Well, it seems that someone has translated this difficulty into a game. But instead of water, it's bullets, fireballs, missiles and every other deadly projectile imaginable!
Contra: Shattered Soldier is definitely in the running for toughest arcade shooter on PS2. But punishing hardcore action is Contra's hallmark. And while Shattered Soldier stays true to its roots, the gameplay has a wickedly up-to-date feel, confirming that 2D blasters can still offer a brilliantly simple, blindingly fast, unique gaming experience that's near impossible to recreate faithfully in 3D.
SHATTERED MOLARS It's played entirely on a 2D plane, but all the visuals are modelled in beautiful 3D, giving the game a super-fresh style and making it one of the finest-looking side-scrolling shooters around. Plus the heart attack-inducing heavy metal soundtrack is so intense it'd make your grandma's dentures shatter. This game has attitude to spare! And the ballsy spirit carries over into the gameplay.
The action is so outrageous it's almost hilarious; all seven stages are rammed with spectacular set pieces and ridiculous boss encounters. There's hardly a moment when you're not locked in combat with massive creatures and machinery ripped straight from the mind of a mad genius: kilometre-long battleships that transform into giant helicopters, dragon-like snow worms the size of whales, and mechanised beetles with searchlights!
THE DECISION... IS YOURS! Along with beefing up the scenarios, this latest episode has taken the bold step of canning the old power-up system. Now you're equipped with three standard weapons from the start - a rapid-fire machine gun, flame-thrower and grenade launcher - each with an extra special secondary attack.
This change introduces tactics to what is otherwise all-out chaos: it's essential that you select your weapon wisely (and quickly), because each situation and enemy calls for a different attack strategy. Thankfully, this decision-making no way affects the blistering pace of the action. It only enhances the experience, because you're now forced to think quickly as well as react like lightning. For one of the fastest and toughest brain-sizzling shooters around, look no further. But sadly, as with every Contra game, once you master all the stages, the entire adventure is over in a flash.
Michael Cooper
// Overview
Verdict
If you have a weak heart, steer clear because Shattered Soldier assaults all your senses with its fantastically frenzied 2D action.
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