Kontora

Okay, so maybe the game is older than God, but who cares? It is still as much fun now as it was 14 years ago. I still have fond memories as a 6 year old playing this game and just blastin' everything in sight. What fun!

I long for the age of the NES, when the games were just plain fun and simple without flashy animation and movie-like special effects to get in the way. I remember when CONTRA was first released in 1988. (Jeez, has it really been that long!?) It was the big deal at school; everybody was talking about it. Toys R Us was sold out for awhile, so the best I could do was rent it or play it at a friend's house. I was hooked instantly, and when I finally got my own copy, I was playing it nearly every day. I got so good at it that I could beat it in twenty minutes flat (with the thirty lives code, of course; I don't know anyone who ever beat it with just three). Even nearly five years later, long after my NES and games had gone away to make room for the Sega Genesis, I was able to still beat CONTRA in my record time when I discovered it at the house of my high school friend. Though there have been many notable video games in the years since, CONTRA remains my #1 all-time favorite of them all. It just had everything I like in a game and gave me with countless hours of entertainment (which my parents liked, because it kept me from bugging them wanting another game.) Some games I would beat and never really play much again afterwards. But CONTRA always kept me coming back for more no matter how many times I beat it (I think about 30, at last count). To me, the sequels never managed to really capture the spirit and fun factor of the original, so I never bothered with them. And who can forget that awesome first level music? I really wish Nintendo would release some "NES Classics" soundtrack containing the music from their old games. No techno remixes, no new arrangements. Just the plain and simple music we all know and love. Well, I admit, an orchestral version of the CONTRA music would be awesome, especially if done with an Alan Silvestri/ERASER-type sound. Thank you Konami for providing one of the great joys of my childhood.

Growing up in the early ninetees, the end of the beginning of the video game generation, I have been exposed to many different games and systems. I currently have a Playstation 2, but I will never forget the glory days of videogames (and my childhood)and that is the 80's/early 90's era of the regular NES.

I look back on that system with only the fondest of memories, and many games come to mind now that I look back on the days where you would have to blow on the game cartridge just to get it to start. There's the addictive, ambitious, creative and ultimately entertaining and challenging Lucas Arts original "Star Wars", of course Nintendo's "Mario"-a crime to leave out, Konami's "Buyou Billy" and their best effort to video game to date (my #1 best video game), "Contra".

This game set the standard for platform action and contains different perspectives and a wide variety of weapons (spread, flamethrower, laser, machine just to name a few) and many challenging, fun and groundbreaking levels. It offers two player action which set the bar for duo combat games to come.

The story involves two soldiers who are dropped on an island by helicopter to battle an alien species known as thw Red Falcon. They must combat these creatures to avoid the spread of the alien race, thus saving the world. The creatures come in a wide range of species, some resemble humans, other crawl like spiders and float from place to place.

The game spawned many sequels, most recently "Contra Shattered Soldier"- a great tribute. Gamers and developers alike will always apprechiate this marvel in video game and hopefully continue to fight the menacing Red Falcon.

A classic game with an old school gameplay . it's a shame they don't make games like this anymore.My respect goes to 88 Contra but my favorite is the one that was on SNES- Contra The Alien Wars(amazing special effects for that time). The Genesis/Megadrive version was great too. Awoid at any cost all the 3d Contras on PSX

This is by far the best game i have ever played. Although i was only one when it came out, some how i came across the game and love playing it. Almost every summer i set up my NES just to play Contra. I think all the new systems are missing what NEs had, just plain and simple fun. no gimmicks, flashy lights n stuff.