Kontora

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.

I know I'm not the only person out there who still has a functioning NES machine, and I will never grow tired of Contra. Not because It was really one of those games that wraps you up for weeks, but because you and a buddy can run around and simply blow things up.

The soundtrack was great, and is being brought back to life by my favorite band, the Minibosses . You can go there to download the MP3 to hear the song if your NES has somehow passed on to the closet of broken machinery.

Remember this always... Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select Start. Those who know... know.

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.

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.

This game was one of my favorite games to team up and challenge an awesome military force. Better than that one that was an over the top view and you could get into a tank, forgot the name of that one, but this one I could never forget. I also liked the original Mario Brothers too, as that one was rather fun to play with a friend as well. This one has you as one of two military tough guys, one nicknamed Mad Dog and one Scorpion as you traverse jungle terrain, futuristic bases and the innards of a very large and very unfriendly looking alien battling the forces of the Red Falcon, whose name really did not make much sense as the alien looked nothing like a falcon, but I guess that is just nitpicking on my part. You run through each level blasting all that gets in your way using your standard gun with unlimited ammo! You also get upgrades that increase the rate of fire, gives you lasers and flame throwers and of course who can forget the spread gun? When you and your friend had this deadly weapon, alien forces watch out! Annihilation ensues! The stages vary a bit to give you a different experience each time as you have your horizontal moving levels, vertical levels and the strange 3-D type forward moving stages. You battle a boss at the end of each stage as you make your way through the many enemy forts on your way to blasting away the 'heart' of the operation. Fun game, hard as heck thanks to the fact it was a one hit and your character is done type game, I was ever grateful for the code that made it so you had 30 lives!