Kontora

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 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.

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!

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!

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.