Post by: MegaByte on November 01, 2007, 05:33:51 PM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=14728
Unlike most recent game sequels, Contra 4 holds fast to the difficulty found in the original games. This means one hit and you’re dead. Period.
Contra 4 plays very similarly to the run-and-gun NES and SNES originals, which is an interesting fusion of the platforming and shoot-em-up genres. The hero runs from left to right with no scroll-back. A plethora of enemies who enter the screen from all directions try to stop him. The hero can jump and shoot in eight directions. The game makes no use of the DS’s touch capability, but it does use both screens to pile on even more action.
There are several types of weapons available, and as in most shooters, these weapons make the navigating the gauntlet much easier to deal with. The game includes the machine gun, spread gun, laser, flame thrower, and more. However, after being killed, the player reverts to his original gun. Like Contra III, Contra 4 allows players to switch between two weapons, allowing them to keep a secondary means of attack in case they are killed. New to the series is a grappling hook, which propels the player to the top of the screen, assuming there is something to latch onto. This new mechanic can be used to skillfully reach power-ups or strategically take out enemies.
Contra 4 is hard. Not cheap, but unforgiving in the way that many early 8-bit games were. That means you won’t want to throw the DS in disgust as you die for the umpteenth time, but instead will want to play yet again, knowing what you need to do to avoid being shot by that one crouching enemy soldier that you missed. Whether you can convince your hands to pull that off is another question entirely.
Still in classic form, the third level in the game switches to a behind-the-back perspective as the hero runs forward from room to room. This level was quite a bit easier than the first two. The fact is, nearly all of the E for All attendees didn't get a chance to see the second level, much less the third. And there are nine in all.
At the end of each level are fearsome bosses. For instance, during the second level, you spend the time climbing up, up, up a waterfall on a series of ropes tethered to small platforms. Once at the top, a giant demonic alien fills both screens, and in the ensuing battle, the player rides a platform back down the waterfall with the beast in hot pursuit.
Despite an upgraded palette, the graphics manage to possess an old-school, arcade feeling. The jungle scenery makes it even more difficult to keep track of all of the action on the screen, particularly the small projectiles. Virt, a video game remixer who has gained fame on the Internet, is in charge of an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack.
Like the originals, Contra 4 includes two-player simultaneous play through local wireless play. The game includes three difficulty levels, though normal is supposed to be equivalent with the original Contra and already quite difficult.
And what about the classic Konami Code? The game does let you enter the famous button sequence as well as some variations, but I’ll let you find out what they actually do once the game is out.
Contra 4 is the quintessential gamer’s game, a merciless run-and-gun requiring serious hand-eye-coordination in stark contrast with the DS’s usual claim to fame titles. If challenge and classical arcade mechanics are what you’re looking for, Contra 4 is practically the definition.
The video below shows the intro to the game as well as a pro Konami employee blasting his way through the first two stages.
Post by: MarioAllStar on November 01, 2007, 06:40:49 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 01, 2007, 06:43:44 PM
Quote
Not cheap, but unforgiving in the way that many early 8-bit games were.
Wait a second, I thought the reason why NES games were hard for the most part is because they were cheap! Lies all lies! Anyway I'm definitely getting this game.
Post by: Stogi on November 01, 2007, 06:59:27 PM
The SNES versions suck ass though. I don't know how anyone could beat that game without an emulator (for the save states).
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on November 01, 2007, 07:09:37 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on November 01, 2007, 07:30:20 PM
For those that don't know, Contra and Super C are included in the game.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 01, 2007, 07:44:55 PM
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Originally posted by: TJ Spyke
I planned to buy this game as soon as it was confirmed that the original Contra is included on it. I was also happy to hear that it's more like the original Contra than Contra III: The Alien Wars (which I hated).
For those that don't know, Contra and Super C are included in the game.
How can you hate the best Contra ever?!?!? You crazy man.
Post by: Adrock on November 01, 2007, 08:20:50 PM
Contra 4 is like my most anticipated game this year (since Brawl was delayed). It beats out Super Mario Galaxy by a hair since it hasn't been 14 years since the last real installment of the series.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 01, 2007, 08:31:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
Yeah, seriously. Learn to play, noobs. Contra 3 was awesome.
Contra 4 is like my most anticipated game this year (since Brawl was delayed). It beats out Super Mario Galaxy by a hair since it hasn't been 14 years since the last real installment of the series.
The PS2 versions were real installments, well the 2 1/2d ones were. But now you are the crazy man for anticipating Contra 4 more than SMG!
Post by: Adrock on November 01, 2007, 09:01:28 PM
Contra 4 is the Contra game I've been waiting for. It's hard to explain. I'd compare it to how I looked forward to Metroid Fusion more than Prime though I hope Contra 4 is a better 4th installment than Fusion, not that Fusion was bad.And I see Mario all the time. Every time I turn around, he's in another game or like 7 other games. Super Mario Galaxy will be an amazing game, but I don't miss Mario. Nintendo won't allow that. I miss old-school Contra. Blame nostalgia I guess...
Post by: FoldMeTwice on November 01, 2007, 09:52:11 PM
(though I didn't watch the whole clip I didn't see them in between stage 1 and 2 )..That being said: Contra 3 is one of my favourite games on the SNES.. I actually returned to it about half a year ago and didn't stop until had beaten hard mode *proud* =D. Just as Aaron said, even if you die a lot, it doesn't take the fun out of the game... though I wonder how the boss alien on stage 5 can be beaten without dying over and over (the rotating fire breathing eye/brain in the desert).. I usually use the short invulnerability after death to feed it with bullets..
Post by: KDR_11k on November 02, 2007, 03:11:50 AM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 02, 2007, 05:24:13 AM
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Originally posted by: KDR_11k
Contra 3 felt like Treasure made it, way too many boss battles that always play very different from each other. Personally I prefer the more consistent playstyle of the earlier Contras.
Wait that stuff is a BAD thing?!?!?
Post by: Terranigma Freak on November 02, 2007, 08:21:33 AM
Post by: Kairon on November 02, 2007, 08:22:55 AM
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Originally posted by: Terranigma Freak
This is Contra. BUY IT. That's all you need to know!
QFT.
Post by: KDR_11k on November 02, 2007, 08:26:54 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenixQuote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
Contra 3 felt like Treasure made it, way too many boss battles that always play very different from each other. Personally I prefer the more consistent playstyle of the earlier Contras.
Wait that stuff is a BAD thing?!?!?
To me, yes.
Post by: EasyCure on November 03, 2007, 08:30:48 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: KashogiStogi
No. Contra (apart from the SNES versions) were never cheap, just extremely frustrating.
The SNES versions suck ass though. I don't know how anyone could beat that game without an emulator (for the save states).
with two players and lotsa time on your hands. my brother is what you'd call a lapsed-gamer but if someone mentions Contra we bust out the SNES and play this till the end no matter what. it took a few tries when we first started but once you know the levels and no to press forward and not dilly dally the game gets "easy". theres never a need to punch one another for "borrowing" an spare life like when we were kids playing Contra II
Post by: Kairon on November 03, 2007, 12:23:59 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 05, 2007, 06:35:51 AM
My brothers beat this game every couple of months. They never get Game Over anymore.
"Contra 3 felt like Treasure made it"
I think they did. Treasure is made up of ex-Konami programmers and I'm quite certain Contra 3 was one of the games they worked on. Makes sense since Treasure's first game was Gunstar Heroes which, while awesome, is a pretty blatant Contra clone.
Contra isn't cheap because you CAN get better. Cheap games have sh!tty control and/or such overwhelming odds that sheer luck is the only way to win. A fair but hard game presents a major challenge but with practice you can overcome it and eventually get to the point where you can always overcome it every time.
Post by: Stogi on November 05, 2007, 06:50:47 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: EasyCureQuote
Originally posted by: KashogiStogi
No. Contra (apart from the SNES versions) were never cheap, just extremely frustrating.
The SNES versions suck ass though. I don't know how anyone could beat that game without an emulator (for the save states).
with two players and lotsa time on your hands. my brother is what you'd call a lapsed-gamer but if someone mentions Contra we bust out the SNES and play this till the end no matter what. it took a few tries when we first started but once you know the levels and no to press forward and not dilly dally the game gets "easy". theres never a need to punch one another for "borrowing" an spare life like when we were kids playing Contra II
I must just suck then. Plus, if I were going to play this type of game on the SNES, I'd most likely play Sunset Riders!
Post by: Ian Sane on November 05, 2007, 08:26:39 AM
F*CK YEAH!! I say play both!
