Favorite Contra game

[Sotenga]

DISCLAIMER: I apologize if there may have been a poll like this one already, but the search engines, as we all know, are down, so I can't find any prior Contra polls... and if there was a poll, it probably didn't include Neo Contra. ;)

So here's the poll: Which Contra kicks the most ass? After all these years, my favorite is still the original Contra for the NES. I can't explain its charm... probably because it's such a trendsetter in the world of action games and it's still so addicting to play to this day. I like it more than the arcade game as its structure and play control are more refined, and for some reason, I find that the music just sounds better.

[downfall]

My vote goes to the NES version of Contra, if only because that's the one that I have the most memories of, and is the one that I've spent the most time with.

Contra: Shattered Soldier gives it an unbelievable run for the money, though it comes up just a teensy bit short of the greatness that is NES Contra.

Contra III probably comes in third out of the bunch - and thus far, I consider it the hardest.

[gamegirl79]

Even though the original Contra for NES is awesome, I chose Operation C. :embarrassed:

I spent the most time with that game and have so many fond memories of playing it for hours and hours during summer break from school. :)

[max 330 mega]

i dont see the choice for metal slug.. damn. :P

[GobopopRevisited]

i dont see the choice for metal slug.. damn. :P

:beaten: ... Contra Force 8-)

[delafro]

I enjoyed both Contra and Super C, but for whatever reason, Super C gets my pick. Maybe because it's so often overlooked.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Of course Contra 3, was their even ever a chance for the other games?

[Sotenga]

i dont see the choice for metal slug.. damn. :P

Heh... a Metal Slug poll... that's a good idea. I'd make one now were I not so lazy. Of course, someone else always could... ;)

[rbudrick]

I went with Super C. I love the original, but I thought that the sequel did everything a sequel shoud: Keep all the good of the original, get rid of the bad and add some more goodness.

The music was incredible, the graphics rocked, it had a good challenge and plenty of levels. They also did away with the pseudo-3d levels and put in overhead levels.

I played this game and the original so much I used to be able to beat them on one life....damn these games rock.

One of my favorite NES soundtracks to this day.

-Rob

[Barbarianoutkast85]

It was a close call between NES contra and contra hardcorps for the genesis. But I choose Genesis because its just so crazy more guns bigger levels i loved the bosses in hard corps but it was crazy hard. But I picked Hard corps in 2nd place would be NES contra then Super C

[Lemmy Kilmister]

i dont see the choice for metal slug.. damn. :P

Heh... a Metal Slug poll... that's a good idea. I'd make one now were I not so lazy. Of course, someone else always could... ;)

I'll do one, hold on.

[mkuo7]

Love Contra III for just about all of these reasons (http://maddox.xmission.com/contra3_owns.html)

[it290]

I gotta give it to NES Contra. It just has the most nostalgic value. As a game, Super C is probably just as good (except for the soundtrack), and I actually prefer the overhead stages in Super C to the tunnel stages in Contra, but Contra wins out.

I also like Contra : Hardcorps for the Genesis a lot. It's the most challenging, and has some cool multiple paths and the like. The boss:stage ratio is just a bit too high, though.

I'm not a big fan of Contra III. It's a good game, but I'm not fond of the art style, and I _hate_ the mode 7 stages.

[Ed Oscuro]

I've voted for Hard Corps (needs a seperate entry for the Japanese version really ;P), but hold on.

The original is great but doesn't hold a place among my top four releases, which are roughly:

Hard Corps
Super Contra/Super C/Operation C (same game really, but different enough to make a difference)

Of course, home/arcade versions of the original come next for me. Contra III comes after that.

I'm also not quite sure where Contra III needs to go; it has been a while since I've played it, though I remember it very well. It's just that III doesn't have the feeling of excitement that Hard Corps has.

Now, why don't I like the original better? It's got the classic areas and a pretty good feeling of action. Well:

1.) Behind the back areas add nothing to the game
2.) Ice field and the pipes area really aren't that much fun.

As for the music, here's a run-down:

Super C is nearly to Contra as Castlevania 3 is to Castlevania. Sure, Castlevania has some great tunes, but there's also some forgettable stuff in there (Stalker [stage 2 tune]? Bah, who remembers that? or how about Walking on the Edge? I love both of 'em dearly, of course, but Castlevania III's soundtrack just blows it away) while Castlevania III is pretty much the superior soundtrack. Contra's legendary stage one BGM is great in the way that the (overused) Ghosts 'n Goblins BGM is, but there's only so far that it can take the soundtrack along with the waterfalls area BGM, another all time classic. Beyond those two, you've got a couple other area tracks (I'm partial to the alien area BGM, but it's not among the greatest) that are more ambience than music, a pretty good boss theme, the behind the back stage music (yech), and some incidental music.

Super C's is high quality through and through. The stage one BGM doesn't stick as much as its counterpart in Contra but the rest are just as good - that's some great work. Probotector 2: Return of the Evil Forces is sweet as well with the remixed graphics that actually look good.

Operation C, on the other hand, takes Super C, adds a new first level and a Game Boy version of the classic Contra stage 1 BGM tune, and that actually represents the best selection of tracks, and the simplicity of the GB's sound doesn't hinder it at all here. The Probotector version of this game looks stupid.

On the subject of original Contra games, I've got the MSX one sitting in a box...well, everybody is squat, and that doesn't look so good. I can't comment on the music, though, as I haven't tried this one out yet. MSX 2 is sub-NES without Konami's SCC cartridge or something similar, though.

Now onto Contra III. Never really did it for me; the jumping android bosses always tear me apart and there's really only a few tracks in here that I really like (stage three's is maximum awesome though!) The Probotector version of this game isn't too awful, but it doesn't seem right, somehow...can't really pin it but the palette Konami used for this game is a bit off. I did that Contra III versus Super CV IV poll a while back - both are great games, but both leaned a bit heavily on Mode 7 over gameplay; at least SCV4 doesn't make that a gameplay mode though!

Contra: The Hard Corps really only works if you're playing the Japanese version with the three hit bars per life; otherwise this is about as enjoyable as a trip straight to hell (also the U.S. version's cart is uglier than any other locale's what with the camoflauge pattern...the Probotector version's beats it out by a mile). Graphics are awesome - much better than Contra III's actually, and yes, there's a good number of bosses in here that do things rather like Contra III did with its clunky top-down level, except this time it's actually fun to play through these areas! Examples include the gigantic (throw-away!) robot in the first level that throws cars at you and wobbles back and forth when shot, riding the wing of the plane, and being chased by another gigantic robot down a highway. These work out much better than Contra III's top down levels as you're always in real danger, you aren't playing around with the enemy respawn system and your perspective is good. Finally, the weapon system and slide (which you must use against some later bosses) are very nice additions.

I was initially impressed by Contra HC's music, but if you thought Shinobi III sounded generic you definitely won't like HC's music. It's really not that good by Contra standards, and is basically just more middle of the road Genesis music. There are some outstanding/fun tracks, though: Simon 1994rd comes to mind, and there's a track called "Gekokujoh Norakyura" - well, it's not the best sounding but it's rather amusing that the name rhymes (intentionally, of course) with Akumajo Dorakyura :)

I also know I've got some catching to do with the two PS2 games. Word on the street is that Shattered Soldier is hard but fulfilling despite the silly HUD, and Neo Contra controls funny but seems to work (and is very easy/short).

For the rest...Contra Force/"Arkhound" or Arc Hound (?) is barely worth acknowledging; I've heard terrible things about the Sat/PSX games.

The Alien Wars EX is a complete and total sham. Konami said the train stage (taken directly out of Hard Corps) was specially designed for the GBA, which is an utter misrepresentation of the facts. Hand it to KoA to make some outrageous claim like that! Well, functionally the game itself is retarded. Getting ahold of an item will bounce it directly up, you seriously can stand there forever while item capsules keep bouncing off you - NOT good in close quarters combat if you want to keep your weapon. There were also some dumb screens added as Konami tried to invent ways to fritter away ROM space. Is it playable? Well, I guess, but let's put it this way: Would you rather drive a car or a tricycle? It's funny to think of a Contra game in terms of children's toys, but the formula is very good to hardcore gamers and shouldn't be messed with. The port places pretty bad limits on screen space and that makes things more difficult than they need to be.

[Ernster]

Contra (NES)

Probably in my top 5 or 10 games of all time, multiplayer is the best 8-)

[Proclus]

I love the NES Contra as much as anyone, but I chose to go with Super C instead. I always felt that it was somewhat crisper than the original, both in graphics/sound and in playability. And I like the top-down stages...

Contra: Hard Corps was very cool too...

[Ernster]

Is Super C and Contra force different games? I always thought they were the same.........

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Is Super C and Contra force different games? I always thought they were the same.........

Yes, yes they are. :)

http://www.webroon.com/~emulism/picture/famicom/action/super_contra2.jpg

Super C.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/contrafor-1.gif

Contra Force.

[it290]

On the subject of original Contra games, I've got the MSX one sitting in a box...well, everybody is squat, and that doesn't look so good. I can't comment on the music, though, as I haven't tried this one out yet. MSX 2 is sub-NES without Konami's SCC cartridge or something similar, though.

Hmmm.. that reminds me, there is a C64 version of Contra as well. It's pretty difficult, due to the fact that you have to jump using the spacebar, but I remember enjoying it way back when. I can't remember if the SID tunes are better than the NES soundtrack or not -- I downloaded it for emulation use a while ago, but for some reason that (pirate) version had the Rastan music as BGM. I think it may have been one of those games where you have to select either music or sound effects, and there may have only been one track anyway... so it probably didn't top the NES game in that respect.



Contra: The Hard Corps really only works if you're playing the Japanese version with the three hit bars per life; otherwise this is about as enjoyable as a trip straight to hell

I strongly disagree. I feel the Japanese version is way too easy, although the US version is just a tad on the difficult side... you just have to learn the patterns of the bosses.

[Ed Oscuro]

On the subject of original Contra games, I've got the MSX one sitting in a box...well, everybody is squat, and that doesn't look so good. I can't comment on the music, though, as I haven't tried this one out yet. MSX 2 is sub-NES without Konami's SCC cartridge or something similar, though.
Hmmm.. that reminds me, there is a C64 version of Contra as well. It's pretty difficult, due to the fact that you have to jump using the spacebar, but I remember enjoying it way back when. I can't remember if the SID tunes are better than the NES soundtrack or not -- I downloaded it for emulation use a while ago, but for some reason that (pirate) version had the Rastan music as BGM. I think it may have been one of those games where you have to select either music or sound effects, and there may have only been one track anyway... so it probably didn't top the NES game in that respect.
The only track in that one is the one from the Isometric level, which sucks! I have no idea why that's the one they'd choose. Boo. Gryzor is also on the Spectrum in some format or other; I've read that there is only one BGM on that version as well. I should check this out in more detail, really.

+1 for me for using ", though" twice in quick succession, too. Sorry that I can't be a more engaging writer here LOL


Contra: The Hard Corps really only works if you're playing the Japanese version with the three hit bars per life; otherwise this is about as enjoyable as a trip straight to hell

I strongly disagree. I feel the Japanese version is way too easy, although the US version is just a tad on the difficult side... you just have to learn the patterns of the bosses.
Random one hit kills are ALWAYS fun! I feel cheaped out by those. Surely catering to a wider audience doesn't make the game bad, now does it? In any case, you have the consolation of knowing that the U.S. version is the one most people will play (and the reason the game isn't so popular, too) as the Japanese one is uncommon/rare.

[DTJAAAAMJSLM]

Contra 3! It has my favorite Contra weapons and enemies.

[Dr. Morbis]

I voted for Contra (NES). I don't know how the Super C voters could possibly justify their selection. Contra is so polished while Super C looks as if it was rushed out the door. The graphics and sound of Super C suck but it's a damn fine game to play only because of the excellent gameplay of the original Contra game engine.

Contra's music is classic AAA quality stuff from start to finish, while Super C's soundtrack is entirely forgetable (to put it nicely). And I like the pseudo 3D levels in the original much better than the generic overhead levels of Super C. It's like I'm in the middle of a good game of Super C when all of a sudden the game transforms into a generic overhead shooter like Ikari Warriors, or Guerrilla Warfare, or Commando, or etc. Still gameplay is what matters, that's why I'd put Super C third behind Contra 1 and 3.

[NeoZeedeater]

I voted for Contra 3. I'm surprised the first NES game has so many votes. I loved it but I can't think of anything it does better than the SNES/Genesis games.

[Ed Oscuro]

I voted for Contra (NES). I don't know how the Super C voters could possibly justify their selection.
I already did! bg @ U.


Contra is so polished while Super C looks as if it was rushed out the door. The graphics and sound of Super C suck but it's a damn fine game to play only because of the excellent gameplay of the original Contra game engine.
There's more detail in Super C than in the original Contra. Compare the first level of each game; for Super C it also manages to get better.

Changes...sloped floors added in (which you shoot along the angle of, to get higher enemies in towers while on such a floor you need to jump), the jungle level (Super C's focuses on blasting enemies, instead of "am I gonna make that next platform and if I scroll the screen up now will that be bad?"), behind the back levels are gone, and that blasted near-invincible bulldozer from the snow level isn't returning! Finally, the bosses here are much more interesting, with the possible exception of the classically trippy final boss from Contra. The others, like that stupid war computer, are far less animated than their Super C counterparts. Of course, I do like Contra's falling blocks area better than I do the top-down alien hive spot (ending with the large alien face/two arms monster).

Of course, rbudrick and I aren't not the only ones (http://www.classicgaming.com/contra/games/supercnes/supercnes.htm) who likes Super C better than Contra for these reasons. Super C is either more or less challenging, depending on how you count platforming versus enemies shooting at a greater variety of angles. Just a few minutes ago I one-lifed Super C all the way up to the robotic boss at the end of the third stage (killed level one's chopper before it finished its first pass), which proceeded to kill me four times in a row. Lost track of what I was doing there, heh.


Contra's music is classic AAA quality stuff from start to finish, while Super C's soundtrack is entirely forgetable (to put it nicely).
You could say the same thing of Castlevania and Castlevania III. The complexity of Super C's soundtrack isn't as pleasing to the minimalist, but variety in each track = winner, and they've got some really nifty effects going too. Contra's formula is basically to take an outstanding theme and repeat it ad nauseum. I've no problem with the snow field BGM but there's more to life than a few bars of the same stuff over and over!


And I like the pseudo 3D levels in the original much better than the generic overhead levels of Super C. It's like I'm in the middle of a good game of Super C when all of a sudden the game transforms into a generic overhead shooter like Ikari Warriors, or Guerrilla Warfare, or Commando, or etc.
Difference here being that Super C's overhead sections are far better than all those games, with the possible exception of Guerilla Warfare for controlling so well. On that note, anybody else find it humorous how the demo player in the NES Guerrilla War seems to think all the hostages are enemies? He shoots up over half of them! The game would've been much better if only there was a secret bad ending for completing the game with a negative (if it were possible) score. :P

[ArnoldRimmer83]

Guess I'll vote for Super C for Nes as well. For some reason out of all the Contra games, that one seems to be the first that comes to mind when I think of the series. I think one of the reasons I like it is because of the atmosphere it has, particularly starting at level 6 where you're in the alien lair and in each level afterwards you go deeper and deeper into it.

The original Contra, Operation C, and Contra III are each my next favorites. Hard Corps and Shattered Soldier are alright, but both rely a little too heavily on boss battles for my taste. (And it is annoying that Konami made Hard Corps harder for US players.) The MSX Contra is interesting, as it has some exclusive levels, though the MSX hardware's inability to handle scrolling hinders it. Have yet to play Neo Contra.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Contra (NES)

[Dr. Morbis]

I voted for Contra (NES). I don't know how the Super C voters could possibly justify their selection.
I already did! bg @ U.


Contra is so polished while Super C looks as if it was rushed out the door. The graphics and sound of Super C suck but it's a damn fine game to play only because of the excellent gameplay of the original Contra game engine.
There's more detail in Super C than in the original Contra. Compare the first level of each game; for Super C it also manages to get better.
First, I don't know what bg is supposed to stand for in bg @ U.
Second, I find the graphics of Super C to be much more one dimensional. Contra's first level is much more pleasing to the eye and interesting to play through than Super C's monochrome level 1 - also known as the official gray level. Super C's level 3 jungle theme is uninspired. The same trees and same flat ground every stinking screen. And level 4 is Konami's official green level. Level 5, 7, and 8 are great though. Super C definitely gets better (graphically) the farther you play.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I'm not trying to knock Super C. Both of them are great games. It just can't compare to the greatness of the original Contra (in my opinion of course).

[Ed Oscuro]

BG = bad game! And yeah, the game is uglier in spots, that's a given, but at the same time it has more details; I feel it's more appropriate for the theme given that nests of ALIENS!!11 (TM) don't usually double as tourist traps (though I'm sure they could). I'm usually a graphics...um...fanatic, too. Contra's stuff - i.e. War Computer - just struck me as a bit too silly looking for its own good in places. One thing is true, though - whether isometric or top-down, the bonus segments beat the competition pretty soundly! Heck, being able to aim diagonally is a pretty big thing on the NES.

[Mattiekrome]

Man, good poll... I gotta go with the oldie but goodie CONTRA for NES, with SUPER C following in a VERY CLOSE 2nd

[E Nice]

I chose Contra: Hard Corps as my favorite. It had a decent length, considerng all the branching paths, and tons of bosses. The game is hard but it's all about pattern memorization.

I wonder, am I the only one who liked the Contra pseudo 3D levels over the sequels overhead levels? I thought it was pretty good and Hard Corps showed what you can do with the scrolling forward/backward/pseudo 3D levels, best example the highway boss Deadeye Joe. Even Shattered Soldier managed to do it pretty good with the train stage. I see the overhead levels as somewhat limiting though Contra 3 did finally make creative use of them that was sadly never really implemented in the same way again.

[Xexyz]

Contra: Hard Corps(Genesis) gets my vote. I just loved the idfferent take by making tons of boss fights in each level. I also really digged the music. Branchign paths were cool too.

Everytime I think of this game I get the Stage 1 music stuck in my head... it's a good thing actually. One of my favorite game tunes ever.

[NintendoMan]

CONTRA. By far the one I have most fun at. Maybe because it was my first Contra game, and was very jealous back in the day because my neighbor's brother got this game for Easter. I was like, all I get is candy and he gets a game! Unfair.

[otterpop]

Contra III the alien wars. A friend and I were obsessed with the Contra series as kids, but in my opinion Alien Wars had the best 2 player action.

Of course my opinion is probably shrouded in nostalgia.