RetroGamer84 and GamerFan Dive into Contra (NES – 1988)
All right, I just powered on the NES. Remember to blow into the Contra cartridge, then snap it in with confidence. Once that’s done, the Konami code awaits us!
Cartridge is secure. Controllers in hand. Now, let’s take on the Amazon jungles of 1987. This expanded port promises longer stages and brand-new cut-scenes.
Gameplay Highlights
Stage 1 always gets me. Those machine-gun turrets pop up like mad, so I’m constantly on my toes. I love the behind-view segments where we dodge every bullet and jet out plates of nachos mid-battle.
True, but my favorite is Stage 3’s cliffside march. As paratroopers drop from above in perfect formation, I swear I remember pausing to chew on a soda-soaked pretzel right before the helicopter boss appears.
- Slick Scrolling: The smooth 2D side view never falters, even when the screen scrolls faster than your reflexes.
- Weapon Variety: Spread Gun, Laser, Rapid Fire – each change transforms your firepower instantly.
- Secret Rooms: Hidden spots in Stages 2 and 7 reveal extra lives or the all-powerful Fireball Gun.
Hot Tips
- Master the Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down…) for 30 lives—enough to indulge in snack breaks between boss encounters.
- Switch weapons quickly. For instance, the Spread Gun clears crowds; meanwhile, the Laser pierces multiple targets.
- Watch your jump timing. Indeed, the platforming segments in Stage 4 require precise leaps over lava pits and flamethrowers.
- Work as a team in co-op. That way, you can cover each other’s blind spots when paratroopers swarm from both sides.
Memorable Moments & Anecdotes
Remember that time at your place? We paused at the halfway point, ran to the kitchen for fizzy drinks, then returned to find the screen locked on the mid-level turret. Consequently, we nearly lost all our lives.
How could I forget? We had to restart the entire stage. Yet that made our eventual victory over the Stage 5 mechanical frog boss even sweeter, and we high-fived so hard the TV nearly rattled off the stand.
There’s also the secret graphical effects in the Famicom version—shimmering lights during cut-scenes that don’t exist on the NES. Notably, it really sold the sci-fi vibe.
Those mission briefings between levels felt like flick-book animations. They fleshed out the 1987 Amazon setting, complete with tribal ruins and experimental labs.
The Final Boss Showdown
Stage 8 felt endless. First, you battle through alien larvae, then a gauntlet of flamethrower emplacements. By the time we emerged into the main chamber, our thumbs were sore.
And there it was – the enormous bio-mechanical war machine, pulsating with neon green veins. We dodged laser beams that crisscrossed the room while swapping between Spread Gun for crowd control and Laser for pinpoint strikes on its core.
I remember the adrenaline spike when we downed that final segment. The machine exploded into pixelated shrapnel, and the credits rolled over a triumphant chiptune anthem. Unsurprisingly, my soda nearly flew out of my cup.
Final Verdict
Contra’s NES port remains a timeless action-shooter. With its extended levels, boss variety, and cooperative mayhem, it truly defines the era.
Absolutely. Whether you’re a solo soldier or teaming up with a friend, Contra delivers non-stop thrills. Just remember: save those extra lives, sharpen your reflexes, and always have your snack stash ready.
Game over?
Never. Press start again!
