Game #7 – Super Probotector Alien Rebels
Now, I know I spent some time earlier talking about the EU Contras. And yes, this one is pretty much an exact clone of Contra III. But that doesn’t change the fact I adore that game, so I found this one entertaining as well. It’s still a very pretty game, with tons of mechanical and biological threats to combat. I also found the robotic heroes looked really cool, and in some odd ways it makes more sense to have powerful robots fighting aliens than bare chested humans with guns.
Honestly the only real complaint I have about Super Probotector Alien Rebels is that they didn’t try something new. With the whole robots versus aliens theme, it would have been cool if Konami had thrown in a new boss or two, or even a unique stage. Cause honestly, I’m invested in that concept. That said, if you like the series but feel the other games are too hard, this slowed down adventure should be more your speed.
Game #8 – Super C
Now we’re really starting to get to the good stuff. While the original Contra was fun but a bit of a mess, Super C is where the series started to come together. There was no question that aliens were up to no good here, and they mixed horror with action very well. Infected soldiers, creepy skull ships and much more made this a game worth remembering.
Not only was the balance better in Super C, but they had some really iconic fights that were echoed in later games. A noteworthy one is the freaky final boss, which is reused later in Contra III, but there’s a lot more that I loved. Take the dangerous metal spider you have to stand on top of and shoot bullets into. Also, the top down sections here were much more interesting than the first game.
All in all, I feel Super C did a memorable job of bringing Contra into a more coherent place. It wasn’t afraid to try crazy shit, and the bosses were more significant and fun to battle. But the next game is one that has a very special place in my heart.
Game #9 – Contra III: The Alien Wars
This is the game that I have held up for years as my example of what the best Contra is. And there’s a few reasons. One is the nostalgia factor. I can still clearly remember playing this with my friend in elementary school on a giant TV, yelling and screaming as we blasted aliens to bits and got destroyed in return. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was great at the game way back then, I didn’t care. I kept playing cause I enjoyed it so much, and in the process got better and better.
Another really obvious reason I love Contra III is the music. This is the entry in the entire series that has my favorite soundtrack. I can still hear the haunting tunes from Neo Kobe Steel Factory, the upbeat tracks of Road Warriors and the tense tenor of the boss track, Invasion. While the tunes are definitely better blaring at you from a giant sound system, they also are quite enjoyable on the portable Nintendo Switch. But it wasn’t just the music, I also loved the gameplay in this entry. Not only is it rock solid, it’s very well balanced. You won’t die for stupid reasons once you get down the patterns.
I feel Contra III did the best job of streamlining the action while still keeping it complex. Dual guns you could swap between, bombs and shields all were in this game. And that’s a good thing, since it had some gnarly boss fights. The whole game is almost a boss rush, with grunts rushing you in between. Sure, the final stages are a bit much, and the fact you have to play through it more than once to get the best ending is a challenge, but that’s just part of the special sauce that makes a Contra. Next, we have the game that stole the gold from Contra III in a surprising upset.
Game #10 – Contra Hard Corps
As a lifelong Nintendo fan, this is hard for me to admit, but the sole Sega Contra in this collection has become my favorite Contra game. Which is a sentence I never thought I’d write. The primary reason is this – the staggering ambition of this game. Konami wasn’t content to sit on their laurels and phone this game in. It’s almost so over the top I can’t classify this as a Contra. There’s multiple endings, for one. For another, the primary focus of the game are out of control robots (at least initially). But then you throw in things like multiple playable characters with different weapons, and I was just staggered.
Now, while in many ways I still feel that Contra III is the purest experience, this one is worth owning for how nuts it is. You won’t know what’s coming down the pipe next, other than the fact it’ll be angry and bloodthirsty. This is also a rapid fire Contra, making Contra III appear like it’s standing still in comparison. One jungle stage has hordes of angry critters that rush you, and if you’re not ready they’ll tear you to ribbons. Oh and did I mention there are bosses that also get some character development? Not much, mind you, but still that’s impressive. I love Colonel Bahamut, who reminded me of Dracula mixed with Dr. Wily. Or take Noiman Cascade, an obese hacker that attacks you with virtual constructs.
In many ways, I think Hard Corps is remarkable, and it’s evident now how fully it inspired another game I love, Blazing Chrome. But Hard Corps is also really, really difficult. Even with save states, you’ll be replaying fights over and over til you get the patterns down pat. I do think the balance is a little skewed, but I still had a blast. I managed to get two different endings, but I know there’s still a handful more waiting for me. But this is one of the few games in the Collection I’ll be replaying multiple times just for the hell of it.
Now, while those 10 are the main reason you’ll buy the Contra Anniversary Collection, there’s still more. There are Bonus JP versions of some of the games, but I didn’t have the time or inclination to play those. Mostly because I don’t believe there was enough new variation in any to justify playing them. But if you want some added replay value, you certainly have it there. Or if you want to play with a friend, I’m pretty sure all the games that originally had co-op can be played locally with a friend on Switch. Which is a nice touch.
Aesthetically, there’s really not a bad game in the bunch. Sure the series started more primitive, but even the earliest examples here had great and vibrant designs. I would definitely point to later games, such as Hard Corps and Contra III, as having the best monsters in the Collection, but there’s nothing ugly here. Even the arcade games I disliked are well animated. Musically, the game is good, not great, with the exception I mentioned earlier. Overall, the design is very solid, and I love the creativity on display in all the games.
Another cool bonus in the Anniversary Collection is the gallery. Not only does it include tons of artwork, but a lot of behind the scenes info and even an interview or two. It even features a Contra Timeline (proving Konami didn’t learn their lesson from Castlevania) as well as a really nifty list of how many games each of the iconic weapons from Contra appeared in. My favorite is still the good old Spreadshot, but I have some affection for the Crush and Homing guns as well. However, just like the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, this compilation lacks one key feature – a music box. Now it’s not as unforgivable here as it was there, since all Castlevania games have amazing music, compared to only a couple Contra games, but it’s still a bummer.
Altogether, the Contra Anniversary Collection is still a hell of a bargain. As a gamer that grew up playing many of these games, it’s nice having a bunch of them together in one place. I probably spent 12 hours or so playing through the entire thing. I’m a bit dissatisfied that some of my other favorite games in the series aren’t here, such as Shattered Soldier and Contra 4. But even without those, this Collection is a great deal for only $19.99. If you love over the top mayhem, giant bosses and lots of challenge, look no further.
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Review Copy Purchased by Author
