To accompany our choice of the original Contra for our game of the month for the Together Retro Game Club, I thought it would be great to get the community’s opinion on how all the rest of the games in the Contra series rank.
I know it will be hard for some of you to choose just one, so I’ll let everyone choose two games out of the series.
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Presented by Fastbilly & Racketboy
New To Together Retro? Check out the introduction to the club
When Paul Kersey goes to visit his buddy Charlie in Brooklyn, he arrives moments after a gang kills his friend. Paul is mistaken by the police as the murderer and eventually goes after the gang to get revenge for his friend and save the neighborhood. Ok so thats the plot of Death Wish 3 and not Contra. But if you are a fan of the classic Charles Bronson film you know exactly why that is pertinent. Death Wish 3 and Contra have several key things in common. The most important things for you to know are hails of bullets, explosions, and carnage.
1987 put us in the shoes of two Military Commandos, Bill and Lance, for the first time. Locked in combat against the terrorist group the Red Falcon and their ties with an alien race, these two travel through ten intense stages of nonstop 80s action. Join us this month as we take down this alien menace.
Despite popular belief, Contra is not named after the Iran-Contra Affair. Rumor has it that the title is a portmanteau of the three words Battle Spirit Cloth, which in Kanji spell Kontora and is pronounced Contra. Created in 86 and released in the Japanese arcades in 87, Contra took off and for good reason. Within months of its release it had redefined what an arcade game should be. Gone were the days of eating pellets and chasing ghosts, the 90s were on the horizon and we had to blow stuff up. The arcade version defined what a Run and Gun title should be and is still considered one of the best of its kind. However in 1988 Konami released the title in a somewhat truncated form for the NES in both Japan and the USA (Europe’s release was the following year) and it became an icon instead of just an arcade phenomenon.
There are many changes between the versions: the location was changed from the fictional islands of Galuga to an unnamed South American island, difficulty was slightly reduced to do hardware bottlenecks, the screen rotation was changed from vertical to horizontal, and the “if you have more than x lives the game becomes harder” mechanic was removed. However, many consider these changes, and the others mentioned later, to be a boon instead of a determent.
Contra has been released in over twenty five formats including, most recently, cellphones. It has been the inspiration for countless of songs, dozens of bands, and even a few films. It is never far from the top of a hardest game lists even now, 23 years after its release, and will continue to infuriated the lot of us for years to come. It is one of the first coop NES games and its opening notes are forever etched in most of our minds.
The NES port is considered by many to be better than the arcade original. It has several changes: condenses the 10 stages to 8, looks worse graphically, added in a the super bomb (the falcon powerup), made the base stages linear, etc. But Contra was one of the most popular coop games on the NES and of all time. It may not be the best version of the game (many say the MSX2 and Famicom version are superior), but you know what, its the one that carries the most nostalgia for us, and that means a lot more than a few frames of animation. I plan on running through it with my older brother just like we did back in the 80s.
Contra spawned a whole host of sequels on many platforms (vote for your favorite Contra game) :
Several of which have been released on the Wii Virtual Console or Xbox Live Arcade.
NES version – The most important thing that I am sure most of you reading this were waiting for us to put in is this:
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, B, A, Start (or select start if you have a friend).
The Konami code was made famous by Contra since it gives you 30 lives over the 3 you get by default, but was first used in Gradius. If you dont know the code, you input the button commands before the title screen scrolls in and the intro notes and when you start the game you should have 30 lives. If it didnt work, and typically it doesnt the first time around, hit reset and try again.
Instead of posting in the comments section of the blog, we will be using the forum for all of our discussion in order to keep things more organized. So play Contra and talk to us about your thoughts and
play experiences in the forums. We want to know your tactics, your strategies, your successes and your failures.
The next update to the Cheapest Games series is a look at the Sega Genesis and it’s wonderful 16-bit library. While comparing it to the guide I originally compiled 3 years ago, I was surprised to see that many games had jumped in value as much as they did. Some games that used to be quite common and cheap (such as the Vectorman series and Comix Zone) are now hard to find in complete condition for less than $10. It seems that collecting complete copies of the games is starting to catch on. (loose cartridges have stayed quite affordable)
(Prices listed are an average eBay and Amazon prices for used US games with case and manual included, with shipping added to the price.)
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Sonic the Hedgehog: $7 While I can’t say it is my favorite Sonic game and it does look a bit dated compared to the later Genesis installments, the original Sonic the Hedgehog is still an absolute classic. It is worth mentioning that there are many other, more economical ways of obtaining this game, including the Genesis 6-pak mentioned below, but if you’re looking to have it as a stand-along cartridge in your collection, at least it’s still pretty cheap. Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog at eBay Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog at Amazon.com |
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Sonic the Hedgehog 2: $5 There is no doubt in my mind that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the best value on the Sega Genesis. In my humble opinion, this game alone is my favorite 16-bit game of all time and is the pinnacle of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. From the Emereld Hill Zone to the Death Egg battles, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a pure thrill. Those skeptics that claim all you have to do in the old Sonic games is “hold down on ‘right’” obviously haven’t made it past the first zone. Many Genesis owners, including myself, received Sonic 2 as a pack-in with their Genesis system, so this Sonic cartridge is ultra-common and dirt cheap. Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at eBay Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at Amazon.com |
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3: $9 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is right up there with the second installment as the best Sonic game of all time (and many claim that when teamed up with Sonic and Knuckles it is the best Sonic game availible). It has better animation, additional power-ups and some amazing landscapes, but it’s a matter of personal preference when it comes to level and boss design. No matter if I enjoy Sonic 2 more, Sonic 3 is a game that is not to be missed! Side Note: Keep in mind that there are two case variations (both plastic and cardboard are out there for Sonic 3). The plastic case is easier to keep in good condition, but may be harder to find. Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at eBay Shop for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at Amazon.com |
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Genesis 6-Pak: $8 The Genesis 6-Pak is a relatively common collection of some of the early essentials from the Genesis. It includes the original Sonic The Hedgehog , Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Columns, Revenge of Shinobi, and Super Hang-On. So this game pack is a great start for a Genesis collection that will give you a taste of excellent platforming, action, beatemups, puzzle, and racing gameplay. Shop for Genesis 6-Pak at eBay Shop for Genesis 6-Pak at Amazon.com |
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Earthworm Jim: $9 Earthworm Jim reinvigorated the stale platforming genre with its unique gameplay, artistic flair, and wicked sense of humor. Jim is practically an institution to some Genesis fans, but gamers new to the series may be discouraged by the game’s excessive difficulty. Clearly, Earthworm Jim was programmed by experts for experts. Its superb animation, crisp control, and amazing audio pushes the system’s capabilities. Earthworm Jim is certainly one of a kind, though casual gamers may find it somewhat frustrating. Shop for Earthworm Jim at eBay Shop for Earthworm Jim at Amazon.com |
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Ecco The Dolphin & Ecco Tides of Time: $7 each To diversify from the Sonic-like mascot games, Sega used their trademark innovation to create a game in which you guided a dolphin through the ocean, completing tasks and navigating unsafe waters. Ecco had more of a story than most platformers at the time and features some challenging puzzles that turned off many a casual gamer. However, if you like a thinking man’s 16-bit adventure, Ecco will be worth every cent of its low price tag. Shop for Ecco The Dolphin at eBay Shop for Ecco The Dolphin at Amazon.com |
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Disney’s Aladdin: $8 Aladdin remains as one of the finest licensed Disney games of all time. It captured the look and feel of the animated film beautifully while presenting some entertaining gameplay. Fortunately for us mere mortals, Aladdin didn’t have quite the high difficulty level of Capcom’s Disney games on the NES (Although, I did have to re-do that Magic Carpet escape level many, many times). Overall, Aladdin is a well-balanced and engaging title that is a must-try for both kids and adults. Shop for Disney’s Aladdin at eBay Shop for Disney’s Aladdin at Amazon.com |
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Dynamite Headdy – $8 This Treasure action/platformer was not quite as spectacular as the increasingly-expensive Gunstar Heroes, but Dynamite Headdy has everything you look for in a Treasure game: Crazy special effects, tons of sprites with little to no slowdown, an interesting weapons system, psychotic bosses, and trademark Treasure strangeness. Most of the levels consist of fighting bosses with only small sections of normal battling in between. As a result, the game is incredibly varied, featuring an incredible array of ideas and fast-paced action, while retaining the platform-game mechanic. Shop for Dynamite Headdy at eBay Shop for Dynamite Headdy at Amazon.com |
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Rocket Knight Adventures – $8 In the avalanche of 2D platformers during the 16-bit era, it was easy for a game like Konami’s Rocket Night Adventures to get lost in the shuffle. Rocket Knight Adventures has more technique and plot than any other platform of the era. The slick effects and big bosses alone can carry the game. It may have its flaws — mainly with the replay value, but overall, Rocket Knight Adventures is a solid value for the Genesis Shop for Rocket Knight Adventures on eBay Shop for Rocket Knight Adventures on Amazon.com |
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Ranger X – $9 If you’re looking for an affordable scrolling shooter that is something out of the ordinary and that will show off some of the Genesis’s technical capabilities, Ranger X is a safe bet. It feels like a bit of a mix between a run-and-gun and a traditional horizontal shmup. It has a pretty interesting control setup and will make full use of a six-button controller if you have one availible. Shop for Ranger X on eBay Shop for Ranger X on Amazon.com |
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Target Earth (Assault Suit Leynos): $8 I’m guessing the American title and cover art probably didn’t help the widespread adoption of this action plaformer. Some of you might be more familiar with the Japanese name “Assault Suit Leynos” and the Assault Suit series as a whole (which also included Cybernator on the SNES). Target Earth is the first game in the series, and much like its predecessors, it is an intensely-challenging side scroller that allows you free movement and a variety of weapons. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you love shooting platformers with a challenge, you need to track down this bargain. Shop for Target Earth on eBay Shop for Target Earth on Amazon.com |
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Revenge of Shinobi: $8 Shinobi has long been one of Sega’s flagship characters, and its games a showcase of their technical accomplishment. Today, the games are still noted for their high quality of graphics, gameplay and music, as well as their difficulty. Revenge was the unofficial sequel to the original Shinobi (from the arcade, NES, SMS, and more) and the series debut on the Genesis console. The later installments have all increased abover the $10 point, but Revenge is a good place to start without much of an investment. Shop for Revenge of Shinobi on eBay Shop for Revenge of Shinobi on Amazon.com |
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Flashback: The Quest for Identity - $9 Touted as a “CD-ROM Game on a Cartridge”, Flashback: The Quest for Identity was one of the most graphically impressive Genesis games in its day. The game features fully hand-drawn backdrops and for its time remarkably fluid rotoscoped animation of walking, running and jumping movements, reminiscent of the earlier Prince of Persia. The game had a decent print run and had ports on a number of other platforms, so the supply to demand ratio has remained quite stable. Shop for Flashback on eBay Shop for Flashback on Amazon.com |
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Thunder Force II – $8 The Thunder Force series has had a strong following from 2D shooter fans over the years and it has a handful of installments on the Genesis. Granted, Thunder Force II is one of the less popular games in the series since it has a bit of a different feel due to some stages which have free-scrolling sections. The game, however, does have a nice gradual difficulty curve to ease you in. Shop for Thunder Force II at eBay Shop for Thunder Force II at Amazon.com |
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Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine: $7 If you want a good puzzle game for your Genesis, look no further than Mean Bean Machine. The game is essentially a straightforward Puyo Puyo clone with characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog TV series. Playing against a human opponent is most likely to deliver the most fun, the one-player mode is surprisingly well-executed. Each round you play again a new Dr. Robotnik sidekick and each has their own disticting approach to the game and has a gradual difficulty level. The game will start you out slow and work your way up to mastery before facing Dr. Robotnik himself (good luck with that one). Shop for Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine at eBay Shop for Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine at Amazon.com |
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