Is it weird to say that Contra as a series doesn't interest me? I wanna say around 2015 I played the first one on an emulator once and wasn't really understanding the hype. I still thought it was a good game but not great. I still kind of blame myself for using the 30 lives code for the reason I felt underwhelmed. Ever since then the only other Contra game I played was Hard Corps on the Mega Drive which was a surprise hit for me being a top 10 for the console as of writing this.
I gotta say though after playing this game I was kind of impressed by how fun it is for a GB game. It's the same Contra gameplay you know and love. Oddly it doesn't actually use the Contra name well I guess it's probably Operation Contra. It's just odd cause in Japan it's just called Contra. I usually appreciate when Game Boy games try to go for their own thing but this one seems to be very similar to the 2nd Famicom game. From the research I did and by that I checked two sites, this seems to be it's own original game? I guess I'll know whenever I play Super Contra.
This game is a little slower then usual but that's fine but I was a little put offguard by it's difficulty. It's actually pretty easy for the most part. Yeah you will die in areas but once you've done it once you will get through the levels in no issue. The game does have a 9 lives code and even a stage select if you have no patience to practice.
There's only 3 weapons here which are a spread shot that shoots many bullets, a homing shot which is self explanatory, and a fire weapon which I liked for the top down stages due to the blast radius it has when it explodes. I basically just switched between them a lot during the playthrough as they all can be pretty helpful but be warned that death will make you lose them. I was shocked at the lack of invincibility and even stuff like the laser is gone. TBH I don't really miss it. Even rapid fire is just a default thing given to you when you begin.
Sadly what stops it from being better than Nemesis on the GB for Konami GB competition is that it's short. I really wanted more but the game ends at just a meager 5 stages. The game felt like it wasn't even halfway and I'm already being told I'm done. What a shame. Also it bothers me you can't strafe on those top down stages. Thankfully the stages aren't hard but I wanna strafe damnit.
Can I just say the final boss is also the hardest part of the game. I won't lie and admit I did die like three times to him. I know I know, I should be ashamed but it just caught me off guard honestly. When I beat him I was like "There's more?!" but no it's just a very easy dodge lightning section along with shooting a thing that doesn't fight back and you win. Kind of anticlimatic if you ask me.
The game graphically is pretty good for the GB and doesn't sacrifice playability for the sake of looking good. The speed of the game also isn't too bad either. I'm not sure how much of this game borrows graphics from the Famicom games but they look good here. The music is good but not my favorite from Konami. Still the fact they were still putting effort in these is always nice. Like seriously who do they hire for their older games because they really gave it their all.
I do enjoy what was developed but I wish there was more to it. It's a fun Contra game but it's nothing mind blowing and maybe too easy for a lot of it. It's hard to recommend nowadays but if you like Contra then you probably have already played this. So really it's hard to say if has any worth in today's age but hey at least it's playable and fun! That's all is what needed at times, especially for Game Boy games.
I gotta say though after playing this game I was kind of impressed by how fun it is for a GB game. It's the same Contra gameplay you know and love. Oddly it doesn't actually use the Contra name well I guess it's probably Operation Contra. It's just odd cause in Japan it's just called Contra. I usually appreciate when Game Boy games try to go for their own thing but this one seems to be very similar to the 2nd Famicom game. From the research I did and by that I checked two sites, this seems to be it's own original game? I guess I'll know whenever I play Super Contra.
This game is a little slower then usual but that's fine but I was a little put offguard by it's difficulty. It's actually pretty easy for the most part. Yeah you will die in areas but once you've done it once you will get through the levels in no issue. The game does have a 9 lives code and even a stage select if you have no patience to practice.
There's only 3 weapons here which are a spread shot that shoots many bullets, a homing shot which is self explanatory, and a fire weapon which I liked for the top down stages due to the blast radius it has when it explodes. I basically just switched between them a lot during the playthrough as they all can be pretty helpful but be warned that death will make you lose them. I was shocked at the lack of invincibility and even stuff like the laser is gone. TBH I don't really miss it. Even rapid fire is just a default thing given to you when you begin.
Sadly what stops it from being better than Nemesis on the GB for Konami GB competition is that it's short. I really wanted more but the game ends at just a meager 5 stages. The game felt like it wasn't even halfway and I'm already being told I'm done. What a shame. Also it bothers me you can't strafe on those top down stages. Thankfully the stages aren't hard but I wanna strafe damnit.
Can I just say the final boss is also the hardest part of the game. I won't lie and admit I did die like three times to him. I know I know, I should be ashamed but it just caught me off guard honestly. When I beat him I was like "There's more?!" but no it's just a very easy dodge lightning section along with shooting a thing that doesn't fight back and you win. Kind of anticlimatic if you ask me.
The game graphically is pretty good for the GB and doesn't sacrifice playability for the sake of looking good. The speed of the game also isn't too bad either. I'm not sure how much of this game borrows graphics from the Famicom games but they look good here. The music is good but not my favorite from Konami. Still the fact they were still putting effort in these is always nice. Like seriously who do they hire for their older games because they really gave it their all.
I do enjoy what was developed but I wish there was more to it. It's a fun Contra game but it's nothing mind blowing and maybe too easy for a lot of it. It's hard to recommend nowadays but if you like Contra then you probably have already played this. So really it's hard to say if has any worth in today's age but hey at least it's playable and fun! That's all is what needed at times, especially for Game Boy games.
Reviewed on Feb 26, 2023
DeemonAndGames
6 months ago
Great write-up!