Just to get this out of the way, I beat this with the Konami code, but Contra was a blast to play through. The controls are solid and responsive, the challenge is tough but fair, the level design is decent, and the music is catchy. The only big complaint I have with the game is that I'm not a big fan of the third-person view stages. These levels can be a nuisance to perseverance and this is where most of my lives were drained.

For an NES game in the late 80s, I'm surprised at how well this game holds up, even today. I enjoyed my time with Contra, and I hope to play more of the series in the future.