Neo Contra
a game by | Konami |
Platforms: | Playstation 3, Playstation 2 |
Editor Rating: | 7/10, based on 1 review, 2 reviews are shown |
User Rating: | 8.3/10 - 6 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | High Score Games, Shoot 'Em Up Games, Run-and-Gun Games, Contra Games |
Contra games have been around for some time now and many of us have fond memories fighting through hordes of enemies trying to reach the end of a stage. Times have changed and for an old side scrolling game to survive, the gameplay has to change without losing the essence of the game or it can attempt to survive as a throwback game, relying on it's nostalgic pull. NEO Contra however attempts a little of both as the side scrolling has been replaced with on overheard view but the constant flow of enemies and weapons firing is still represented.
NEO Contra is set in the future on earth as the planet has basically been turned into a huge prison colony. A group of these criminals has banded together calling themselves NEO Contra and stirred up enough trouble for a real contra team to be sent in. There are some fantastic opening cinematic scenes that kick off the story, raising expectations but quickly the static nature of the game becomes apparent.
Mostly NEO Contra has you firing at whatever is in front of you until the end of the stage is reached. There is little strategy involved except avoiding and returning enemy fire. There are different weapons that you will find along the way to help keep it interesting but still it doesn't improve the static nature of the gameplay. Another side effect of the simple gameplay is that it can be beaten very quickly. This probably will discourage some from buying it but that also makes it a great rental.
Graphically the game looks good and definitely has some creative aspects to it. How many games have mutant slugs with a deformed baby head, which then proceeds to barf some toxic substance on you? Anyway the environments and enemies will meet most expectations but there are times when slow down becomes a factor.
NEO Contra isn't going to overly impress anybody but it is fun to play through especially multiplayer. It is short however and you'll probably enjoy it more as a rental.
Download Neo Contra
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Game Reviews
Unless you remember the Iran-Contra scandal of the mid 80s, you were probably too young to really connect with Konamis old-school, phallic-alien-blasting Contra series until 2002s Shattered Soldier tor PS2. But hey, that game was a great place to start Soldier proved that Konami could still deliver a killer, sidescrolling Contra game in this age of 3D wonderment and that Contra games can still be hellishly (read: wonderfully) difficult. Soldier's success, however, didnt inspire its developers to craft another side-scrolling shoot-a-thon its PS2 follow-up, this falls Neo Contra, bravely takes the franchises game-play into three dimensions...again.
Thats right, Contra's been down the 3D road before, and it wasnt pretty. Contra: Legacy of War anti C: The Contra Adventure experimented with free-roaming action on PS1, but the resulting gameplay lacked the fun and intensity of past Contras. In this case, though, the developers of Neo Contra are happy to learn from someone elses mistakes. Those games...failed to provide players with simple, accessible gameplay, says Producer Nobuya Nakazato. Plus, it was difficult to judge enemy ranges, and the player simply didnt have the proper means of attack and defense. So, basically, the developers want Neo Contra to be nothing like those games.
Although Neo Contra shifts the normal viewing perspective, the vintage games' beloved gameplay remains intact. Fans should not worry that the feel of Contra will be gone, assures Nakazato. Its a natural progression for the franchise that will deliver a great 3D Contra with 2D gameplay. So, although youll have to cover a lot more ground while you do it, youll still be switching between various huge guns, blasting copious icky aliens, and facing off against mammoth boss monstrosities. As expected, Neo Contra will be best enjoyed with two players: Player one controls grizzled series vet Bill Rizer, while player two controls the bizarrely out-of-place-yet-still-cool samurai, Genbei Jaguer Yagyu. Jaguer is a very unique and interesting guy, explains Nakazato. Hes definitely something that you have not seen before in a Contra game.
Despite making surprising changes to the series formula, the developers know better than to mess with the established legacy of difficulty. As a series, Contra has always been tougher than other games, but we feel that is part of its appeal, muses Director Takayuki Ando. "As we intensify the action to keep players riveted throughout the stages, the game itself becomes more difficult to clear. Dont worry, though.
Wimps can always tackle the easy mode...just dont expect to ever see the games real ending.
Snapshots and Media
Playstation 3 Screenshots
Playstation 2 Screenshots
More Contra Games
See Also
- Dead or Alive 4
- Wu Tang: Shaolin Style
- K-1 The Arena Fighters
- Fighting Force
- Fighter Maker
- Ehrgeiz
- Cardinal Syn
- Bloody Roar
- Capcom Vs. SNK Pro
- X-Men: Next Dimension
- Virtua Fighter 4
- The King of Fighters 00/01
- Pride FC: Fighting Championships
- Onimusha Blade Warriors
- Marvel vs Capcom 2
- Legaia 2: Duel Saga
- Def Jam Vendetta
- Capcom Fighting Evolution
- Black and Bruised
- SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
- Kakuto Chojin
- Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
- Def Jam: Fight For NY
- Mortal Kombat Trilogy
- FX Fighter Turbo