Contra
Year: 1987
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~1 hour
What is there to say about such an iconic game like Contra that hasn’t been said before? Not only did it cement the historic “Konami Code” into the brains of scores of retro gamers, but its difficulty basically required using this exploit to get to the end of the game. The transition from coin-operated arcade games to the home console market was one that worked well for Contra, which used its difficulty to keep people playing long enough to “get good” and beat the game without the Konami Code.
Part of the appeal of this game is definitely the couch co-op aspect. Playing with a partner makes it much more fun, especially if you’re both somewhat good at this action platformer. Of course, the game also has its own technical limitations, which can affect the gameplay—especially when playing with another person. It can be janky and cheap with how it spawns in enemies or makes certain jumps fail just based on where the other character is on the screen. But at least both players share a pool of lives to help them get to the end of the game.
While it is satisfying to get all the way to the last boss, I have to admit that my friend and I used the Konami Code to do so. I can appreciate that this hack makes the game quite a bit easier, especially considering some of the cheap shots the game throws at you. That there’s a hidden option to affect the difficulty is a nice touch, but one that questions its near necessity for casual gamers to experience the end credits. Still, it’s a quick game with two players and the Konami Code if you haven’t tried it yet.
A classic action platformer made even more classic by an iconic cheat code, I give Contra 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
