If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday. ~Pearl Buck
Review
Contra 3
Publisher: Konami
Year Release: 1992
Contra 3, by far the most difficult Super Nintendo game I have ever played.
If you were a NES (Nintendo Enterainment System) player or today's generation of gaming, there was a good chance you heard about Contra.
If you have not, Contra is a 2-D run and gun shooter involving 2 guys, Jimbo and Sully (the real names are Bill and Lance, but it is never explained why the name change) fighting off aleins that are known as the "Red Falcons"
History
The series debuted in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade game simply titled Contra, which was followed by the release of Super Contra (or super C because of a war that was going on at the same time that also had the word "Contra" on its name) in 1988 and several sequels produced for various home platforms.
The arcade version of Contra was released on February 1987
At first it sounds simple, go in there and shoot the bad guys.
I also thought it would be easy, until you play the game that is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhK-tSHopY
You will be thanking the creator that the guns do not run out of bullets, literally.
As you can see this game has no mercy. Tons and I mean TONS of enimes to kill, the way I like the odds, but not to that extent!
Game-Play
The game-play was solid for its time. I only had to worry about what was coming from my left and right unlike nowadays people have this 3-D perspective point of view.
The power-ups are a must have in this game to improve your gun! Power-ups include a machine gun, flamethrower, laser, and the famouse spread gun. If you want to survive, get the spread gun, trust me! The bosses, how can I explain them, oh yes, the bosses always seem to be an action scene! They will kick your butt so hard that your tv will combust inside because it is descrace on how bad you lose. The bosses will keep you on your toes, here is an example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIHn_LqbKDg
If you saw the video, then you are wondering if there a way to get more lives? One was is to stay on one section on the stage and keep killing enemies until you a chime that gives you a hint you got an extra life.
Is there an easier way? No, why? because Japan thinks we are hardcore and adding extra lives will insult us Americans (and Europe)
It turns out that Japan had a 30 live cheat code with unlimited continues. In the original Contra
What do I think? Those sneaky jerks, they just want little kids to get mad and throw their snes out the window!
I would have used the famous Konami Code (a popular code if they did not get rid of it for the US shores and kept it in Japan).Why do they think we are, Rambo?
My perspective
You got to start doing some yoga lessons with your fingers because it is going to be a bumpy ride. My uncle was the first one to show me contra and of course, I ended up dying multiple times while he easily made me look like a little kid who does not know how to properly press the a button (I was six back then). Such a difficult task ahead of me, but we manage to beat it, somehow.
By ignoring this fact, I decided to beat this game by myself on easy (weak).
What memories this game brings?
Well, after getting over the fact that most of deaths were cheap, this games brought my gaming family and friends together to beat this game. All of us can only beat this game on normal but
what about hard mode? well this is where it gets complicated and up to this day I have never seen this screen as I played as a kid.
Does it bring the nostalgic moment?
Yes, through the harsh time, but my determination to see the ending and beating the game kept me hooked. Yes I would call this game a classic by getting me angry, in a good way
Rating: If your looking for a game that is a classic then will make you want to break something, give this game a try.
I'll give this game a 9/10. Superb, but the extra content I wish they left the konami code, I could have use the 30 lives! Why Konami, why!?
One game review down, my next review will be of Mice and Men, a classic book that I was not forced to read!
Until then, nostalgic lives on!I take comments on how to make my reviews better. Just say the word and I will improve them! Thanks!
sites used:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=contra3_owns
Hey Steven, I had a lot of good memories playing this game when I had my super nintendo. I still have it and about two to three years ago, passed the game in normal mode. But I agree with what you said about passing it in hard mode. I also would get frustrated, especially when I would run out of lives. It was funny because I was only able to beat it recently, and not when I was younger. But in the end, I was a little disappointed because I was only able to pass it in easy, not hard mode. But good job on the review, I agree with you, and hopefully you put up reviews on other games that we ejoyed as kids.
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