Week 3 of Contra Month, it's arguably the most popular game of the 8 to 16-bit Contra series. Being the first entry on the 16 bit platform, The Alien Wars ups the ante with more mid bosses, bigger stage bosses, and even more daunting stages. In my eyes, this game changed Contra forever. I don't mean that in a bad way, necessarily. Mind you, this isn't based in fact, merely musings in my own noggin. I feel that the developers at Konami reciprocated to the expert players of the previous Contra entries and restructured the game from a straightforward arcade run-and-gunner into a medley of escalating endurance battles. Shattered Soldier years later on the PS2 and Hard Corps Uprising on PS3 and Xbox 360 follow the same mold and raise the stakes in sleek and fast-paced minibosses and blood pumping battles.The Alien Wars introduces the ability to store two weapons and added screen clearing super bombs to get a brief respite from the waves of enemies. Being able to save a weapon comes in great handy and gives you a chance to not become too weak at crucial points.
In previous Contras and other Konami series like Gradius, you die and any power-ups you gain are lost immediately. So being able to retain a Laser or Crush Gun (my favorite weapon in this game) puts a situation at ease, but doesn't mean it makes it easier.
There can be many instances that you can lose BOTH weapons in the off chance you want to showboat, hold both L and R, and fire both weapons while somersaulting, and an errant bullet can put an end to your bravado. Some weapons are special made to get through ordeals in the easiest manner possible, like this Amazing Twisty Drilling Spiky Claw Machine!!
The one thing about this I never liked were the overhead Mode 7 stages. They're portions that feel as if the game is grinding to a halt and asking you to endure this cumbersome minigame. I suppose I can applaud it for trying something different, but the action isn't Contra-esque and is stiff. Maybe it's showcasing the Mode 7 graphics on the SNES. During these stages, there's six primary hives or bunkers that need to be destroyed before you fight the boss. Not unplayable, but it's the weakest aspect of The Alien Wars.
Contra III, even on normal difficulty, is a staunch challenge that will test your ability to read enemy patterns and react efficiently. I've never wanted to be one of those speed-runner guys (I like to savor my games), but I'd like to get good enough at this game again to try and pull off a no-death run. It's an incredible game and of the better titles in the action genre. If you're wondering why some players may be a natural at Cuphead, it's because we were tempered by Konami (and SNK's Metal Slug) in action games like this that harden your blood vessels in your hands.
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