12DOVE Verdict
Pros
- +
Adrenaline-fueled gameplay
- +
Tight controls
- +
Unlockable Contra and Super C for NES
Cons
- -
Dead space between screens
- -
No new gameplay innovations
- -
No multiplayer support in NES games
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Nov 19, 2007
Playing like a long-lost gem, Contra 4 recaptures the best of an era, while introducing today%26rsquo;s gamers to the real meaning of "challenge" (swearing like a sailor with no shore leave, if you can't stand tough games). Picking up where the SNES Contra 3: Alien Wars left off, Contra 4 is just as much a re-imagined remake as it is a sequel. Veteran players will recognize locations and enemies from the prior titles, making a run through feel like a trip down memory lane. Don%26rsquo;t be fooled though, because Contra 4 is just as difficult as its predecessors. This isn%26rsquo;t a game you%26rsquo;re going to best in one sitting.
Visually, Contra 4 borrows heavily from what came before, adding a facelift to existing art but not drastically redoing any of the core sprites. It brings an immediate sense of familiarity as well as a renewed appreciation for sprite work. Our only real complaint with the visuals has to do with the dead space between the screens, which occasionally results in a cheap death from a hidden bullet.
More info
| Genre | Shooter |
| Description | Finally, a retrospective done right - one-hit kills and game over screens galore. A must-have for DS owners. |
| Platform | "DS" |
| US censor rating | "Teen" |
| UK censor rating | "" |
| Release date | 1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK) |
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