This review doesn't have anything to do with the quality of each game, and I've actually reviewed them all separately on this site. This is more in regards to the collection itself and its presentation.
For the absolute bare minimum a port collection needs to be, it clears it perfectly well. This is the least I expect from M2, who are absolute porting wizards. I also appreciate the inclusion of the Japanese and European 'Probotector' versions of their respective games, as well as making said EU versions 60hz in order to make these games function the way they were supposed to. And as someone that doesn't agree with the notion of a rewind function being necessary for ports of 2D games, I'm perfectly satisfied without it. If I really want to practice a stage, the single save state they provide for each game is enough for me.
Regarding extras, it isn't anything groundbreaking, but the extensive interview with Nobuya Nakazato was greatly appreciated! He may not be the creator of Contra, but he IS the reason it evolved into an action-packed run-n-gun monster, being the director of Contra 3, Contra Hard Corps, and Contra Shattered Soldier! His insight and look back on these games was very refreshing, and I'm happy to see he's still active and thinking about Contra.
A complaint I have is the fact that Contra Hard Corps' controls weren't changed at all. I know it just takes getting used to, believe me. I've legitimately cleared the game multiple times with no save states. But it's hard when the majority of the games in this series are closest to Contra 3, a game that utilized a 6-button pad. M2 has been known to tweak and improve small things in the games they're porting/remastering, so I wish they were able to do something in that regard. Of course, it could be a deep level of programming I don't understand being the reason it wasn't possible under them. So I won't give them much flack.
One more complaint--and something I do find necessary for these collections--is the cover art. I think they should always bare a new cover art celebrating the history of whatever game it's a collection for, whether it be a new artist or previous returning. Instead, they just used the Tom DuBois piece from Contra 3's US cover. However, a new cover WAS made . . . for the Limited Run release. Fuck Limited Run. Thanks for reading.
For the absolute bare minimum a port collection needs to be, it clears it perfectly well. This is the least I expect from M2, who are absolute porting wizards. I also appreciate the inclusion of the Japanese and European 'Probotector' versions of their respective games, as well as making said EU versions 60hz in order to make these games function the way they were supposed to. And as someone that doesn't agree with the notion of a rewind function being necessary for ports of 2D games, I'm perfectly satisfied without it. If I really want to practice a stage, the single save state they provide for each game is enough for me.
Regarding extras, it isn't anything groundbreaking, but the extensive interview with Nobuya Nakazato was greatly appreciated! He may not be the creator of Contra, but he IS the reason it evolved into an action-packed run-n-gun monster, being the director of Contra 3, Contra Hard Corps, and Contra Shattered Soldier! His insight and look back on these games was very refreshing, and I'm happy to see he's still active and thinking about Contra.
A complaint I have is the fact that Contra Hard Corps' controls weren't changed at all. I know it just takes getting used to, believe me. I've legitimately cleared the game multiple times with no save states. But it's hard when the majority of the games in this series are closest to Contra 3, a game that utilized a 6-button pad. M2 has been known to tweak and improve small things in the games they're porting/remastering, so I wish they were able to do something in that regard. Of course, it could be a deep level of programming I don't understand being the reason it wasn't possible under them. So I won't give them much flack.
One more complaint--and something I do find necessary for these collections--is the cover art. I think they should always bare a new cover art celebrating the history of whatever game it's a collection for, whether it be a new artist or previous returning. Instead, they just used the Tom DuBois piece from Contra 3's US cover. However, a new cover WAS made . . . for the Limited Run release. Fuck Limited Run. Thanks for reading.