Contra is a game I have no shame in admitting is too damn hard for me. In true NES fashion, it stretches its length by being brutal, but the games of this era that excel despite their difficulty do so by making the loop of dying and repeating levels feel good. In short, everything I said in my review of Castlevania applies to some extent here, though I think the run and gun gameplay lands with me just a little less than the whippin and jumpin of Castlevania. It is, nonetheless, one of the better games on the NES and still makes for a great time if you can find a friend to play with.

Boss battles are especially noteworthy. It's impressive what they were able to get away with given the limitations of the hardware. Controls are very responsible, simple, and give good feedback. Tying the whole thing together are some pretty sharp looking levels (especially the alien queen's lair) and an incredibly soundtrack that sticks with you long after playing. I'm also a sicko and the behind-the-back fortress levels are probably my favorite in the entire game. Medical science could learn a lot by examining my brain.

My only gripe is that the more chaotic nature of the game and frenzies of bullets makes it harder to learn the rhythm of a level, but I'll concede this may very well be a "me" thing. It's also far from my favorite in the series, which just so happens to not even be on Nintendo hardware, but... we'll get there.