Archive for April, 2021

Retro Review: Super Contra (NES)

Title: Super C
System: NES

Super Contra, or Super C, released by Konami for NES in 1990 and is an outstanding follow up to Contra, building on the foundational basics to excellent results.

Players once again take Bill and Lance shooting through an army of enemy soldiers, robots, and aliens. Graphics are a bit better with a little more background detail and some animations in the areas. While there’s not a large and varied soundtrack, as with most NES era games, there are a couple of catchy tunes. What’s most improved, though, are the controls. While the basic scheme is the same, running, ducking, jumping, and direction of shooting, everything feels a bit more responsive and precise.

The same weapon upgrades return as well, making the gameplay familiar and easy to jump right in and fight the definitely-not-Xenomorph aliens.

While not as generous as Contra, the Konami code is still functional, though a bit reverse of the original. All in all, Super Contra is still a lot of fun, especially with 2 players. Much like its predecessor, though, players may want to remember right, left, down, up, A, B, (select for 2 players), start!

2021
04/17
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Retro Review: Alpha Protocol (PS3)

Title: Alpha Protocol
System: Playstation 3

Alpha Protocol - Wikipedia
What appears to be a generic shooter secretly offers much more

Alpha Protocol from Obsidian Entertainment released in 2010 to offer a unique RPG experience blending third-person shooter gameplay, dialogue options, stealth, and mini game challenges that combine to create an equally unique espionage experience.

Although the character creator is somewhat limited in options, players create their own version of protagonist Michael Thorton to play through the story of a highly classified black ops agent burned and on the run trying to prevent World War III. RPG elements are at work as players can customize their agent’s skills with various fire arms, martial arts, computer skills, toughness, and more.

Combat is made up of stealth elements and hand to hand combat options while an arsenal of firearms offers somewhat unpolished but still competent third person shooting. As agent Thorton infiltrates enemy bases, sneaks through CIA safe houses, and unravels a war-for-profit plot, he’ll have to hack computers and pick locks. Both of these minigame-like activities take a little getting used to, but once accustomed to them, they offer a satisfying challenge that rarely leans towards frustrating.

Fans of television series Burn Notice or the Jason Bourne series will definitely enjoy stepping into a similar role for an adventure from the Middle East to Russia, Greece, and Hong Kong, often making allies with unsavory groups in pursuit of the greater good. Those who like a little moral gray in their story will likewise find a compelling story where patriotism doesn’t necessary equate to typical lines of loyalty.

A lot of gamers likely missed this one at release, but it’s worth picking up and still fairly cheap to find on either PS3 or XBox 360.

2021
04/13
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Retro Review: Contra (NES)

Title: Contra
System: Nintendo Entertainment System

Billy and Lance run and gun to save the world from totally-not-Xenomorphs

Contra was released by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 after its arcade release the year before. While it’s considered a classic for the console, it is possibly more remembered for the famous Konami code that granted an extra 30 lives. The game, like many NES entries, is certainly a challenge with 3 lives and 3 continues, but the Konami code makes it far more approachable and fun to play through the whole game. With or without the code, the run and gun certainly earns its status as a classic.

A variety of weapon upgrades and the ability to shoot to the left, right, straight up and down, and even diagonally make a fun shooter while there are enough enemies and hails of bullets to avoid to keep the challenge present. Despite more than 30 years of new entries to the genre, Contra still feels fun today, even though the controls aren’t quite as sharp as they could be.

Graphically, the game still holds up well enough for an 8 bit contender and while the music may not be filled with memorable chiptunes, it doesn’t grate on the ears either.

Whether a familiar classic to be revisited or an 8 bit entry yet to be tackled, Contra is still worth a playthrough. Just remember Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start (or Select Start for 2 player) if you find the standard allotment of lives to be a bit tight.

2021
04/12
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