The 80's: When 8-bit games ruled

Contra
For: Nintendo
By: Konami My friends, I have seen the light, and that light is "Contra." This is truly the most awesome game I've ever played on Nintendo, and is lined up to be the next greatest hit game for the NES. "Contra" is based on the stand-up arcade game of the same name, and was ported to the powerful NES system because of its superior graphics capabilities and great sound. In the game you are one of two Special Forces commandos sent in to destroy an evil alien infestation, led by a creature known as Red Falcon. The game is primarily a side-scroller, although there are several missions that take place deep inside enemy bases where the perspective shifts to behind our hero. This perspective is very impressive, and something that I don't believe has been seen before on the NES. But be warned, "Contra" is an incredibly hard game; while there are only seven levels, by the time you make it to level five (an arctic-themed level), you'll be encountering freezing water, unending waves of enemies, environmental hazards galore and tanks that are really difficult to destroy. From there, it only gets worse, with spiked walls and ceilings that try to crush you, flamethrowers, difficult timing jumps and more hordes of enemies. But all is not lost because you can take a friend with you on these battles, and playing two-player "Contra" is 10 times better than playing it alone. The game forces you to work as a team, and a lot of the difficult sections of "Contra" become much more manageable with two players. "Contra" is an awe-inspiring game, and one that, while difficult, is sure to join the ranks of "Legend of Zelda" and "Super Mario Bros." as one of the all-time greatest games for the Nintendo Entertainment System.