Contra Anniversary Collection

While it’s a shame that there are fewer games here than in other Konami collections – we’d have loved to have seen NES title Contra Force or the now-extinct WiiWare title Contra ReBirth – the ones included are universally brilliant. The 8-bit and 16-bit Contra games are among the finest examples of the run ‘n gun genre, and to have almost all of them included in a single release and emulated flawlessly is an absolute treat. Whether you’re a fan of the series or a curious onlooker who’s always wanted to see what the fuss was all about, this is essential.

So, for fans on the Contra series or the run ‘n’ gun genre, Contra Anniversary Collection is a must-have. A lot of its games might feel overly similar to one another, but for its budget price you’d have to be a bit of a scrooge to hold it against it. Contra Anniversary Collection is action-packed, and each and every one of the distinct games included are massive amounts of fun to play. I just hope it’ll start a run ‘n’ gun revolution, because playing these titles again has reminded me how good the genre can be.

After Castlevania and Metal Gear, the Contra series is by far the most famous franchise ever created by Konami. Its simple premise, easy controls, and stupidly intense difficulty captivated players around the world and popularize the now eternal Konami Code, which would grant the player with way more lives than the ridiculously small amount you’d actually start with. Konami decided to bring Contra back with a bang this year. Not only did they announce Contra: Rogue Corps at E3 2019, but the...

Konami's Contra series has been the go-to franchise for run 'n' gun chaos for decades so get ready to take on the Red Falcon yet again.

The Contra Anniversary Collection could have been so much more. At $19.99, it’s far from expensive, yet still feels underwhelming when judged against what Konami’s rivals are offering in similar packages. Contra nuts will grab this regardless, but the lack of online co-op and the omission of some important titles make this a tough sell as anything other than a cash-in on nostalgia. It is not a love letter to the franchise that many would have liked, but it can do the job of scratching an itch on modern platforms, should the need arise.