Contra Anniversary Collection

While it may not be as good as it could be, at least it's as good as it needs to be. [Issue #40 – July/August 2019, p. 22]

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.

All in all, the Contra Anniversary Collection is a great package, it’s a slice of history which perfectly partners the recent Castlevania Anniversary Collection. I’d definitely like to see more of these, even if I am terrible at them.

Contra Anniversary Collection is a very good compilation that will allow new players and veterans to enjoy a mythical saga, very funny and highly challenging. As a collection, it should have more content (some games are missing) but it includes the most important and iconic ones.

The price is indeed a bit steep in that regard in this day and age, however the quality of every single release included is to be considered, as well as the fact that M2 handled this and did so just as perfectly, as we've come to expect from the people working there. It is a no-brainer purchase for Konami and Contra fans, especially on Switch, where portability without any compromises is an extra that can't be afforded by other platforms. Others who may just be interested in taking a first dive into the series may prefer to wait for a light drop in price however.

Contra Anniversary Collection is a perfect way to jump back to the fast-paced action of the genre, with some of its best games. With 10 great games which still deliver strong challenges, every fan of the run and gun genre should really consider giving this celebration a try.

The best collection from Konami, head to head with the Castlevania one... Shooting to the chiptune rock rhythms brings out our youth emotions, while the action keep being hypnotic, magic... like 30 years ago. We only miss some titles in the collection and hope that M2 fix the frame rate on the coin op. The rest, it's still wonderful.

Contra is recommended to those that like a good challenge. Slowly, players learn it’s patterns and require less and less lives and continues to conquer each stage. Those are old games, but their quality shine even today.