Contra Anniversary Collection

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 790 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Contra Anniversary Collection Game Cover
The run ‘n’ gun genre has fallen by the wayside in recent years. But at least you can experience some of its highlights via the Contra Anniversary Collection.
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The Contra Anniversary Collection is a compilation of classic Contra games from Konami, featuring 8 different titles from the iconic run-and-gun series. This collection includes both arcade and NES versions of the original Contra, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Contra: Hard Corps, and more. With its fast-paced action and challenging gameplay, Contra Anniversary Collection brings a piece of gaming history to modern platforms.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 790 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Great collection of classic Contra games, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
  • Includes multiple versions of the games, allowing players to explore regional differences.
  • Solid emulation with responsive controls and the ability to save progress enhances gameplay.
  • Remote play feature is non-functional, and there are significant issues with multiplayer support.
  • Lacks customizable controls and options for fullscreen mode, making it less user-friendly on PC.
  • Many games included are just regional variations, leading to a feeling of repetition in the collection.
  • gameplay60 mentions

    The gameplay in the Contra Anniversary Collection is fast-paced and challenging, remaining faithful to the original titles while requiring players to master mechanics and enemy patterns. While the addition of save states and various screen modes is appreciated, some players feel that the difficulty can be overwhelming and that the arcade versions lack the responsiveness of their console counterparts. Overall, the collection is praised for its solid gameplay and nostalgic appeal, though some may find the lack of variety and modern quality-of-life features disappointing.

    • “The gameplay in Contra Anniversary Edition remains faithful to the original game, offering fast-paced, side-scrolling action.”
    • “The game is hard but rewarding, short but sweet, and the gameplay is still fun over 25 years later.”
    • “Between the shredding soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, and exceptional gameplay, it feels like the devs had a blast making this game.”
    • “The only big modern change to gameplay with this pack is the addition of save states, which don't really help when you consider how much comes at the player so fast.”
    • “While there isn’t any major issues in terms of gameplay, the lack of variety might turn off some people looking for a good collection of classics to play.”
    • “The arcade games have difficulty settings, but they don't appear to affect the gameplay in any way whatsoever.”
  • graphics55 mentions

    The graphics in the Contra Anniversary Edition have been updated to offer modern visuals while preserving the classic 8-bit aesthetic, resulting in a visually appealing experience that pays homage to its roots. However, some users noted a lack of graphics options and compared the visuals unfavorably to the arcade versions, which feature better graphics but suffer from performance issues. Overall, the pixel graphics are well-received, with many appreciating the detailed artwork and nostalgic feel, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “The graphics in Contra Anniversary Edition have been updated from the original game, offering modern visuals while still retaining the classic 8-bit aesthetic.”
    • “The pixel graphics are very good with plenty of great things to look at, and it's pretty detailed for the era these games were released.”
    • “Between the shredding soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, and exceptional gameplay, it feels like the devs had a blast making this game.”
    • “And of course there are no graphics options to fix any of that.”
    • “Honestly, I feel like it's a bit of a rip-off; it's not like playing the Contra arcade, North American and Japanese versions, where you can see the difference in graphics and boss designs.”
    • “The arcade version (including the JP version) has better graphics, but loads of slowdown and a weird 'lanky, janky' feel.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its remastered soundtracks and modern arrangements that honor the original compositions. However, some users have noted issues with sound settings, such as the lack of a mute option and overly bass-boosted audio at launch. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, making it memorable and engaging.

    • “The sound design in Contra Anniversary Edition has also been updated, with new sound effects and a remastered soundtrack.”
    • “The game's iconic music has been given a modern twist, with new arrangements and remixes that pay homage to the original game's soundtrack.”
    • “For something coming out of 1987, it had an amazing soundtrack--even more so given that they had literally three sounds and a noise source to work with on the NES--gothic, Geiger-esque artwork, and leading level design.”
    • “The only thing I wasn't able to find is a 'mute sounds' or 'turn off music' kind of option.”
    • “To start off with, when I first loaded things up, I was greeted by the music cues I actually expected to hear, but they were a garbled mess.”
    • “Okay, what are the dislikes for the whole game? There's a bug in Contra the arcade version when you’re fighting the xenomorph head; the music stopped playing and just goes brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.”
  • story28 mentions

    The story across the Contra games is generally straightforward, focusing on a heroic mission to combat evil aliens, with later sequels introducing more depth and plot twists that lead to multiple endings. While some titles, like Hard Corps, have been criticized for unnecessary changes to the narrative, others, such as the Japanese versions, offer richer content and animations. Overall, players appreciate the engaging gameplay and character-driven narratives, despite some inconsistencies between regional releases.

    • “Their mission to destroy the threat and keep the world safe, but doing so will mean a start of a great journey and fight for humanity.”
    • “The story in the game is good; it's nice and simple. You're the hero and you have to destroy the evil alien. I do like that they added more to the story in later sequels like in Alien Wars and more so in Hard Corps.”
    • “There are four playable characters who can each hold four unique weapons at the same time in order to frag their way through an onslaught of souls-grade bosses to reach the six different endings, each with its own unique, decision-based path, levels, and story.”
    • “The text is just choices in the story which leads to different levels.”
    • “But in these two it’s just reskinned characters and small changes to the story, especially in Hard Corps, which to be honest, the changes in the story hurt it and felt dumb and unneeded.”
    • “Now for the last two games in this collection, Super Probotector: Alien Rebels and Probotector, which are basically Alien Wars and Hard Corps; the only difference is that the main characters in both games are robots and the story is slightly different.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment over the lack of modern performance options and unoptimized emulator kernels. While some players report smooth gameplay and decent content, concerns about controller support and performance on PC are prevalent, leading to recommendations against purchasing due to high costs and inadequate optimization.

    • “There you will find fine-tuning of core performance for playback and emulation of gaming systems.”
    • “From what I've played so far, everything runs smoothly, there's a decent amount of content, and it's entirely affordable.”
    • “But be aware that controller support isn't 100% perfect, and the game doesn't feel optimized for PC.”
    • “I do not recommend this product for purchase, due to the lack of optimization of the project, high cost, and meaninglessness.”
    • “For the price you'd expect better optimization/performance for modern machines.”
    • “I personally don’t mind the ('authentic') lag spikes, but there should at least be an option for 'modern' game performance like other emulators offer.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly in online mode, where users report frequent bugs and audio glitches, especially noticeable during the second mode7 level. Overall, the experience is marred by these persistent technical problems.

    • “Very buggy in online mode.”
    • “The audio glitches out especially on the 2nd Mode 7 level.”
    • “Completely buggy.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The reviews highlight that "Contra: Hard Corps" offers significant replayability due to its branching narrative and engaging gameplay, making it a worthwhile purchase. The inclusion of a save-state feature enhances accessibility, allowing players to enjoy the game multiple times without frustration. Overall, the game is praised for its fun factor and replay value.

    • “Contra: Hard Corps surprised me with its branching narrative and high replayability.”
    • “All of these games have tremendous replay value; they are just plain fun, and with the save-state feature, all of them are beatable without having to resort to the classic Konami codes.”
    • “The high replayability of Contra: Hard Corps alone makes this collection worth 19.99€.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a "lazy cash grab," with users expressing disappointment in the lack of technical support and features, such as poor controller compatibility and no online play. Many feel that the game exploits nostalgia without delivering a quality experience.

    • “Overall - a lazy and sloppy cash grab.”
    • “This is nothing but a cash grab from Konami on a beloved franchise we grew up playing as kids.”
    • “I expected a fun, easy to run throwback but the technical side is atrocious with completely botched controller support and inability to play over remote, plus no support online - just a lazy cash grab.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant character designs and animations, which contribute to an engaging experience. Players appreciate the depth added through plot twists and multiple endings, enhancing the overall narrative and character arcs. The combination of visual artistry and storytelling elements creates a rich environment for character exploration.

    • “The game's environments and character designs have been given a fresh coat of paint, with new animations and effects added to enhance the overall experience.”
    • “Good content and good games, especially the Hard Corps, which is the jewel of the crown of the Contra games. Everything is amazing in that game: the pixel art, the character design, the levels, the weapons, the animation, the constant plot twists that lead to different endings, and, of course, the astounding music.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Users generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be less tedious than anticipated, suggesting that the process is manageable and not overly burdensome.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it amusing while others express frustration and disdain for certain jokes, suggesting that the comedic elements may not resonate with all audiences.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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