Contra Anniversary Collection

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.

75%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, stability

75% User Score Based on 508 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Contra Anniversary Collection screenshot

+11

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 508 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The collection includes a nostalgic selection of classic Contra games, allowing fans to relive their childhood memories.
The gameplay remains enjoyable and challenging, with tight controls and the ability to save progress, making it accessible for new players.
The inclusion of Japanese and European versions of the games adds variety and interest for fans of the series.

The port suffers from various technical issues, including poor controller support, lack of customizable controls, and no option for fullscreen mode without using Alt+Enter.
Many of the games included are simply regional variations of the same titles, leading to a lack of true variety in the collection.
The absence of online multiplayer and other modern features is disappointing, especially given the expectations set by other collections.

gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The gameplay in the Contra Anniversary Collection is fast-paced and challenging, staying true to the original titles while offering a nostalgic experience for fans. While the addition of save states and various screen modes enhances accessibility, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and the difficulty level daunting. Overall, the collection is praised for its solid mechanics, enjoyable action, and engaging enemy designs, though it may lack the variety some players seek.
- “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.”
- “I'm perfectly fine with the Probotector variant, but it doesn't give much in terms of gameplay.”
- “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.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The graphics in the Contra Anniversary Edition have been updated to modern standards while retaining the classic 8-bit aesthetic, resulting in a visually appealing experience that captures the essence of the originals. However, some users noted issues such as limited graphical options and occasional typographical errors, which detracted from the overall presentation. Despite these shortcomings, the pixel graphics are generally praised for their detail and nostalgic charm, making the collection enjoyable for fans of the series.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are decent but not stunning, capturing the essence of the originals without significant enhancement.”
- “Along with glaring typographical errors, the screens reminded me of PowerPoint slides made by an amateur.”
- “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.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The music in the games reviewed is generally praised for its quality and nostalgic appeal, with many noting that it enhances the overall experience and keeps players engaged. However, some users have expressed frustration with the lack of sound options, leading to issues with volume levels and sound clarity. Overall, the soundtracks are considered iconic, with modern remixes and arrangements that pay homage to the originals, although there are occasional technical glitches reported.
- “The soundtracks are perfect; they'll make you come back for more.”
- “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.”
- “The music is very good with plenty of nice tracks to listen to that would become classics of video games.”
- “The only thing I wasn't able to find is a 'mute sounds' or 'turn off music' kind of option.”
- “Cons: almost every time I launch the game I pop a blood vessel in my ear because the music is completely bass boosted, so I have to unplug and replug the headphones back in to hear that rocking hard music I work out to at the gym.”
- “Also, the sounds/music are obnoxious, nothing like the original, and they are actually annoying!”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story across the games is generally straightforward, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While some titles feature simple narratives about heroism and battling evil aliens, others, like "Contra: Hard Corps," introduce branching storylines and multiple endings, though some changes in later versions have been criticized as unnecessary. Overall, the narrative elements vary, with certain editions offering richer content and character development compared to their counterparts.
- “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.”
- “Their mission to destroy the threat and keep the world safe, but doing so will mean the start of a great journey and fight for humanity.”
- “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 story is straightforward and serves its purpose without being a focal point.”
- “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.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting lag spikes, frame drops, and poor display settings. While some players find the content enjoyable, the lack of modern performance options and unoptimized emulator kernels detract from the experience, leading to recommendations against purchasing until improvements are made.
- “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.”
- “For the price you'd expect better optimization/performance for modern machines.”
- “I do not recommend this product for purchase, due to the lack of optimization of the project, high cost, and meaninglessness.”
- “This game has optimization issues; it lags, plus the display settings are awful.”
- “For the price, you'd expect better optimization and performance for modern machines.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent audio glitches and bugs, particularly in online mode and during specific levels. Players report getting stuck in menu loops, which further detracts from the overall experience.
- “Very buggy in online mode.”
- “The audio glitches out especially on the 2nd Mode 7 level.”
- “Very buggy and it is easy to get stuck in pop-up menu loops.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
"Contra: Hard Corps" is praised for its branching narrative and high replayability, making it a worthwhile purchase. The inclusion of a save-state feature enhances accessibility, allowing players to enjoy the game without relying on cheats. However, the absence of online co-op is noted as a missed opportunity for increased playability.
- “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€.”
- “Would have been much more enjoyable if it supported online co-op.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over poor technical execution and a lack of online support, which detracts from the nostalgic experience. Overall, the sentiment reflects a belief that the game prioritizes profit over quality and player satisfaction.
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of the game manageable, suggesting that while it may require some effort, it is not overly tedious. However, some players feel that it necessitates a significant time investment, likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage with the grinding elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The fix for this is not as tedious as you might think.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant environments and character designs, enhanced through new animations and effects. Players appreciate the depth provided by constant plot twists leading to multiple endings, contributing to a rich overall experience that showcases the game's artistic and narrative strengths.
- “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.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.