Contra: Shattered Soldier

A Short Review

by MattBoySlim

While waiting for Unreal Championship for Xbox, I decided to buy Contra: Shattered Soldier for PS2, so that I could return it and get UC. I still plan on doing this, but not because Contra sucks. As a matter of fact, here's the gist of my feelings on this game:

This Game Rocks!!!!!!

Literally. Watching the opening sequence, I was skeptical at first. It looked too future-y and mechanical. Then the music started and things got bitchin'. The game picks up right where the cinema left off, and contined to rock my azz. The music might as well have been done by Static X. Other levels feature a more techno sound, but all in all, it rocks my socks off.

The gameplay is pure old school Contra. Think Contra 3 for SNES with crazy 3D graphics.

I love this game in a way that God probably never intended.

Actually, the first real boss is the first boss from the SNES version, plus some really disgusting enhancements. I don't wanna ruin the surprise any more than I already have, suffice to say "EWWWWWW!!!!!"

This game makes me all warm and fuzzy in several specific sections of my anatomy. Being the "Classic Gaming" freak that I am, this is a game made for me. A perfect marriage between solid, old school gameplay and kick ass PS2 graphics. ANd it freakin' hard!!!!!! On "Normal" mode, you get 3 continues with 3 lives per continue. I think there's about 7 levels. The difficulty is next to impossible on "Normal", and after an hour and a half, I finally beat the first level. Putting it on "Easy" is better, because you get 8 lives and 99 continues. However, I've read that you don't get an ending unless you play on "Normal". It's all basically memorization, remembering where the enemies appear, when to jump, etc.

Old School R0x0rz!!! (Ugh, I can't believe I just said that...)

Since this is a revival of an old game in a classic style, it begs the question: "Does the much-fabled "Konami Code" work?!?" You know what I mean...up, up, down, down, etc. Well, I tried a few differenty variations of it to no avail. However, just before writing this I checked on IGN to see if there were any new code developments, and lo and behold a new version of my old, beloved code does exist. You can find it yourself, I assume. God, that makes me happy!

No time for ratings, I got more reviews to write!!!! Just know that this game rocks. That's all you need.