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System:
SNES
Genre:
Shoot 'Em Up
Publisher:
Konami
Developer:
-
Players:
1-2
Release date/year:
1992
Other systems:
-
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- Contra III: Alien Wars
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1992 Konami - SNES
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Contra III is the third game in a very successful and enjoyable series on games. It all started way back on the NES with the first Contra game. The series skyrocketed to success. Then with the second, it became even more popular. Now, with the third, the series is at it’s peak. This has been called the best of the Contra games. I got this way back when. My dad saw it and said he wanted to buy it, a rare event. He actually liked it, and I did too! Only a few games have ever done that. I spent many hours on this game playing everything extensively, here is what I thought.
- {~~Main Scores~~}
BREAKDOWN
Graphics- 9
Gameplay- 10
Story- 9
Sound- 10
Enjoyability- 10
- Graphics
The graphics in this game are fantastic. Leaps and bounds ahead of the other games in this genre, and in some cases on the whole system. Even compared to the playstation version, which I will attempt not to rant about, it is great.
All the backgrounds, although 2D and un-moving, are well detailed and fairly good. You backgrounds mostly consist of things such as tress and the sky. It all depends on which kind of level you are in. There are a few types of levels. The desert levels, the forest levels, and the rooftop levels. As you would expect, each one has it’s own distict features. For example the forest levels have trees, and such and so forth.
The characters (the men) are well detailed, showing the face and all features and attachments to the military uniforms. The helicopters and other war machines are, as I’ve said about most other graphical aspects, detailed and exceptionally done for the SNES. At some points in this game you will find yourself forgetting which console you are playing on (I did), and because of this.
- Gameplay
The gameplay in Contra III is nothing amazing, but it is still fun. Basically, it is you average side side-scroller. You run along the ground to the side (hence the name side side-scroller) and you kill all the enemies that you see.
To do this with the greatest of ease, you are provided with a wide variety of guns that you can pick up throughout the game, ranging from rapid fire to spread shooters, the many guns are a fun addition to the gameplay. You have a main gun that is used all the time, but then, after killing an enemy, you can pick up a new gun. But, the bad part is, when you die, you revert back to the basic gun.
I greatly enjoyed the gameplay in this game, one thing I liked was the wide variety of enemies, you have giant tanks, and you have some birds that swoop down and get in your way (and what do you do when something gets in your way? BOOM!). Also, there are end-of-level bosses that you fight, to give a vague idea, these are usually big and involve more than one target. If you love this genre, you will love the gameplay, if you hate this genre, you will love the gameplay.
- Story
The story of Contra III takes place in the far future. One time there were aliens attacking the planet, they were winning until two giant robots were created, and you know what they did? They kicked ass! Then many years went by, people lived peacefully, all the survivors of the alien attack died, young children grew to adults and the alien attack grew to a legend. Then, out of nowhere, a giant independence day like ship towers over the worlds biggest city… The aliens had returned! Nobody knew what to do, the aliens were winning. Then, an old man went searching in the archives of history for a trace of the previous attack, he found that two giant robots were the ones who defeated the aliens the last time. He went down into this dungeon-like place and found the robots covered in cobwebs. He activated them and they pushed him out of the way and went to fight. But will they be strong enough? the military is powerless and weakened, the world is cowering, and the aliens are prepared this time…
- Sound
BOOM!!! BANG!!! ZAP!!!!! These are just an example of the amazing audio this game provides. Accompanied by a stunning background symphony (I like to call it that anyway ^_^), you have an amazing sound effect library. Your guns make an almost lifelike sound and everything you do makes you feel lost in the world of Contra. Of course, this is all done with me pitting myself in the shoes of myself when first playing this game (I believe they are Nikes). So, don’t think that the sound, or any other factor is really amazing, but it is very good for it’s time, and even good for today. Turn your sound up load, enjoy the sound, I know you will.
- Enjoyability
This game is extremely enjoyable. All of the different parts of the game pull together to make a simply amazing experience. The main parts that made it enjoyable were the gameplay and the sound. For one, they were done the best, and for two, they are some of the most important, that need to be done the best. The gameplay needs to be the best, and is, because it is the game. Then the sound backs up the gameplay very well, helping you to basically move yourself side to side and really get into it. I’m at a loss of words just to explain it. Lets just say… wow.
- {~~Other Important Scores~~}
Replay Value: Medium
This game will take you a fair amount of time to complete, and you will need a break, because you will want to play it, and play it, and play it, I found myself unable to stop. But of course, you will at least stop after you finish it. When you do, you will need a little bit of time before playing again, but you will, most likely more than once.
- Challenge: Moderate
This game is not very challenging. But it can be at times. You may find a very hard boss or two, but for the most part, fairly easy. The main parts that are hard are the bosses. They have more than one topic to hit on them, which is the worst. Say you spend forever shooting at it, and you finally think you have it dead, then it’s arm falls off! God! That is one of the most annoying, and hard game moments for me.
- Buy or Rent: Buy
Another easy one, buy. You literally can’t just rent this, you rent once, you will want to buy, badly. The reason I say this is mainly the replay value. You can play this game again, which is one of the most important things for me when making a decision in this section. The other thing that makes me say this is the overall fun of this game. Mostly the gameplay and sound make it this way, but every section of the game comes together. A buy for sure.
- THE GOOD
-The gameplay
-The sound
-The challenge
-The story
- THE NOT AS GOOD
-The Replay Value
-The Graphics
- THE BAD
-The only thing I can come up with is the SNES limitations, but that shouldn’t count
Overall, this was one of my favorite games ever, and I recommend it to all. Go out and buy it, nowadays you can get it for the change in the couch. Once you get it, grab a chair, sit back, and enjoy.
This Game Gets A Seifer Guarantee!
9/10
//Seifer psx
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