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	Contra: Shattered Soldier
	Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Genre: Platformer Players: 1-2 Similar To: N/A Rating: Teen Published: 11 :22 : 02 Reviewed By: Ryan Newman Overall: 8 = Excellent

Screenshots

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Intro
Contra is one of gaming's most prized and cherished franchises. I, like many others out there, grew up with Contra. If you didn't know the extra lives code, then quite frankly, you weren't worth knowing. Sure, SNK and Jaleco tried to drag gamers away with Ikari Warriors and the pace notion of controlling a jeep in Jackal - really, how ludicrous is that? Having a successful run on the NES, Genesis, and SNES, Contra fell from grace - thanks in no small part to, who else, the French - with the PlayStation and Sega Saturn release of…well, it's best not to speak of it anymore. Now, the series is back to form with Shattered Soldier and it's sure to have old gamers reminiscing and new gamers wondering why someone would make a game so damn hard.


Gameplay: 8.5/10
On the surface, Shattered Soldier only mildly resembles a Contra title. Gone are the matching headbands and pants of the days of yore; our heroes now sport full shirts, and there's an interesting mix of 2D and 3D elements. Realizing the mistake of the last title and seeing how well its predecessors fared, the developers wisely chose to stick with the 2D approach, but juxtaposed 3D elements to not only give the game an up-to-date look, but also to enhance gameplay.

For those poor souls who are unfamiliar with Contra, it's basically an action platformer that involves one to two players blowing away aliens and anonymous enemy soldiers. Along the way, balloon power-ups would float overhead and, when shot, release a new upgraded firing mechanism for the standard rifle. The original also caused many fights with friends as the game allowed players to 'take' another player's life. With one-shot kills, Contra has always been a tough series, but one that always innovates and remains highly addictive -- disregarding the 32-bit version -- regardless of the difficulty.

This latest release is much of the same, but with a few differences. Power-ups are no longer needed for special shots, as the game gives the player rapid-fire, explosives, and flamethrower right off the bat; aside from each having a secondary, more powerful, charge-attack, these are the only weapons that you'll use. This would be a pretty big flaw, due to the fact that getting certain shot types always added an extra element of danger as well as the rivalry of playing with a friend who wanted the same shot, if it weren't for the fact that the game's relentless onslaught of attacks helps to justify the decision to forego any additional stresses.

Based around four levels, each with its own set of sections, Shattered Soldier is one of the shortest Contra titles to date. Sure, the game is difficult, but with the addition of checkpoints to respawn at the beginning or middle of a level, gamers who find themselves fortunate enough to be in "the zone" could burn through the game in a matter of hours. Given, rankings are awarded at the end of each level, though many might find it too nerve-racking to go through again. To be honest though, it took me a very long time just to get through the various worlds, and I would suspect that the same will apply to most other gamers out there.

Contra more than makes up for its relative shortness with a solid multiplayer mode as well as some of the most imaginative levels and bosses to date. Players will find themselves snowboarding down a mountain, being chased by a large skeleton creature, hanging onto a rocket, and some classic situations also pop up, such as hanging onto a bar and trying to kill creatures who will take you to the top of the screen and kill you, or just recall a good deal of Alien Wars. The enemies will also include the staple foot soldiers, which come in various styles: there's the mortar soldier, the rifle soldier, shield soldier, and the crazy soldier who just charges with a sword; what would a game be like without the generic baddies to mow down? There's also a giant water-skiing mech, a very scary baby face that hurls projectile vomit and snot, as well some old acquaintances. Reading their descriptions is one thing, but witnessing just how large some of the creatures are will really make one appreciate the unlimited ammo.

Despite the changed standards and the small number of levels, Shattered Soldier marks a triumphant return for the series. Contra has been ignored long enough and hopefully this release marks a renewed interest in the series on Konami's part; maybe the next go-around will even have online play. Ah, one can only wish.

Graphics: 8/10
I'll just say it now: I'm disappointed that the matching bandanas and pants did not make a return. Instead of a Rambo knock-off, gamers are given a post-Apocalyptic bald soldier who is clad in black armor. Yes, it looks cool in the cutscenes, but in-game, it just looks like bulky black spandex. The characters, both male and female, look good enough. I think nostalgia is kicking in once again, so I'll move on.

As stated, both the levels and the enemies are very imaginative. The designs for the enemies range from menacing soldiers of war, to just plain odd. The way the game handles most objects in 3D while keeping a traditional 2D perspective really came off well and gives the series a whole new glossy coat. The levels, while looking similar at the outset, change enough throughout the journey to the boss that they keep from appearing redundant. There are also plenty of cool special effects; one that I particularly enjoyed was the flamethrower and its effect on enemy troops, and the fact that they grasp for life and melted before my eyes didn't hurt either. One high note was that the old death animation where the characters flip back before they hit the ground was included. Again, it's just something for nostalgia's sake, but it's an appreciated inclusion nonetheless.

Sound: 8/10
Rock, explosions, gunfire; everything that one would expect to make up the soundtrack to Contra is all here. From the sounds of monsters squealing as they are set on fire to the sound of a boss' strained throat as spews acid vomit, it's the smaller things that really contribute to the overall quality. Some of the sound effects border on generic, but they tend to be drowned out. While there's nothing really groundbreaking here, there doesn't need to be as what is present does its job very well.

Control: 8/10
In terms of navigation, I found it odd that memory card options were handled exclusively through the option screen, instead of also being in-game or on the main title screen. Selecting Bill or Lucia was also handled through the option screen, instead of a proper, separate select screen; neither of these elements is crucial, but they are odd design choices. Aside from having limited space to move, controlling the characters is just as easy as it was in past titles. Switching weapon-mode on the fly is quick and easy, and everything else is pretty much standard fare for the series.

Overall: 8/10
It's good to have a Contra title back in a current console. Correction: it's nice to have a good Contra title back. Forget the last installment; like the 3D Castlevania titles, it's best to have let Konami get the 3D bug out of their system so they could work through the technological advancements and use them in ways that work with the title, as opposed to acting as its crutch. Shattered Soldier is a thoroughly enjoyable title, and while its length may be too short for some, it's a hell of an adventure while it lasts.

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