Contra 4

Contra 4 is a brutal, balls to the wall return to form for the series, ditching the weird 3D experiments and going straight back to its 2D roots. Developed by WayForward, this game is a love letter to the arcade classics, packing in the same relentless run-and-gun action that made the originals legendary. The story? Who cares!? It’s Contra! Aliens, soldiers, big guns, and explosions. That’s all you need to know.  

The gameplay is pure, unfiltered Contra: fast, punishing, and rewarding as hell. You’ve got your classic spread shot, laser, and homing missiles, but now you can dual-wield weapons thanks to the dual screens, which expand the vertical playfield. This means more chaos, more bullets to dodge, and more opportunities to die spectacularly. And you will die, a lot. Contra 4 doesn’t hold your hand, sticking to the series’ trademark difficulty. The hitboxes are tight, the enemy patterns are vicious, and the level design is sadistic in the best way possible. But when you finally beat that one boss or nail a perfect run, the rush is unbeatable.  

Visually, the game nails the retro aesthetic while adding just enough modern polish. The sprites are crisp, the animations are smooth, and the bosses are massive, screen-filling monstrosities that feel ripped straight from the ’90s. The soundtrack slaps too, with heavy remixes of classic Contra tunes and new tracks that fit right in.  

The game also throws in a ton of extras, like a challenge mode that tests your skills in bite-sized missions and a museum packed with art and music from the series. But the real meat is the main campaign, which is short but designed for replayability, especially if you want to conquer the harder difficulties or chase high scores.  

Contra 4 is one of the best entries in the franchise, capturing everything that made the classics great while adding just enough new ideas to feel fresh. It’s tough as hell, but fair, and every death feels like your fault, not the game’s. If you love run-and-gun action and don’t mind getting your ass kicked a few dozen times, this is a must-play.

Download

Lock and load, soldier! The battlefield is calling, and it’s time to answer with a hail of bullets. Smash that download button and grab the .RAR file, your ticket to the most intense, screen shaking action. Unzip it, drop the files right into your SD card’s root, and install the .CIA to boot it up on your 3DS. Once you’re in, there’s no turning back. The aliens are waiting, the guns are hot, and the only way out is through. Do you have what it takes to survive? Grab your 3DS, steel your nerves, and get ready for war, Contra style!