Neo Contra

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Neo Contra
The North American and European packaging artwork for Neo Contra was drawn by comic book artist Jim Lee.^[1]
Developer(s)	Konami TYO
Publisher(s)	Konami
Designer(s)	Takayuki Ando (director) Nobuya Nakazato (producer)
Release date(s)	^NA October 26, 2004 ^JPN November 3, 2004 ^EU February 25, 2005
Genre(s)	Run and gun
Mode(s)	Single player, Cooperative
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature CERO: 15+ PEGI: 12+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Media	1 DVD

Neo Contra (ネオコントラ, Neo Kontora^?) is a video game that is part of the Contra series by Konami. It was released for the Sony PlayStation 2 in 2004. The game is the seventh and latest title^{[citation needed]} in the main storyline and is another departure from the traditional scrolling shooter formula from previous games. It is also the first Contra title to receive an M rating from the ESRB.

1 Plot and setting
2 Gameplay
- 2.1 Weapons
3 Elements of parody and satire
4 Reception
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Plot and setting

Neo Contra takes place during A.D. 4444 when the Earth has been transformed into a prison planet, home to criminals and political rebels (contras). From this underworld society rises a new order called "Neo Contra". This government quickly showed its true colors, as it has other plans than bringing back normal civilization.^{[citation needed]} Thus, Bill Rizer is awoken from his cryogenic sleep of ten thousand years. He is partnered with Genbei Jaguer Yagyu, a samurai, and the two are sent to Earth to deal with the Neo Contra threat.

[edit] Gameplay

Neo Contra once again brings the games arena back into three dimensions. However, unlike the titles developed under Appaloosa Interactive, players only need to aim in third dimension upon rare occasions; thus, the gameplay has made the change from a side-scrolling game to an overhead scroller. This gameplay change makes the game feel more like Smash TV or Robotron: 2084 rather than a Contra title. Additionally, this title eradicates the boss-oriented gameplay of the previous 32-bit titles, and seeks a balance more reminiscent of the 8-bit and 16-bit days; long free-form shooting sections, interspliced with boss encounters.^{[citation needed]}

Additionally, gameplay varies depending upon the level and camera angle presented (the camera cannot be user-controlled). Most of the game is played in an isometric perspective, but portions are viewed from the side or overhead-behind. In order for the player to effectively evade in the new dimensions, two new defensive moves are created: dash and spin. Dash gives the player a quick burst of speed to evade hostiles, while spin gives the player an instant of invulnerability. The hit-ratio system that was introduced in Shattered Soldier has been kept in this title.

There are a total of seven levels in the game.

[edit] Weapons

The weapon system has been again redesigned for this title. Initially, only three weapon sets are available, and others are unlocked depending on the hit-ratio. Due to fan complaints about Shattered Soldier, the infamous spread gun has been re-introduced into Neo Contra.

[edit] Elements of parody and satire

Many people view the excesses in story and game environments as the developers' intention to make light of the series.^{[citation needed]} For example, all of the bosses have "Contra" suffixed to their name. The main theme song has very campy lyrics, even when viewed in comparison to other video-game based songs. One of the characters, Animal Contra, is a talking dog who commands his own battleship, wears a WWI helmet, and has a tiny sword despite the fact that he lacks the opposable thumbs to wield it. The gameplay environments are extremely radical^{[citation needed]}; one level has the protagonists being shot out through a volcano, while another has them fighting atop the blades of a helicopter.

[edit] Reception

The game is viewed as extremely short and relatively easy; an experienced gamer can finish the game in only about forty-five minutes.^{[citation needed]} There is a difficulty setting in the options menu, and playing on Easy difficulty grants players 30 lives to beat the first four missions, but on this difficulty it is impossible to view the game's ending. Normal mode offers players 6 lives and 7 continues to complete the seven missions of the game. In contrast, the previous title, Shattered Soldier, is incredibly difficult.^{[citation needed]} The controls are another point of dispute for many gamers who are critical of Neo Contra, as Konami chose to not take advantage of the PlayStation 2's dual analog controllers for directional firing and aiming.