Neo Contra Critic Reviews

It's short length keeps it from scoring any higher, but fans of Contra and shooter fans in general will find a great game in Neo Contra.

The game setup is also much easier than any others in the Contra series that I've played, but at the same time, it still more difficult than a wide variety of games.

A traditional and extremely addictive shoot 'em up. Its twisted humour is hilarious. A few more levels would not have hurt, though.

The gameplay blows minds. The lush, detailed graphics and driving sountrack are the icing on the cake.

I'd estimate that Reiner and I completed the four main missions and fifth bonus mission on normal difficulty in about three or four hours.

I know that Neo Contra has built up my confidence enough that I am starting to toy with the idea of trying Shattered Ego…err…Soldier again if I can remember where I buried it in the backyard.

Apoplectic shooting action that doesn't let us catch our breath till the hard-fought score is tallied up at the end of the level.

A polished and relentless action game with some of the craziest levels in this console generation.

The 3D makeover is near-irrelevant - this is firmly rooted in decades-old 'classic' gameplay. Fun, but strangely out of place among more 'modern' PS2 experiences.

The environments and enemies will meet most expectations but there are times when slow down becomes a factor.

Why must Neo Contra be so short? I want to see more giant plant-things with baby heads and talking dogs wearing Kaiser helmets.

Neo Contra’s greatest fault is that it ends before its time. Second, it’s a bit on the easy side when compared to other run-‘n’-gun shooters.

Ultimately, the game's biggest flaw is its duration. Most players will only need two or three hours to complete the final level.

It's obvious that Nakazato wanted to create a Contra that was inclusionary to newbies, instead of exclusionary. In that he's succeeded. The only problem is that Neo Contra's average difficulty level will have the opposite effect, and turn off the old-timers. It's too bad, as a simple difficulty selection could have helped correct this.

The fact that Jaguar's flame katana - a standard weapon - can take down most bosses in less than five slashes...well, that just shouldn't be possible.

The development team should've built more levels instead of relying on the rating gimmick to extend Neo Contra's longevity. Without question, it's worth a rental since it only takes a few hours or so to complete.

Neo Contra isn't as true to the original games as fans might wish, but nevertheless, it's a good attempt at recapturing the original's magic and a respectable action game in its own right.

Konami, give us back the jump. Give us back the eight-way shooting. Give us back Contra. If not, play "Smash TV," ditch the strafe lock, and put in a few more levels.

The stages themselves are filled with over-the-top shooting action and twitch gameplay, so they're good for some kicks, even if Neo Contra ultimately doesn't provide much depth or challenge.

This title just doesn’t have the longevity to get my recommendation.