I should have known better.
A Contra remake on iOS sounds totally rad on paper. At a price of only $0.99, how could this go possibly wrong? Let me count the ways.
Players familiar with the NES game should find everything here fairly recognizable. It’s the same two dudes running through the same levels. The graphics have been redone and look alright by modern standards. There are new, unlockable characters, as well as weapon slots you can switch between mid-mission, a la Contra III. These are ultimately minor upgrades to the original formula.
Things go sideways from here. Regardless of if you use the virtual joystick or d-pad, character movement is never as precise as it needs to be for this game. You will die a lot because of this. Making matters worse is the continues system. After 3 lives, the game prompts you to spend Diamonds, which are a currency used in exchange for continues. You’ll get a handful to start, though they won’t be nearly enough to cover one full playthrough. Once those Diamonds have been depleted, you have to buy more for a chance to finish the game. Man, I wish this game had the Konami code in it instead of this rubbish.
Sure, you can also try to beat this poorly-controlling remake with only 3 lives, but it’s not worth it. Contra: Evolution is a scummy product that isn’t worth your time and money. As a diehard fan of the NES game, this is extra heartbreaking to see a game I cherish so much come back in this form. Avoid this at all costs.
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In Third Person 