contra MD is better than contra SFC

[Kubrick]

Just been playing Contra Hard Corps at a mate's all night! Hadn't really played it before, but now I gotta agree that it's even better than the mighty SFC version.

What a game! Pure, non-stop, ass-kicking action all the way. What a game!

[wheelaa]

JP or US version..the jp one had the difficulty cranked right down

Probotector, and I think the US CHC don't, and are a serious challenge

[Kubrick]

US version.
Yeah, you're right, it's bloody hard, but that's part of what makes it so playable IMO.

Could only reach the 3rd stage, but I still seen enough bosses and **** to fill a dozen games.

[wheelaa]

Damn right..but Gunstar Heroes still kicks Contra into touch every time

[beak lips]

the levels branch too. so all together there are 4 final end stages and final bosses. if that doesn't instantly make it better than the snes version then whatever.

[DexAce]

I have a hard time to put my finger on why but I actually prefer the SFC Contra.

While they are both excellent games I think the pacing and tempo of the SFC version is superior, the MD version is almost too much. And I like the SFC music better.

Maybe I'm wrong but wasn't it the SFC Contra that was made by people that would later depart from Konami to form Treasure?

[beak lips]

I know what you mean but saying that an action game is too much is such a cop out. I love the fact that every level has about 5 sub bosses. Bosses are my favourite part of games and the bosses in hard corps are amazing and all of them are so varied. they are genius and I rate them as some of the best bosses of any game.
People who complain about the difficulty or the severity of the learning curve just haven't played the game enough.

[Kubrick]

Yeah, I think the "too much" element is what makes it great. There's very few bits where you can relax. I mean, look at the way you're immediately thrust into the action - chucked through the windscreen of a car crash, no less! Says it all really.

As much as I like the game (and I like it a lot), I was never a fan of the top-down levels in the SFC game, so MD version wins hands down.

[beak lips]

kubrick, you are the man. we are so on the same wavelength. i didn't love the top down levels either. It was the last 2D contra so obviously it was the best.

[wheelaa]

Plus the level where you are running towards yourself with the boss chasing after you...sheer class. But Gunstar is still miles better (than any contra imo)

[Combination]

Oh my god. You have just quoted a conversation I had with my friend rob. I also heard that CHC was made by treasure or members of treasure. It has some trademark treasurisms. Billions of bosses, good weapons system, amazing graphics for the MD.

The ex-konami employees who formed Treasure had already left before development on the MD game started.

Personally I prefer Contra Spirits over Hard-corps (though the kana reads Hard-core...) simply because I find it quite a bit more challenging, and feels a bit more balanced.

Though I may have been spoiled by the life-bar in the JPN version

[wheelaa]

Though I may have been spoiled by the life-bar in the JPN version

Not just the life bar..the difficulty has been cranked down severely..so much so its hardly worth playing. The US or Pal versions are harder than a porn star.