Nearly 40 Years Later, This Is Still the Gold Standard of Action Games

by

The action genre is broad and covers a lot of different games, many of which offer unique experiences. The most well-known type is the shooter, letting players feel powerful as they battle waves of enemies. While the genre has evolved a lot over time, with new ideas and changes, the best action games still stand out because of their strong, fundamental design.

That really captures why Contra is still enjoyable after almost forty years. The Konami game quickly became popular in Japan and then a huge hit worldwide. It’s spawned many sequels and inspired countless other games, and it’s still a blast to play today. Here’s a look at why Contra matters to gaming history and why it continues to be so fun.

How Contra Became A Massive Success

First appearing in arcades in early 1987, Contra is a legendary game and still one of the most enjoyable action games ever made. Created by Konami, Contra puts you in control of two commandos, Bill and Lance, as they battle through a world overrun by mercenaries and aliens, fighting against the evil Red Falcon Organization. The game’s fast-paced, side-scrolling action focuses on constant movement, intense combat, and non-stop thrills.

The game kept things interesting with a variety of weapons that could be upgraded, and gameplay that never felt repetitive. Players progressed through seven stages, each offering a different experience. The first stage featured classic side-scrolling action where you’d defeat enemies, then the game switched to a 3D perspective for navigating through the enemy base in the second stage.

Each level ends with a challenging boss fight. Players must navigate a specific area, dodging enemy attacks while also attacking themselves. This mix of fast-paced action and strategic maneuvering gave the game a grand feel, constantly throwing new and different challenges at players. It’s a very action-packed game that feels like an early influence on many modern shooters, prioritizing constant, intense gameplay.

Why Contra Is Still Influencing Action Games Decades Later

Originally an arcade hit, Contra quickly became a major success for Konami, becoming one of the best-selling arcade games of its year. It felt like a significant step forward compared to earlier titles like 1986’s Ikari Warriors. Due to its strong performance, Konami brought Contra to home consoles like the Commodore 64 and NES in 1988. The NES version was particularly notable for how the developers adapted the game. While the arcade version had superior graphics, the NES version streamlined the visuals and redesigned levels to ensure smooth gameplay and a better experience for console players. This NES port proved to be the most impactful, selling 2 million copies by 1991 and demonstrating key developments in action game design at the time.

The success of Contra on the NES proved that the excitement of arcade games could be brought home, paving the way for more action games on consoles instead of just in arcades. It showed that fast-paced, two-player action was perfect for home gaming, offering the same thrills without the need to constantly feed a machine more coins. As one of the first modern shooters to become a hit, Contra demonstrated the genre’s appeal, a popularity that has only increased with improved graphics and gameplay over time. It also established a quick, energetic pace that later games, like Doom, would build upon.

Even after almost forty years, Contra is still a fantastic game. Its brilliant design keeps the action constant, but makes every setback feel fair thanks to the overwhelming number of enemies. The responsive controls and bright graphics – even in the original NES version – mean that losing feels like a challenge, not a punishment. This encourages players to keep trying, improving their skills with each attempt. Every fight is a potential last stand if you’re not careful. Contra truly set the standard for action games, and it’s still incredibly fun to play today.

Read More

2026-02-21 00:12