Contra: The Alien Wars (Super Game Boy) Playthrough

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Longplay Center

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Published on October 13, 2024 12:00:00 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNwL7kxG4tc

Game:

Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)

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Playthrough of Konami's 1994 run-and-gun shooter for the Nintendo Game Boy, Contra: The Alien Wars. Played in Super Game Boy mode.

Contra: The Alien Wars for the Game Boy, released in 1994, is a handheld adaptation of the SNES game Contra III: The Alien Wars. While it condenses the original game's content to fit the limitations of the Game Boy, it still retains much of the intense, run-and-gun action the series is known for. When played using the Super Game Boy on the SNES, the game benefits from enhanced visuals with added color, offering a new layer of depth to the otherwise monochrome graphics of the Game Boy version.

The gameplay remains fast-paced and challenging, with players controlling either Bill Rizer or Lance Bean as they battle through alien-infested levels. The core mechanics of the Contra series are intact—players run, jump, and shoot their way through hordes of enemies, collecting power-ups like spread guns, homing missiles, and lasers to help even the odds. The action is relentless, with waves of enemies constantly attacking from all directions, creating an intense atmosphere that demands quick reflexes and precise shooting. Boss battles punctuate the end of each stage, offering large, screen-filling enemies that require careful pattern recognition and skill to defeat.

When played in Super Game Boy mode, the game gets a significant visual boost. The Super Game Boy adds a colorful palette to the environments, characters, and enemies, making it easier to distinguish elements on the screen compared to the Game Boy’s original monochrome display. The color helps define the various backgrounds and gives the game a sharper, more dynamic look, making it more enjoyable to play on a larger screen. While the graphical fidelity doesn’t match the SNES original, the Super Game Boy’s enhancements give the game a more polished appearance, making the alien landscapes and character designs more visually distinct.

The level design in Contra: The Alien Wars for Game Boy mirrors that of the original SNES version, though with simplified stages and fewer enemy types due to the hardware limitations. Players traverse urban war zones, alien bases, and even take on stages with overhead perspectives, maintaining variety throughout the game. The stages are filled with destructible objects, vehicles to commandeer, and plenty of platforming sections that keep players on their toes. While some of the more complex elements from the SNES version are toned down or removed, the core action remains intact, and the difficulty is still quite high. Precision is key, as the game is unforgiving, with a limited number of lives and continues.

The soundtrack and sound effects are strong for a Game Boy title, with fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping music that keeps the intensity high throughout each level. While the Game Boy’s sound chip can’t reproduce the richness of the SNES soundtrack, it does a solid job of capturing the spirit of the original compositions. Explosions and gunfire sounds are satisfying, adding to the chaotic feel of the gameplay.

Despite the Game Boy's limitations, Contra: The Alien Wars manages to capture the essence of what makes the Contra series so beloved: fast, challenging, and rewarding gameplay. The Super Game Boy’s enhancements elevate the experience, giving it a fresh look with added color and making it a more engaging experience for those revisiting it on the SNES. While it doesn’t offer the full breadth of the SNES version, it stands on its own as a solid handheld action game that stays true to the high-octane roots of the Contra franchise.

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