Contra Anniversary Collection

Overall, the Contra Anniversary Collection is a pleasant shoot down memory lane, but the duplicate games are frustrating additions, taking up slots that could’ve been filled by more unique titles.

While it's a shame that there are fewer games here than in other Konami collections – we'd have loved to have seen NES title Contra Force or the now-extinct WiiWare title Contra ReBirth – the ones included are universally brilliant. The 8-bit and 16-bit Contra games are among the finest examples of the run 'n gun genre, and to have almost all of them included in a single release and emulated flawlessly is an absolute treat. Whether you're a fan of the series or a curious onlooker who's always wanted to see what the fuss was all about, this is essential.

The Contra Anniversary Collection could have been so much more.

Altogether, the Contra Anniversary Collection is still a hell of a bargain. As a gamer that grew up playing many of these games, it’s nice having a bunch of them together in one place. I probably spent 12 hours or so playing through the entire thing. I’m a bit dissatisfied that some of my other favorite games in the series aren’t here, such as Shattered Soldier and Contra 4. But even without those, this Collection is a great deal for only $19.99. If you love over the top mayhem, giant bosses and lots of challenge, look no further.

The Contra Anniversary Collection isn't perfect — the omission of Contra 4 and Contra ReBirth is a disappointment, and more save states per game would have been nice — but it is a solid collection of quality games at an attractive $20 price point to boot.

Contra Anniversary Collection is a great compilation of main Contra games, regional variations and spin-offs, but it's missing a few more interesting and more recent games, not widely available. If you love Contra, you'll love this bundle.

Another collection by Konami after Castlevania Anniversary Collection. It's very enjoyable to reunite with our bulky masculine heros and the game is still fast and engaging, but it's just a simple port without polishing anything. The game is not in full screen and controls are not good. Also It's not a complete collection by any means but the true fans can still enjoy this nostalgic title and challenge themselves with this hardcore collection.

Co-op, seven unique games, and plenty of challenge wrapped up into one collection. Do not skip.

Nothing really holds back this package, other than perhaps the somewhat limited selection of "unique" games on offer, as much of the selection consists of variations of the same title, or regional releases under different names.

Nonetheless, it would have been nice to see a spinoff like Contra Force or even Contra: The Alien Wars for Game Boy rather than the incredibly similar PAL versions we did get. Button remapping is another frustrating omission. Overall, this is a solid collection of classic action games that have enjoyable boss fights and provide a great challenge, but it doesn't feel like a definitive compilation.