Contra

Contra was released in 1988 by Konami; today it is an absolute NES classic. It has a few rough edges, but the game play speaks for itself. It isn't "toss-the-controller-against-the-wall" difficult, nor is it easy. It actually has a good balance of difficulty that doesn't have very many cheap points that require a good deal of luck — this game is all about skill…and memorization, but mostly skill. The European version was named Probotector and changed the human heroes into robots due to censorship laws in some countries that would have restricted the game to people over eighteen.

The Japanese Contra had better graphics and sound than the USA version. For example, the title screen in the Japanese version was animated and the screen between stages resembles the scrolling map in Ghosts 'n Ghouls. Many of the stages also had improved or animated sections that enhanced the game play.

The original game was ported as Gryzor to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 by Ocean Software for their release in Europe in 1988, with the Commodore 64 version also being released as Contra in North America by Konami.

Story
Story from the Contra manual (translated from Japanese version):


 * It's the year 2633 A.D. Technology has reached a level so advanced that nature and science now exist in harmony and peace reigns throughout the world.


 * .... but beneath the calmness something beyond all imagination is discovered that threatens the existence of mankind. While conducting a top secret investigation, the Earth Federation Marine Corps discover that a group of alien invaders are plotting to wipe out the human race.


 * Private First Class Bill Rizer and Lance Bean of the Marine Corps, are informed of this terrifying fact and are given the mission to neutralize these alien invaders.


 * The Contras' mission is to go to the alien's fortress in the Galuga Islands and see that they are exterminated.

Story from the Contra manual (US version):


 * In 1957 a large object from outer space crashed into Earth's Amazon basin, near the ruins of a lost Mayan civilization. Scientists worldwide heralded the incident as a trivial cosmic occurrence, and thus the collision was soon forgotten. Now thirty years later, rumors of an evil force have swept into the Pentagon's front office and tales from frightened villagers of a hideous being with an army of alien henchmen are sending chills down the spines of top military brass. Unwilling to upset current political stability, an all-out assault on the region has been overruled and instead, two of America's most cunning, courageous and ruthless soldiers from the Special Forces elite commando squad have been selected to seek out and destroy these alien intruders.


 * Congratulations, pal, you're one of the chosen. But before you take pride in being the best, be warned. You’re about to come face to face against Red Falcon, the cruelest life-form in the galaxy. He arrived on Earth thirty years ago (that is six months time in an alien's life) to establish a foothold from which he will attempt to conquer our world and then use it as a stepping stone toward his ultimate fiendish goal: domination of the universe. Needless to say, playing hero won't be easy. But you have no choice - you must be a hero. Because if you fail, life as we know it will cease to exist, and the vile Red Falcon will rule forever. If you succeed, well...it doesn't matter, because I doubt you will...