Neo Contra

About

Neo Contra is a 3D shooter that flips the formula from its predecessor. Instead of a side view it uses a top-down perspective as players follow Bill Razer through a futuristic battlefield. Partnering with a rogue samurai named Genbei Jaguer Yagyu the game throws wave after wave of enemies and massive boss fights at you. The controls feel tight but the difficulty spikes often making progress slow unless you master the rhythm of the action. What makes this stand out is how the top-down view changes the pacing. Boss battles are especially brutal often requiring multiple restarts even after tough parts. Released in 2004 for PS2 and later ported to PS3 it's a short experience clocking in at two hours but the challenge adds replay value. The co-op partner isn't optional either so expect to rely on their skills to survive the tougher sections.