Is this run and gun classic worth the download? Find out in our review!
The evolution comes in within the Mission Mode. Completing levels in Arcade Mode opens them up in Mission Mode. You can then play these levels again with new conditions and challenges. The challenges very from limited lives to a set time limit to complete the level. You can play these levels on one of three difficulty levels to increase the challenge. While it is unfortunate that you have to retread through familiar territory, the mode does add a level of replay ability to the game.
The graphics of the game are great. The term modern nostalgia is used a lot, but Contra: Evolution really exhibits this moniker. The game pulls enough form the original to please currents fans while bringing it just enough into the modern era to gain a new fan base. The blood and gore looks great, especially when the action fills the screen. Bill and Lance look like they stepped straight out of a Delorean from the 80s to modern day.
Contra: Evolution suffers from other arcade titles that have been ported over to mobile platforms. We reviewed the game on the iPad and the controls for the game were a big problem. While there are options for the controls that you can customize to your liking, they still don’t provide that fluid control you need when playing a side-scrolling run and gun action game. The controls also take up a lot of real estate on the screen, which is another common problem. This is one era where we would have really liked to see Contra: Evolution evolve.
