16-Bit Brawl – Contra III vs. Exhausting Corps

Welcome to 16-Bit Brawl, a sequence the place we pit two Sega Genesis and Tremendous NES video games towards each other to see which one comes out on prime. This time, we’re going to check out how Konami’s run and gun sequence Contra fared on these programs. Did Nintendo or Sega’s programs get the higher recreation? Let’s discover out. 

With Contra: Operation Galuga on the way in which, it appeared like a good time to look again on a few of the greatest video games within the sequence, and the 16-bit technology was fairly killer for Contra, though there have been solely actually two video games launched. This one’s going to be powerful although as a result of I personally VASTLY want The Alien Wars to Exhausting Corps, however I promise I’m going to try to be as neutral as doable. Let’s check out the contenders. 

First up, we now have Contra III: The Alien Wars for Tremendous NES. Contra was technically born within the arcades, but it surely didn’t actually blow up till it hit NES. The unique recreation and its followup have been completely huge successes on the platform, so naturally individuals have been fairly excited to see what the franchise might be on Nintendo’s fancy new 16-bit {hardware}, and boy did it not disappoint. Not solely is it completely attractive, full of each flashy trick Konami may consider, it’s received an insanely good soundtrack, glorious problem, and a few tremendous artistic bosses. It additionally launched wielding two weapons concurrently, which actually alleviated a few of the excessive problem. 

However though this recreation is a real masterpiece, it’s not with out its flaws. Specifically the overhead ranges. They have been a neat thought, however in apply there’s principally nothing enjoyable about taking part in this manner. Sure, Mode 7 was cool, however these overhead phases have been an enormous step again from Tremendous C’s. 

That blemish apart, The Alien Wars is phenomenal, and a very good evolution of the core Contra gameplay. 

Over on the Sega Genesis, we now have Contra: Exhausting Corps. This, like a number of of Konami’s different Genesis video games, was virtually unbelievably handsome. Some completely insane methods have been used to make this recreation look lightyears forward of a whole lot of different stuff on the platform. It’s additionally one of many first Contra video games to characteristic completely different playable characters with completely different attributes. Exhausting Corps truly included fairly a little bit of narrative, which was, in true Contra vogue, fully bananas. There was additionally a playable wolf man, which relying on the way you take a look at it’s both superior or dumb. 

However regardless of how a lot you do or don’t like anthropomorphic wolves, there is not any denying that Contra: Exhausting Corps is totally badass. It takes some probabilities in evolving the essential Contra gameplay, has some superb motion setpieces, and a few wacky memorable bosses. 

Now that we’ve taken a more in-depth take a look at the combatants, let’s see how they fare. 

Graphics (1 level)

Relying on which recreation you grew up with, this one might sound tremendous simple on the floor. My pure inclination was to declare the SNES the winner. However then I actually stepped again and checked out each video games and it’s actually a really shut matchup. 

On one hand, I feel The Alien Wars has higher artwork path. Exhausting Corps has a whole lot of nice concepts, however on the finish of the day many of the enemy designs aren’t practically as memorable because the issues they do. The Alien wars has a ton of incredible-looking stuff, and it’s all executed expertly, particularly contemplating how early into the SNES’s life the sport was. 

Nonetheless, the Genesis completely trounces the SNES when it comes to efficiency right here. The Alien Wars is plagued with slowdown, and whereas it has no scarcity of cool results to maintain issues thrilling, Exhausting Corps makes use of some prime tier visible wizardry to maintain issues attention-grabbing. 

They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Truthfully, I feel this one’s a draw. 

The Alien Wars – I

Exhausting Corps – I

Sound (1 level)

And right here we now have one more powerful class. Each the SNES and Genesis are able to superb high quality sound, albeit in very alternative ways, however they’re additionally each greater than able to farting out some actual stinkers. That’s not the case right here with both recreation. 

Exhausting Corps has, from what I’ve come to know, a little bit of a divisive soundtrack. It might probably come off as a bit goofy every now and then, but it surely handles the Genesis sound chip expertly. It by no means falls into the entice that a whole lot of Genesis video games do of making an attempt to be one thing it’s not. 

That mentioned, The Alien Wars soundtrack was designed to sound like an motion film, and it succeeds spectacularly. Battle Runner, for instance, is a loopy complicated tune that’s in all probability simply as bizarre as something the Genesis recreation has to supply, but it surely simply comes collectively so brilliantly. It’s completely epic. The instrument decisions Konami used for The Alien Wars music have been prime notch, and a few of their best work that technology. 

They each have glorious sound results too, however once more, I just like the crunchy sounds of the SNES explosions greater than their Genesis counterparts. 

Exhausting Corps has some nice music, however for my cash, I feel this class goes to The Alien Wars arms down.  

The Alien Wars – II

Exhausting Corps – I

Gameplay (2 factors)

Answering this query is hard. The Alien Wars fundamental 2D gameplay is actually as excellent as pure Contra will get. It controls brilliantly, the weapons rule, and the boss battles are extremely memorable. The stage the place you’re leaping from missile to missile? That big terminator monster that rips by means of the wall? Taking pictures these flying aliens with the flamethrower? It’s genius. 

Nonetheless, it’s balanced out by these pesky overhead segments. They’re not unplayable by any means, however they aren’t precisely enjoyable both. Coupled with a few of the recreation’s technical issues, it’s an actual blended bag. The overwhelming majority of the sport is close to excellent when it comes to pure, unfiltered Contra. But it surely’s held again by a few of its extra off the wall decisions. 

Exhausting Corps can also be an odd beast. It’s a rather well put collectively recreation with all its branching paths, a number of endings, and completely different characters. However these characters all have a restricted variety of weapons out there to them, which is cool, but in addition a reasonably large change from the earlier Contra video games. 

What this all comes right down to is what sort of Contra recreation do you need to play? Which one is best? I do not assume both is. I personally like what The Alien Wars does higher, however that’s simply because after I play a Contra recreation, I need that form of gameplay. However that may’t take away from simply how effectively Exhausting Corps does what it units out to do. This one’s one other draw. 

The Alien Wars – IIII

Exhausting Corps – III

And there you’ve got it. Through the use of my very scientific and under no circumstances flawed system, I can decide that The Alien Wars is the superior 16-bit Contra recreation. But it surely’s manner nearer than I believed it will be coming in. I believed for certain it will be a blowout due to how a lot I like The Alien Wars and the way a lot I don’t love Exhausting Corps. However after I stepped again and tried to take a look at them each objectively, Exhausting Corps is de facto fairly a effectively made recreation. It’s simply not my cup of tea, and The Alien Wars actually is that good.