Super C

The alien threat has returned, and with it the pair of indestructible commandos — Super C, the direct sequel to the legendary Contra, brings another dose of merciless run-and-gun action to the NES. Konami didn't tamper with the proven foundation, it merely polished and toughened it.

The principle stays true to its predecessor: you run right to left (and up too), aim in eight directions, and eliminate everything that appears on screen. A single hit means the loss of a life, so survival depends on lightning reflexes and memorizing enemy layouts. The beloved power-ups return, including the spread weapons, without which it's hard to stand a chance in that deluge of gunfire. If you know the first installment, you'll jump right in — and die right away too, because Super C takes no prisoners.

Compared to the first game, this one reworks the level structure: the pseudo-3D corridors where you ran into the depth are this time replaced by top-down views of sprawling bases you advance through. Visually the game is a notch richer, and the bosses are even more spectacular — giant alien forms that fill half the screen and demand precise targeting of weak points.

As with Contra, it shines best in two-player co-op. Advancing together through the storm of enemy fire, sharing weapons, and coordinating movement make it a great experience for two — though even solo it offers a serious challenge for players who like a game that pushes them to improve.

Super C is exactly the sequel fans wished for: more of the same, only sharper. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it perfects the run & gun recipe and remains one of the most honest action titles on the NES.

Why play: A polished sequel to Contra with everything that made the original great — tough run & gun action, excellent co-op, and spectacular bosses.