Since its inception, I have been eagerly awaiting the classic, 3rd-party games from the NES era to be added to Xbox Live Arcade. Contra is the quintessential NES game and arguably the best shooter of its time. It was a pioneer in the genre and packed with entertainment value. When I downloaded the game this morning, I was interested in playing the arcade clone.

Though I only played the arcade cabinet of Contra once, it was different from the NES game. At the end of the vertical, waterfall level (in the NES version), the wall had tentacle arms. In this version, it was just a few gun batteries and soldiers. Significantly less impressive.

The part that really gets me is the lack of downward firing when you jump at the top of the screen.

During the very first level of play this morning, I jumped off the top level and attempted to fire down but nothing happened since I was off the screen. What?!? Why is being off of the screen a factor? The NES game allows you to do it. Surely a console exponentially more powerful should allow you to shoot somebody running below though you are jumping. Seriously.

Until those two problems are corrected, I can't truly recommend Contra as a worthy redux. It is still worth 400 points, especially if you do not own the NES version of Contra.

. . . But the 200 achievement points are good for the game.

EDIT: I originally posted the following in my diatribe . . .
Though I have plenty of experience finishing the game utilizing the apportioned lives, what if I want the classic code? What if I want to play with the safety net? The extra lives code in Contra was as much a part of the NES game as the side, vertical, and over-the-shoulder action. I don't want a paid download to pop up on XBL, but I really was hoping to have that option.

Jeff is right. The code is in there. It works. Crisis averted. Apologies to Konami. I just wasn't fast enough in my button mashing.