Konami brings its first Contra title to the DS, 20 years after the original defined the side-scrolling combat genre. Taking place two years after the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars, Contra 4 once again finds series protagonists Bill Rizer, Lance Bean, Mad Dog, and Scorpion peppering the Black Viper alien menace with a fusillade of bullets. As always, the side-scrolling combat is littered with weapon power-ups that make for some serious firepower, and the two-player co-op mode lets friends double the damage. However, the dual screens allow for new kinds of action, like massive, screen-filling enemies, and the new grappling hook, which lets players swing from the bottom screen to the top screen. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide