Contra 4 on the DS is basically the classic run-and-gun chaos you remember, but now it’s crammed into your pocket. The dual screens actually work surprisingly well—enemies swarm from above and below, bullets fill both screens, and you’ll be frantically jumping between them like some kind of acrobatic commando. The difficulty? Still brutal, just like the old days. One hit and you’re done, but at least now you’ve got a grappling hook to mix things up.

They didn’t mess with the formula too much—same over-the-top weapons, same ridiculous bosses, but with way smoother sprites and animations. That first level throws you right into the fire with helicopters, turrets, and soldiers diving at you from all angles. If you grew up with Contra, this feels like coming home, just with slightly less thumb cramps from an NES controller.

Honestly, it’s one of the few DS games that makes the hardware feel essential instead of gimmicky.