30 Brilliant Contra / Metal Slug Clones That Bring The Zing Back Into The Side Scrolling Show

[@nixneato]

01. Blazing Chrome - 0:38 02. Super Cyborg - 1:34 03. Valfaris - 2:40 04. Midnight Resistance - 3:39 05. Iron Meat - 4:36 06. Huntdown - 5:26 07. Super Time Force Ultra - 6:29 08. Butcher - 7:37 09. Bay Route - 8:41 10. Outrage - 9:49 11. Demon Front - 10:49 12. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider - 11:53 13. Rogue Stormers - 13:05 14. Clash Force - 14:07 15. Mercenary Kings - 15:23 16. Oniken - 16:25 17. Aliens: Infestation - 17:26 18. Broforce - 18:29 19. Zombotron - 19:36 20. RIVE: Wreck, Hack, Die, Retry - 20:35 21. Mighty Goose - 21:42 22. Dolphin Blue - 22:47 23. Cyber-Lip - 23:53 24. Axiom Verge - 24:44 25. Savage Halloween - 26:02 26. Nex Machina - 27:10 27. Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef - 28:18 28. Hard Corps: Uprising - 29:16 29. Ghosts 'N Goblins Resurrection - 30:29 30. Soda Crisis - 31:18

[@MrVariant]

You're a superhero 🦸‍♂️

[@nixneato]

@@MrVariant Only at night and on weekends, but yeah :P

[@erikl5340]

Thank you!

[@michaelsean7673]

appreciate it!

[@brunoserra1531]

Thanks !

[@pda1799]

Nice video! You should’ve included information on which platforms these games are available.

[@parrishharris3008]

Exactly i can't comprehend why he didn't 😡😠

[@blackdragon6]

Most of these types of games are on the Switch.

[@pancakesupremacy77]

Google is your friend

[@sunekoo]

@@pancakesupremacy77So then what’s the point of this video if I need to google basic info. Just put the text on the screen it’s not hard

[@darrenjames2304]

totally agree,,, dude write in the video or at least say the platform....jeez,,, basic info!!!! dolphin blue(Atomiswave) etc you didnt even write in the MORE section

[@tygrus3495]

Even if it is a Contra, Contra: Shattered Soldier for PS2 is a pretty underrated Run n' Gun game. There is also a fun RnG for Arcade called Biomechanical Toy for Arcade.

[@addictivetim44]

Blazing chrome is so good!

[@davidjskelet]

Huntdown too.

[@jiraiya0698]

The Final Boss of Nex Machina made me lose like 40 continues in a row and sent me back to square one. Brutal.

[@hundjsiegfried]

Metal Slug, so good! I just cant wait to play Black Finger Jet.

[@Great_Watt]

No Alien Hominid on the list? That's a great combo of Contra and Metal Slug. Plus the new game, Alien Hominid Invasion is releasing on 1st Nov 2023!

[@dilanwijekoon9327]

loved playing huntdown

[@Great_Watt]

Hard Corps Uprising is amazing and the best Contra game. I wish they'd release a sequel to that. I'd even buy a remaster/re-release on current consoles.

[@johnnyappleseed8127]

No, that’s not Contra. Don’t get wrong it’s a cool game. The best Contra games are Contra 3, Contra Hardcorps, Contra 4, Contra shattered soldier and Neo Contra and now the newest one Contra O.G

[@litjellyfish]

@@johnnyappleseed8127in what way is it not Contra? The gameplay / controls?

[@johnnyappleseed8127]

@@litjellyfish It’s more like a bastard child of Contra. It’s a spin off, the story don’t connect to Contra, it doesn’t have the look of Contra because it looks like a Japanese anime/ Guilty Gear. A real Contra game has a western B action movie look. Taking inspirations from Predator, Aliens, Terminator, in look ,tone and atmosphere. The soundtrack fits the atmosphere and vibe, (well except Contra HC, it had club music) but anyway these are some of the elements that make up Contra. HC Uprising look like a ninja game with guns, the heavy metal went well with the stages but it would have been better being a game not connected to Contra. Look at Metal Slug, Blazing Chrome and others. They play like Contra too because they are inspired by those games but they are their own game therefore they can set the tone however they see fit and make it their own. HC Uprising is a good run and gun shooter and matter of fact it’s easy for me to play it and pretend it’s not apart of Contra because it doesn’t bare the name, story is not connected to Contra and characters look out of place for a Contra game. Ever wonder why it doesn’t have the name? It’s the child that’s outside the marriage that Contra go see on the weekends.

[@litjellyfish]

@@johnnyappleseed8127 fair point. Although visually many Contra games have had a fair share of different styles. But I agree the theme is a bit more different. Or how can I explain hmm… yes. I don’t think that it’s anime style that separates it so much but to tone and color does it even more so. Like the newly released operation galuga looks terrible still it has the classic contra settings. Take uprisings and but it with the classic contra bosses. A more toned downer color palette and it would be a different story at least for me. I also as you say think that with a different story and well the package all together take a step too far from Contra. And yeah the enemy type does feel contra at all. But I really liked the animation and visuals of uprising and it hold itself well today. While the latest contra operation Galulga is so ugly. I was so disappointed as the developer did a really good job with Contra 4 (although the color palette itself for that was imo a bit to colorful and saturated) I would have loved to see a Contra that took some anime style from uprisings with some of the tone of shattered soldier and hard corps. It would be then more in the style of 80s / 90s cyber punk anime. Gritty. Think Contra looking like a mix of ghost in a shell, the Venus wars and Akira. With a little more realism touch a la Alien. New fresh bosses instead of the too many times recycled ones. That would be a modern Contra that would still be holding on to its roots visually and gameplay wise

[@GordoFreakmanFail-Life]

​@@johnnyappleseed8127Contra Rebirth and Contra Operation Galuga are great Contra games too.

[@KayMayhem777]

Your classy/professional voice and accent combined with your nature documentary-like description of Mighty Goose and your love for it completely sold me on it. That was EPIC. Seriously. Lmao! I just now received my copy with the cool tank artwork cover in the mail so finally, now I TOO will become... the Mighty Goose.😳 🔥🔥🔥😎🔥🔥🔥

[@deathcold_longplaysua4846]

My only problem with these modern Contra clones is that, they all about memorizing everything. Like, where next enemy wave gonna spawn, how the bosses gonna behave, where the next weapon drop are located, what weapon is the best to use and stuff like that. Sure, Contra was like that too, but it wasn't as hard to memorize as these clones. Back in the childhood I memorized Contra 1 and Super C very fast and then beat them on one go with no deaths, and I can do that now. Sure, Contra Hard Corps and Contra 3 are harder, but still, they are not as over the top as, let's say Blazing Chrome for example. Also, back in the days I had many free time to learn these games and how to play them, but now I don't have time nor patience. Thus why, I prefer games that are not too hard on memorizing because, these days I wanted just to have fun from video games, instead of sitting here and learning the layout of each and every level. As for the games like Midnight Resistance, I played Sega port of this game. Beat it in few days back in my childhood. It wasn't as hard as Contra, thus more enjoyable. I beat it few times, since there is many things to try out in that game. Like different weapons, upgrades and the fact that you have to rescue hostages at the end. Cause, if you don't have enough keys, you will not be able to save them all. Thus it will give you different endings.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Yeah as kids, we didn't care about spending hours and hours on the same damn level, mastering it, just so we could get past the level. That's just no fun when your older. Can't stand games like that all anymore. Why did we enjoy doing the same thing over and over and over again? I guess because there was no choice back then. You mastered the game or you couldn't play it any further lol. When you were a kid, why not? They're making a few games like this again today I see. No freaking thanks. Been there, done that. Looking back, the NES era was actually pretty dang brutal lol.

[@deathcold_longplaysua4846]

@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism Yeah. Also NES era had more cool games than now. Same with Sega's era. And these modern retro games are just someone's vision of what they think that retro game should be, but in reality it either turns out to be a copy paste clone of those old 8 or 16 bit games, or something completely not fun.

[@hardkoregamer1981]

Some but not all of my favorite obscured run n' gun games. I just have a hard time narrowing my favorites down to a top list. Millennium Soldier: Expendable, GunForce 1 & 2, Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon, Midnight Resistance, Sly Spy, Cyber-Lip, MERCS, Out Zone, FixEight, G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor, G.I. Joe: A real American Hero, Demolition Man, Elevator Action Returns, Ruff'n' Tumble, True Lies, Artic Moves, Nightmare Busters, Doom Troopers, Rapid Reloaded, Gundhara, Biomechanical Toy, Abuse, Demon Front, Dolphin Blue, Assault Suit Leynos 2, T.H. Strikes Back, Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa, Heated Barrel, Ninja Commando, Desert Assault, Caliber.50, Bloody Wolf, Xain'd Sleena, & Jail Break.

[@monkeytrident]

Awesome video keep up the good work.

[@goodbboyjonny9079]

U can't forget alien hominid and guns gore and cannoli 😂

[@chancepaladin]

Huntdown is freaking awesome

[@geepike]

Great seeing Aliens: Infestation & Broforce! Some amazing titles that tend to get looked over: Fury Unleashed (think Contra meets Comix Zone!), Alien Hominid, Awesomenauts, and Gunlord X. Cuphead probably deserves a spot too.

[@teckzilla108]

I have Blazing Chrome and Huntdown. Pretty interesting games

[@parceromaniaco9667]

The Euroshmup factor is strong on this list but there are some good ones I noted down. In defense of the Euroshmup fans, sometimes they have the patience to find the otherwise unnoticed games that may look mediocre at first glance but filled with fun once knee deep into it. Thanks for sharing. I just want to add that Aliens Infestation is most likely the best game you'll play on DS and most likely on this list, it has amazing art and a engaging atmosphere, art portrait drawn by professional comic artist Chris Bachalo, his work here gives life to the characters and adds to the overall atmosphere. Permadeath is a thing yes, but the true way to beat the game means no soldier is left behind. Also, it's wayforward when they were hungry.

[@omaramrani8687]

Are all these games released on arcade or on consoles ? Which platforms ?

[@MarvelousVideos]

You can find majority of the games on PC! Steam to be specific!

[@Hrotriks]

Availability of the games would´ve been nice or on which platforms they are in

[@verron1600]

15:44: "Borrowing from beautiful old classics like Metal Slug, Contra, and MONSTER HUNTER". Until now I didn't know that MH was that old.

[@wizards-themagicalconcert5048]

Great video and content mate,keep it up ! Subbed !

[@marvelousgamers6679]

Much appreciated!

[@VRGalaxy_762]

Awesome collection here. Great games for Steam Deck. It's just a shame that about half of these here are not available on Steam.

[@jamalvargas6146]

Shock Troopers Games From Metal Slug Publisher SNK good game good game

[@brendanroberts1310]

Shame the 2nd game was not on the same level.

[@snipethecage7637]

Yes a good game but is not a run & gun game, is a top down shooter.

[@АнтонСергиенко-ь2ц]

Add Mercs, Shock Troopers 1/2, Chaos Engine (Soldiers of Fortune) and Tower 57.

[@n3r0n3]

valfaris is stunning to watch ... I played slain originally on my PSVita so I got the signature limited ed of Valfaris when it came out on switch. More on the Metroid/Metroidvania side of the spectrum in my op than just a run and gun. And yea I would maybe only add guns gore and cannoli - a fantastic run and gun - and all inticreates (gunvolt etc...).

[@isaacriggs4656]

When you learned the language through books only.

[@datguy5818]

This vid earnt my subscription 🙏

[@09lonedrone]

I don't blame you for losing control of yourself Mighty Goose is the shit!

[@elalquimista573]

What good is for you to show us the game without the consoles? We are not looking for a movie to watch, we are looking for a game to play!

[@Thunderbeer604]

I love Mercenary Kings but no one seems to ever be online.

[@ThePlanet_L.I.]

Where's the list of these games and systems they play in are not in your description nor in here in the comments highlighted

[@marvelousgamers6679]

We will add them shorty

[@ronroca4387]

I'm just glad there is at least one game that used the Konami Code up up down down......

[@lonewolffang]

Mighty Goose and Hard Corp: Uprising are my favorites. Another good one is Alien Hominde.

[@ncdream8317]

Hard Corps Uprising is a prequel to the first Contra

[@litjellyfish]

@@ncdream8317is it? I thought it was a prequel to hard corps ?

[@wolf4640]

Amazing video! I would highly recommend you guys to try out Guns, Gore & Cannoli.

[@yashvardhan9223]

Dude. What about Guns gore canoli And Fury unleashed

[@pierrelewis6819]

Number one, I will love to see a video game, that’s basically, metal, slug, cross Super ghouls and ghosts. I’m thinking, side, scrolling, shooting, third dimensional polygons, when it comes to the characters. I want the world around the characters, be a mixture between, 3-D and 2-D, I will like for it to be very colorful, very bright, I want people to see everything, the characters, the enemies, just everything, but the overhaul of the world is a Metroid Vania . Nothing difficult, something that you can take your time with, nothing chaotic, with enemies left and right, going through hell, no, none of that, a run and gun, that you take your time with.

[@CordellPotts]

No Omega Strike?

[@Jamesatighe]

Nice list but whilst Midnight Resistance is a bit of a contra clone, it definitely doesn't share controls. It has a very distinctive control scheme with a rotating joystick to aim. This lending to issues porting it.

[@alxxz]

So Valfaris takes place in the War-hammer 40K universe then?!

[@ostrava4186]

Turrican, Gunstar Heroes, Guns gore and Cannolli 1 & 2 are missing...

[@HammerDemonn]

Why no Turrican?

[@PaganMin-1966]

Demon Front should be released on Steam

[@goissilva]

valfaris and slain are AWESOME

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

I beat Slain. Valfairs wasn't clear enough on it's upgrade system, so by the time I reached the boss, it was impossible to beat him. That pissed me off.......Not even the old NES games did that cheap shot to ya.

[@Pazuzu-]

How could Gunforce and Mega Turrican stay out of this?

[@keen7youtubeistoast796]

"Hard Corps: Uprising" isn't a clone... it's simply a "Contra" game without the name "Contra"... but "Hard Corps" (cause it's the sequel of the Genesis game).

[@gryzord9231]

Where Gun Force 1 and 2

[@dpc107]

savant - ascent remix is contra... on a elevator

[@MegaYoYo]

Cool video but it would be nice to add chapters

[@marvelousgamers6679]

I'm working on it

[@brittanyreid5781]

This guy sounds like Arnold swarzenegger lol

[@ivantumanov1015]

Too many people overlook legend of kage 2 on nintendo ds. It's like a ninja sword contra.

[@snipethecage7637]

Hi, very good list with excellent games but...Moonrider and Oniken are action platforms and not run & gun. Nex machina is a top down shooter, not a run & gun. Instead of these 3 games, I would have rather put: Mystic Warriors Gun force 2 Gunners heaven

[@patojf9938]

Yo te recomiendo Guns, Gore & Cannoli. 1 y 2... Mafia, zombies y tripas al estilo Metal Slug.

[@litjellyfish]

How come so many seems to think that “hard corps” is “hard core”? Have heard several calling it “hard core” during videos

[@DrMetalpin]

Because Corps is pronounced like Core. The P is silent. ;)

[@user-stanrbm]

You forgot about Guns, Gore and Cannoli 1 and 2. But Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef from Guns, Gore and Cannoli's creator.

[@shiloallard9790]

Anna Conda 😂

[@MohsinKhan-vm9jt]

Venous Guard seems like a true copy of nes game Kage

[@almeidachannel7121]

Nice Video ! Sub & Big Like ! And love Retro games !

[@marvelousgamers6679]

Awesome thank you!

[@almeidachannel7121]

@@marvelousgamers6679 Thank you for your reply ! If you are interested in the nostalgic game culture of Japan, please subscribe to the my channel !

[@adamvalerio1377]

@@marvelousgamers6679 in Axiom Verge the universe is called Sudra, not Sundra.

[@mrpawka]

Check out Guns, Gore, and Cannoli

[@HammerDemonn]

Game journalists... Am I right?..

[@ramrodbldm9876]

@HammerDemonn why are you commenting? Thought you hated ai voices? Yet here you are, amirite?

[@ledorzejean-etienne3747]

No sunset riders seriously?

[@TwoOfDee]

Demon Front looks way too much like Metal Slug.

[@JoseivanDelarosarivera]

Huntdown

[@davidbrinkman7867]

😂 . . . and NINJA GAIDEN! 😅

[@SabeTimoth]

Ghosts and goblins was created 2 years before contra so cant be a clone

[@silversoul2785]

why most 2d games are pixel art or low poly?! for god sake we are in 2024 !

[@intense_pickle]

Ai review...PASS