Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Size: 16 megs
No. of players: 2(simultaneously)
Official Ad: Yes
Got it for: $24.99, new a KB Toys.
It's Contra on the Genesis, and not only that but it's the *best* version of Contra ever! Selectable paths, huge bosses, amazing special effects and 4 selectable characters make this one of the best Genesis action shooters ever!

What's it all about?
Well, it's Contra...which means hardcore, sidescrolling/shooting action. Using one of the 4 selectable characters you'll gun your way through the various levels, making decisions that will determine the path you'll travel along. Along the way you'll even be able to ride a few different vehicles and even run like hell down a highway while fighting one of the amazingly huge bosses...
Graphics - Amazing! Every level will continue to blow you back with Konami's own brand of style and special effects. Enemies blow up into huge explosions and leave shrapnel everywhere, bosses take up the entire screen and everything has a dark gritty feel to it that adds to the story.
Sound - Excellent! A techno blast: Fast, hard hitting beats add to the constant action this title offers.
Control - Excellent! No problems here, especially since you can toggle between moving or standing still while shooting during the game. Each character has four selectable, character-specific guns to choose from as well.
AI - Hard, not cheap(at least, most of the time). This is an extremely hard game that will take you a few tries just to get past the first level, but after you get used to the pace you'll do alright.
Replay value - With multiple paths and 4 characters(with their own endings) you'll play and play and play and play.......
Tips for better gaming experiences:
If you are playing with a buddy, or just find yourself getting your ass whipped entirely too hard, give the Infinite Lives code a shot. It'll help you learn AI patterns, or make it so that you and a buddy can make it all the way through the game together.

Game Genie:
Infinite lives: RERT-C6X4

Is the meat grinder that is Contra: Hard Corps making you wish you'd have played checkers instead? The genie's gun is always loaded, and with unlimited ammo...maybe you could ask if you could borrow it?

My rating: 98(out of 100) - I'm not sure it gets any better than Contra on the Genesis. A non-stop barrage of hardcore action that never lets up. Amazing, simply amazing!
EGM gave it: 8, 7, 7, 7(out of 10)
GamePro gave it: 4.5(graphics), 4.0(sound), 4.5(control), 5.0(funfactor)(out of 5)

Cat's meow: Not a bad game, just too fast and entirely too hard for me! I'll stick with Gunstar Heroes....

Now choose from 4 unique characters: Complete with blue shadows(Nick Rox approved)!
Being chased down the highway makes for an especially cool boss fight.
Spread'em, bitch!
There are *at least* this many explosions, or more, at any given time during the carnage that takes place during the game.
Wow, really!? List it boy!:
1. This was the first Contra game not to be done by the group of employees who eventually left Konami to form Treasure...
2. The Japanese version of Contra: HC is actually *easier* as your characters have lifebars. Odd isn't it?
3. There's a secret level(or sorts) in the game. Before you blow the door to get to the hacker, Noiman Cascade, jump on the wall above it and climb to the top. There you will enter an arena where you fight some truly odd bosses while remixed, techno-like Castlevania music plays in the background. Beating all of the bosses in that stage will give you a secret ending...