runs CONTRAry to most sequels

Contra 4 is like an old high school friend-maybe you went off to separate colleges all those many years ago, but from time to time you were told through a mutual friend of your pal's existence, and occasionally you glimpsed an image of your buddy's current state, all the while thinking, "Hmm. He's changed, and not for the better." But fate intervened, bringing you two together again, at which point you realized that your friend is still that laid-back, fun-loving guy you knew oh-so-long ago. Contra 4, boys and girls, the return of old-school, and it's polished to a sheen.
If you've played either the original Contra, Super C, or Contra: The Alien Wars, then you will immediately be comfortable with Contra's DS incarnation. Your commando counterparts are armed to the teeth with an assortment of powerful, nifty weapons, each of which has two levels of upgradeable power, as well as a handy grappling hook which makes for some intense and frantic action as you (or you and a buddy) navigate enemies and pitfalls on BOTH screens. You will need these armaments, and then some, as Contra 4, true to its roots, is one tough game, even on Normal difficulty. You will perish, over and over at times, and the Continue and Game Over screens will become your close friends, yet the true measure of a game such as this is that defeat only inspires you to persevere, certain in the knowledge that your next attempt will see you emerge victorious.
Aesthetically, the game is pretty, with some really evocative artistic design that perfectly and immediately places you in the Contra universe; the audio is likewise stellar, with new tracks and old remixes that feel perfectly at home in a Contra game.Content-wise, the main quest will keep you busy for awhile; after you best Normal, there's always more insane levels of difficulty to tackle...or perhaps the Challenges, which certainly live up to their moniker. The spoils of success are old-school goodies such as the original Contra game and Museum unlockables, worthy reasons to keep playing.
So, old friend, just when we thought you were balding and putting on a paunch, we realize that you've sipped from the fountain of youth, and we'd like to say simply, "Welcome back."