Famicom Disk System...you never knew you wanted one !

Welcome back after our short break and now keeping in theme with the 30th Anniversary of the Famicom coming in July were gonna talk about a huge piece of the Famicom's history .... The Famicom Disk System !!!! or FDS for short.

Disk Kun the FDS mascot ! NO Seriously !

Don't worry if your scratching your head most people raised outside Japan might have no clue to what Im talking about since this big piece of hardware never made it past the shores of Japan and some would say with good reason... but I still wish it had.

On February 21 1986 Three years after the launch of the Famicom System Nintendo released its next piece of hardware and after 2 big delays The Famicom Disk System was here. Nintendo publicly boasted that this would be the "New Media Format " of the Famicom. The new system was a Disk drive that was attached by way of a RAM adapter being inserted in the Cartridge slot. Using this the Famicom would run games and "software" off floppy disks instead of the standard cartridge. At the time the ROM chips Nintendo made and sold to its game developers were quite expensive to make, so this was the companies solution to manufacturing costs and also passing the savings on in the retail costs of the consumers.

Isn't she beautiful ?

The problem for consumers was the cost to invest in the system upfront in a price tag of 15000 Yen which was more than $100. Nintendo tried hard to sell the system in stating that the disks offered much more room than the current cartridges could handle which meant the possibility of bigger better games. And also that the Disk would be far cheaper than carts. In 1983 Famicom carts cost consumers about 2500 Yen that price doubled by 1985 to 5000 Yen. Games like Dragon Quest 4 were selling around 80 bucks but the new disk titles would be around 2600 Yen which is roughly $20... not bad.

The biggest selling point was the Disks could be used Over and Over and Over again by being rewritten. Nintendo dropped 10,000 Disk Writing Kiosk Machines in the first year across Japan in Hobby shops and Toy stores. If you bought a game that sucked like OH I dont know say... Milon's Fu*king Secret Castle  and you decided you didn't want it stinking up your home you could take the disk to the kiosk and for a fee of 500 Yen could rewrite the disk with a new game from the machines rotating selection of 9 titles on each machine. Half a MILLION Disk Systems were sold in the FIRST 3 MONTHS almost 2 MILLION were sold in 1986 WOW thats quite a launch for a add-on device. These numbers may have had something to do with that fact that Nintendo threatened... oh I mean "promised" to release all of its new first party games strictly on Disk.

Its incredibly hard to find pictures of any Kiosk Machines 

You can see on the front the 9 slots for the titles to choose from

But the FDS did meet with some who where very unhappy mainly the Licensees/Game Companies they now had to decide wether to release games on the FDS or cart or both. Putting titles on the New disk media alone would alienate some of the consumers and the lower prices of the disk games meant lower return profits for them. But Nintendo made out entirely it demanded new contracts be signed if a company wished to make disk games these contracts held "New" pushy restrictions which Nintendo had already become known for. Nintendo not only decided which games would be allowed to be released on the Disk System but the contracts also stated that they retained "half ownership" to the copy writes to ALL FDS games...WTF ?!?!?!? Listen we as consumers may love nintendo but they TOTALLY invented ways to screw publishers from day one of the Famicom in fact some companies
spent the 80's suing them.

All the Kool kids stack their Famicom,  I do!

Now get this ..
By the end of 1986 Semiconductor technology improved and the prices dropped so now the Disks actually had LESS capacity then carts and the prices where almost comparable and you didn't need that NEW contract that gave Nintendo even more profit and control over you ( shaking my head). And a further kick in the crotch was that store owners were starting to complain about the Disk Kiosk machines taking up too much store space.

By the time 1990 rolled around 4.4 Million Disk Systems had been sold, Impressed ? Well don't be this was far less than Nintendo had hoped just remember that earlier I mentioned that the first 2 Million had already sold in 1986. Nintendo took back its "promise" to release games strictly on Disk. Super Mario Bros had originally meant to be released only on Disk was now available in both formats. Many of the best games were released on cartridge as well as disk so many units fell out of favor in the home. To Nintendo selling 4.4 Million units at 100 dollars a pop was a failure hmmm some failure eh ?

Many Nintendo fans such as myself don't see the failure, except in the fact that it failed to come to America WHERE I COULD NAG MY DAD TO BY ME ONE !!!! Whew... sorry its just that I don't remember where I saw and briefly read about the unit as a young grade schooler it was probably Nintendo Fan Club magazine or its predecessor Nintendo Power but no matter which ever it was since the day I first saw the FDS I wanted to play one to see one to experience one to own one...... And 23 years later I finally get my wish !!!!!!

Take a Minute and check out the videos below to see the dream become the reality ....

Lets see if it actually works...

As you saw in the second video I was running a bootleg copy of Metroid this was another killing blow to the Disk System. The 3 inch "Quick Disk" format that Mitsumi company created for Nintendo was a great product with 64k available. To secure it against piracy Nintendo had the Disks made with the Nintendo name imprinted on the bottom front and back of the Disks, the Disk Drive had a special plate in it so that when the disk was fed in it needed to have the "I" and "N" grooved deeper so it would match the internal plate. Disks not bearing this would be rejected by the drive but.... Other brands such as Tiger, Mag Disk, and Mitsuya Co would make disks with small slots or holes cut out so they would not be rejected. Other bootlegs would have variants on the Nintendo name such as the 16 disk bootleg Lot I recently received from "ecnorrington2012" all bearing the name NIN"F"ENDO ( 5 of which didn't work stay tuned soon to see which in a coming article ). Buying both official & bootleg used Famicom Disks is a risk since Nintendo kept costs down by supplying no metal shutter protecting the magnetic disk. The disks were already fragile and with no shutter dust could easily ruin the disk or kids touching the exposed portion and lets not forget putting it near magnets which happened when many kids put it on on or next to the TV (speakers have magnets). Selling delicate disks to kids that were use to throwing cartridges in their bags and pockets for 3 years was a dangerous move.

NIN"F"ENDO ? Hmm Pirate !

Only photo thats not mine its from NESWORLD.. thanks !

Nintendo managed to sell quite a few of the Systems solely on the exclusive BIG titles threat. Super Mario Bros 2 the "REAL" SMB2 was released only on the disk system. The Legend of Zelda was a Disk exclusive thats right no golden cart in Japan I guess we got something good here for once. Zelda benefitted from the Disk format because at the time of its Japan release NO carts had a "real" save feature, so on the Disk the advantage was you could save to it. Later by the time of the N. American release the cartridge's capacity was larger and internal batteries for saving had been thought up with Zelda being the first. But we still missed out on the amazing music scores & sound quality the FDS offered on many titles. Metroid was another Disk only title that besides saving to Disk broke many boundaries with Its lonely creepy non-soundtrack and having the first Female Lead, when brought to the States Metroid was one of many games that had the horrible password system that drove kids crazy entering in huge passwords they had to write down and save to restore their saved games.  Castlevania, Kid Icarus, Pro Wrestling, Zelda 2 The Adventure of Link and many many others were Disk exclusives that helped contribute to its System sales and my growing desire to own one. Kids in Japan that didn't own a FDS never got to play some great titles, Zelda was finally ported to a Green cartridge years after its disk release but Zelda 2 and many others remained unplayed and out of reach for many....

My only OFFICIAL Disk game the REAL Super Mario 2 !!!  Its complete too ooohhh

Help Mario we've been surrounded by pirates !!!

Over the Years bootleg cartridges of FDS exclusives have popped up, this being one of the only ways some have ever played some of the elusive Disk titles. I have a Cart copy of SMB2 myself but Pirates purposely didn't include the title screen as a way of trying not to be sued if caught ( ???). Im always on the hunt for a "affordable" bootleg cart copy of Pro Wrestling I loved the NES version and have never stopped playing it but the Bootleg cart just grabs me, The same 2 sellers seem to own all the copies and ask horrible crackhead prices for what should be 20 bucks at most.

The only way to play SMB2 on cartridge ...Bootleg !! RARE !!! MINE !!

When collecting FDS games another HUGE risk I should mention is that because of the Rewritable format and Kiosk Machines that Nintendo had placed in stores "you can't always get what you want" 
a sought after Disk copy of Castlevania may actually contain Bubble Bobble if some kid decided he was sick of getting the smack down from flying medusa heads. Lots of times people find a game they didn't want on the B side or on both sides of the Disk. Personally I think its part of the fun, keep hunting you'll find it and also it should help keep price inflating down as the buyer takes the risks.

The Disk system had 27 different error codes seeesshhh... there are charts online to tell you what the problem is.

For those of you thinking you'll want to go out and track down a Disk System Kiosk as a super awesome collectable...forget it Nintendo quite efficiently went out picked up and dismantled all of them in one fell swoop many years ago. And I mean ALL. When the system sales dropped The Kiosks were pulled and only boxed copies of the Disk games remained available on stores shelves BUT...... all the way up till 2003 Nintendo offered a service by mail in which you could send them your Disk games to be rewritten with other titles but only rewritten no new copies of disks were available. Thats pretty Fu*king kool though think about it... in the age of PS2 & Xbox you could send a disk to Nintendo to get Zelda2 Adventure of Link rewritten for your FDS while playing Zelda : Wind Waker on the GameCube.... Fu*king Kool ... thats Nintendo!

Even though Im happy to finally own a Famicom Disk System I still can't help but feel some remorse at the missed opportunity of having one on our N.American NES. Could you imagine how great it would have been as a child to afford to replace your Nintendo games on your own with just some small saving. And goin down to a local store and using a automated machine to transfer the games on to the disk right there in front of you ? I would have loved it ! The Nintendo Entertainment System does have a spot which for years has been speculated that it was an expansion port and quite possibly for the Disk System. Even though this mystery has been questioned since the NES's heyday which has come and gone Nintendo sticks to its reputation of keeping its secrets secret and refuses to this day to comment on  any ideas behind this possible expansion port on the NES.

Well as we get closer to that special day in July take sometime to check out this video below of what it was like to use the Disk Kiosk Machine. Till next time Famiru !  My fellow Famikaa !

                                        Click here if you don't see the embedded video below

Super Secret Prize Contest..........

Email: Finalboss1337@gmail.com with the answer put "Contest" in the subject line.

Whats the title (USA or Japan version) of the game in the picture... answer carefully..Good Luck 2 You

Thank You for Playing !!

So this week I am not going to review a console, a game or add-on. Its not because Im to lazy to play and definitely not because Im lacking any games to play. The reason is Id like to take this opportunity to discuss a few things, mainly to thank all of YOU readers and supporters for making this worth while.
The feedback has been great and when you can do something you enjoy and talk about it with like minded people its something special.

Now thats been said Id like to mention some topics about the site and some new purchases.

                                                                      PRIZES !!!
I want to talk about the giveawys and contests, one just kicked off in the Contra article and more will be happening randomly. I will try to announce it in a more formal fashion and you can help by subscribing to the site in the side bar or simply by sending your emailaddress to Finalboss1337@gmail.com. Some will be giveaways with winners chosen at random and some will be contests. Please participate and don't be shy you could win something for nothing. You can always send in your email and mailing address during an announced contest or giveaway.

Just a few of my early carts...

                                                                   COMMUNITY !!!
This brings me on to my next topic, please subscribe in some way... you may not realize it but by checking back here every so often YOU are part of a community. Now don't get me wrong the internet survives by anonymity so Im not asking you to expose yourself and comment on the posts ( unless you want to ) but this community can only get bigger and more fun the more you throw in and participate with us. That said thank you again for following us here at the Final Boss !!! On to some fun...

My Cart Conga Line !!

                                                                    NEW STUFF !!!
Heres a recent set of acquisitions, the Original Nintendo power guide book and its follow ups. These were subscription bonuses from Nintendo Power back in its early years. I had all of these and more as a lad Im glad I found them again and at a very fair price for the whole set. The Black covered guide was the first and I remember reading it over and over again and having friends ask me to bring it over so we could traverse easier through certain games using the maps... Goonies 2 Im looking in your direction... you too Metroid. The Maps in the book were hand drawing and painted with water color they are NOT screenshots shrunk and edited together. Some illustrator/artist put in a LOT of detailed work for this book and it was a worth the effort. The Game Atlas book was just that a Strictly Map book for NES games, just some of titles in closed were Mega Man 1-3, Castlevania 1-3, Super Mario 3 and the Zelda games plus more. The Passwords book contains codes on 250 games spaning NES SNES and Gameboy. Stage Select Codes for games like Mike Tyson's Punch Out & Ninja Turtles or full item giving codes in Metal Gear 2 Snakes Revenge. The Gameboy and SNES books were similar to the First Black covered release offering a lil bit of every thing for those consoles.

 CONTRA !!!

Heres a little update for those of you that have been following my War on Contra. I have never owned a Official release version of Contra for the Famicom this is mostly due to sellers greed. I was not willing to pay the ridiculous prices for a cart that was released in such great abundance it is in no way rare and to pay high prices on something that is readily available seemed stupid. So I waited & waited continuing to buy Pirate versions looking for a quality and or playable copy.... But now that is all behind me !!!

                                  

While this Contra cart was shipping out to me I realized something, Ive become addicted to collecting Contra Pirates both good and bad, and like Poke'mon I need to catch 'em all. So stay tuned to see what Contra games I dig up next.....

SCREENSHOTS !!!

Some people have asked me in one way or another about my ScreenShots ... either they ask how I get the shot so clear when compared to some of my other pics. Or they ask why in the shot I have 4 lives and in the article I say I died 2 times in a row. My secret is simple ....gather round.... a Emulator !! Hahahah. But seriously what I do is play the REAL game on my Famicom legit all the way through or till I cant go further, and then I write the article over the next few days once done I go BACK through the entire game on my computer using an emulator and grabing in-game Screen Shots. So really I beat the Game 2 times each article.

CO-OP !!!

As Ive breaifly mentioned before lets get back to playing together on the couch screaming & jumping up and down and laughing our asses off ass one player screams "save me save me !!" CO-Op on the web is played out after a few years, lets get back to the camaraderie of playing head to head and beating games together. So invite those friends over to play in person. It may seem strange to them at first but then the party begins and its all good.

REQUESTS !!!

And last but Never least lets discuss requests... I LOVE REQUESTS !!! Seriously send me all your requests for reviews of Games, Accessories and Consoles. It makes my life easy and fun and you get to see the games you want. Also maybe Ill play a game I never played before like Super Contra. Ive received 3 requests so far the first one will be coming in an article hopefully next week as it should be a BIG article and follow in suit with the Famicom Anniversary coming up. The other 2 requests are being handled as well. The 2nd one is a hard play since the game was hard enough when i was a kid and this copy is totally in japanese... thanks Donna ! And the 3rd is on its way from Japan now as I did not own a copy of it prior to the request.

With all this said Thanks again and please return soon as this crazy experiment can not  survive with out YOU.

Ohhhh and incase you haden't heard Nintendo has done it again take the half hour to watch this whole video preferably on you TV-screen or at the least a large computer screen.

If video is not below then click here for link

The FINISHER: War Journal.

How can you follow up an article about the Genre creating Ground shattering, Sweat provoking, Legendary CONTRA???

     Well ...you can't........unless you play SUPER CONTRA !!! 

 Super Contra is the direct sequel to Contra on the Famicom, in N.America the game was know as Super C on the NES (its believed full title was dropped to avoid Iran-contra attention). The Arcade version was released in 1988 the same time the first Contra was released on the NES, the Famicom and NES versions of Super C came out later in 1990. The Arcade sequel ditched the 3d hallway stages in lieu of top down Commando style stages, it also introduced a weapon upgrading system and a "Big Shell" Weapon that when called would wipe out the entire screen. The home versions did not include these weapon changes but did see the return of the Barrier shield and Rapid Power -Ups that the arcade had dropped. The home games also included a fire weapon that could be charged and 3 Stages not in the Arcade as well as a few new Bosses to boot. 

I should also mention the Famicom version had the 30 lives "KONAMI CODE" intact and a Stage Select code, but the poor NES version had a meager 10 lives code which was not even performed like the Konami Code.

I never owned a NES copy of Super Contra as a kid, I had played the arcade game upon its release and it seemed intense (from the first board that i couldn't pass). When I was offered a chance to finally play the home version 2 years later at a friends house the desire to play it had subsided. When the cartridge fired up and I saw the color lacking, grey un-lush background of the first level it paled in comparison to the memories of first time I saw the original Contra on a TV. I never looked back after that day and left Super Contra sitting on the curb waiting....

If I had seen this commercial back then maybe I would have played it ...
Iphone may have to us this link if video doesnt appear click me

Twenty two years later.... while looking for a Copy of Contra to help start a strong Famicom collection I happened across a set from Thailand....yup you know what that means Arrrrr Pirates. The set consisted of Pirate copies of both Contra and Super Contra for 14 bucks. Still having no interest in the sequel but I just couldn't pass up a good deal, a Fair price for Contra plus a second game why the hell not? It was too good to be true, although the bright red copy of contra looked great it didn't work in my Famiclone ( fake NES or Famicom system). I held on to it knowing one day I might own a real Famicom and maybe it would work on it since not all games work on Clone systems (Nope). Ironically the copy of Super contra worked fine (baby jesus hates Contra pirates) I fired it up took one look at that grey background shut it off and quickly put it on the shelf.....until I finished last week's Contra 24 in1 review.

 My Contra and Super Contra Pirates

Over the years Ive heard from different groups on the topic of Super Contra, there are some like myself that loved the original so much and looked at the new game and judged it on visuals and never got into it. Others had moved on to other series or consoles. But there remains till this day a group or if you will a legion of gamers that love Super Contra even more than the original. I never understood these people...... UNTIL TODAY !

Still running off the energy of last weeks Contra high I popped Super Contra in the Famiclone at 11 O'Clock PM on a school-night, disregarding the fact I had work in 6 hours or that my eyes were already getting heavy I set out to play and beat a game I had only played less than 5 mins of 22 years ago. This week I would not be going for a time record I was simply going to attempt to beat the game and pause it every so often so I could jot down notes since I had never seen anything past the first screens. Ive only slightly edited the notes leaving in poor some grammar in hope to pass on the excitement of my experience. I took to calling this collection of notes.......

The Finisher : War Journal.

Heres just some of the pages

Stage One

Stage One holds a NEW visual style with familiar game play, I can see why some people where put off by this. But once embraced its simply amazing. Eerily illuminated flashing sky removes any thought I had of this game looking less polished than the original.

Wheeee !!

Sh*t I knew this was East New York...damn real estate agents

Stage One's Boss is a confidence builder much like in Contra. Its just a chopper with several guns that when destroyed expose a Power Core. The foot steps of Mad Dog catch my ear boasting improved sound chip as he runs off screen to the next threat.

"Shoot em in the Nards"   "choppa dont have Nards..."

Stage Two

Wow !! Okay this is fu*cking weird..But kool ! Its not the ground breaking 3D hallway, But it is a change-up much in the vain of it. This stage provides us with a top down view much like Commando or Ikari Warriors both of which I am a fan. Its very weird not to be able to "Contra Jump" insanely outta the way of danger or have some kinda roll. With out the ability to dodge your kept on your toes ....Lazer weapon still SUCKS and is extra useless on this type of level.

'cuse me..im lost..

Is this metal gear ?

Stage Two's Boss resembles a Smash T.V. type tank, I write this knowing full well Contra predates Smash T.V. Apparently walking behind him to a blind spot and opening fire is quick way to dispose of this Boss.

Oh boys !

Stage Three

Stage Three has us return to a jungle setting reminding me of the setting where we first dove in to the Contra-verse. I just keep Running an Gunning through several types of snipers stashed in all kinds of cover and turrets that give way to large mortar cannons. I find aiming diagonally up to the right while running keeps me ready to snap my rifle level at any enemy as Mad Dog approaches the fallen oak tree that leads us across to the fortresses roof top. On the roof the screen stops scrolling leaving me to cringe thinking the spiked tank will return but instead a mechanical spider attacks. Surprisingly you can jump and land on its head taking a impromptu coffee break. once you destroy the spider-bot  get moving to the right even if the screen doesnt start to scroll because ... "ITS A TRAP"! Oh yes indeed kiddies the ground will start to fall right out from beneath your toes. So Fu*k the Power Ups, Fu*k the enemies just shoot and jump as soon as your keds touch the ground. As the screen re-adjusts........ Heres.....Johnny !

My Jungle love... oh wee oh wee oh

Stage Three's Boss a beefed up looking Super Terminal !!  But don't worry its defenses are quite lacking while its Power Core is left to defend for its own much like Eric Lundquist.

Behold !! New Dell Mini !!

Stage Four

Another new look ! Wow Super Contra has its sh*t together ! Im treated visually to a side scrolling techno heavy passage. Guarded by some kinda Bubble Machine ( yah you figure it out) this parts teamwork of bubble abundance and never ending supply of running soldiers play heavy on you in its cramped quarters. Shoot early and bulldozer your way through the area... but don't sigh in relief just yet.

While examining the circle embedded in the wall for possible threat, the ceiling dropped out on me. The next part leads us jumping up in similar fashion to the old waterfall stage but this time with a technological theme carrying through out. I get very nervous as "New" cannons fire 360 degrees from the background while updated Bird Men swoop in for the Kill. As we move fowar...I Mean UP, 2 Power-Ups distract me from noticing the ceiling is about to blow and give way to a massive screen wide construction lift .As the lift comes to a halt LARGE amounts of Bird Men chase after me like Im made of stale white bread. But luckily Contra games allow us to fire through platforms, its a series staple that always seems in our favor ..thanks KONAMI !!

Going Up ?

Thats all you got hah !

As I further ride this platform to the unknown I feel particularly lonely and I just want to pause the game a minute longer mention the fact that I really miss the days of going to someones house slamming the bedroom door to keep out siblings and submerging ourselves in CO-OP gaming. Doing this over the internet was FUN for a few years but in situations like this it is NOT the same ....so as I travel on ALONE I am attacked by more Bubbles & Bird Men which with every encounter seem more dangerous. 

Seriously !?!  F U Harvey Birdman!

I see the end of the shaft way approach as the Lift gets ready to halt and iI get really nervous as I expect the foreboding black back drop to reveal a scary 4th Boss.... But instead a Giant Laser Shower comes sliding on screen and attempts to wash me away. My only tactic is to stand in one spot and make a hiding place to retreat to. I would like to mention that the foot step sounds I loved at the end of Stage One only add to my loneliness Mad Dog stomps off screen alone against a black screen. That was a long Stage... I need a Nap.

Soo lonely...

Stage Five

Five is a vertical climb board but using ramp like platforms and with very leap a wall turret spring out to life. And with-out fail I manage to continually jump to belly land each time ON A POP-UP CANNON ?!?! "Contra jumping" like mad I manage to correct my mistakes and survive past this part but no more than .5 seconds after i stop moving guess who back....thats right the Fu*king Harvey Bird Men!! But with new sprite animations. Escaping the Bird Men/Solider madness I am attacked by Purple Boulders rolling down hills as if Donkey Kong was up high hurling them at me. Doing his best "Mario" Mad Dog manages to cross over to a new are that .. looks.. lie.. a Double High Train !?! All the usual assholes run after me as Im repeatedly expected to make drops of faith to unseen ground below where "ground hog" cannons pop up surprisingly bringing with them the end of winter.

Oops .. was that yours ?

Ill get yah you big ape !!

" Theres a floor, theres a floor here Montey !! "

Stage Fives Boss is a Predator 2 esque ship made outta skulls and such that flies back and forth dropping ...wait for it...Skulls with legs. Yah Weird & Creepy  !!

Boner !!

Stage Six

Oh My God Im tired...sorry. Finally we see the return of the top down style that i didn't love at first but desperately miss now after 4 stages of mystery and challenge. At first the stage seems to be made of bones and spikes but she the blue Crab/Ticks appear I feel like Rick Moranis shrunk me and the kids on his dogs back... and just as Im wondering if that joke is worth remembering Giant Teeth Packed Vaginas randomly start appearing underfoot at every step...every mans nightmare. I tired not to hover in shock long in the Vagina fields as I had a "big meeting" in the morning *Wink wink and also destroying them didn't seem to stop one from taking its place. The floor changes to blood red after short Run & Gun as the Boss of Stage Six shows its Four Faced Ugly Demon Head. As its sits on the back wall I quickly dispacth it with some fancy foot work and rapid fire and it explodes in to pecies as I release the controller from my aching tight grip and REJOICE !!........TOO SOON....

Abstinence, Abstinence, Abstinence !

Sweeet !!

Stage Six Boss... for real this time

What looks like an exit tunnel appears from the cleared smoke but the screen begins to shake so bad that a Rumble Pak isnt required to help my imagination submerge me into the game. A crazy eyed Gigantic Skull Face laughs at my existence while attacking with support from his Large Freakish Dragon. Cool heads prevail and were off to stage 7. Sh*t I can't go on alone....can I ?

Oh Mr. Busey.. Im sorry I thought you were dead ...

Stage Seven

Dropped into what looks like the Aliens Nest... Again ! Im forced to turn my fire downwards as i clear a path from piles of what appears to be alien shells or bodies. Greeted below by Crawlers and Pods like from the last stage of the first game I suddenly tense and hope this is the end. I quickly am reminded of the end portion of the Aliens Film and feel for Ripley all over again as I realize at 12 pm on a Monday night "No one can hear me scream". I drop down yet again to a Huge Impressive looking Mountain of a Beast that is defeated soo easily I think to myself Sub-Boss?.. But my curiosity ends when their is no flashy exposition animation and I only realize that it is the Stage Seven Boss when the screen anounces the start of Stage Eight.

There goes trouble down the drain...anybody? no? oh well..

"Thisss onesss MINE! "  "George thats its ASS"   "Just leave him Frank "

Are you my daddy?    I ment Boss!  Boss !

Stage Eight 

Stage 8 can not be described properly it just is Ridley Scotts Aliens come to the Famicom/NES the Spore spewers are back and bring with them all sorts of new Giger Aliens some dead on from the Films. The Level is a maze of wondrous fright. In one section the ceiling starts to lower and rise kinda like in the castles of Super Mario Bros, but while this is goin on large homing spores attack as i attempt to make perfectly timed jumps across gaps. I lose a life to a jump that fell short when the ceiling came thrusting down at me. Frustrated I then poorly decide to press forward on the D-Pad as my next guy drops on screen and tragically he falls down the SAME DAMN GAP !!! AARRGGGHHHH...I should in but I force myself onward with my LAST LIFE when just then killing the next 2 aliens brings my unseeable off screen score up to a rewarding 1UP !! And with that 1UP chime and sight of the life popping up in the corner I press forward just when the screen starts to shake as I am pressed up against a rock wall that starts to crumble away. I see a giant white skull pushing up at my feet and base of wall, as I start to motion the D-pad to back away from the wall and skull my ears are met with the awful "You JUST FU*KED UP " sound of death. My eyes are tortured by the sight of Mad Dog fliping over backwards in agony as my jaw drops 4 feet to the hard wood floor... Left with only ONE life I must defeat the Giant Awesome Giger Space Jockey Alien Queen and with only the basic gun... I exhale hoping that this is truly THE FINAL BOSS !!!

(The reason you see Multiple lives in My screenshots is after I beat a real cartridge version  I play it again after I write the Article BUT this time I play it on a emulator on my mac so I can get the screenshots I write about)

Just look at the detail !!  Its Nintendo 8 Bit people!!

Stage Eight... FINAL BOSS ???

 Dodging projectiles & flaming turd logs as my fatigued muscles ache I steady my aim at the Bastards eye sockets, and Im reduced to jelly as I hear the triumphant sound of explosions and victory music. I quickly tense up for a second anticipating doom when Im happily treated to the sight of the rescue chopper and closing credits.....Finally at 12:45 I can go to bed a HERO...

"Screw you lady Im all Man" 

Im soo glad I finally played this game and It truly deserves the title of Super Contra 

If you haven't played it go find it in some form today and do so.

By the way

While finishing this article I happened talk to my Sister who answered the question from the Contra article last week ..the one about guessing the actors from Aliens whose names make up the 2 characters names in Contra.

So a special Congratulatory Shout out to her and I had also planed to give a prize to the first person who took the time to answer so I guess its hers. Ill have to mail it out to her. Look closely for secret give-aways and contests in the future prizes consist of classic gaming merch.

Also time of this articles completion...12:45....creepy coincidence ....