Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Nov 3, 2002
Metascore
70 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. TotalGames.net
    85
    Deep it isn’t, but there’s no denying that this is one of the most action-packed titles you’ll play on the GBA for some time.
  2. GameNow
    83
    It's just too darn short. It's not even as difficult as its PS2 counterpart, so you'll blow through it relatively quickly. [Jan 2003, p.65]
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  3. GamePro
    80
    Features stupendously well-animated characters and a boopy-yet-catchy soundtrack. The control's spot-on, too.
  4. Play Magazine
    80
    As expected, it plays and looks great on the GBA, only giving up a bit of res due to the LCD screen. [Oct 2002, p.86]
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  5. Nintendo Power
    76
    A big collection of blast-'em-all missions packed witih combat action. [Nov 2002, p.226]
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  6. GameSpot
    74
    A good, solid 2D shooter, even if it is over before you know it.
  7. GameSpy
    74
    I do have to admit that smashing my GBA with a hammer out of sheer frustration was kind of fun.
  8. IGN
    70
    A good, fun shooter, but surprisingly short and just not as great as I was expecting it to be.
  9. Game Over Online
    70
    Due to the size of the screen, the already slim margin for error is made even slimmer, and the lack of aura bombs means you’ll have to fight through even the stickiest of situations.
  10. Game Informer
    68
    Everything looks slightly miniaturized and washed-out, and the music is inferior to the SNES version. [Dec 2002, p.150]
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  11. Nintendophiles
    65
    A mixed bag with some really awesome levels and gameplay; yet it has bland graphics and music.
  12. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    65
    Frustratingly difficult. [Dec 2002, p.270]
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  13. Pocket Games
    55
    A mixed bag. [Spring 2003, p.29]
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  14. Eurogamer
    50
    It uses outdated visuals with no changes, cobbles together levels which the GBA can handle in order to avoid problems, uses a lazy password system which is totally unwieldy, and continues to rely on a ten-year-old gameplay dynamic.
  15. Gamestyle
    50
    Sure, it may look and sound decent, but only the most hardened of masochists will ever see the later stages, let alone complete them.
  16. Cheat Code Central
    50
    The SNES port looks great, it really comes to life on the GBA but the NES levels are embarrassing. This Frankenstein piece-together must have been getting the bum's rush out of the lab and into the stores in time for the Christmas cash grab.
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User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. WilliamT.
    7
    A decent port of the SNES version with the two Hard Corps levels but suffers a bit by having only two difficulty levels and only one weapon slot. Otherwise, it's a worthy game to add to your GBA collection.… Full Review »
  2. BorjaB.
    10
    I think this game explodes perfectly the graphics capacity of the Game Boy Advance.
  3. AndersonL.
    8
    Jo, I know that this game is almost the same as the snes contra game, but this serie is better because its has some new levels and because of the graphics.… Full Review »