Contra Mario - Combination of Epics Demo

Mario is the biggest video-game franchise. It has been sold in millions of copies in various editions and there are even more indie and fan-made games out there. The famous character is always on a rescue mission in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Run, jump and shoot in this indie remake

Contra Mario - Combination of Epics Demo is a small game that is easy to install and requires minimal resources. It also supports joysticks, but the installation might be a little tricky as there is no dedicated interface. A game file can be modified to implement the gamepad controls.
The game is a hybrid between Mario, a platformer, and Contra, a shoot'em up type game. You can control a rifle-wielding Mario that does the same actions as in classic games. Now, you can shoot enemies straight from the beginning.

Basic looks with tricky controls

The game provides you with a controls manual right after starting a new session. The movement controls are still the same and you have a shooting button. However, there is no acceleration button and the power-ups are now worthless. The “Jump” action triggers a rolling animation that is not that accurate, meaning you will not land where you think.
The health hazards in this game are numerous. There are Koopa-Goomba hybrids that come in vast numbers, making you wonder if there is an end to them. Fixed and mobile turrets shoot at you with remarkable accuracy and there are very few places where you are truly safe.
The graphics are basic: tile-based background and pixelated textures. There is no improvement brought to this department, except for a few new roughly drawn elements, such as zip-lines, turrets and the frightful hybrid enemies.

A not very successful combination of games

In conclusion, Contra Mario tries to implement the best features of both games. However, this game is in its infancy, meaning you cannot play it from beginning to end. It has some interesting features, but it comes with a steep difficulty curve.