Does anybody remember when games were simply games? Despite me sounding like an old codger, I thoroughly miss the type of game that invigorated as well as aggravated. Fortunately, thanks to a newfound respect for classic gaming, Konami has come to feel exactly as I do with a series of seemingly unrelated 'updates' to many of their most classic and revered franchises with their ReBirth line-up for Nintendo's WiiWare download service.  While shooting fans got a taste of what was in store with Gradius, fans of what's arguably the most famous of all action-platformers should know the existence of Contra ReBirth was evidence of my prayers being answered.

The wafer-thin plot involves veteran Bill Rizer and alien humanoid Genbei Yagyu in their latest exploits, such as protecting Earth against the Neo Salamander Army. The only important thing worth mentioning here is that your mission is to lay waste to as much opposition as you can in order to complete the objective. There really is not much deep thought lingering in this iteration and of course there doesn’t need to be - it's classic Contra gameplay with you shooting the bad guys, collecting the occasional power-up, and going toe-to-toe with whatever denizen that stands in your way.  In short, its the famed franchise done up in pure 16-bit glory that lives and dies (multiple times) by its own rules, and is better for it.

After alternating combinations of both triumphs and shortcomings with each prior game in recent memory ReBirth is one title that gets it right, even if the prospect of dying countless times throughout is certain. It would be an understatement to point out that this title digs deep into its run-and-gun roots for that genuinely unforgiving feel in all aspects. One moment you’ll be giddy with accomplishment when you finally accomplish a minor trial, only for your great mood to be ripped asunder moments later. Everything, from the controls to the hail of oncoming gunfire, is exactly what you would expect from a Contra title. Though the game is unusually and disappointingly short (even by my standards) many of you probably won’t make it that far anyway, unless you bring a friend along to repeatedly die together with.

The trying difficulty is also paired with nostalgic presentation, as dozens of sprites litter the screen just to impede your campaign. This game simply revels in its own classic style, with no shortage of over-the-top enemies and stages that make liberal use of numerous graphic scaling and rotation effects that would make the 16-bit purists in most of us with HDTVs light up with joy. If there's a polygon anywhere in this game, I must have missed it.  Music is also an integral part of the experience, as familiar tunes pleasantly return to make an homage to past titles with a brand-new feel.

Contra ReBirth is another retro-style title done right, distinctly taking the best of the Contra franchise and condensing it to its purest form. Despite its near-criminally short length it’s certainly a game worth experiencing if only to see what gaming looked and played like back in the peak of 16-bit fury, a time many still herald a true golden age of gaming goodness. Quite frankly, many could probably use a break from the overbearingly cinematic or context-sensitive action for something more genuine and certainly more intimidating. This maelstrom helping of retro gaming is most certainly worthy of your hard-earned Wii Points and blister-inducing attention.