15 Games We Wish Had An Easy Mode

Contra (1987)

How hard was the original Contra? Hard enough to help coin the term “Nintendo Hard”. It was one of those games that inspired the arcade craze of doling out coins just to keep playing. One-hit kills were common, extra lives were needed to keep playing and some bosses showed no remorse. So before someone tells you that Cuphead is too tough, point them to Contra and don’t tell them how to get more lives.