Vanguard wrote:
I'm just gonna say it: the Contra III vibrating video proved its point clearly and decisively.
All I'll say on the affair is I remain stunned, yet vindicated.

Cyber-Lip reminds me of Raf World (FC), down to their weapon racks and
Terminator nods. I guess Lip is more Blade Runner... regardless, both feature autoscrolling android factories full of conveyor belts and hydraulic crushers.

Also mid-paced run/gun complicated by sub-optimal handling. I learned pretty quickly to just walk off ledges, avoiding the lethally slow drop-through, and superjump over bullets rather than roll and eat lead (the earlier NAM-1975 understood why dodge rolls need i-frames, to be viable in 1HKO context... Nam being probably the strongest early Neo action overall).
Its worst flaw, by far, is the character bumbling forward a step when you go from running to either vertical. Basic commands like firing upward or crouching can lead to farcical deaths if you're not babysitting the controls. I never hold control dings against earlier run/guns too harshly, with even Contra and its sequel just barely overcoming their ghastly aim lag via sheer firepower and body-count, but their FC versions had established appropriately STG-tight controls by 1990 (as upheld in de-facto Contra III Sunset Riders).
As with RW, I like CL's chibi-grimdark tone and style enough to persist. A handful of its stage and boss designs are great, particularly the looming juggernaut fought as you hang from a bar overhead - earliest example I've seen of this setpiece, much-loved by Nakazato's Contras. The later stage with the SMB-esque mushrooms is cool too. Some cathartic blasting, plus a good mixup of steep jumps and homing pests. I can't quite recall if I've 1CCd it, pretty sure I hit the boss rush before deciding to nab the ACA version.
Like Raf World and its darkly fiery would-be Terminator OST, Cyber-Lip's ultimate contribution is probably extra-game; namely its classic epilogue. Like all fine Engrish, more striking for its ridiculousness.
I am not insain. I have just been evilly reprogrammed. 
CIT wrote:
On a side note, Mahjong Kyouretsuden (and Riding Hero, I guess) are advertised in the game. (There's also a G-Mantle cameo.)
I've wondered, is this guy a reference to anything (assuming he's not from one of the pair you mentioned - haven't played them myself)?

The style reminds me of Westone's Wonder Boys... also suspected he might be from fellow early Neo sidescroller Raguy. Cute little chap at any rate, could just see him flapping around ala Lickle's dragon Kira.