It was between this and contra that consumed our 8 bit sidescrolling smash-em-up two player days. I don't even recall the ending, your right though, it was something like.. great job, now play again.. and credits roll.. totally anticlimatic..

...but the point was just to conquer it like you said..

it had to be done in one sitting though, if I recall, because this was the era before save points, am I right?