You must be logged in to add games to your MyArcade page. If you don't have one, get one! Here's Why You Should Have a MyArcade Account: It's your own place on FreeArcade where you can be the boss. Keep a personalized page with your favorite games. Add your own description to the games you want. And because we are FreeArcade.com, it's of course. Contra game free download - FIFA 17, Contra I for Windows 10, Contra 1 for Windows 10, and many more programs.
Contra | |
---|---|
Packaging illustration for the NES version. The two human characters, Bill and Lance, were drawn by British artist Bob Wakelin, while the background was reused from the original Japanese promotional art. | |
Developer(s) | Konami |
Publisher(s) | Konami |
Designer(s) | Arcade version Koji Hiroshita (director) NES version Shigeharu Umezaki(director) Shinji Kitamoto (director) |
Composer(s) | Arcade version Kazuki Muraoka NES/Famicom version Hidenori Maezawa Kiyohiro Sada |
Series | Contra |
Platform(s) |
|
Release |
|
Genre(s) | Run and gun |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Cabinet | Upright |
CPU | Hitachi 6309 (12 MHz) |
Sound | Motorola 6809 (3 MHz) driving a Yamaha YM2151 |
Display | Raster, standard resolution (Used: 224×280) vertical orientation |
Contra[3] is a run and gunvideo game developed and published by Konami, originally released as a coin-operated arcade game on February 20, 1987.[4] A home version was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, along with ports for various computer formats, including the MSX2. The home versions were localized in the PAL region as Gryzor on the various computer formats and as Probotector on the NES, released later. Several Contra sequels were produced following the original game.
- 3Ports
- 3.2Nintendo Entertainment System
Plot[edit]
According to the Japanese promotional materials, Contra is set in the distant future of the year 2633 A.D., where the evil Red Falcon Organization have set a base on the fictional Galuga archipelago near New Zealand in a plot to wipe out humanity. Two commandos, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean of the Earth Marine Corp's Contra unit (an elite group of soldiers specializing in guerrilla warfare), are sent to the island to destroy the enemy forces and uncover the true nature of the alien entity controlling them.[5] The promotional materials for the US arcade version downplays the futuristic setting of the game, with the manual for the later NES and home computer versions changing the game's setting from the future to the present day and the location from Galuga to the Amazon Jungle.
Gameplay[edit]
Contra fictional chronology |
---|
|
Bill and Lance reach the entrance of the second enemy base in the arcade version of Contra.
Contra employs a variety of playing perspectives, which include a standard side view, a pseudo-3D view (in which the player proceeds by shooting and moving towards the background, in addition to left or right) and a fixed screen format (in which the player has their gun aimed upwards by default). Up to two people can play simultaneously, with one player as Bill (the blond-haired commando with the white tank top and blue bandana), and the other player as Lance (the shirtless dark-haired commando in the red bandanna). The controls consists of an eight-way joystick and two action buttons for shooting (left) and jumping (right). When one of the protagonists jumps, he curls into a somersault instead of doing a conventional jump like in other games. The joystick controls not only the player's movement while running and jumping, but also his aiming. During side view stages, the player can shoot leftward, rightward or upward while standing, as well as horizontally and diagonally while running. The player can also shoot in any of eight directions, including downwards, while jumping. Pressing the joystick downwards while standing will cause the character to lie down on his stomach, allowing him to avoid enemy fire and shoot low targets. When the jump button is pressed while crouching on a higher platform, the player will drop down to a lower level.
The player's default weapon is a rifle with unlimited ammunition that can be upgraded into one of four other guns. These can be obtained by destroying the pill box sensors and flying item capsules containing them, or by defeating the red-clad guards in the enemy bases. These consist of a machine gun that fires rapidly when the fire button is held down, a laser gun that shoots a powerful beam, a fireball gun that shoots its rounds in a corkscrew pattern, and a spread gun that shoots five individual bullets in individual directions. There are also two auxiliary power-ups that only appear in certain areas when the player is armed with his default gun: a rapid bullets upgrade that increases the firing speed of the player's shots and a barrier that makes him invulnerable for a limited period. With the exception of the machine gun and the laser gun, each item comes in the form of a Falcon-shaped symbol marked with a letter representing its function (F, S, R, and B).
The arcade version of Contra consists of seven stages (the number of stages and level structures varies in later versions). The first stage is a side-scrolling level where the player is dropped into the jungle and must fend off the enemy's initial line of defense until reaching the entrance of the first base, where he must destroy a large sensor to enter the base. The game switches to a 3D view for the second stage, where the player character must fight his way through a series of passageways inside the base before time runs out (a display at the top of the screen shows the map of the base and the time remaining). The player must destroy a generator at the other side of each passageway in order to deactivate the electric current preventing access. The third stage is set in the core of the base in a fixed screen, where the player must destroy the enemy's defense system in order to expose the final target, a giant eyeball that shoots fireballs. Stages 4 through 6 proceed similarly to the first three stages. Stage 4 is a vertically-scrolling level where the player must jump their way to the top of a waterfall until reaching the entrance of the second base, where the player must destroy a large diamond-shaped sensor guarded by a defense system in order to clear the stage. Stage 5 is another 3D stage set inside another base, while Stage 6 is another boss battle, this time against a pair of heads that split into two images each. The heads can only be damaged when their split images aligned together.
The seventh and final stage returns to the side-scrolling format of the first stage, as the player fights his way through the enemy's final line of defense (which includes a hovercraft, armored trucks, and giant helmeted soldiers) while proceeding through areas such as a snowfield, an energy plant and a hangar, until reaching the alien's lair, where the regular enemy soldiers are replaced with otherworldly creatures. The player must fight a giant alien head that spawns larvae from its mouth before reaching the final target, a heartlike creature that must be destroyed in order to complete the mission.
The player loses a life if their character (Bill or Lance) gets touched by enemy or an enemy bullet, fails to complete a base stage before the time limit, or falls into the bottom of the screen when there's no visible platform. When that happens, he will revert to his default weapon on his next life. After losing all lives, the player can continue by inserting more coins (if necessary) and pressing START, but only up to three times. A second player can join-in anytime, but if one player loses all of their lives, they must wait until the other player loses their lives as well to continue together.
Dec 13, 2017 Hello, I have a Microsoft licensing question about Office 2016 on our Terminal server/RDS server. My company has 100 users in total, of which 20 logon from home on to our Windows Server.
Jul 29, 2016 Office 2016 terminal server, slow loading. The issue we have is that all the office products (mainly excel) are opening and then the contents are loading bit by bit, it's something is very hard to explain in words. Once one of the products is open every time you move to a new windows it's like the page is refreshing.
The arcade game was released in three versions. The Japanese and American versions are virtually identical, aside from the Japanese version using kanji characters to spell the game's title. However, the European version, titled Gryzor, only allows two players to play the game alternating rather than simultaneously.
Ports[edit]
Home computers[edit]
Under license from Konami, Ocean Software produced ports of Contra under the title of Gryzor for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC, which were released in Europe in 1988.[6] The Commodore 64 version was released in North America under the Contra title. Ocean's ports were patterned after the original arcade version of the game. An IBM PC version was developed by Banana Development Inc and released in North America. This version was released in Europe under the Gryzor name.[7] The cover illustration of Ocean's Gryzor ports by Bob Wakelin was inspired by different poses of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger from the film Predator.[8] The illustration was later used for the packaging of the NES version, as well as the MSX2 version.
Directive 2002/96/EC of 27 January 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste elec-trical and electronic equipment(6) are necessary to reduce the waste management problems linked to the heavy metals concerned and the flame retardants concerned. 2002 95 ec pdf free. Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Of 27 January 2003. On the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof.
Contra Game Free Online
Nintendo Entertainment System[edit]
The boss of Stage 3 in the NES version
Contra was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in February 1988. This version was produced in-house by Konami and features several differences from the arcade release in order to better suit the NES's hardware. For example, sprites for effects (like explosions) are shown at 30fps instead of 60fps to work around the sprite limitations of the system. Another game to use this technique is Recca.[9] The Famicom version contains cutscenes, an additional music track, and environment effects which were removed from the NES version.[10]
The game can be played by one or two players, but due to the graphical limitations of the NES, Bill and Lance lost their individualized character designs. Instead, they are both depicted as shirtless commandos distinguished by the colors of their pants (blue pants for the first player and red pants for the second). When one player loses all of their lives, they are given the option to use the other player's stock to keep fighting.
The power-up icons for the Machine Gun and Laser Gun were also changed and are now represented by letter-based falcon symbols (M and L) used by the other weapons. The Rapid Bullets and Barrier power-ups are also more common in this version, since unlike the arcade game the flying item capsules now appear regardless of which weapon the player character currently possesses. The NES version introduces a seventh item that clears the screen of all on-screen enemies when obtained.
The NES version recomposes the 7 stages of the arcade version into 8 stages. Stages 2 and 3 were combined into one stage, resulting in the renumbering of the Waterfall level from Stage 4 to Stage 3, while Stages 5 and 6 were combined into the new Stage 4. The final four stages of the NES version (the Snowfield, Energy Zone, Hangar and Alien Lair) are based on the different areas featured in the arcade version's final stage. The level designs themselves are drastically different from the arcade version too. The two base stages for example (Stage 2 and 4), no longer have their mazelike structures nor is there any time limit involved. The boss of the waterfall stage was also changed from a diamond-shaped sensor to an alien statue.
Contra was one of the early NES games to feature the Konami Code. Inputting the code at the title screen starts the player with thirty lives instead of the usual three. The cheat will be in effect as well when the player runs out of lives and uses a continue to retry a stage.
Famicom[edit]
Contra was released for the Famicom in Japan on February 9, 1988. While the gameplay remains identical to the NES version released around the same month, the Famicom version has a custom-made Multi-Memory Controller that Konami produced called the VRC2 (in contrast to the UNROM board used by its NES counterpart). This allowed for the inclusion of cutscenes and a few graphical effects that were not possible in the NES version.[10]
The game begins with a prologue sequence explaining the game's backstory, followed by a map of the Galuga archipelago, which is shown at the start of every stage to indicate the player's progress. Cutscenes are also shown between stages, depicting Bill (or Lance) giving a status report of his current situation to headquarters, and in later stages, shooting his gun towards the screen. The ending sequence is also slightly different and if the player holds the select and start buttons during the credits sequence, a secret message will be displayed after the Konami logo. Other differences include the addition of a sound test mode, added background animations in certain stages (such as windblown palm leaves in Stage 1 and a snowstorm in Stage 5), a different stage clear jingle when the player clears the final stage, and a level select cheat code.
PAL version[edit]
Probotector is a modified version of the NES Contra that was released for the PAL region on December 28, 1990. This version redesigns the human protagonists and some of the enemy characters to give them a robotic appearance.[1][2][11] This was done to circumvent the BPjM's censorship laws in Germany, which prohibits the sales of violent video games to minors. Subsequent Contra games for home consoles followed suit, all being released in the PAL region under the Probotector title and featuring similar modifications. Beginning with Contra: Legacy of War, Konami abandoned the Probotector title and localized most of the further games with minimal changes.
MSX2[edit]
An MSX2 version of Contra was released by Konami exclusively in Japan on May 26, 1989. The MSX2 version greatly differs from the arcade and NES versions. Due to hardware limitations of the MSX2, the game does not scroll but instead uses flip-screens like other MSX2 games such as Metal Gear and Vampire Killer. The game uses the SCC sound chip.[12]
Rather than one-hit kills, there is an energy gauge, which allows Bill Rizer to take more than one shot or hit before losing a life. There are two main power-ups in the MSX2 version, a Falcon-shaped power-up that increases the player's running and shooting speed, as well as a gun-shaped power-up which allows the player to change their current weapon. After picking up the weapon power-up, the player can choose between the default Normal Gun or four other weapons. The Spread Gun is not featured in this version, replaced by the Rear Gun similar to the tailgun in Gradius II, which fires at two directions at the same time.
The MSX2 version Contra is composed of 19 stages. Stages 1 through 6 are drawn directly from the arcade version, whereas Stages 7 through 9 are based on the different areas featured in the final stage of the arcade version in a matter similar to the final four stages of the NES version. Stages 10 through 19 are new to this version and take place primarily in an underground facility underneath the Galuga Archipelago.
Unlike the arcade and NES versions, the MSX2 version is single-player only (Lance Bean does not appear in any form), and has no continuation feature; if a player loses all lives, the game will be immediately over. However, the Game Master II utility cartridge can be used to save progress via its S-RAM backup feature.
Later releases[edit]
- A PlayStation 2 port of the arcade version of Contra was released in Japan on May 25, 2006, as part of the Oretachi Gēsen Zoku series of retro game ports by Hamster.[13]
- A second re-release was made for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade on November 8 of the same year, with Digital Eclipse handling the conversion.[14] The same version was also released on December 15, 2009, as part of the Konami Classics Vol. 2 compilation.
- The arcade version was also included in Konami's classic game compilation Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the Nintendo DS.
- During Konami Mobile's tenure, several variations of Contra were released for different mobile phones, based on the arcade version.
- The NES version of Contra is included in the video game compilation Konami Collector's Series: Castlevania & Contra for Microsoft Windows, released in North America in 2002, which also includes Super C and the three Castlevania games released for the NES.
- The NES Contra and Super C are included in the Nintendo DS game Contra 4 as hidden bonuses.
- The MSX2 version of Contra was released for the Virtual Console in Japan on February 2, 2010 for the Wii[15][16] and on October 15, 2014 for the Wii U.
- The arcade version of Contra was released for the PlayStation 4 as part of Hamster's Arcade Archives digital releases in 2016. It includes the option to play both the Japanese and US versions.
- The arcade, NES, and Famicom versions are included in Contra Anniversary Collection, which was released in June 2019 for Konami's 50th anniversary.[17]
Reception[edit]
Reception | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Much of the game's popularity came from its two-player simultaneous gameplay, which was an uncommon feature in video games at the time of Contra's release. While successful in the arcades, the game became and remained widely popular and remembered when it was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988.
Allgame editor Skyler Miller praised Contra, touting that the game 'became the standard by which future platform shooters would be judged'.[21] Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave the Famicom (NES) version of the game a score of 27 out of 40.[22]Computer Gaming World called Contra on the NES 'a truly outstanding action epic' set on a 'scrolling and beautifully drawn playfield'.[24] The MS-DOS version of the game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon No. 142 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in 'The Role of Computers' column.[25]
Contra was voted No. 1 by gaming website IGN as being the 'Toughest Game to Beat'.[26]Nintendo Power ranked it as the seventh best NES game, calling it one of the best multiplayer NES games.[27]GamesRadar ranked it the 10th best NES game ever made, considering it possibly superior to the arcade version.[28]Game Informer also included it in their list of best games ever at number 13. The staff noted that while not revolutionary, it was fun.[29] In 2017, Contra ranked 82nd in 'The Scientifically Proven Best Video Games of All Time', a statistical meta-analysis compiled by Warp Zoned of 44 'top games' lists published between 1995 and 2016.[30]
Legacy[edit]
Contra was followed by Super Contra a year later. It is the only Contra sequel for the arcades developed in-house by Konami. Following the success of the NES adaptations of both, the original and its sequel (which was retitled Super C in its American release), subsequent sequels would be produced specifically for the home console market such as Contra III: The Alien Wars for the Super NES and Contra: Hard Corps for the Genesis, becoming one of Konami's landmark series. As of 2014, the series has 11 installments.
The music from the arcade version of Contra is one of the soundtracks included in the video game album Konami Game Music Vol.4: A Jax, which was released by Alfa Records on May 10, 1988, in CD (catalog no. 28XA-201), cassette (ALC-22922), and vinyl (ALR-22922).
Contra Game Free Download 30 Lives
In April 2017, Beijing Starlit Movie and TV Culture announced they were producing a live-action film version of Contra in China. Wei Nan is listed as the screenwriter. The project was scheduled for release on June 6, 2018, but it did not meet that release date.[31]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Fire and Forget - Probotector'. Power Play (in German) (12/90). 1990. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ ab'Roboter in Rage - Probotector'. Video Games (in German) (1/91). 1991. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^Japanese:
魂斗羅 Hepburn: Kontora? - ^'Contra'. The International Arcade Museum. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^'Scans of the Japanese brochure for Contra'. The Arcade Flyer Archive. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
- ^'Save the Last Lance for Me (Gryzor review)'. The Games Machine (3): 52. February 1988.
- ^'Gryzor review'. Power Play (in German). April 1988. Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ^'Bob Wakelin at Exotica'. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
- ^'Breaking the NES | Yacht Club Games'. yachtclubgames.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ abCifaldi, Frank (December 21, 2009). 'Contra's 'Director's Cut''. 1up.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^'Instruction Manual of Probotector for the NES (transcript from NES World)'. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
- ^'MSX NEW SOFT'. MSX Magazine (in Japanese). ASCII Corporation. April 1989. p. 10-11.
- ^'オレたちゲーセン族 - 魂斗羅'. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- ^'Contra - Game Detail Page at Xbox.com'. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- ^'Details of Contra (MSX2 version) for the Virtual Console at Konami' (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^'MSX Virtual Console Lineup' (in Japanese). D4 Enterprise. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^Stevens, Colin (May 28, 2019). 'Konami Announces Contra Anniversary Collection Lineup'.
- ^'Contra for NES'. GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^'Contra for Xbox 360'. GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^'Contra for Xbox 360 Reviews'. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ abSkyler Miller. 'Contra (NES) - Review'. AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ ab'魂斗羅 [ファミコン] / ファミ通.com'. www.famitsu.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^'Probotector'. Total!. Future Publishing (04): 30–31. April 1992.
- ^Katz, Arnie; Kunkel, Bill; Worley, Joyce (June 1988). 'Video Gaming World'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 40–42.
- ^Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (February 1989). 'The Role of Computers'. Dragon (142): 42–51.
- ^'IGN: Top 10 Tuesday: Toughest Games to Beat'. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
- ^'Nintendo Power - The 20th Anniversary Issue!' (Magazine). Nintendo Power. 231 (231). San Francisco: Future US. August 2008: 71.Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - ^'Best NES Games of all time'. GamesRadar. July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^Cork, Jeff (November 16, 2009). 'Game Informer's Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100)'. Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^Scalzo, John (May 12, 2017). 'The Scientifically Proven Best Video Games of All Time #82: Contra'. Warp Zoned. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^'Classic 1987 Arcade Game 'Contra' Set to Become Movie'. China Film Insider. April 20, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
External links[edit]
- Contra at the Killer List of Videogames
- Gryzor at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Contra_(video_game)&oldid=918906820'
(Redirected from Contra (video game series))
Contra | |
---|---|
The Contra logo as it appears on the title screen of the 1987 Contra arcade game. | |
Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
Developer(s) | Konami |
Publisher(s) | Konami |
Platform(s) | Arcade, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, IBM PC, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX2, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network, Game Boy Advance, Mobile, Xbox Live Arcade, Nintendo DS, WiiWare, Virtual Console, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Spin-offs | Hard Corps, Contra Force |
Contra[a] is a video game series produced by Konami composed primarily of run and gun-style shoot 'em ups. The series debuted in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade game simply titled Contra, which was followed by the release of Super Contra in 1988 and several sequels produced for various home platforms.
The in-universe use of the term 'Contra' is first explained within the Japanese instruction card of the arcade version of Contra, and reiterated in most games (including Contra: Shattered Soldier), as 'a title awarded to a superior soldier possessing almost super human drive and ability, while excelling in guerrilla tactics'.
In Japanese, the title is spelled with the kanji characters 魂斗羅 or Kontora. This is a form of ateji, in which the characters are used for their phonetic pronunciations rather than any inherent meaning they may have.
The arcade version of Contra was released in February 1987, a few months after the Iran–Contra affair was made public. While it is unclear whether the game was deliberately named after the Nicaraguan Contra rebels, the ending theme of the original game was titled 'Sandinista' (サンディニスタSandinisuta), after the adversaries of the real-life Contras.[1]
- 2Games
- 3Plot
- 4Regional differences
Gameplay[edit]
The majority of the Contra games are side-scrolling shoot-'em-ups where the player takes control of an armed commando who must fight all sorts of extraterrestrial monsters and other kinds of futuristic menaces. In addition to the side-scrolling stages, the original Contra also featured '3D view' levels where the player must move towards the background in order to progress, while subsequent titles, such as Super Contra and Contra III: The Alien Wars, feature overhead stages as well. Only the Appaloosa-developed installments in the series, Contra: Legacy of War and C The Contra Adventure, as well as Neo Contra, deviated from the series' side-scrolling perspective (although C: The Contra Adventure does feature two side-scrolling stages). Contra: Shattered Soldier, while maintaining the side-view perspective of the 2D games, features fully polygonal 3D graphics. Almost every game in the series, with only a few exceptions (such as the MSX2 version of Contra, C The Contra Adventure or Operation C for the Game Boy, which were single-player only), allows two players to play the game simultaneously.
The main power-ups in the series are falcon-shaped letter icons which will replace the player's default weapon with a new one, such as a Laser Gun or a Spread Gun. There are also power-ups that are actually auxiliary items like the Barrier (which provides temporary invincibility) or the Rapid Bullets (which increases the firing speed of the player's current weapon) in the original Contra, as well as weapons such as the Mega Shell in the arcade version of Super Contra and the Bombs in Contra III and Contra: Hard Corps, that are used to destroy all on-screen enemies. The original arcade version of Contra used the falcon icons for all of its weapons except the Laser Gun and the Fire Ball weapon, while in the arcade version of Super Contra, no Falcon icons were used. Contra: Shattered Soldier and Neo Contra both deviate from this tradition by having set weapon configurations instead.
Most of the Contra games have the player begin the game with only a set number of lives (three in most console games). If the player gets hit once, they will lose a life along with any weapon they currently possess in some games. Because of this, the Contra series is notorious for being extremely difficult. Even in the original arcade versions, most of the games only give limited chances to continue before forcing the player to start all over. Extra lives are usually obtained in most games when the player reaches certain scores. The NES version of the original Contra used the Konami Code (previously featured in the NES version of Gradius) to start the game with thirty lives instead of the usual three. Most of the subsequent console games in the series only featured these extra lives codes in their Japanese releases, such as Contra Spirits (the Japanese version of Contra III) and Contra: Hard Corps.
Games[edit]
1987 | Contra |
---|---|
1988 | Super Contra |
1989 | |
1990 | |
1991 | Operation C |
1992 | Contra III: The Alien Wars |
Contra Force | |
1993 | |
1994 | Contra: Hard Corps |
1995 | |
1996 | Contra: Legacy of War |
1997 | |
1998 | C The Contra Adventure |
1999 | |
2000 | |
2001 | |
2002 | Contra: Shattered Soldier |
2003 | |
2004 | Neo Contra |
2005 | |
2006 | |
2007 | Contra 4 |
2008 | |
2009 | Contra ReBirth |
2010 | |
2011 | Hard Corps: Uprising |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 | |
2015 | |
2016 | |
2017 | |
2018 | |
2019 | Contra Anniversary Collection |
Contra: Rogue Corps |
Original games[edit]
- Contra (Arcade, NES, MSX2, DOS, C64, CPC, ZX) (1987)
- Contra is the first game in the series. Many of the series' conventions such as power-ups, two-player cooperative gameplay and the character's light mobility (including somersaults) were already present in this game. The game is composed of traditional side-view stages that scroll either vertically or horizontally, as well as '3D view' stages in which the player moves towards the backgrounds. The NES version is essentially identical to the arcade version in terms of content, but has longer stages and other modifications. In Japan, the Famicom version uses the VRC2 chip, which allowed for additional background animation and cut-scenes not included in its North American and European NES counterparts. An MSX2 version was also produced that is drastically different from the other two versions. Several computer versions were done outside Japan, by Ocean in Europe for the C64, CPC and ZX, and by Banana Software in North America for DOS based PCs.
- Super Contra (Arcade, NES, DOS, Amiga) (1988)
- Super Contra replaces the 3D view stages from the original with top-view stages similar to those in Commando or Ikari Warriors. Features unique to the arcade version includes upgradeable weapons and the ability to control the character's jumping height. The NES version (retitled Super C for its North American version) has three new stages and a new final boss, but lacks the upgradable weapons from the arcade game. Unlimited Software created DOS and Amiga conversions for the North American market, based on the arcade original.
- Operation C (Game Boy) (1991)
- Operation C is the first Contra game made specifically for a portable platform. Featuring gameplay similar to the NES version of Super C, Operation C also first introduced the 'homing gun' power-up.
- Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance) (1992)
- The series' first entry for a 16-bit game console, Contra III allows the player's character to climb into walls or railings and carry two weapons that can be switched back and forth, as well as smart bombs that kill all on-screen enemies. Many of the stages and bosses made use of the system's Mode 7 graphic effects, including a bike riding stage that ends in a midair battle with the main character riding missiles. The player is now required to rotate their character in the top-view stages to move along with the scenery. Two heavily modified portable ports were produced; a port for the original Game Boy, simply titled Contra: The Alien Wars; and a later Game Boy Advance port, titled Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX, which replaced the top view stages with levels from Contra: Hard Corps.
- Contra Force (NES) (1992)
- Contra Force combines the run and gun style of the Contra series with a power-up system similar to Gradius. The game is notable for being the first Contra to feature selectable characters with their unique weapon configurations. Contra Force lacks the alien invaders and futuristic environment of previous installments, as the game centers around an elite task force fighting human terrorists in a present-day setting. The game was actually planned as an unrelated game in Japan as Arc Hound, but was never officially released there, nor in Europe.
- Contra: Hard Corps (Mega Drive/Genesis) (1994)
- The first Contra game for a Sega platform. Hard Corps also contains selectable characters with unique weapons and abilities and introduces an in-game storyline with branching paths that alter the ending.
- Contra: Legacy of War (PlayStation, Sega Saturn) (1996)
- The first of two Contra titles developed by Appaloosa Interactive, as well as the first attempt to convert the Contra gameplay to 3D and the first game in the series to be played in an isometric perspective. It was originally sold with a pair of anaglyph glasses. It is the first console Contra game to be released in the PAL region with no changes. A Japanese release of Legacy of War was planned, but canceled.
- C The Contra Adventure (PlayStation) (1998)
- The second Contra game developed by Appaloosa. The gameplay is composed of several side-scrolling and 3D stages, as well as a single overhead stage. It's the only console game in the series to lack a multiplayer mode. C: The Contra Adventure was only released in North America, with no Japanese nor European versions.
- Contra: Shattered Soldier (PlayStation 2) (2002)
- Features 2D side-scrolling gameplay with fully polygonal 3D graphics. The player now has a fixed weapon configuration, allowing the character to use one of three weapons. The player can also charge their weapon for a more powerful shot. The game grades the player's performance on each stage and only allows the good ending to those with an above-average rank.
- Neo Contra (PlayStation 2) (2004)
- Most of the game is played in an isometric perspective, but portions are side-scrolling or overhead-behind. The player can now select their weapon configurations, which includes a weapon that locks onto airborne enemies.
- Contra 4 (Nintendo DS) (2007)
- Developed by WayForward Technologies, the gameplay is displayed on two screens and the player's character now has a grappling hook that latches onto railings. The gameplay system is modeled after Contra III: The Alien Wars, with upgradeable weapons similar to Super Contra. It also features the return of the 3D view 'tunnel' stages from the original Contra. The game has never been released in Europe.
- Contra ReBirth (downloadable for Wii) (2009)
- Developed by M2 and published by Konami for WiiWare,[2] this 2D side-scrolling game was released in May 2009 in Japan and features Bill Rizer and Genbei Yagyu from Neo Contra fighting off an alien invasion.[3] It features hand-drawn sprite-based visuals, and has two unlockable characters as well as an unlockable 'nightmare mode.' With the announcement of the closure of the Nintendo Wii Shop Channel in 2018, and discontinued in 2019, this game is no longer available for purchase or re-download.
- Contra: The War of the Worlds (mobile) (2009)
- A mobile game developed by Konami's Chinese division. In this game the player fights alien intruders on the Moon.
- Hard Corps: Uprising (downloadable for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) (2011)
- The game was developed by Arc System Works and is the first Contra game without the 'Contra' brand name in the title. It became available on Xbox Live Arcade on February 16, 2011, and was released on the PlayStation Network on March 15, 2011. It is a prequel to the original Contra. The player will play the role of Colonel Bahamut, the main antagonist from Contra: Hard Corps. Although the game was released with only two different characters to choose from (like most Contra games), Konami has released additional characters via DLC.
- Contra: Evolution (Arcade, Android, iPhone, iPad) (2010)
- A remake of the original Contra was released in China on mobile phones (2010),[4] based on an arcade version that would actually be released later (2011)[5] and later ported to iOS systems in 2013.[6] It features updated graphics, new characters to choose from, pay-to-play credits to buy extra lives, and bonus stages.
- Contra 3D (Pachislot)
- Contra 3D is a pachislot game based on the Contra series and was released in Japan in 2013.
- Neo Contra (Slot Machine) (Pachislot)
- Neo Contra (Slot Machine) is a Slot Machine game based on Neo Contra and was released in America in 2014.
- Contra: Return (mobile)
- A free-to-play mobile game developed by Tencent and Konami and is exclusive to China in 2017. Its American release date is unknown, at the moment the game is under testing. At the time of the Chinese release, it was nominated for 'Best Sound Design in a Casual/Social Game' and 'Best Music in a Casual/Social Game' at the 16th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards.[7]
- Developed by Toylogic and published by Konami, Contra: Rogue Corps is a top-down isometric viewrun and gun game, taking place years after Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992), for release on September 24, 2019 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Re-releases[edit]
The original arcade versions of Contra and Super Contra were ported to several computer platforms in North America and Europe during the late 1980s and 1990s. In North America, the original Contra and Super Contra (as Super C) were ported to DOS. A version of Super C was also released for the Amiga. Contra was released for the DOS,[8]Amstrad CPC,[9]Commodore 64[10] and ZX Spectrum[11] in Europe under the Gryzor title.
As software emulation became more widespread, the classic Contra games, both arcade and console installments, are being made available in numerous formats such as downloadable game services like the Wii's Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade, video game compilations, stand-alone re-releases and even as unlockable games in newer installments. Mobile Phone versions have been produced as well. For more information, see each individual game page.
Cancelled games[edit]
- Contra Spirits and Super Contra (Sega CD and NEC TurboGrafx-CD) (Cancelled)
- Contra Spirits 64 (Nintendo 64) (Cancelled)
- Originally announced in early 1997,[12] this Nintendo 64 incarnation of the series was to be developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka, but was later cancelled when the development team disbanded.[13]
- Contra (Nintendo GameCube) (Nintendo GameCube) (Cancelled)
- In 2002, a European division of Konami announced its development, but unwisely kept “everything” from the public. When nothing else turned up beyond this, a response from Konami basically unknown summed up its cancellation.[14]
- The Definitive Contra (Nintendo GameCube) (Cancelled)[15]
- Contra 3DS (Nintendo 3DS) (Cancelled)[16]
In other media[edit]
- Contra is one of the video games featured in the manga titled Rock'n Game Boy, by Shigeto Ikehara and Published by Comic BomBom from October 1989 to December 1991.
- Blades of Steel (Family Computer) - during the second intermission, either a video game will appear for Player One to play or a Konami ad will appear featuring a bear shooting the puck into a net mouthing the words 'Nice Shot!' The video game is actually an advertisement for Contra and other Konami games.
- Battlantis (Arcade) - Emperor Demon Gyaba appears as a major alien boss in a stage.
- Konami Wai Wai World (Family Computer, Cell Phone) - although released a month before the Famicom version of Contra, the final boss theme in the game is the same one used in the original Contra.
- Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Jō (Family Computer, Wii U VC) - Bill Rizer appears as a playable character among other Konami characters.
- Snatcher - in the English-language Mega-CD/Sega CD version, two characters masquerading as Bill and Lance appear at a Konami-themed costume party held in the Outer Heaven show pub. They are replaced by Light and Pastel from the TwinBee series in the PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions. However, in these versions, an ad for a Contra film is shown on a large monitor on a building in the Altamila (Alton Plaza) shopping center.
- TwinBee PARADISE in Donburi Shima (PC) - Sheena, Brad Fang and Ray Poward from Contra: Hard Corps make a brief cameo in Wai Wai Arcade.
- Nano Breaker (PlayStation 2) - Jaguar from Neo Contra appears as a hidden character.
- Best Student Council - in the Konami-produced anime television series, Pucchan's other hand puppet friend in episode 19 is named after Lance Bean, a nod to the Contra character.
- Power Pro Kun Pocket 8 (Nintendo DS) - one of the minigames is a Contra parody.
- Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - late in the game, the player explores a movie theater which features several Konami arcade machines in the lobby, including the original Contra.
- Rocket Knight - the ending, when playing as Gold Sparkster, features Bill Rizer shooting the Spread Gun at Gold Sparkster as he flies across the sky while saying his trademark line, 'It's time for revenge'.
- Robot Chicken - an episode called 'Catch Me If You Kangaroo Jack' spoofed the Contra video game segment.
- Project X Zone 2 - one of Xiaomu's counterattack quotes is, 'It's time for revenge. Let's attack aggressively!'
- One of the video game characters in episode 2 from Spaceballs: The Animated Series, resembles Bill and Lance from Contra. While talking about Raccoon City, he is killed with a gunshot to the head by a character resembling Agent 47.
Plot[edit]
Contra fictional chronology |
---|
|
Protagonists[edit]
The original Contra, and its initial sequels (Super Contra and Contra III: The Alien Wars) are set in the 27th century, and center around two commandos named Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, who are members of a special guerrilla task force codenamed 'Contra' repeatedly sent to thwart an army of alien invaders seeking to destroy the Earth. Bill Rizer was named Nintendo Power's 17th favourite video game hero, due to his aptitude with saving the world.[17]
Visit: Us: Meez VIP HackFree Meez Cash HackFree Meez Coinz HackNo DownloadsProxy/Anti-BanNo SurveysWe are a group of 3 who dedicate our time to providing hacks for several MMORPG's. What we plan on doing is provide free and working hacks for Meez that allow a user to hack his/her account not only free of charge, but also from the comfort their own browser. Our new,fully-functioning browser-based Meez hack allows the user to get free Meez VIP, Cash, and Coinz without having to worry about sketchy downloads or viruses. Meez cash hack no survey no money. For the time being, we've decided to spend our time on the popular game known as Meez. We find great pleasure in the challenge of creating these hacks.
Some of the Contra games released after Contra III have deviated from this premise, such as Contra Force (which was set in the present day) and Contra: Hard Corps (which featured new heroes following the events of Contra III, as well as a human antagonist). However, the original Contra protagonist of Bill Rizer would not return in another game until Contra: Shattered Soldier, which brought back Bill Rizer (now a convicted war criminal) to fight against his former partner Lance, who has become a terrorist leader. Neo Contra also brought back Bill Rizer, however the character in this installment is revealed to be a clone of the original Bill, as the game is set in 4444, almost 1,800 years after Bill's last appearance in Shattered Soldier. Contra 4 brought back the original team of Bill and Lance by setting itself as a direct sequel to Contra III set before the events of Hard Corps and Shattered Soldier. ReBirth may be set in 2633 (the events of the original Contra took place), or 4444 where the events of Neo Contra took place, implying that it is set either before, during, or sometime after these games, although its continuity is uncertain. Hard Corps: Uprising is another prequel set twenty years before the events of the original Contra, which follows Bahamut, who was the villain in Hard Corps, as the protagonist. However, the developers said he could be a different Bahamut, only sharing the same name.
Continuity differences[edit]
While the original Japanese version of the early Contra games (specifically the original Contra, Super Contra and Operation C), were set in the 27th century (in the years 2633, 2634, and 2635 in that order), the American versions of these games omitted this detail and the instruction manuals for these versions implied that the series was set during the present day. Contra III: The Alien Wars retains its futuristic setting of 2636 for its American release, but the identities of the two player characters, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean (the heroes from the previous installments), were changed to their descendants 'Jimbo' and 'Sully' in order to retain the continuity of the previous localizations. The American (and European) version of Contra: Shattered Soldier was the first Contra game overseas to follow the same continuity as its Japanese counterpart. 'Mad Dog' and 'Scorpion', originally the nicknames given to Bill and Lance in the NES versions of Contra and Super C, were made into separate characters in Contra 4.
The enemy characters of the earlier games were also named differently in the American versions. Particularly 'Red Falcon', originally the name of the terrorist army that was fought by the main characters in the first game (the Red Falcon Organization), became the name of the actual alien entity leader; thus 'Red Falcon' became the name of the final boss fought at the end of Contra in which you fight both his alien body form and his heart.[18] In Japan, these are intended to be two different entities: Emperor Demon Dragon God Java and Emperor Demon Evil Heart Gomera Mosking, respectively.[19][20] The final boss of Super Contra (or the third to last boss in the NES Super C) and Contra III; is named Emperor Demon Gyaba in the original Japanese versions. Often mistaken as Red Falcon, his American name is referred to as Jagger Froid in the Super C instruction manual.[21] The American Super C instruction manual also illustrates a common 'running' alien enemy from its final stage as Red Falcon.[21] The alien entity leader known as Red Falcon does not appear as an enemy in the Super Contra or Super C games. The antagonist of the Game Boy game Operation C, originally a nameless hostile nation seeking to develop alien-based weapons in the Japanese version, was changed to 'Black Viper', another alien invader (the alien cell the player must destroy after thwarting the final security system is presumably Black Viper itself). In Contra 4, the final boss is actually Black Viper itself, who takes a form similar to Gyaba in the other games.
Regional differences[edit]
Probotector[edit]
When Konami released the NES version of the original Contra in the PAL region (Europe and Australia) they modified the game by replacing the original main characters and most of the human enemies with robotic counterparts, retitling the game Probotector (a portmanteau of 'Robot' and 'Protector'), the latter move done probably to avoid any association with the Iran–Contra affair (the reason for which Super Contra's American title was shortened to Super C). The title referred to the two robotic soldiers, RD-008 and RC-011, who replaced Bill and Lance in this version. This was presumably done due to the German Federal Agency BPjM, which prohibited the sale and advertisement of media deemed too violent to children, including 'content which glorifies war'.
While the original arcade games, as well as a few computer conversions under the Gryzor title, were released unchanged in Europe, subsequent console installments of the Contra series were released under the Probotector title in Europe. The original Probotector was followed by Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces for the NES (originally Super C) and Super Probotector: Alien Rebels for the SNES (Contra III: The Alien Wars). The Contra games for the Game Boy (Operation C and the Game Boy version of Alien Wars) and Mega Drive (Contra: Hard Corps) were also released as Probotector titles in Europe. The series would revert to the Contra title in Europe beginning with Contra: Legacy of War for the PlayStation, retaining the human characters. However, Probotector II and Super Probotector were still released for the WiiVirtual Console in Europe and Australia like their original releases, with no 'uncensored' versions available. Although Contra 4 was not released in Europe, the 'Probotector' character appears in the game as a hidden character.
Reception[edit]
By the end of 1996, the Contra series had accumulated combined sales of over 4 million units worldwide.[22]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^A-JAX~コナミ・ゲーム・ミュージック VOL.4 A-Jax: Konami Game Music Vol. 4 (booklet). G.M.O. Records / Alfa Records. 28XA-201.
- ^'Konami Announces Contra Rebirth for WiiWare'. Nintendo World Report. 2009-05-09. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^Hatfield, Daemon (2009-05-12). 'Contra ReBirth Impressions'. IGN. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
- ^'China's getting a Contra remake - Contra Database'. www.klustr.net. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'Contra: Evolution Revolution arcade video game by Konami Digital Ent. Co., Ltd.(2011)'. www.arcade-history.com. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'Contra: Evolution Revolution blasts onto the Chinese App Store'. Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'2018 Awards'. Game Audio Network Guild. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
- ^'CONTRA > CONVERSIONS > DOS'. Contra Encyclopedia. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'CONTRA > CONVERSIONS > CPC'. Contra Encyclopedia. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'Contra (1988) Commodore 64 box cover art - MobyGames'. MobyGames. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'CONTRA > CONVERSIONS > SPECTRUM'. Contra Encyclopedia. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^'In Development'. Next Generation. No. 29. Imagine Media. May 1997. p. 54.
- ^IGN staff (January 29, 1999). 'Contra Canned'. IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^https://spong.com/article/3176/Contra-announced-for-GameCube
- ^http://www.ajworld.net/contra.html
- ^http://www.videogamecountdown.com/detail/Nintendo-3DS/Contra-3DS
- ^Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. pp. 40, 41.
- ^'How To Play Contra (NES Manual)'(PDF). Games Database. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^'The recurring bosses of Contra - Part 6'. Contra Database. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^'The recurring bosses of Contra - Part 7'. Contra Database. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ ab'Super C Manual'(PDF). florre.se. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^'Contra Legacy of War: The Classics Come to 32-Bits'. Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 87. Ziff Davis. October 1996. p. 142.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Contra_(series)&oldid=918535421'