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Contra

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In Contra, the player controls one of two armed military commandos named Bill and Lance, who are sent on a mission to neutralize a terrorist group called the Red Falcon Organization that is planning to take over the Earth. The main character is equipped with a rifle with an unlimited amount of...

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Developer
Konami

Released on
1987

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Platform

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

In Contra, the player controls one of two armed military commandos named Bill and Lance, who are sent on a mission to neutralize a terrorist group called the Red Falcon Organization that is planning to take over the Earth.

The main character is equipped with a rifle with an unlimited amount of ammunition. The player can also jump, move and fire in eight directions, as well as move or jump simultaneously while firing. A single hit from any enemy, bullet, or other hazard will instantly kill the player character and discard the current weapon.

Contra

Released by Konami in 1987, the arcade version of Contra revolutionized the run-and-gun genre. Set in the futuristic year 2633, the narrative follows elite commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean as they deploy to the tropical Galuga Archipelago. Their mission is to neutralize the Red Falcon Organization, an alien-backed terrorist threat plotting humanity's extinction. Distinct from its famous home console ports, the original arcade cabinet featured a unique vertical screen orientation that emphasized vertical platforming, making the frantic two-player cooperative action feel incredibly tense, fast-paced, and visually striking.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Contra demands precise movement and split-second reflexes. Players fight through diverse levels, alternating between traditional side-scrolling zones and pseudo-3D indoor base corridors where players shoot security sensors to deactivate electrified barriers. Bill and Lance can run, jump, crouch, lie prone to dodge low projectile fire, and aim their weapons in eight directions. Power-up capsules float across the sky; shooting them releases crucial weapon upgrades such as the screen-clearing Spread Gun (S), the piercing Laser (L), and the high-velocity Machine Gun (M). With one-hit deaths and relentless enemy spawns, mastering the high-jumping somersault maneuver is essential to survive this legendary, punishing arcade classic.