Contra is a video game series created by Konami. It mainly features action where players run and shoot. The series began in February 1987 with a coin-operated arcade game in Japan, which later led to many follow-up games for different platforms.

The arcade version of Contra was released a few months after the Iran–Contra affair became public. It is not certain if the game was named after the Nicaraguan Contra rebels. However, the original game’s ending theme was titled "Sandinista," which refers to the real-life opponents of the Contras.

Gameplay

The Contra video game series mostly includes side-scrolling action games where players control an armed soldier fighting alien monsters and futuristic enemies. Some games, like the original Contra, have levels that use a "pseudo-3D perspective," where players must move backward to advance. Later games, such as Super Contra and Contra III: The Alien Wars, include overhead views. Only games developed by Appaloosa, like Contra: Legacy of War and C: The Contra Adventure, and Neo Contra, used different perspectives (though C: The Contra Adventure still has two side-scrolling stages). Contra: Shattered Soldier keeps the side-view style but uses fully 3D graphics. Most games allow two players to play together, except for a few versions like the MSX2 edition of Contra, C: The Contra Adventure, and Operation C for the Game Boy, which are single-player only.

Power-ups in the series often appear as falcon-shaped letters that change the player’s weapon, such as a Laser Gun or Spread Gun. Other power-ups include items like the Barrier, which makes the player temporarily invincible, or Rapid Bullets, which speeds up weapon fire. In the original Contra, weapons like the Mega Shell (from Super Contra) and Bombs (from Contra III and Contra: Hard Corps) destroy all enemies on screen. The original arcade version of Contra used falcon icons for most weapons except the Laser Gun and Fire Ball, while Super Contra’s arcade version did not use falcon icons. Contra: Shattered Soldier and Neo Contra use fixed weapon setups instead of falcon icons.

Most Contra games start with a limited number of lives (usually three). If the player is hit, they lose a life and may also lose their current weapon in some games. This makes the series very challenging. Players often have few chances to continue before restarting. Extra lives are earned by reaching specific scores. The NES version of the original Contra allowed players to use the Konami Code (also used in Gradius) to start with 30 lives instead of three. Later console games, like Contra Spirits (the Japanese version of Contra III) and Contra: Hard Corps, included this feature only in their Japanese releases.

Games

• Contra (Arcade, NES, MSX2, DOS, C64, CPC, ZX) (1987) Contra is the first game in the series. It introduced many features that became common in later games, such as power-ups, two-player teamwork, and characters that can move quickly and do somersaults. The game has levels viewed from the side that scroll up, down, or sideways, as well as levels with a "3D view" where players move toward the background. The NES version is different from the arcade version, with longer levels and other changes. In Japan, the Famicom version uses the VRC2 chip, which allowed for extra animations and cut-scenes not found in the North American and European versions. An MSX2 version was also made, which is very different from the arcade and NES versions. It was created by Konami staff, not the original team who made the arcade game. Computer versions were made outside Japan, with Ocean creating versions for the C64, CPC, and ZX in Europe, and Banana Software making a version for DOS computers in North America.

• Super Contra (Arcade, NES, DOS, Amiga) (1987) Super Contra replaces the 3D view levels from the original game with top-view levels similar to those in Commando or Ikari Warriors. The arcade version includes weapons that can be upgraded and the ability to control how high the character jumps. The NES version (called Super C in North America) has three new levels and a new final boss, but does not include the upgradeable weapons from the arcade game. Unlimited Software made versions for DOS and Amiga computers in North America based on the arcade game.

• Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance) (1992) This is the first Contra game for a 16-bit console. Players can climb walls or railings and carry two weapons that can be switched. Smart bombs that kill all enemies on screen are also available. Many levels and bosses use Mode 7 effects, which create a 3D-like appearance, including a level where the player rides a bike and battles enemies midair. Players must rotate their character in top-view levels to move with the scenery. Two portable versions were made: one for the original Game Boy, titled Contra: The Alien Wars, and a later version for the Game Boy Advance, titled Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX, which replaced top-view levels with levels from Contra: Hard Corps.

• Contra: Hard Corps (Mega Drive/Genesis) (1994) The first Contra game for a Sega console. It allows players to choose characters with unique weapons and abilities and includes a story with different paths that change the ending.

• Contra: Shattered Soldier (PlayStation 2) (2002) This game uses 2D side-scrolling gameplay with fully polygonal 3D graphics. Players use one of three fixed weapons and can charge their weapon for a stronger shot. The game gives players a score for each level, and only those with above-average scores can see the good ending.

• Neo Contra (PlayStation 2) (2004) Most of the game is played from an isometric perspective, but some parts are side-scrolling or overhead. Players can choose weapon configurations, including a weapon that locks onto enemies in the air.

• Contra 4 (Nintendo DS) (2007) Developed by WayForward Technologies, the game uses two screens. Players can now use a grappling hook to latch onto railings. Gameplay is similar to Contra III: The Alien Wars, with upgradeable weapons like in Super Contra. It also includes the 3D view "tunnel" levels from the original Contra. The game was never released in Europe.

• Contra: Operation Galuga (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) (2024) A remake of the original game, developed by WayForward. It was released on March 12, 2024.

• Operation C (Game Boy) (1991) The first Contra game made for a portable device. It has gameplay similar to the NES version of Super C and introduces the "homing gun" power-up.

• Contra Force (NES) (1992) Contra Force mixes the run-and-gun style of the Contra series with a power-up system like Gradius. It is the first Contra game with selectable characters and unique weapon setups. Unlike earlier games, it does not feature aliens or futuristic settings. Instead, it focuses on a team fighting human terrorists in a modern environment. It was originally planned as a different game in Japan called Arc Hound but was never officially released there or in Europe.

• Contra: Legacy of War (PlayStation, Sega Saturn) (1996) The first of two Contra games made by Appaloosa Interactive. It was the first attempt to convert Contra’s gameplay to 3D and the first game in the series with an isometric perspective. It was sold with anaglyph glasses and was the first Contra game released in the PAL region without changes. A Japanese release was planned but canceled.

• C: The Contra Adventure (PlayStation) (1998) The second Contra game made by Appaloosa. It includes side-scrolling and 3D levels, as well as one overhead level. It is the only Contra console game without a multiplayer mode. It was only released in North America.

• Contra ReBirth (WiiWare) (2009) Developed by M2 and published by Konami, this 2D side-scrolling game was released in Japan in May 2009. It features characters from Neo Contra fighting aliens. It has hand-drawn graphics, two unlockable characters, and a "nightmare mode." The game is no longer available for purchase because the Nintendo Wii Shop Channel closed in 2019.

• Hard Corps: Uprising (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) (2011) Developed by Arc System Works, this is the first Contra game without the word "Contra" in its title. It was released on Xbox Live Arcade in February 2011 and on PlayStation Network in March 2011. It is a prequel to the original Contra, with players controlling Colonel Baham

Plot

The games Contra and its first sequels are set in the 27th century. They follow two commandos, Bill Rizer (code name Mad Dog) and Lance Bean (code name Scorpion), who are part of a special guerrilla task force called "Contra." Their mission is to stop alien invaders who want to destroy Earth. After Contra III: The Alien Wars, the series changed its story direction.

Contra: Hard Corps and its sequels (Legacy of War and C: The Contra Adventure) take place after the events of Contra III. These games introduce new characters, including Ray Poward, who appears in later titles. Unlike earlier games, Hard Corps features human enemies instead of aliens. Hard Corps: Uprising (2011) is a prequel to Hard Corps and is set 20 years before the original Contra. It follows a character named "Bahamut," though the game’s producer, Kenji Yamamoto, said Bahamut might not be the same character from Hard Corps. The reason Hard Corps does not use the "Contra" name in its title is because fans viewed it as different from other games in the series. Hard Corps and its sequels are now considered spin-offs of the main series.

Bill Rizer returns in Contra: Shattered Soldier (2002), where he is a war criminal fighting against Lance, who has become a terrorist leader. In the sequel, Neo Contra, Bill is revealed to be a clone of the original Bill Rizer after being frozen in a special process.

Contra 4 was intended to be a direct sequel to Contra III, ignoring earlier games. However, the characters "Mad Dog" and "Scorpion" (originally Bill and Lance’s nicknames) became separate characters in this game. The main antagonist, "Black Viper," is a new character, even though he appeared in the North American version of Operation C. According to the official timeline in the History of Contra e-book, Contra 4 is set after the Japanese versions of Operation C and Contra III, but before Hard Corps.

Contra: Rogue Corps returns to the post-Contra III setting. It includes Kaiser, a character from Contra III, who joins bounty hunters in a place called the "Damned City."

The original Japanese versions of Contra, Super Contra, and Operation C are set in the 27th century (2633, 2634, and 2635, respectively). However, the American versions removed this detail and suggested the games take place in the present day. Contra III: The Alien Wars kept its futuristic setting (2636) in the American release, but the main characters were changed to their descendants, "Jimbo" and "Sully," to match earlier American localizations.

Enemy names also changed in the American versions. For example, "Red Falcon," originally the name of the terrorist group in the first game, became the name of the alien leader in the American version. In Japan, the alien leader is called Emperor Demon Dragon God Java, and the final boss is Emperor Demon Evil Heart Gomera Mosking. The final boss of Super Contra (or Super C) is named Emperor Demon Gyaba in Japan, but called Jagger Froid in the American version. The American manual also shows a common alien enemy named "Red Falcon," even though this character does not appear in Super Contra or Super C.

In the Japanese version of Operation C, the antagonist was a nameless hostile nation. This was changed to "Black Viper" in the American version.

After the release of Contra: Shattered Soldier in America and Europe, all international Contra games followed the Japanese story timeline.

Contra Force is a standalone game not considered part of the main series.

Contra ReBirth begins in 2633 but is set in 1973 with time travel elements. It is considered non-canon and takes place in an alternate timeline called "the KONTRA era."

Contra: Operation Galuga is a reimagining of the original game, set in the year 26XX instead of 2633. Bill Rizer and Lance Bean return as the main characters.

When Konami released the original Contra in Europe, they changed the game. The main characters, Bill and Lance, were replaced with robotic soldiers named RD-008 and RC-011. The game was retitled Probotector, likely due to European regulations that restricted violent content for children.

The original arcade and computer versions of Contra (under the name Gryzor) were released unchanged in Europe. However, later console games were released as Probotector in Europe. These included Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces (based on Super Contra) and Super Probotector: Alien Rebels (based on Contra III: The Alien Wars). The Game Boy and Mega Drive versions of Operation C and Hard Corps were also released as Probotector in Europe. The series returned to the Contra title in Europe with Legacy of War for the PlayStation, which included human characters. However, Probotector II and Super Probotector were still released for the Wii Virtual Console in Europe and Australia. Contra 4 was not released in Europe, but the "Probotector" character appears as a hidden figure in the game.

Reception

By the end of 1996, the Contra series had sold a total of over 4 million units worldwide.