Contra (arcade game)
(Redirected from Contra (video game))
Categories: Contra games | Arcade games | Amstrad CPC games | Game Boy games | NES games | PlayChoice-10 games | ZX Spectrum games | Konami games | 1987 arcade games | 1987 computer and video games | 1988 computer and video games | Scrolling shooters
| Contra | |
| Image:Contra title.png | |
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Release date | 1987 |
| Genre | Platform/Scrolling shooter |
| Modes | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
Contra (Japanese title: 魂斗羅 Kontora) is an arcade game released in 1987 by the Konami corporation. The player's character is a commando who battles waves of enemies to reach his ultimate goal. The enemies include humans and machines, as well as mutants and aliens. Much of the game's popularity came from its two-player simultaneous gameplay, an uncommon feature in video games at the time of Contra's release.
Contents |
Gameplay
The player's character is equipped with a semi-automatic machine gun, and can move and fire in all eight cardinal directions using the directional pad. He can also jump, all the while continuing to be able to move and fire. Coordination of the character's movement relative to the player's controller is essential; a single hit from any enemy, bullet or other hazard will instantly kill the player's character, and it is not unusual for the screen to be filled with several enemies and dozens of bullets moving in different directions at any given time. Special power-ups can be collected which might increase the speed, damage or size of the player's shots. This makes for an easier time progressing through the game, but it's not without a caveat - these power-ups are lost every time the player loses a life.
The following is a list of Contra's power-ups as featured in the original game. Several weapon power-ups designed like flying metallic boxes with letters in their centers become available during the game. Each power-up is represented by a letter-based icon (with the exception of the Machine Gun and Laser Gun in the arcade version):
- Machine Gun: This weapon allows players to hold the fire button to fire repeatedly, rather than pressing the button constantly as the default weapon requires.
- Spread Gun: Firing 5 shots in an arc, this power-up is useful for large groups of enemies.
- Laser Gun: This shoots a long laser that can take out many enemies in a row. However, only one laser can be on the screen at a time (the first will disappear when a new one is fired).
- Fire Ball: A gun which fires small fireballs in a corkscrew pattern..
- Rapid Fire: Increases the firing rate of the player's currently equipped weapon.
- Barrier: This makes the player invincible for a few seconds, though he can still lose a life by falling into pits.
Contra also feature simultaneous two-player cooperative gameplay. Both players occupy the same screen, and must coordinate their movements. If a player lags behind, the screen will not scroll, which could be fatal if his partner is attempting to complete a jump.
Ports
The original game was ported as Gryzor to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 by Ocean Software in 1988.
It was also ported by Konami to the NES in 1988. This version is famed for its use of the Konami Code, which it is sometimes wrongfully credited for having initiated (the NES version of Gradius was the actual originator of the code). The gameplay remained generally unchanged from the Arcade game, but most fans consider the NES version to be superior due to the benefit of a horizontal screen, allowing a wider view of the playing field (the Arcade game used a vertical screen instead), and longer stages.
In relation to how Contra and its sucessors were heavily influenced by the action movies of the time, the cover for the US version of Contra was almost a direct copy of the the movie cover for Predator. Bill is a minorly transformed copy of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
 NES port |
 MSX Port |
 Cover comparison |
Japanese Releases
In Japan, third-party developers of Famicom games were allowed to use their own custom chips for their games in addition to the standard ones given by Nintendo (in contrast to the U.S., in which only Nintendo's first-party mappers were used). Konami took advantage of this situation and developed the VRC (Video Resource Chip) series of mappers for the Famicom. Gryzor made use of the VRC2 chip and its added effects are quite noticeable when compared to the American NES version with the presence of animated backgrounds such as palm trees and snowfalls. The Famicom version also included additional cut-scenes between stages, a map displaying the player's progress and extended opening and ending scenes (including a secret message after the closing credits) which serves to narrate the game's storyline to the player (in contrast to the US version, which had no in-game narrative at all).
Konami also released an MSX2 version of the game in Japan, which included new stages, but has been criticized by fans for watered-down gameplay (the game lacked any scrolling and only displayed few enemies on-screen), substandard graphics and lack of 2-Player mode. The level structure of this port is different from the original. There are many additional levels that are not present in other version; there are four 3D view levels (as opposed to two), as well as two vertical scrolling cavern levels, two volcano levels, an enemy base (also vertical) and another alien lair. However, the hangar zone from the original is not present.
European and Australian releases
In addition, the early console versions of Contra (and sequels to the console versions) were called Probotector in Europe and Australia. Also, the two main characters (and many enemies) were changed to robots, despite the fact that the original Arcade version was released uncensored in those territories under the Gryzor title. One reason might be because people worried about violent games in Europe. But no one knows for sure. Another guessing is that Konami feared Germany's so-called "Bundesprüfstelle", an institution that watches newly released media in general and is allowed to forbid the selling of a game. In the 1980s and 1990s dozens of games in which people have to be killed in order to progress (i.e. Rambo III) were put on an index which meant that these games were not allowed to be advertised or displayed in stores. Only people over 18 years could buy them upon request. Consequently, this meant commercial disaster. So Konami possibly chose to avoid such a scenario.
Legacy
The arcade version was followed by one sequel, Super Contra, in 1988.
The NES port of Contra was the first of many console-based games, with MSX version some time later. It was followed by Super Contra (also known as Super C) and Contra Force also on the NES, and a Game Boy version titled Operation C. The SNES-based Contra 3: The Alien Wars was one of the most highly acclaimed titles for Nintendo's 16-bit console due to its revolutionary graphics (level bosses took up large parts of the screen, never before seen Mode 7-effects). Later the Sega Genesis got its fill of Contra with Contra: Hard Corps, which is widely considered the best of the series. The Sony Playstation installments Contra: Legacy of War and C: The Contra Adventure (which were developed by the Hungarian Appaloosa) are generally considered the most disappointing of the series, being completely in 3D and sporting awkward controls. (These games has since been retconned from the storyline.) However, the series saw a revivial on the PlayStation 2 with the widely-praised Contra: Shattered Soldier and its follow-up Neo Contra (both developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo). Both were much more true to the original Contra formula.
Cheat Code
The infamous Konami code allows the player to receive 30 lives per continue and goes as follows: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Select, Start. The select is optional, and is used to have two players with thirty lives each.
- This code has become part of gamer culture, and is featured on t-shirts and in various songs, including the bands 8-Bit and YTCracker
- Contrary to popular belief, Contra was not the first game to feature this famous code, it was actually Gradius.
External links
- The Contra Database
- The Contra HQ
- The KLOV entry on this game
- Contra at MobyGames
- Gaming Vintage » Contra (NES)
- Your Sinclair review of Gryzor (ZX Spectrum)
- Some notes on the graphical design of Gryzor for the Amstrad CPC by original artist Mark Jones
- Unofficial arrangements (ReMixes) of Contra's soundtrack at OverClocked ReMix
| Contra series |
|---|
| Official Continuity |
| Contra | Super Contra | Operation C | The Alien Wars Hard Corps | Shattered Soldier | Neo Contra |
| Retconned titles |
| Contra Force | Legacy of War | The Contra Adventure |