Originally released in 1987 by Konami, Contra became an instant classic and a cornerstone of arcade and home console gaming. With its intense shootouts, relentless alien enemies, and legendary co-op gameplay, Contra set the standard for the run-and-gun genre that still holds up today.
Whether you played it on the arcade cabinet or the NES, Contra is best remembered for its blistering difficulty, iconic weapons, and the unforgettable teamwork of Bill Rizer and Lance Beanโtwo elite commandos on a mission to stop an alien invasion before it destroys the world.
๐น๏ธ How to Play Contra
๐ฏ Objective:
Battle through waves of alien soldiers and monstrous bosses across treacherous levels. Reach the final alien lair and destroy the enemy threat!
๐ฎ Controls (PC Version):
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W, A, S, D โ Move your commando
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J โ Fire your weapon
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K โ Jump
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Hold J while moving โ Fire in eight directions while running or jumping
๐ฅ Power-Ups:
Shoot down flying capsules or special enemies to collect weapon upgrades, including:
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Spread Shot (S) โ Wide-area damage, fan-favorite
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Laser (L) โ High-powered single-target beam
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Machine Gun (M) โ Fast continuous fire
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Fireball (F) โ Arcing explosive shot
Grab these upgrades fastโthey can mean the difference between victory and defeat!
๐ Game Features That Make Contra a Classic
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๐ง Challenging Gameplay โ With one-hit deaths and fast enemy waves, every move counts
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๐ฅ Two-Player Co-op Mode โ Team up for double the firepower (and fun)
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๐ Sci-Fi Storyline โ Battle aliens, cyborgs, and bio-mechanical monsters
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๐ Multiple Stages โ Fight through jungles, bases, and alien lairs
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๐ฎ Tight Controls โ Responsive movement and precise aiming
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๐ผ Iconic Soundtrack โ High-energy 8-bit music that amps up the action
๐ฅ Tips for Surviving Contra
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Stay on the move โ Standing still is a fast way to get hit
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Memorize enemy patterns โ Especially useful for bosses and vertical stages
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Keep the Spread Shot โ It’s widely considered the most effective weapon
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Use jump-and-shoot tactics โ Especially when dodging enemy fire
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Play co-op โ Youโll double your lives and have someone to cover your back
๐ Why Contra Still Rocks Today
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It’s retro gaming at its bestโsimple, fast, and incredibly fun
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A test of pure skill and reflexesโno hand-holding here
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Introduced generations to cooperative gameplay before online gaming
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One of the most ported and celebrated 8-bit titles of all time
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Immortalized by the legendary Konami Code: โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ B A Start (for 30 lives!)
Ready to Join the Fight?
Contra is more than just a retro gameโitโs a rite of passage for classic action fans. Whether you’re revisiting it for nostalgia or discovering it for the first time, prepare for a pulse-pounding ride full of explosions, laser blasts, and alien annihilation.
๐ Play Contra now and see if you have what it takes to save the planet from total destruction!
