Contra
1987 • Konami
8.8/10Konami
ActionShooter
The ultimate run-and-gun shooter featuring Bill and Lance fighting alien invaders with intense action and cooperative gameplay.
Gameplay
Side-scrolling and pseudo-3D shooting action with weapon power-ups and two-player cooperative gameplay.
Historical Context
Originally an arcade game by Konami, ported to NES with additional content and became synonymous with the Konami Code.
Fun Facts
- • Famous for the Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down...)
- • Based on popular action movies of the 1980s
- • One of the most challenging NES games
Cultural Impact
Popularized the run-and-gun genre on home consoles and became a cultural touchstone for gaming difficulty.
Review
Contra delivers relentless action with smooth controls and memorable set pieces, though its difficulty can be punishing without the famous code.