Contra (1987) Review: The Run-and-Gun Classic That Still Holds Up

Quick Answer

Contra is a 1987 Konami run-and-gun that holds up as one of the tightest, most satisfying action games of its era. Play the NES version with a friend, enter the Konami Code for 30 lives, and prepare to lose them anyway.

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Last Updated

Reviewed and updated May 2026. Availability information (Nintendo Switch Online, Contra Anniversary Collection) was checked at time of writing. Platform libraries change — verify current availability before purchasing.

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Who This Guide Is For

• Retro gamers who want to know whether Contra is worth (re)visiting
• Players trying to decide which version to play
• Anyone who has heard of the Konami Code but never tried the game it came from
• People looking for legal ways to play Contra today without hunting down cartridges

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Key Takeaways

• Contra (arcade, 1987) was Konami’s answer to action movies like Predator and Commando — and it nailed the tone
• The NES port (1988) is longer than the arcade original and added stages not in the coin-op version
• The Konami Code gives you 30 lives; without it, the default 3 lives is punishing even for experienced players
• Two-player co-op is the definitive way to play — the game was designed around it
• Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES, 1992) is widely considered the series peak
• The Contra Anniversary Collection (2019) is the easiest legal way to play the classics today

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History and Context

Konami released Contra in arcades in 1987 at the height of 1980s action movie mania. The game’s aesthetic borrows liberally from Predator, Aliens, and Commando — two commandos fighting through jungle bases, alien installations, and eventually confronting a grotesque alien brain.

The two player characters are Bill Rizer and Lance Bean — names that are a barely disguised nod to action stars of the era. The premise is paper-thin by design. You run. You shoot. You die. You run again.

The NES port arrived in North America in early 1988 and became one of the system’s best-selling titles. It was slightly different from the arcade: some stages were redesigned, a new stage was added, and the presentation was adapted to the hardware. Despite the compromises required to fit on the NES, the port retained the core gameplay loop almost perfectly.

Contra became a defining title not just for Konami but for the entire run-and-gun genre — a genre it arguably invented in its modern form.

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Gameplay Overview

Contra is a side-scrolling and occasionally top-down run-and-gun with one rule: keep moving forward.

Stages alternate between three perspectives:

• Side-scrolling — the most common type; run right, shoot enemies, avoid bullets
• Top-down overhead — bird’s-eye view stages where you navigate base interiors
• Isometric 3D — present in the arcade original; replaced in the NES version with different stage types

Controls are simple: directional movement, jump, and fire. You can aim in eight directions, fire while jumping, and crouch. That’s it. The simplicity is the point — mastery comes from pattern recognition and positioning, not from complex inputs.

Power-Ups

Four weapons change how the game plays:

Power-Up	Code	Effect
Spread Gun	S	Fires in a 5-way spread — the best weapon in the game
Laser	L	High damage, single beam; slow fire rate
Flamethrower	F	Short-range, high damage; situationally useful
Rapid Fire / Machine Gun	R or M	Standard gun with increased fire rate
Barrier	B	Temporary invincibility shield

The Spread Gun is overwhelmingly the best pick and most experienced players will reset a run rather than lose it. This is not an exaggeration — the community consensus on this has been consistent for decades.

Two-Player Co-op

The game supports two simultaneous players, and this is the recommended way to play. Levels are designed around two players splitting enemy attention, covering each other’s angles, and reviving runs after mistakes. Playing solo is harder — the game does not reduce enemy count for single-player.

The trade-off: if both players die simultaneously, it is game over. One player can continue after the other dies, at the cost of a life. Co-op creates both a safety net and new ways to fail.

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The Konami Code

The most famous cheat code in video game history was popularized by Contra.

At the NES title screen, press:

↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A Start

This gives you 30 lives instead of the default 3.

The code was originally created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto, a Konami developer, during the development of the Gradius NES port — he used it as a personal testing shortcut and forgot to remove it. It was later included in Contra, where it became famous.

The Konami Code spread to dozens of other Konami titles and eventually became a pop culture reference far beyond gaming. It appears in websites, films, and software easter eggs to this day.

For two-player mode: press A on controller 2 before Start — the exact input varies by version.

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Version Comparison

Contra appeared on many platforms across several years. Here is how the major versions compare:

Version	Year	Notable Changes	Difficulty	Recommended?
Arcade (original)	1987	Isometric 3D stages, superior AV	High	Yes — if you can find it
NES (North America)	1988	New stages, Konami Code, wider reach	High	✅ Best starting point
Famicom (Japan)	1988	Slightly different from NA version	High	For collectors
Super C / Super Contra (NES)	1990	Sequel; tighter design, new weapons	High	✅ Play after Contra
Operation C (Game Boy)	1991	Portable version; shorter, rebalanced	Medium	Good for portables
Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)	1992	Biggest entry; Mode 7 stages, best production	Very High	✅ Series peak
Contra: Hard Corps (Genesis)	1994	Multiple characters, branching paths	Very High	✅ Underrated gem
Contra (Anniversary Collection)	2019	All of the above in one package	Varied	✅ Best modern option

Recommendation order for new players:

1. Start with the NES version — most accessible, good length, Konami Code available
2. Follow with Super C if you want more of the same formula
3. Then Contra III for the definitive 16-bit experience
4. Hard Corps for something mechanically different

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Difficulty Deep Dive

Contra is hard. This is not a criticism — it is the game’s identity.

On the default 3 lives without continues, clearing Contra requires pattern memorization and the ability to execute under pressure. The final stages in particular demand consistent accuracy.

What makes it hard:

• One hit kills (no health bar — any hit is instant death)
• Tight corridors with dense bullet patterns in later stages
• Boss patterns that require specific positioning
• The game does not pause mid-stage to let you breathe

What makes it manageable:

• The Konami Code (30 lives) is a legitimate accessibility feature — use it without guilt
• Unlimited continues exist but reset your power-ups
• Two-player co-op distributes difficulty across two players sharing attention
• Stages are short — each attempt teaches you something new

A useful benchmark: if you can clear Stage 1 without the Konami Code, you have the fundamentals. If you can reach the alien base stages, you understand the game. Completing it on 3 lives is a genuine achievement.

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Differences Between Arcade and NES Versions

The NES port is faithful but not identical:

• The arcade’s isometric 3D stages (Stages 3 and 5) were replaced in the NES version with different horizontal stages
• The NES version has 8 stages; the arcade has 7
• Music is recomposed for NES sound hardware — different but excellent in its own right
• The NES version is slightly easier to play due to the Konami Code and unlimited continues
• Enemy placement and some boss behaviors differ between versions

Neither version is strictly superior. The arcade original is a tighter, more visually striking experience. The NES version is longer and what most people have played.

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How to Play Contra Legally Today

You do not need a cartridge or emulator to play Contra in 2026:

Contra Anniversary Collection (2019)

Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Includes: Contra, Super C, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Contra: Hard Corps, Operation C, Super Contra (arcade), and several other titles — 12 games total.

Also includes a digital museum with concept art, developer notes, and music.

This is the recommended option if you want the full series experience on modern hardware.

Nintendo Switch Online

The NES version of Contra is part of the Nintendo Switch Online NES library, included with any Switch Online subscription. No separate purchase required.

Physical Cartridges

NES cartridges are available on the used market but prices vary. Verify cartridge authenticity when buying — reproduction carts are common.

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Common Mistakes

• Dropping the Spread Gun for any other weapon — almost always a mistake. The Spread Gun is so dominant that picking up a different weapon icon by accident is one of the most common ways to lose a run
• Not using the Konami Code — there is no shame in using 30 lives. The game is designed to be challenging; extra lives let you practice without starting over from nothing
• Playing solo first — if you have someone to play with, start in co-op. The game is more fun, more manageable, and closer to the intended experience
• Ignoring the overhead stages — the top-down sections require a different movement style; moving slowly and shooting in all directions is more effective than rushing
• Not learning boss patterns — bosses in Contra are entirely pattern-based. Two or three attempts is usually enough to identify a safe position and firing window

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Editor’s Note

Contra is one of those games where the difficulty and the reward are inseparable. The satisfaction of clearing a stage that has killed you ten times is exactly what the designers intended. It is not a game to rush.

If you are coming to Contra for the first time: use the Konami Code, play with a friend if possible, and expect to lose frequently on your first session. By the third or fourth session, you will start seeing patterns — and that is when the game opens up.

The NES version is still the entry point worth recommending. The Contra Anniversary Collection makes it easy to follow up with the rest of the series once you are hooked.

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Contra NES pixel art infographic — release info, Konami Code, co-op gameplay, and series legacy

Sources

• Hardcore Gaming 101 — Contra series coverage: https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/contra/
• MobyGames — Contra (NES) entry: https://www.mobygames.com/game/7384/contra/
• Konami — Contra Anniversary Collection: https://www.konami.com/games/contra/
• Nintendo Switch Online NES library: https://www.nintendo.com/en-US/switch/online/

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