Irresistible Force

Imagine it’s the middle of the night. The sky is ablaze with neon blue colors, a synthesizer beat is thumping from an old car radio somewhere, and two musclemen wearing headbands are marching through the jungle as if they’ve just declared war on the Terminator himself. Explosions in the background, laser fire everywhere, and of course: aliens. That’s exactly what Contra feels like. No long speeches, no story that gets lost in hours of cutscenes – just pure 80s action, straight out of an imaginary VHS classic that you watch with popcorn and loud music.

When Konami brought Contra to arcades in 1987, one thing was clear: this game doesn’t want to be nice. It wants to challenge you, stress you out, make you sweat – and still look so cool that you’ll definitely want to throw in another coin. Contra was a game for those seeking an adrenaline rush: short, brutal, explosive, and so exaggerated that it almost seemed like a parody of action movies.

While other games were still trying to slowly build tension, Contra started right off with full force. The first few seconds feel like the beginning of a movie where the credits are still rolling while helicopters are already crashing in the background. And that’s exactly why Contra stuck in people’s minds: it’s uncompromising arcade action, distilled to its essence.

Gameplay

Contra is a side-scrolling action shooter in which the player (or two players in co-op) fights their way through multiple levels full of enemies, traps, and boss battles. The main goal is simple: survive and destroy everything that moves.

The player controls a soldier who can run, jump, and shoot in multiple directions. Quick reactions are particularly important, as enemies often appear in waves and many areas require precise timing. The levels alternate between classic side-scrolling and passages with a kind of “pseudo-3D” perspective, where you move upwards and can be shot at from all sides.

Much of the tension comes from the fact that Contra is unforgiving. Hits quickly lead to death, making every jump and every shot a decision between triumph and game over. At the same time, the game never feels unfair: if you fail, you usually know exactly why.

Another typical feature of Contra is its fast pace: there are hardly any breaks, and the game rewards aggressive advancement. If you hesitate too long, you will quickly be overrun. Many enemies spawn dynamically, so you are constantly forced to push forward. It was precisely this feeling of constant stress that made Contra a perfect arcade title.

The boss fights are also a central element. Huge machines, strange alien creatures, or organic monster walls block the way and force the player to recognize attack patterns and exploit weaknesses. Especially in co-op mode, this makes Contra a chaotic but extremely entertaining experience.

Technology

Technically, Contra was impressive for its time. The arcade version offered detailed sprites, smooth animations, and high-speed screen action for the time. Particularly striking was the large number of enemies and projectiles on screen at the same time, without the game losing much speed.

The backgrounds were varied: dense jungles, military bases, futuristic interiors, and biomechanical alien landscapes. This made each level feel like its own setting from a science fiction movie. The sprite work was also remarkable, as explosions, enemy animations, and weapon effects remained clearly recognizable even when the screen was completely full of action.

The soundscape also perfectly matched the theme: driving music, crisp shooting effects, and dramatic boss themes that greatly enhanced the gaming experience. Contra made optimal use of the arcade hardware’s capabilities and relied on clear visual effects that remained legible even during hectic gameplay.

The music itself had a typical 80s character: energetic, rhythmic, and sometimes almost heroic. This made the atmosphere even stronger, because the game not only felt like action—it sounded like it too.

Trivial

A trademark of Contra are the power-ups, which usually appear in the form of flying capsules. These include iconic weapons such as:

• Spread Shot (S) – the most famous power-up, as it fires multiple shots at once
• Laser (L) – powerful, but often risky because it fires more slowly
• Rapid Fire (R) – faster continuous fire
• Machine Gun (M) – automatic firing

The Spread Shot in particular became the symbol of the series. Those who had it felt like an unstoppable one-man army for a short time. At the same time, Contra power-ups also made the game exciting because they often required strategic decisions: some weapons were better in certain situations, but almost useless in others.

Another well-known detail is that Contra was designed for co-op play from the outset. Two players could fight at the same time, which significantly increased the chaos and fun factor. However, this also led to additional stress: if players didn’t coordinate well, they would sometimes block each other’s lines of fire or trigger waves of enemies at inopportune moments.

The game’s plot is strongly reminiscent of science fiction action movies of the 80s, with clear inspiration from Alien and Rambo-like motifs: soldiers against alien threats in hostile environments. The story is hinted at rather than told in the game itself, which was typical for arcade titles of that time.

It is also interesting to note that Contra was adapted in various versions. Later console ports in particular made the game accessible to a wider audience and ensured that Contra achieved cult status not only in arcades but also in living rooms.

Reviews at the time

At the time of its release, Contra was praised above all for its intense gameplay. Arcade players appreciated the combination of precise controls and uncompromising difficulty. The game’s excellent co-op play was particularly well received, which was not a given at the time.

Many critics also emphasized that Contra not only felt fast, but also cleanly programmed. The controls were direct and responsive, which was crucial in such a difficult game. This made every success feel well-earned.

However, some critics complained about the extreme difficulty. Contra was clearly designed to get players to invest a lot of credits. Anyone who wanted to play through the game without practice had little chance of success. Nevertheless, for many, it was precisely this difficulty that was part of the appeal.

The high level of action was also sometimes described as “overwhelming,” especially for casual players. For fans, however, this was exactly what set Contra apart from other games: it was a title that demanded skill and perfected the arcade principle.

Overall, Contra was perceived as a high-quality action title that further advanced the arcade genre.

Cultural influence

Contra became one of the most famous run-and-gun games ever. It influenced numerous later titles, both in the arcade and console sectors. Many games adopted the fast movement pattern, the power-up system, and the idea that boss fights should be a central part of the gameplay.

The iconic imagery was also frequently copied: two elite soldiers against an overwhelming army, a mix of military action and horror science fiction, and grotesque alien bosses. This style later reappeared in many games that deliberately focused on over-the-top action.

Especially in the retro gaming scene, Contra is still considered a classic today because it puts gameplay above everything else: no unnecessary systems, no distractions, just skill. The co-op mode also made it one of the games often referred to as the “perfect couch co-op experience.”

Visually, Contra also shaped the image of the exaggerated action hero in video games: soldiers with headbands, oversized weapons, explosions every second – a style that later reappeared in many games and media. Even modern indie games repeatedly revisit this look and gameplay mechanic, often as a tribute to the arcade era.

Contra thus became not just a game, but a reference point: when talking about “classic hardcore action,” this name comes up almost automatically.

Conclusion

Contra is an arcade game that functions like an action movie: fast, loud, relentless, and full of iconic moments. It was technically strong, precise in its gameplay, and left a lasting impression with its co-op mode and uncompromising action.

The game is a prime example of how arcade titles were structured back then: easy to understand, difficult to master, and designed to keep you coming back for more. Contra combines a simple basic principle with perfect level design, which makes it amazingly playable even today.

Even decades later, Contra represents an era when games didn’t explain what they wanted from you—they threw you straight into the fire. And if you survived, you felt like you had really accomplished something. Contra is therefore not only a classic, but a symbol of the golden age of arcade action—and a game that fully deserves its reputation as a merciless legend.

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