Contra is a run-and-gun action game developed and published by Konami for the NES, ported from the 1987 arcade original. One or two players control commandos Bill and Lance, blasting through alien-infested jungle, base, and overhead stages with a rifle and power-up weapons like the Spread Gun. It supports two-player simultaneous co-op and is famous for the “Konami Code” for 30 lives.
How To Play Contra
Control
Action
D-Pad
Move; aim in eight directions; crouch; drop through platforms
A Button
Jump
B Button
Fire weapon
Start
Start game / pause (Konami Code entry at title)
About Contra
Release date
Arcade (JP): February 1987 · Famicom (JP): February 9, 1988 · NES (NA): February 1988 · NES (EU, as Probotector): December 28, 1990
Developer
Konami
Publisher
Konami
Platform
NES / Famicom; originally Arcade, plus many home computers
Genre
Run and gun (action)
Series
Contra (first console entry)
Modes
Single-player, multiplayer (2-player co-op)
Also known as
魂斗羅 (Contra) — Japan · Probotector — Europe · Gryzor
Play Ikari WarriorsPlay Rush’n AttackPlay Gun.SmokePlay NARCPlay Bionic Commando
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All five similar games are verified live on rec0ded88.com. Ikari Warriors, Rush’n Attack, Gun.Smoke, and NARC are run-and-gun military shooters in the same genre as Contra; Bionic Commando shares its Capcom/Konami-era run-and-gun action with a traversal twist.
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
