Difference between revisions of "Contra"

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[[Image:Contra - ARC - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American arcade cabinet.]]
 
[[Image:Contra - ARC - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American arcade cabinet.]]
  
'''''Contra''''', known in Japan as '''''魂斗羅 [Kontora]''''' and on European computers as '''''Gryzor''''', is a run-and-gun action shooter developed and published by [[Konami]] for the [[Arcade]] on 1987-02-20 and is the first in the [[Contra (Universe)|Contra series]]. It was later ported to various home computers and special ports that were quite a bit different were made for the [[Contra (NES)|NES]] and [[Contra (MSX2)|MSX2]].
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'''''Contra''''' is a [[platform shooter|run and gun]] video game developed and published by [[Konami]] for the [[Arcade]] on 1987-02-20 and is the first in the [[Contra (universe)|''Contra'' series]]. It was later ported to various home computers and special ports that were quite a bit different were made for the [[Contra (NES)|NES]] and [[Contra (MSX2)|MSX2]].
  
I have never actually played or even seen Contra in the arcade. My first experience was with the [[Contra (NES)|NES game]]. When I found out about [[MAME]], I wanted to see what Contra was like for the arcade, assuming it would be like a 16-bit version of the NES game, but I was a bit disappointed.
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==Personal==
 +
I have never actually played or even seen ''Contra'' in the arcade. My first experience was with the [[Contra (NES)|NES game]]. When I found out about [[MAME]], I wanted to see what ''Contra'' was like for the arcade, assuming it would be like a 16-bit version of the NES game, but I was a bit disappointed.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
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* '''Overall:''' 4/10
 
* '''Overall:''' 4/10
 
* '''Best Version:''' Arcade
 
* '''Best Version:''' Arcade
 +
 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The game is a pioneer of the run-and-gun genre and, at least for 1987, pretty impressive.
 
* The game is a pioneer of the run-and-gun genre and, at least for 1987, pretty impressive.
* Using Giger's art style as adapted from the movie [[Alien]] was a great idea. It gives the game an over all creepy vibe.
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* Using [[H. R. Giger]]'s art style as adapted from the movie ''[[Alien]]'' was a great idea. It gives the game an over all creepy vibe.
 
* Each level is pretty unique featuring new enemies, bosses, and environments.
 
* Each level is pretty unique featuring new enemies, bosses, and environments.
 +
* I like the [[boss tease]] as you enter the alien's lair. You see a giant alien head and assume this is the final boss, only to have to face the heart.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
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Contra - ARC - USA.jpg|The North American arcade cabinet was pretty sparsely designed. It lacked a bezel and cabinet art, but did have a marquee, control panel, and side sticker.
 
Contra - ARC - USA.jpg|The North American arcade cabinet was pretty sparsely designed. It lacked a bezel and cabinet art, but did have a marquee, control panel, and side sticker.
 
Contra - ARC - USA - Marquee.jpg|The marquee is a well-taken photo of two buff dudes in the jungle, one sporting a sexy mullet! Great logo art.
 
Contra - ARC - USA - Marquee.jpg|The marquee is a well-taken photo of two buff dudes in the jungle, one sporting a sexy mullet! Great logo art.
 +
Contra - ARC - USA - Marquee (Alt).jpg|A drawn version of the photo marquee. Not sure, but maybe created because of censorship?
 
Contra - ARC - USA - Side.jpg|The side are features the same dudes in the jungle.
 
Contra - ARC - USA - Side.jpg|The side are features the same dudes in the jungle.
 
Contra - C64 - USA.jpg|This box was used for the North American Commodore 64 and DOS releases. It uses the same art and logo as the NES box, but reveals a bit more of the background.
 
Contra - C64 - USA.jpg|This box was used for the North American Commodore 64 and DOS releases. It uses the same art and logo as the NES box, but reveals a bit more of the background.
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Contra - ARC - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Contra - ARC - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Contra - ARC - Ad.jpg|Advertisement featuring a camouflaged cabinet and pointy boobs.
 
Contra - ARC - Ad.jpg|Advertisement featuring a camouflaged cabinet and pointy boobs.
 +
Contra - Ad - EU.jpg|European home computer advert. Features more of the box art.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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Contra - ARC - Map - 5.png|Snowfield, Energy Zone, Hangar, Alien's Lair.
 
Contra - ARC - Map - 5.png|Snowfield, Energy Zone, Hangar, Alien's Lair.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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 +
===Graphics===
 +
<gallery>
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Contra - ARC - Logo.png|Arcade logo.
 +
</gallery>
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 +
* [https://www.spriters-resource.com/arcade/contra spriters-resource.com/arcade/contra] - Arcade graphics.
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD9G7OCmsfk youtube.com/watch?v=rD9G7OCmsfk] - Arcade longplay.
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{{#ev:youtube|5stKSYNk6Z8|256|inline|Longplay, Amstrad CPC.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5stKSYNk6Z8 youtube.com/watch?v=5stKSYNk6Z8] - Amstrad CPC longplay.
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{{#ev:youtube|rD9G7OCmsfk|256|inline|Longplay, arcade.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TLzIJIKxDs youtube.com/watch?v=9TLzIJIKxDs] - Commodore 64 longplay.
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{{#ev:youtube|9TLzIJIKxDs|256|inline|Longplay, Commodore 64.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT5sZxc0R3s youtube.com/watch?v=KT5sZxc0R3s] - ZX Spectrum longplay.
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{{#ev:youtube|KT5sZxc0R3s|256|inline|Longplay, ZX Spectrum.|frame}}
  
 
==Credits==
 
==Credits==
 
===Arcade===
 
===Arcade===
 
{| class="wikitable" |
 
{| class="wikitable" |
! Role !! Names
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! Role !! Staff
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Director || [[Koji Hiroshita]]
 
| Director || [[Koji Hiroshita]]
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|-
 
|-
 
| Engineer || Rom Yamamoto
 
| Engineer || Rom Yamamoto
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|}
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==Titles==
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{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
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| English (America) || Contra || ||
 +
|-
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| English (Europe) || Gryzor || ||
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|-
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| Japanese || 魂斗羅 || Kontora || Contra
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/contra mobygames.com/game/contra] - MobyGames.
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{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/contra}}
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_(video_game) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_(video_game)] - Wikipedia.
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{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_(video_game)}}
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{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Contra}}
  
  
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: 1987 Video Games]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platform Shooter]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Shooter]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Boss Tease]]
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[[Category: Media Theme - Science Fiction]]
 
[[Category: Amstrad CPC Games]]
 
[[Category: Amstrad CPC Games]]
 
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
 
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
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[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
[[Category: Run and Gun]]
 
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player Co-op]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player Co-op]]
[[Category: Science Fiction]]
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[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]

Revision as of 13:23, 7 May 2020

North American arcade cabinet.

Contra is a run and gun video game developed and published by Konami for the Arcade on 1987-02-20 and is the first in the Contra series. It was later ported to various home computers and special ports that were quite a bit different were made for the NES and MSX2.

Personal

I have never actually played or even seen Contra in the arcade. My first experience was with the NES game. When I found out about MAME, I wanted to see what Contra was like for the arcade, assuming it would be like a 16-bit version of the NES game, but I was a bit disappointed.

Status

I do not own any of the port and haven't beat any.

Review

  • Overall: 4/10
  • Best Version: Arcade

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game is a pioneer of the run-and-gun genre and, at least for 1987, pretty impressive.
  • Using H. R. Giger's art style as adapted from the movie Alien was a great idea. It gives the game an over all creepy vibe.
  • Each level is pretty unique featuring new enemies, bosses, and environments.
  • I like the boss tease as you enter the alien's lair. You see a giant alien head and assume this is the final boss, only to have to face the heart.

Bad

  • Survival comes less from skill, and more from level memorization. This requires you to spend a lot of quarters. Typical for 1980s arcade games, but not fun.
  • The contrast in the graphics vary greatly from background to foreground objects. I presume this was done so the players would know where to concentrate their bullets, but the washed out colors of the backgrounds looks awful.
  • The player's jumping animation is ridiculous looking.
  • The football player robot boss is lame.
  • The various ports are much worse than the arcade game.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Graphics

Videos

Longplay, Amstrad CPC.
Longplay, arcade.
Longplay, Commodore 64.
Longplay, ZX Spectrum.

Credits

Arcade

Role Staff
Director Koji Hiroshita
Programmers Satoru Okamoto, Hideyuki Tsujimoto, Koichi Cobra
Graphic Designer Kengo Nakamura
Special Designers Takashi Jinbo, Passionate Norio
Music and Sound Kazuki Muraoka
Engineer Rom Yamamoto

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English (America) Contra
English (Europe) Gryzor
Japanese 魂斗羅 Kontora Contra

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png