Contra (arcade)
1987 · Run and Gun · Arcade
Overview
Contra is a 1987 run and gun game developed and published by Konami for arcades. A home version was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, along with ports for various home computer formats, including the MSX2. The arcade and computer versions were localized as Gryzor in Europe, and the NES version as Probotector in the PAL region.
Deep Dive
Contra is a 1987 run and gun game developed and published by Konami for arcades. A home version was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, along with ports for various home computer formats, including the MSX2. The arcade and computer versions were localized as Gryzor in Europe, and the NES version as Probotector in the PAL region.
Developer Story
The original arcade version of Contra was developed by Konami in 1987. The game ran on hardware capable of displaying detailed sprite-scaled backgrounds for the 3D stages. The arcade version had a more linear structure than the NES port, which is generally considered the definitive version due to its more refined level design. The arcade served as the proof of concept that Konami polished into one of the greatest NES games ever made.
Did You Know?
- The arcade Contra preceded the NES version by months — the home version refined and improved upon the original structure.
- 3D into-the-screen stages in the arcade version used sprite scaling to simulate depth — visually impressive for 1987.
- The two-player simultaneous mode was the primary attraction — very few games in 1987 offered this in a run-and-gun format.
- The NES version added the Konami Code in the attract screen — transforming a debug tool into gaming's most famous cheat.
