Contra (NES)

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Contra
Contra - NES - USA.jpg
Platform: NES
Year: 1988
Developer: Konami Corporation
Buy: Amazon

Contra started out in the arcade as a pretty difficult run-and-gun, but really shined when it was ported to the NES. Aside from the standard side-scrolling shoot-em-up action, Contra also introduced some pseudo-3D stages and vertical scrolling stages to change things up a bit. There are also several cool bosses, awesome weapons, and 8 exciting areas to blast your way through.

Although the Japanese version was released at around the same time as the US version, it contains several advantages in both graphics and sound. Several of the levels have background animation, there are several cut scenes, and two new music tracks were added. Unfortunately, the US never saw these impressive additions.

Contra was also released as a PlayChoice-10 game for arcades. The PlayChoice-10 used a ROM with music identical to the US release of the NES game.

Screenshots

Contra - NES - Title.png

The title screen.

Gryzor - FC - Introduction.png

The introduction sequence of the Japanese version.

Contra - NES - Start Start.png

Beginning the first stage.

Contra - NES - Jungle.png

Fighting your way through the Jungle.

Contra - NES - Bases.png

The 3D perspective bases.

Contra - NES - Boss.png

Fighting a difficult boss.

Music

VGMPF Album Art       Icon-Help.png

Contra - NES - Album Art.jpg

Nearly all of Contra's music comes from the arcade game which was composed by Kazuki Muraoka. His music was ported to the NES by Hidenori Maezawa and Kyouhei Sada. The only song not ported from the arcade game is the High Score tune. However the duo composed a single new Introduction track, though it's only heard in the Japanese release. The individual roles that Hidenori Maezawa and Kyouhei Sada played is unknown, but as a pair they had to compose and arrange the Introduction track as well as convert and create new sound effects.

It's a pretty impressive soundtrack for a game from early 1988. Every section of the game has its own unique theme fitting for the action like the desolate snowfield and the mysterious alien's lair. There are also several fanfares that punch up the game. It's an above average soundtrack over all.

Recording

# Title ComposerArranger Length Listen Download
01 Title Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 0:05
Download
02 Introduction Hidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei SadaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:03
Download
03 Jungle Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:51
Download
04 Bases Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:45
Download
05 Waterfall Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:23
Download
06 Snow Field Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:17
Download
07 Energy Zone Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 0:54
Download
08 Alien's Lair Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:07
Download
09 Boss Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:19
Download
10 Stage Clear Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 0:03
Download
11 Game Over Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 0:05
Download
12 Red Falcon's Destroyed Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 0:07
Download
13 Victory Kazuki MuraokaHidenori Maezawa, Kyouhei Sada 1:23
Download

Credits

(Sources: Arcade, NES - Japanese credits are the same)

Albums

Game Rip

Format

Download

NSF.png

Download

(Info)


Ripping NES music is a very arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site. The recording was made using Game Emu Player v1.213.

Releases

  Japan.svg   Japan
Contra - FC - Japan.jpg
Title: 魂斗羅 (Gryzor)
Platform: Famicom
Released: 1988-02-09
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  USA.svg   USA
Contra - NES - USA.jpg
Title: Contra
Platform: NES
Released: 1988-02-??
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  Belgium.svg   Belgium
Contra - NES - Belgium.jpg
Title: Probotector
Platform: NES
Released: 1990-12-28
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  Germany.svg   Germany
Contra - NES - Germany.jpg
Title: Probotector
Platform: NES
Released: 1990-12-28
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  UK.svg   UK
Contra - NES - UK.jpg
Title: Probotector
Platform: NES
Released: 1990-12-28
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  USA.svg   USA
PlayChoice-10.jpg
Title: Contra
Platform: PlayChoice-10
Released: 19??-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc.

Links