Super Contra

Super Contra, known in Japan as Super Contra: The Alien Strikes Back, is a run-and-gun action game developed and published by Konami for arcades in January 1988 . The direct sequel to the legendary Contra, it once again stars commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean . This time, the alien Red Falcon forces have taken over a military base, brainwashing the troops stationed there, and it's up to the two heroes to stop them . The core gameplay remains familiar: players run, jump, and shoot their way through enemy hordes. However, this sequel features a significant change: the pseudo-3D stages of the original are replaced with top-down vertically scrolling sections . In these new stages, players can move in eight directions and collect powerful "Shell" bombs that clear the screen of enemies . The game is renowned for its improved visuals, bigger sprites, and a punishing difficulty that surpasses even its predecessor .

Arcade

The arcade version of Super Contra runs on Konami's GX775 hardware . It is famous for its extreme challenge, considered one of the hardest entries in the series, requiring memorization and quick reflexes to survive the relentless enemy fire . A unique new mechanic in the arcade version is the ability to control jump height by holding up or down on the joystick . The game features a new weapon system where collecting the same power-up twice in a row upgrades it into a more powerful "Super Weapon" . New weapons like the Grenade Launcher also make their debut . The game supports two-player cooperative action, and while it is shorter than its NES counterpart, its five stages are packed with far more enemies and obstacles .