🔥 Contra – History, Trivia & Fun Facts (1987)
Published by RetroTrivia.Games — May 3, 2025
Did you know the legendary Konami Code — ⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️🅱️🅰️ — first appeared in the NES version of Contra? This cheat granted players 30 lives to help them survive the game's brutal difficulty. Originally launched in arcades in 1987 and on NES in 1988, Contra quickly became legendary for its intense action, co-op gameplay, and relentless challenge.
Brief History of Contra
Contra debuted in arcades on February 20, 1987, developed by Konami. It brought frantic side-scrolling and co-op gameplay that helped define the run-and-gun genre. The NES version released a year later in North America on February 2, 1988, becoming a household classic [source].
Quick Facts
- Developer: Konami
- Genre: Run-and-Gun Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, NES, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX2
- Release Date: Arcade – February 20, 1987; NES – February 2, 1988
What Makes Contra Special?
- Pioneered two-player cooperative gameplay in action shooters.
- Notorious for its challenging design, demanding quick reflexes and memorization.
- Introduced the iconic Konami Code, giving players 30 lives to survive the chaos [IGN].
Contra Trivia & Fun Facts
- European versions were retitled Probotector, replacing human characters with robots due to censorship laws [Contra Wiki].
- The arcade cabinet featured a rotating joystick and separate jump/fire buttons—unlike the NES version’s simpler layout.
- The game's title and themes were influenced by the Cold War and the popularity of action movies like *Predator* and *Rambo* [Wiki].
- The Konami Code has appeared in dozens of games, websites, and pop culture moments—including *Wreck-It Ralph* and *Fortnite* [Polygon].
How to Play Contra Today
- Available officially via the Contra Anniversary Collection on Steam.
- Also playable on Nintendo Switch (Arcade Archives).
- Or fire it up on an emulator like RetroArch or find a cartridge at your favorite retro shop.
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🤔 Did You Know?
- The NES version was part of Nintendo Power’s first issue in 1988, further boosting its popularity [Wikipedia].
- Contra was included in the 2019 *Contra Anniversary Collection*, which also featured *Super C* and *Contra III: The Alien Wars* [Konami].
- Speedrunners still race through Contra using precise timing and glitch tricks—it’s a staple in events like Games Done Quick [Speedrun].
📚 Legacy & Influence
Contra wasn’t just a game—it was a proving ground. It tested your reflexes, your friendships, and your patience. It paved the way for franchises like Metal Slug and inspired indie games like Blazing Chrome and Cuphead.
Its blend of action movie aesthetics and hard-as-nails gameplay helped define what a "Nintendo Hard" game truly was.
🎮 Fan Community & Memes
Contra remains a fan favorite. Memes, retrospectives, cosplay, and ROM hacks keep the spirit alive. Even today, new players discover it thanks to retro YouTubers and Let's Plays.
The Konami Code — ⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️🅱️🅰️ — became so iconic that it showed up as a hidden Easter egg in tons of websites, including Konami’s homepage for a while. Many developers added it to their own sites just for fun. In fact... try entering it right now on this page and see what happens. 😉
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