Arcade Longplay [209] Contra

www.longplays.org
Played by: Tsunao
The game that started it all.
Basic plot of Contra games:
Men (sometimes buff and shirtless) or women (Hard Corps and Uprising comes to mind) fight aliens. Frontflips are involved.
"They sure blew up good."
-Contra 4
Surprisingly, this game only has one shirtless character (Player 2)
No skills. Did had a replay with me using Laser on the last stage, but it desynced. -_- Spread Gun, as usual, wrecks the game and difficulty (still doesn't stop the game from being hard.) On the subject of difficulty: played on Normal. (should've put it on Hardest because real players play Contra on Hard. No exceptions.) -
Disclaimer: Most videos by World of Longplays use SaveStates!

[@Deeptunester]

Seeing the original arcade version makes me realize how good of a job they did porting this over to the NES. Despite the obvious graphical differences, the look/feel is spot on.

[@zerlichr426]

I think NES version is ACUALLY better that the arcade. Yes graphicly and sound wise arcade is better, but NES is much longer for once. And twice animations and speed of game feels much better that arcade. They clearly just rotoscope sprites and they kinda look goffy. Specially our duo doing summersaults. Yeah i just don't like the way they did Lance and Bill sprites. And yes Jap version is better because it ACUALLY give you storyline on screen and has better animations

[@fernansanchez6331]

The NES did an amazing job porting arcade games. This, Súper C and TMNT are great on the NES, despite having a very low graphical quality compared to the arcade versión.

[@meyers0781]

NES game isn't ported but made from the ground up given many differences.

[@drlight6677]

Both NES Contra and Castlevania are far superior to arcade Contra and Haunted Castle (yeah technically Haunted Castle is a new game but after the 1st stage the game becomes complete crap)@@zerlichr426

[@blastprocessing1]

Imagine being a kid in the late 80's and opening this on christmas day, after seeing in the arcades and getting to play it at home on your NES. Fucking awesome memories.

[@Maxi23543]

and then Imagine finding out that you have the superior version too!

[@bassistguy]

It was actually the opposite for me. I had the NES version first right after it came out, and then the local 7-Eleven had the arcade version about a year later. I had to no clue there was an arcade version at that point. However, I soon realized I loved the NES version more.

[@trillfa9774]

I got mine in the summer of 1989 and man was it a glorious occasion!

[@purwantiallan5089]

@@Maxi23543 the 1980s CONTRA stood against time well.

[@AMMAZZARE]

NES port was so much better

[@Vath121]

This is probably the only instance where I've found the home NES version decidedly better than the arcade.

[@BarrySlisk]

Vath121 Why? The arcade version surely looks better.

[@PrekiFromPoland]

Looks better and sounds better, technically speaking. But is somewhat of a lackluster when compared to the NES port. Maybe it's because of levels, colours, ending cutscene (or lack thereof)... I don't know how to say it.

[@jasonthomas6684]

I was looking for this comment; couldnt agree more. Graphics arent everything.

[@betosanyamada4353]

Super dodgeball is better on NES too

[@persona83]

NES version is surely better than the arcade one, but the Famicom version is simply awesome.

[@Ultimatestrife]

The most badass start to any game, period. You start, and ONE second later you are being bombarded with action!

[@chriscapaccio4342]

You’re sadly mistaken. Look up Contra Hard Corps. You start with a truck immediately barging onto the screen, exploding everything in one shot, then you start shooting. That’s pretty badass.

[@Solinarius]

Geez. The NES version is like an HD port, 30 years ago, despite having less fidelity. 8 bits less, but a million times more appealing to the eye (and ear), so to speak ;).

[@AQT187]

Sounds like a shitty genesis game

[@biphronte]

Less Is More un this case

[@solarflare9078]

@@AQT187 And yet it sounds better than the NES port :p

[@AQT187]

@@solarflare9078 no, not even close. This sounds horrible.

[@osakatales9228]

@@solarflare9078 Sound quality makes the sound effects louder than the music, so you don't get to listen to it properly.

[@eidolusgad3818]

I remember first playing this as a kid at a pizza joint. They also rented out movies on VHS, we rented Robocop and Predator. Then we walked home with full bellies, Pepsi, Doritos and these two new rentals. And what was waiting for us when we got home? A brand new Commodore 64. Best week-end ever.

[@nightstriker2172]

That jump is just ugly XD

[@paposeco06]

I remember playing this in the arcade in the 80s. Thanks for the memories.

[@geroldgrimel4811]

After playing the NES version for so long, watching this looks like 'Contra: The Motion Picture'.

[@arturkurtmametov67]

It's much harder.

[@bocodamondo]

huh...atleast this explains why level 7 never had an original theme in the NES version

[@wii1245]

bocodamondo the NES game doesn't have enough memory to store one more music, so it used the first stage(jungle) music for level 7.

[@DeskoDev]

@@wii1245 It's not a memory issue, rather, it's a storage issue. The songs aren't optimized perfectly either.

[@Peter_1986]

@@wii1245 I guess maybe this is the reason why "BattleToads" used the same music for the stages Surf City and Terra Tubes?

[@chistophersaylor]

haha love how the snowfield/energy zone/hanger/alien lair all got compressed into one stage

[@ZeroYame]

Christopher Saylor yeah, that's the final stage... good thing that in the NES version those are all separate stages

[@jayskicksnfits9372]

*_*HANGAR_*

[@Thehekser]

So that means if you die in Aliens Lair They send u back to the beginning of the 5 stage? 😮

[@ThinBear4]

@@Thehekser More likely you keep respawning in the same spot until you get the "Insert coin" prompt, at which point you can keep playing indefinitely provided you keep chucking coins in. At least that's how typical arcade games work.

[@JonkoSplonko]

@@ThinBear4 Yes but there's one thing about these Contra Arcade games. You can only use the continues (coins) 3 times, if you spend all of them, the game will go back to the start no matter how many credits you have left, the game only allows 3 continues, which makes it even harder

[@desktorp]

the best part is their little portraits in the credits. I only ever ran across this machine once and was so unimpressed, I saved my tokens for better games.

[@RobinHoodFox74]

It's strange how although the arcade version obviously has more detailed graphics, the NES version to me at least feels more magical and epic... The NES version was like lightning in a bottle, a masterpiece... and I did play the arcade version even as a kid, and I felt that way even then... This is definitely still cool... But the NES version just has that something that makes it better to me... Even the mix of the music and sound effects work better to me in the NES version... in the arcade the music and sound effects are mixed terribly... the sound effects are too loud and the music barely comes through, where as in the NES version the mix is perfect... This just makes me appreciate the NES Contra even more :D

[@BF-TREZ]

Same bro

[@wittyag]

I like how at 1:51 he starts shooting in synch with the music.

[@kev3d]

This is one Arcade game that was not distinctly better than the console version. The Jump dynamics were all wrong, the color pallet was off, the music wasn't as cool sounding. The minor improvements in graphics does not make up for its shortcomings.

[@Eyedunno]

kev3d Agree. What else can we add? I prefer SNES Street Fighter II to the original arcade version. I feel like the control is just a bit smoother on the SNES, plus it's hard to dispute that the SNES version has better sounding music.

[@inendlesspain4724]

Even for a 1987 game, this game looks really ugly for me, and not only because of the weird colors... I prefer the NES version much better.

[@algol291]

The arcade version is a lot slower than the NES port.

[@soloM81]

@@Eyedunno 4 long years and nobody said this guy is smoking crack the sf2 port is not better then the arcade version in any way period KIDS DONT DO DRUGS

[@245-TRIOXIN]

soloM81 Agreed.

[@DrJuice1]

That's neat. Never saw the arcade version. I do like that quirky, Genesis-y style of tune; I might like the 1st board music better than the NES version. In general, I think the music in NES Contra and Super C were a bit too fast. It's cool to hear them slowed down and even a little more head-bobbing. I also like the more realistic art style, but overall, the NES port is just a better game, which is *amazing* for back then. We were all dying for arcade graphics at home, so it's surprising that an NES port actually upstages an arcade original.

[@xenaretos]

I think they converted the music in the original tempo for the PAL versions and NTSC just got naturally quickened by 20%. At least this sounds consistend with the PAL version of the game.

[@coca7895]

porfa hagan un port para sega genesis con todas las cosas de la version de nes con los graficos y musica del arcade

[@kenrickeason]

I never knew their was an arcade version.... Damn!!!

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

Same here. It's funny how alot of NES games and such I've played originated as arcade games :-P

[@mattwynnyk5739]

Way harder I found

[@EdwardPerez3]

I never thought to see the day I would see Contra arcade version like this.

[@nunyabizness3866]

This is like a sega genesis port with the tinny music and improved but not better graphics. What a great job they did turning this into a NES icon.

[@nunyabizness3866]

The graphics are a little better but the guy moves like hes underwater. The NES version is tighter with some downgrading of graphics.

[@nelsunerdison2539]

+Nunya bizness IMO the YM2151 soundtrack is more enjoyable than the NES version...FM synthesis allowed alot more creativity at the time than PSGs like the NES APU. And the Jungle theme in the arcade version actually sounds more...junglish.

[@nelsunerdison2539]

Marcel Weber Umm...yes it is. From Wikipedia Contra arcade article: "Sound Motorola 6809 (3 MHz) driving a Yamaha YM2151." And an FM chip only sounds as good as the musician is at FM voice programming, so don't make hasty generalizations next time. 2OP OPL on an Adlib soundcard can sound amazing.

[@jendorei]

+Nelsun Erdison (eXOdus) For me the sound effects here are too loud and too long and they completely cover the music.

[@nelsunerdison2539]

Jendrej That is true...

[@btnhl]

I hear they did hundreds of hours of motion capture in order to accurately reflect human movement in the game.

[@zerlichr426]

It looks exacly like Food Fight motion capture.

This is the definition of an 80s arcade.

[@Hoops_cars2131]

Good times...... good times!! I miss these days!!

[@chizzle1775]

Contra was that shit...↑↑↓↓←→←→BA START

[@RedRanger2001]

Fact: the reason why the arcade version of Contra is three stages long is because, for example, when someone calls out your name for the pizza...

[@Diamondblade2008]

Always loved the music to the first level in this game since I was a kid.

[@rosergio7227]

God... The spread shot is so OP...

[@mattylga01]

back when this game out, it was one arcade that was so easy, it wasnt a matter of if you were able to finish it on 1 quarter; it was a matter of if you were able to finish it with your first man. Still lots of fun and a true classic

[@pikkon899]

And people complain about Contra Force having slow downs. This game moves just as slow and on better hardware. I can't believe the NES is actually faster despite being graphically inferior.

[@a1.70]

The fact my 3 year old nephew plays games like moon cresta is evidence there will be people in 100 years who will desire to play the arcade classics. These old games will end up in museums as priceless artifacts regardless if the game works or not. People are making a huge mistake selling old games at garage sales for practically nothing

[@fatroc33]

I like the nes version better

[@clarenceboddicker6679]

The NES version looks like it provides a better gaming experience because the arcade version suffers from some horrible frame rate drops. The slow down on the arcade version is quite severe so I would say the NES is the better version as well.

[@MilenAnessar]

Aside from superior graphic and music quality, NES version is better because it fixed problems Arcade has. I recommend you find Japanese version, it's the same game but has more to the story and detail.

[@chilesuicmez]

Gryzor Kontora right?

[@MCAES01]

me too

[@n1njahawkssecondchannel84]

Same here

[@isaacthelastn7687]

Pretty interesting. I pretty much like all versions of Contra throughout the years

[@tonyrockton]

I Always Thought the Arcade version of this game seemed rushed...May have had more time to develop the NES version

[@waynecuff3140]

Both amazing versions personally, sometimes like to play nes version. Sometimes like arcade.

[@ovideo-p5b]

I just found out there was an arcade version of Contra thanks to the PS5 Collection. I played this one on Family/NES for what seemed to be hundreds of hours back in the 90's and I never tought it was an arcade port. It was in every 99 in 1 cartridge that ever existed.

[@shreemandpe]

1:51 Following the rhythm with the shots, how cute :D

[@zakariyapianocovers1404]

06:43 too xD

[@alancardona1872]

😢 This series is the one that would fascinate me for Android in Playstore a little updated in HD

[@SledgeNE]

I never knew that contra was first an arcade game.

[@fernansanchez6331]

That's how good NES's Contra is.

[@amso7169]

In the NES version, we have the Konami code, longer levels, cutscenes (at least in Japan,) and level 5 is split up into four different levels. In the Arcade, we have better graphics, the jump is different, the base levels work a bit differently, and the ending is slightly worse. I like the NES version better.

[@TodoVicioCRT]

the 8 bit version it seems to be much more difficult and the graphics are better in arcade of course

[@jendorei]

+elgran DeBits They are looking nicer, but are much less clear.

[@solarflare9078]

I think they're fine, but the animation is horrendous.

[@coolbluelights]

I forgot I had seen this in the arcade, but the antenna thing at the very beginning of level one made me remember not seeing it in the NES version and being disappointed at that one minor detail lol

[@shpladau]

Now I fully understand why the original game had strange pacing with the different perspective levels. In this case they were technically half the levels, but dividing up the last level like this shoves those other levels in a weird place.

[@SONICBOOM1889]

I didn't know this NES game has an arcade version! Wow!

[@fernansanchez6331]

Actually, the NES versión of Contra it's a port of the arcade versión

[@10dev785]

wow I never knew how cool the arcade version was

[@littlegreengamer]

I can't help but wonder, will people be playing this in the year 2633? I certainly hope they do. That would be awesome.

[@desktorp]

+Little Green Gamer maybe your life is a video game from 2633.

[@Jeansowaty]

hey Liam, how's the drugs business down in Liberty City?

[@KaTiToYs_81]

The NES / Famicom Contra was my very 1st game ..never knew this arcade before.... the jump animation is weird here... but the graphics looks great...

[@MickeyD2012]

The NES version actually has nicer sound, IMO. Not technically better, but better to listen to.

[@Vriess123]

Love all this Aliens stuff like the pulse rifle

[@acelyasummer422]

An inspired first draft to the NES classic.

[@XxDyneXxFreeEnergyx]

I have Contra anniversary and recently started Contra 1987 I Only have 2 minutes left of the game and it's been absolute nails so far. Progress: STAGE 5/8 on normal I'm at 7:00 now 9:50 is ending 😆🤣😂

[@barrickfischer]

The somersaulting jump animation could use more work there, I'd aay

[@limeninelemonfour6957]

First level music rocks!!!

[@boic2038]

I like how eerie the music is in the boss stage (fm sound is better than nes)

[@trinidadmetroid]

I was today years old when I discovered that contra was originally an arcade game.

[@artur8167]

nes version is better

[@williamference9221]

How so?

[@Thewolfguys.cartoons2000]

Marco Polo your a dumbass

[@DGneoseeker1]

So how exactly did they get away with using the Xenomorphs, facehuggers, and the pulse rifle?

[@chilesuicmez]

I read they were thinking in getting licensed by alien franchise (i don't know who is it back on 87) But they didn't get it so they did a ''soundalike'' a legal copy not copyright infringement, like a remix on youtube or a cover song also.

[@jekblom123]

pulse rifle??

[@NathanHassall]

I love how you shoot to the rhythm of the music man!! Well done you are an artist!

[@SoulforReal88]

i still prefer the nes version

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Same logic would apply to Double Dragon II: The Revenge

[@wii1245]

SoulforReal88 i just downloaded this version on my PS4, and you know what? I think you're right. The NES version looks and plays a hell of a lot better than this.

[@245-TRIOXIN]

The NES version definitely doesn't look better. Your soldier has cardboard boxes for feet for one thing. The sprites look much better in the arcade version.

[@greenhotel7445]

The NES is easier to play than the arcade. So you would be better at it and would like a game better if you are good at it compared to one you suck at. That’s one of the reasons why people prefer NES games over the arcade but the main reason is because they grew up only playing the NES and not the arcade so you would have fond memories and enjoy nes. I prefer arcade because I would always play the arcade versions and then purchase the nes versions being slightly or extremely disappointed depending on game. Bad Dudes nes extremely disappointed

[@sourayanbiswas4591]

@@greenhotel7445 Silly way to justify bad controllability and poor game play which were a big part in arcades. The main reason is arcades were meant for earning money easily. So the worse controllability and game play, the more the money spent by players. And one other thing is that most of the arcades players are kids.

[@XxDyneXxFreeEnergyx]

The first boss took me many retries on the anniversary collection....WITH QUICK SAVES!! ON NORMAL DIFFICULTY WITH 0 LIVES I had well over 40 minutes worth of attempts

[@megatron8461]

I remember Contra vividly...February 20, 1987-the proper US date it came out.

[@thefourboy5541]

Con este juego tenemos un claro ejempo de que el estilo artistico siempre será mas importante que el apartado grafico, la versión original para Arcade de Contra es mejor gráficamente que la de NES pero la versión de NES envejecio mejor y se ve 100 veces mas lindo porque aún con menor potencia grafica explotaron mejor el estilo artistico del juego para que sea linda a la vista sin necesidad de tener graficos exelentes

[@jackmagaiver5188]

Excelente version arcade

[@beekarinsaan]

I think I only played this game on Famicom, even though this has better graphics, I feel like the Famicom version was more enjoyable.

[@JesusHernandez-hj9se]

0:15 Sylvester Stallone as Lance 😲

[@reijiminato8762]

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Bill

[@Tom_Van_Zandt]

This completely lacks the charm of the NES version. It's very rare that the NES version is better than the arcade, but I believe that's the case with this game.

[@Tom_Van_Zandt]

the levels appear to be way shorter in the arcade version.

[@williamcrowe2576]

Coincidentally the longplay got interrupted by an ad for the new Contra game.

[@metalgrinch]

Way, WAYYY better than the NES version. This doesnt get nearly as much respect or recognition as it deserves

[@Desslar]

Well, of course it's better than NES. But that's not really a fair fight in terms of graphic or music capabilities. The soundtrack is fantastic.

[@Desslar]

I wouldn't know how they compare on gameplay, but the arcade version wins easily on graphics and music quality.. Which is to be expected - of course an 8-bit NES game could not reproduce arcade-quality graphics and sound. That's asking too much of the technology.

[@187Wretched]

rabid totodile Better how? is it the slower gameplay? or maybe the clunky jumping animation and controls that make it better or no wait it must be the washed out ugly color pallette am I right?

[@187Wretched]

+rabid totodile I'm not even a NES fanboy I prefer arcade versions over the ports majority of the time but this one isn't even debatable, the graphics may have more detail and colors but they weren't used correctly, the colors used are washed out and blend together like a big shit stain (but at least its not as bad as Super Cs arcade palette) The game is a lot slower than the NES version I don't know what you're talking about, I've played both numerous times and the movement and animations in the Arcade version are a lot more sluggish, not to mention this games aspect ratio was designed for a vertical screen and it just does not work for a run and gun game imo.

[@slodekslod9337]

Nice laugh.

[@o_o_o_o_o-o_o_o_o_o]

Low-quality FM synth hardware is one of the worst crimes humanity has ever committed against itself.

[@goodstuffohhyeah]

Superior in every way

[@chilesuicmez]

gameplay wise and frame rate, also the fx are too load to enjoy music, not in every aspect, but ir delivers some better configurations score-wise, theres a reason a lot of people don't even know about this original version.

[@44bigfreeze]

The music certainly isn't.

[@10dev785]

We all knew back then that the arcade versions were the best version….couldn’t believe how good they were compared to our nes version

[@mikedski9698]

Bill Rizer And Lance Bean Vs. The Red Falcon Organization! The Video Game That Started It All! CONTRA! The Arcade Hit From Konami!

[@elusivelogic6704]

Wow, an interesting precursor to the NES version. I bet this could be put on SNES.

[@chrisrj9871]

I'd love to see it on the Genesis.

[@scottythegreat1]

@@chrisrj9871 It would be interesting. The Genesis is a watered down arcade machine, nothing more, nothing less. That is why MANY arcade games (and games that were originally developed on a Sharp X68000 computer) turn out better on the Genesis over the SNES.

[@RobertKliethermes]

The game looks surprisingly muddy and dull on the arcade. The NES version was a really good port.

[@solarflare9078]

It's just the Konami arcade look from 1985-1989. It always had greyish colors. Personally, I love its style.

[@Dante440x]

this was the first arcade game I played, I was 6 then

[@BreastsInspector]

Finally another game that matters.

[@megatron8461]

L,L,R,R,U,D,U,D,B,A,Start-NES version only!

[@rvrmdude]

This was the expendables before anything made by Hollywood.

[@theopoint-o5141]

This is way better than the nes version

[@zadazada1000]

Dumb idiot he's has more content

[@theopoint-o5141]

@@zadazada1000 go to heck carrot top

[@zadazada1000]

@@theopoint-o5141 go fuck yourself

[@osakatales9228]

@@zadazada1000 Calm down, it's his opinion.

[@davidhill8565]

The arcade version is included in the Contra Collection instead of the NES version.

[@darksideblues135]

So, I noticed this on the second stage, the enemies tend to shoot to the right corner of the screen. And, I was seeing it here as well. I thought I found a bad rom.

[@btnhl]

In the vertical maps he turns sideways and then does his awkward flip. I guess you don't need perfect technique when you have a 12 foot vertical leap.

[@all.rounder897]

I love Contra ❤❤❤❤

[@arcticfox04]

Contra + Spread Gun = Good times for all

[@Fady14.]

Hi

[@Fady14.]

No te conozco y no me conoces, pero quiero que te tranquilices, ¿sigues vivo?

[@hirokurobane9145]

Maybe the only game that I know whose NES version is better than the arcade lol.

[@KiljiArslan]

Until today, I was ignorant that it was originally a arcade cabinet game.

[@iniartas]

I dare you to tell me, with a straight face, that this game wasn't influenced by Aliens.....

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

Rambo & Commando Alien & Predator

[@carlosandresoviedo]

La versión de NES es mejor, es más duradera, el personaje es más hábil y me gusta más el sonido.

[@emmp98]

Es uno de esos raros casos donde el port supera al original.

[@yimkuko]

Sorry, but that arcade intro sounds like a legendary super "fart". xD

[@PaladinDusty]

The awkward way the guy flips kills me.

[@purwantiallan5089]

CONTRA on NES is AMAZING.

[@whatamalike]

technically better than the nes version but i dont know if i preffer it

[@watcherman222]

8:40 This part must've been a big twist back then.

[@Nevidimka0]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@CalMarcy]

perfect example of better graphics do not equal a better game

[@annietmood]

Only problem I have with this is that jumping animation. It's so ridiculous.

[@dereklogan8078]

I'm the greatest contra video game master of all time

[@Peter_1986]

This game should have been maybe about 25% faster than this, like 1.25 speed, except for the music, of course; this would make it feel a lot more action-packed.

[@supergirlvideoclips894]

Yep... 8 bit NES better than how many bits this Arcade was.

[@sdlock83]

Why wasn't this ported to the Genesis?!!

[@LateNightPerson]

( joke) Contra had a genesis port?! Honestly tho, cool!

[@loroy8887]

It existed deadly bug in arcade version, player never die.