Contra Force Classic
Commodore 64 · Shoot 'em Up
Contra
Certified classic
| System | Commodore 64 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Contra |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 8 |
Released for the Commodore 64, Contra is a shoot 'em up developed by Konami.
Among the 157 C64 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #2 by legacy score.
It is part of the Contra series. The series also appears on other systems with Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES) and Contra Force (NES). Konami also made Frogger, Metal Gear and Parodius for the C64.
Contra is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want to experience one of the C64's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Contra is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Contra walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Contra.
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Playing C64 games today
C64 games loaded from cassette or floppy disk, and many reward patience and practice. The THEC64 reissues make original-style play easy on modern TVs, and Rec0m88 supports the C64 if you own your games.
Contra FAQ
Who made Contra?
It was developed by Konami.
Is Contra multiplayer?
No. Contra is a single-player game.
How long does Contra take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Contra typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Contra on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.