Contra: Hard Corps Genesis box art

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Shoot 'em Up

Contra: Hard Corps

Certified classic

SystemSega Genesis / Mega Drive
Released1994
GenreShoot 'em Up
DeveloperKonami
PublisherKonami
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesContra
ESRBT
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 16

Contra: Hard Corps is a shoot 'em up released in 1994 for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, developed by Konami.

It landed about 5 years into the Genesis's life. Other notable Genesis releases from 1994 include Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mortal Kombat II and FIFA International Soccer. Among the 75 Genesis shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #2 by legacy score.

It is part of the Contra series; on the Genesis you can also try Contra: The Hard Corps and Probotector. The series also appears on other systems with Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES) and Contra Force (NES). Konami also made Sunset Riders, Castlevania: Bloodlines and International Superstar Soccer Deluxe for the Genesis.

Contra: Hard Corps supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

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 have a friend to play against
  • you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

  • you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets

What playing Contra: Hard Corps 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: Hard Corps gameplay screenshot on Genesis
In-game screenshot (Genesis)

Contra: Hard Corps cheats & codes

79 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:

Infinite "Time-Bombs" P1FFFA11:09
Debug Level (Turn Code Off After The Stage Loads)FFFA48:01
Stage Select (Turn Code Off After The Stage Loads)FFFA48:0?
Activates The 99 Lives CheatFFFA53:70
Activates A Level SelectFFFA4C:01
Activates Start With All WeaponsFFFA0F:1E

See all Contra: Hard Corps cheats

Contra: Hard Corps walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Contra: Hard Corps.

If you like Contra: Hard Corps, the Matrix also picks…

Contra box art
Contra NES · 1988 · Shoot 'em Up Classic

Playing Genesis games today

Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.

Contra: Hard Corps FAQ

When did Contra: Hard Corps come out on the Genesis?

Contra: Hard Corps was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994.

Who made Contra: Hard Corps?

It was developed by Konami.

Is Contra: Hard Corps multiplayer?

Yes. Contra: Hard Corps supports up to 2 players.

How long does Contra: Hard Corps take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Contra: Hard Corps 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: Hard Corps 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.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you