<s>
Contra	B-Application
is	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
series	O
produced	O
by	O
Konami	O
composed	O
primarily	O
of	O
run	O
and	O
gun-style	O
shooting	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
debuted	O
in	O
February	O
1987	O
with	O
the	O
Japanese	O
coin-operated	O
arcade	O
game	O
of	B-Application
the	I-Application
same	I-Application
name	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
has	O
since	O
spawned	O
several	O
sequels	O
produced	O
for	O
various	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
was	O
released	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
Iran	O
–	O
Contra	B-Application
affair	O
was	O
made	O
public	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
it	O
is	O
unclear	O
whether	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
deliberately	O
named	O
after	O
the	O
Nicaraguan	O
Contra	B-Application
rebels	I-Application
,	O
the	O
ending	O
theme	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
was	O
titled	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
adversaries	O
of	O
the	O
real-life	O
Contras	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
games	O
are	O
side-scrolling	O
shoot-	O
'	O
em-ups	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
an	O
armed	O
commando	B-Application
who	O
must	O
fight	O
all	O
sorts	O
of	O
extraterrestrial	O
monsters	O
and	O
other	O
kinds	O
of	O
futuristic	O
menaces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
side-scrolling	O
stages	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
(	O
among	O
others	O
)	O
also	O
features	O
"	O
pseudo-3D	O
perspective	O
"	O
levels	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
move	O
towards	O
the	O
background	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
progress	O
,	O
while	O
subsequent	O
titles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
and	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
feature	O
overhead	O
stages	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Only	O
the	O
Appaloosa-developed	O
installments	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
C	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Contra	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
deviated	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
mainly	O
side-scrolling	O
perspective	O
(	O
although	O
C	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Contra	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
does	O
feature	O
two	O
side-scrolling	O
stages	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Soldier	I-Application
,	O
while	O
maintaining	O
the	O
side-view	O
perspective	O
of	O
the	O
2D	O
games	O
,	O
features	O
fully	O
polygonal	O
3D	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Almost	O
every	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
with	O
only	O
a	O
few	O
exceptions	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
MSX2	B-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
,	O
C	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Contra	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
or	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
which	O
were	O
single-player	O
only	O
)	O
,	O
allows	O
two	O
players	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
simultaneously	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
also	O
power-ups	O
that	O
are	O
actually	O
auxiliary	O
items	O
like	O
the	O
Barrier	O
(	O
which	O
provides	O
temporary	O
invincibility	O
)	O
or	O
the	O
Rapid	O
Bullets	O
(	O
which	O
increases	O
the	O
firing	O
speed	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
current	O
weapon	O
)	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
weapons	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Mega	O
Shell	O
in	O
the	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Bombs	O
in	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
,	O
that	O
are	O
used	O
to	O
destroy	O
all	O
on-screen	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
used	O
the	O
falcon	O
icons	O
for	O
all	O
of	O
its	O
weapons	O
except	O
the	O
Laser	O
Gun	O
and	O
the	O
Fire	O
Ball	O
weapon	O
,	O
while	O
in	O
the	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
no	O
Falcon	O
icons	O
were	O
used	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Soldier	I-Application
and	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
both	O
deviate	O
from	O
this	O
tradition	O
by	O
having	O
set	O
weapon	O
configurations	O
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
games	O
have	O
the	O
player	O
begin	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
only	O
a	O
set	O
number	O
of	O
lives	O
(	O
three	O
in	O
most	O
console	O
games	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
series	I-Application
is	O
notorious	O
for	O
being	O
extremely	O
difficult	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
NES	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
used	O
the	O
Konami	O
Code	O
(	O
previously	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
NES	O
version	O
of	O
Gradius	B-Application
)	O
to	O
start	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
thirty	O
lives	O
instead	O
of	O
the	O
usual	O
three	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
subsequent	O
console	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
only	O
featured	O
these	O
extra	O
lives	O
codes	O
in	O
their	O
Japanese	O
releases	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Contra	B-Application
Spirits	I-Application
(	O
the	O
Japanese	O
version	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
)	O
and	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
MSX2	B-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
also	O
produced	O
that	O
is	O
drastically	O
different	O
from	O
the	O
other	O
two	O
versions	O
,	O
made	O
by	O
Konami	O
staff	O
members	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
by	O
the	O
original	O
team	O
who	O
made	O
the	O
original	O
Arcade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
computer	O
versions	O
were	O
done	O
outside	O
Japan	O
,	O
by	O
Ocean	O
in	O
Europe	O
for	O
the	O
C64	O
,	O
CPC	B-Device
and	O
ZX	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
by	O
Banana	O
Software	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
for	O
DOS	B-Device
based	O
PCs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
replaces	O
the	O
3D	O
view	O
stages	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
with	O
top-view	O
stages	O
similar	O
to	O
those	O
in	O
Commando	B-Application
or	O
Ikari	B-Application
Warriors	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
NES	O
version	O
(	O
retitled	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
for	O
its	O
North	O
American	O
version	O
)	O
has	O
three	O
new	O
stages	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
final	O
boss	O
,	O
but	O
lacks	O
the	O
upgradable	O
weapons	O
from	O
the	O
arcade	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlimited	O
Software	O
created	O
DOS	B-Device
and	O
Amiga	B-Device
conversions	O
for	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
market	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
arcade	O
original	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
Contra	B-Application
game	O
made	O
specifically	O
for	O
a	O
portable	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featuring	O
gameplay	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
NES	O
version	O
of	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
,	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
also	O
first	O
introduced	O
the	O
"	O
homing	O
gun	O
"	O
power-up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
 '	O
first	O
entry	O
for	O
a	O
16-bit	O
game	O
console	O
,	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
allows	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
character	O
to	O
climb	O
into	O
walls	O
or	O
railings	O
and	O
carry	O
two	O
weapons	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
switched	O
back	O
and	O
forth	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
smart	O
bombs	O
that	O
kill	O
all	O
on-screen	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
heavily	O
modified	O
portable	O
ports	O
were	O
produced	O
;	O
a	O
port	O
for	O
the	O
original	B-Device
Game	I-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
simply	O
titled	O
Contra	B-Application
:	O
The	O
Alien	O
Wars	O
;	O
and	O
a	O
later	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
port	O
,	O
titled	O
Contra	B-Application
Advance	O
:	O
The	O
Alien	O
Wars	O
EX	O
,	O
which	O
replaced	O
the	O
top	O
view	O
stages	O
with	O
levels	O
from	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Device
Force	I-Device
combines	O
the	O
run	O
and	O
gun	O
style	O
of	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
series	I-Application
with	O
a	O
power-up	O
system	O
similar	O
to	O
Gradius	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
notable	O
for	O
being	O
the	O
first	O
Contra	B-Application
to	O
feature	O
selectable	O
characters	O
with	O
their	O
unique	O
weapon	O
configurations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Device
Force	I-Device
lacks	O
the	O
alien	O
invaders	O
and	O
futuristic	O
environment	O
of	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
centers	O
around	O
an	O
elite	O
task	O
force	O
fighting	O
human	O
terrorists	O
in	O
a	O
present-day	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
actually	O
planned	O
as	O
an	O
unrelated	O
game	O
in	O
Japan	O
titled	O
Arc	B-Device
Hound	I-Device
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
never	O
officially	O
released	O
there	O
,	O
nor	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Contra	B-Application
game	O
for	O
a	O
Sega	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
also	O
contains	O
selectable	O
characters	O
with	O
unique	O
weapons	O
and	O
abilities	O
and	O
introduces	O
an	O
in-game	O
storyline	O
with	O
branching	O
paths	O
that	O
alter	O
the	O
ending	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
of	O
two	O
Contra	B-Application
titles	O
developed	O
by	O
Appaloosa	O
Interactive	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
attempt	O
to	O
convert	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
gameplay	O
to	O
3D	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
perspective	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
originally	O
sold	O
with	O
a	O
pair	O
of	O
anaglyph	B-Algorithm
glasses	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
console	O
Contra	B-Application
game	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
the	O
PAL	O
region	O
with	O
no	O
changes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Japanese	O
release	O
of	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
planned	O
,	O
but	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
Contra	B-Application
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Appaloosa	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
C	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Contra	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
was	O
only	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
Japanese	O
or	O
European	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
played	O
in	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
perspective	I-Application
,	O
but	O
portions	O
are	O
side-scrolling	O
or	O
overhead-behind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
system	O
is	O
modeled	O
after	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
with	O
upgradable	O
weapons	O
similar	O
to	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
features	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
the	O
3D	O
view	O
"	O
tunnel	O
"	O
stages	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developed	O
by	O
M2	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Konami	O
for	O
WiiWare	O
,	O
this	O
2D	O
side-scrolling	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
May	O
2009	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
features	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
and	O
Genbei	O
Yagyu	O
from	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
fighting	O
off	O
an	O
alien	O
invasion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
the	O
closure	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Nintendo	I-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Shop	O
Channel	O
in	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
discontinued	O
in	O
2019	O
,	O
this	O
game	O
is	O
no	O
longer	O
available	O
for	O
purchase	O
or	O
re-download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Arc	O
System	O
Works	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
Contra	B-Application
game	O
without	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
name	O
in	O
the	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
available	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
on	O
February	O
16	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
on	O
March	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
plays	O
as	O
Colonel	O
Bahamut	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
antagonist	O
from	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developed	O
by	O
Toylogic	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Konami	O
,	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Rogue	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
is	O
a	O
top-down	B-Application
isometric	I-Application
view	I-Application
run	O
and	O
gun	O
game	O
taking	O
place	O
years	O
after	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
24	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Spin-offs	O
exclusive	O
to	O
mobile	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
platforms	I-Application
among	O
other	O
mediums	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Konami	O
's	O
Chinese	O
division	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remake	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
China	O
on	O
mobile	O
phones	O
(	O
2010	O
)	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
an	O
arcade	O
version	O
that	O
would	O
actually	O
be	O
released	O
later	O
(	O
2011	O
)	O
and	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
iOS	B-Application
systems	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
3D	O
is	O
a	O
pachislot	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
series	I-Application
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
(	O
Slot	O
Machine	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
Slot	O
Machine	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
:	O
Warrior	O
Reloaded	O
is	O
another	O
slot	O
machine	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
:	O
Samurai	O
Strike	O
is	O
another	O
slot	O
machine	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
free-to-play	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Tencent	O
and	O
Konami	O
which	O
was	O
originally	O
exclusive	O
to	O
China	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
arcade	O
versions	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
were	O
ported	O
to	O
several	O
computer	O
platforms	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
during	O
the	O
late	O
1980s	O
and	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
(	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
)	O
were	O
ported	O
to	O
DOS	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
of	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
was	O
also	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
DOS	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Amstrad	B-Device
CPC	I-Device
,	O
the	O
Commodore	O
64	O
and	O
the	O
ZX	B-Operating_System
Spectrum	I-Operating_System
in	O
Europe	O
under	O
the	O
Gryzor	B-Application
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
software	B-Application
emulation	I-Application
became	O
more	O
widespread	O
,	O
the	O
games	O
would	O
be	O
re-released	O
in	O
numerous	O
formats	O
on	O
several	O
platforms	O
,	O
most	O
notable	O
through	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
's	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
,	O
and	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
announced	O
in	O
early	O
1997	O
,	O
this	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
incarnation	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
developed	O
by	O
Konami	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
Osaka	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
later	O
cancelled	O
when	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
disbanded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
games	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
manga	O
titled	O
Rock'n	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
by	O
Shigeto	O
Ikehara	O
and	O
Published	O
by	O
Comic	O
BomBom	O
from	O
October	O
1989	O
to	O
December	O
1991	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blades	B-Application
of	I-Application
Steel	I-Application
(	O
Family	O
Computer	O
)	O
-	O
during	O
the	O
second	O
intermission	O
,	O
either	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
will	O
appear	O
for	O
Player	O
One	O
to	O
play	O
or	O
a	O
Konami	O
ad	O
will	O
appear	O
featuring	O
a	O
bear	O
shooting	O
the	O
puck	O
into	O
a	O
net	O
mouthing	O
the	O
words	O
"	O
Nice	O
Shot	O
!	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
video	O
game	O
is	O
actually	O
an	O
advertisement	O
for	O
Contra	B-Application
and	O
other	O
Konami	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Battlantis	B-Application
(	O
Arcade	O
)	O
-	O
Emperor	O
Demon	O
Gyaba	O
appears	O
as	O
a	O
major	O
alien	O
boss	O
in	O
a	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konami	B-Application
Wai	I-Application
Wai	I-Application
World	I-Application
(	O
Family	O
Computer	O
,	O
Cell	O
Phone	O
)	O
-	O
although	O
released	O
a	O
month	O
before	O
the	O
Famicom	O
version	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
,	O
the	O
final	O
boss	O
theme	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
same	O
one	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wai	B-Application
Wai	I-Application
World	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
SOS	O
!!	O
</s>
<s>
Parsley	O
Jō	O
(	O
Family	O
Computer	O
,	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
U	O
VC	O
)	O
-	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
appears	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
among	O
other	O
Konami	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Snatcher	B-Application
-	O
in	O
the	O
English-language	O
Mega-CD/Sega	O
CD	O
version	O
,	O
two	O
characters	O
masquerading	O
as	O
Bill	O
and	O
Lance	O
appear	O
at	O
a	O
Konami-themed	O
costume	O
party	O
held	O
in	O
the	O
Outer	O
Heaven	O
show	O
pub	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
replaced	O
by	O
Light	O
and	O
Pastel	O
from	O
the	O
TwinBee	O
series	O
in	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
these	O
versions	O
,	O
an	O
ad	O
for	O
a	O
Contra	B-Application
film	O
is	O
shown	O
on	O
a	O
large	O
monitor	O
on	O
a	O
building	O
in	O
the	O
Altamila	O
(	O
Alton	O
Plaza	O
)	O
shopping	O
center	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
TwinBee	O
PARADISE	O
in	O
Donburi	O
Shima	O
(	O
PC	O
)	O
-	O
Sheena	O
,	O
Brad	O
Fang	O
and	O
Ray	O
Poward	O
from	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
make	O
a	O
brief	O
cameo	O
in	O
Wai	O
Wai	O
Arcade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nano	B-Application
Breaker	I-Application
(	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
)	O
-	O
Jaguar	O
from	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
appears	O
as	O
a	O
hidden	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Best	O
Student	O
Council	O
-	O
in	O
the	O
Konami-produced	O
anime	O
television	O
series	O
,	O
Pucchan	O
's	O
other	O
hand	O
puppet	O
friend	O
in	O
episode	O
19	O
is	O
named	O
after	O
Lance	B-Application
Bean	I-Application
,	O
a	O
nod	O
to	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Power	O
Pro	O
Kun	O
Pocket	O
8	O
(	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
)	O
-	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
minigames	O
is	O
a	O
Contra	B-Application
parody	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Silent	B-Application
Hill	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Memories	I-Application
-	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
explores	O
a	O
movie	O
theater	O
which	O
features	O
several	O
Konami	O
arcade	O
machines	O
in	O
the	O
lobby	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rocket	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
-	O
the	O
ending	O
,	O
when	O
playing	O
as	O
Gold	O
Sparkster	O
,	O
features	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
shooting	O
the	O
Spread	O
Gun	O
at	O
Gold	O
Sparkster	O
as	O
he	O
flies	O
across	O
the	O
sky	O
while	O
saying	O
his	O
trademark	O
line	O
,	O
"	O
It	O
's	O
time	O
for	O
revenge	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Robot	O
Chicken	O
-	O
an	O
episode	O
called	O
"	O
Catch	O
Me	O
If	O
You	O
Kangaroo	O
Jack	O
"	O
spoofed	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
video	O
game	O
segment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Project	B-Application
X	I-Application
Zone	I-Application
2	I-Application
-	O
one	O
of	O
Xiaomu	O
's	O
counterattack	O
quotes	O
is	O
,	O
"	O
It	O
's	O
time	O
for	O
revenge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
characters	O
in	O
episode	O
2	O
from	O
Spaceballs	O
:	O
The	O
Animated	O
Series	O
,	O
resembles	O
Bill	O
and	O
Lance	O
from	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
,	O
and	O
its	O
initial	O
sequels	O
,	O
are	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
27th	O
century	O
,	O
and	O
center	O
around	O
two	O
commandos	B-Application
named	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
(	O
code	O
name	O
Rambo	O
)	O
and	O
Lance	B-Application
Bean	I-Application
(	O
code	O
name	O
Benjamin	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
members	O
of	O
a	O
special	O
guerrilla	O
task	O
force	O
codenamed	O
"	O
Contra	B-Application
"	O
,	O
who	O
are	O
sent	O
to	O
thwart	O
armies	O
of	O
alien	O
invaders	O
seeking	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
Earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
the	O
series	O
would	O
deviate	O
from	O
its	O
original	O
premise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequels	O
(	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
C	B-Application
The	I-Application
Contra	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
)	O
take	O
place	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
and	O
followed	O
several	O
new	O
characters	O
;	O
namely	O
,	O
recurring	O
protagonist	O
Ray	O
Poward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
would	O
feature	O
human	O
antagonists	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
aliens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2011	O
's	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
:	I-Application
Uprising	I-Application
is	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
also	O
set	O
twenty	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
follows	O
a	O
character	O
named	O
"	O
Bahamut	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Siliconera	O
,	O
producer	O
Kenji	O
Yamamoto	O
comments	O
that	O
Bahamut	O
may	O
or	O
may	O
not	O
be	O
the	O
same	O
character	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yamamoto	O
would	O
also	O
reveal	O
the	O
reason	O
why	O
the	O
game	O
does	O
n't	O
use	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
name	O
in	O
its	O
title	O
was	O
due	O
to	O
how	O
"	O
different	O
"	O
fans	O
regarded	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
from	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
and	O
its	O
follow	O
ups	O
have	O
since	O
been	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
spin-offs	O
from	O
the	O
main	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bill	O
would	O
not	O
return	O
until	O
2002	O
's	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Soldier	I-Application
;	O
where	O
he	O
became	O
a	O
convicted	O
war	O
criminal	O
sent	O
to	O
fight	O
against	O
his	O
former	O
partner	O
,	O
Lance	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
become	O
a	O
terrorist	O
leader	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
sequel	O
,	O
Neo	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
a	O
cryogenically	O
frozen	O
Bill	O
is	O
ultimately	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
clone	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
direct	O
sequel	O
to	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
ignoring	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
previous	O
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
"	O
Mad	O
Dog	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Scorpion	O
"	O
,	O
originally	O
the	O
nicknames	O
given	O
to	O
Bill	O
and	O
Lance	O
in	O
the	O
NES	O
versions	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
,	O
were	O
made	O
into	O
separate	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
antagonist	O
,	O
"	O
Black	O
Viper	O
"	O
,	O
is	O
also	O
treated	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
character	O
,	O
despite	O
originally	O
appearing	O
in	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
version	O
of	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
(	O
which	O
also	O
refers	O
to	O
protagonist	O
Lance	O
as	O
"	O
Scorpion	O
"	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
official	O
timeline	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
History	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
"	O
e-book	O
included	O
with	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
Anniversary	O
Collection	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
chronology	O
set	O
after	O
the	O
Japanese	O
versions	O
of	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
and	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
but	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Hard	B-Application
Corps	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Rogue	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
would	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
post-Contra	O
III	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
original	O
Japanese	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
early	O
Contra	B-Application
games	O
(	O
specifically	O
Contra	B-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
and	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
)	O
were	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
27th	O
century	O
(	O
in	O
the	O
years	O
2633	O
,	O
2634	O
,	O
and	O
2635	O
in	O
that	O
order	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
American	O
versions	O
of	O
these	O
games	O
omitted	O
this	O
detail	O
and	O
the	O
instruction	O
manuals	O
for	O
these	O
versions	O
implied	O
that	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
set	O
during	O
the	O
present	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
retains	O
its	O
futuristic	O
setting	O
of	O
2636	O
for	O
its	O
American	O
release	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
identities	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
player	O
characters	O
,	O
Bill	B-Application
Rizer	I-Application
and	I-Application
Lance	I-Application
Bean	I-Application
(	O
the	O
heroes	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
installments	O
)	O
,	O
were	O
changed	O
to	O
their	O
descendants	O
"	O
Jimbo	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Sully	O
"	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
retain	O
the	O
continuity	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
localizations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
particular	O
,	O
"	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
"	O
,	O
originally	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
the	O
terrorist	O
army	O
that	O
was	O
fought	O
by	O
the	O
main	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
(	O
the	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
Organization	O
)	O
,	O
became	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
the	O
actual	O
alien	O
entity	O
leader	O
;	O
thus	O
,	O
"	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
"	O
became	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
boss	O
fought	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
fights	O
both	O
his	O
alien	O
body	O
form	O
and	O
his	O
heart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
boss	O
of	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
(	O
or	O
the	O
third	O
to	O
last	O
boss	O
in	O
the	O
NES	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
)	O
and	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
;	O
is	O
named	O
Emperor	O
Demon	O
Gyaba	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Japanese	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Often	O
mistaken	O
as	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
,	O
his	O
American	O
name	O
is	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Jagger	O
Froid	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
instruction	O
manual	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
American	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
instruction	O
manual	O
also	O
illustrates	O
a	O
common	O
"	O
running	O
"	O
alien	O
enemy	O
from	O
its	O
final	O
stage	O
as	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
alien	O
entity	O
leader	O
known	O
as	O
Red	O
Falcon	O
does	O
not	O
appear	O
as	O
an	O
enemy	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
or	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
Japanese	O
version	O
of	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
,	O
the	O
antagonist	O
was	O
originally	O
a	O
nameless	O
hostile	O
nation	O
seeking	O
to	O
develop	O
alien-based	O
weapons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
American	O
and	O
European	O
versions	O
of	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Soldier	I-Application
,	O
all	O
international	O
Contra	B-Application
releases	O
began	O
to	O
follow	O
the	O
Japanese	O
continuity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Device
Force	I-Device
is	O
a	O
standalone	O
entry	O
that	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
it	O
being	O
originally	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
separate	O
game	O
altogether	O
,	O
is	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
non-canon	O
from	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Contra	B-Application
ReBirth	I-Application
begins	O
in	O
2633	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
plot	O
primarily	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
1973	O
and	O
incorporates	O
elements	O
of	O
time	O
travel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Konami	O
released	O
the	O
NES	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Contra	B-Application
in	O
the	O
PAL	O
region	O
(	O
Europe	O
and	O
Australia	O
)	O
they	O
modified	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
replacing	O
the	O
original	O
main	O
characters	O
and	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
human	O
enemies	O
with	O
robotic	O
counterparts	O
,	O
retitling	O
the	O
game	O
Probotector	B-Application
(	O
a	O
portmanteau	O
of	O
"	O
Robot	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Protector	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
move	O
done	O
probably	O
to	O
avoid	O
any	O
association	O
with	O
the	O
Iran	O
–	O
Contra	B-Application
affair	O
(	O
the	O
reason	O
for	O
which	O
Super	O
Contra'''s	O
American	O
title	O
was	O
shortened	O
to	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
original	O
arcade	O
games	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
few	O
computer	O
conversions	O
under	O
the	O
Gryzor	B-Application
title	O
,	O
were	O
released	O
unchanged	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
subsequent	O
console	O
installments	O
of	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
series	I-Application
were	O
released	O
under	O
the	O
Probotector	B-Application
title	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
Probotector	B-Application
was	O
followed	O
by	O
Probotector	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Return	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Evil	I-Application
Forces	I-Application
for	O
the	O
NES	O
(	O
originally	O
Super	B-Application
C	I-Application
)	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Probotector	I-Application
:	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Rebels	I-Application
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
(	O
Contra	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Contra	B-Application
games	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
(	O
Operation	B-Application
C	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Alien	O
Wars	O
)	O
and	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
(	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
)	O
were	O
also	O
released	O
as	O
Probotector	B-Application
titles	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
would	O
revert	O
to	O
the	O
Contra	B-Application
title	O
in	O
Europe	O
beginning	O
with	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
retaining	O
the	O
human	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Probotector	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Probotector	I-Application
were	O
still	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
Europe	O
and	O
Australia	O
like	O
their	O
original	O
releases	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
"	O
uncensored	O
"	O
versions	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Contra	B-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
not	O
released	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Probotector	B-Application
"	O
character	O
appears	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
hidden	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1996	O
,	O
the	O
Contra''	O
series	O
had	O
accumulated	O
combined	O
sales	O
of	O
over	O
4	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
