Contra not on Virtual Console

[DuckTalesNES]

Shocking! I didn't find it on the virtual console and was going to co-op through it with my friend. Unfortunately my NES version is not working very consistently.

Do I have any other options for how to play it? Has it been re-released at all for anything?

[buzz_n64]

Yeah. The arcade version is available on Xbox Live.

[Dirkfunk]

Contra isn't on Virtual Console? Blasphemy.

Contra: Rebirth or Contra III are the best options for a downloadable Contra games. Rebirth is a WiiWare title..

If you want the original, I have no idea other than getting a new NES.

The first Contra is an unlockable for Contra IV on the DS. . . but even if you have two DS' I'm pretty sure the unlocked version is single player only.

[Arasoi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Castlevania-Contra-PC-Games-Collection-98-2000-Me-XP_W0QQitemZ330325081043QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defa ultDomain_0?hash=item4ce8e8bbd3

Keep in mind these are emulators on a disc (with some official fixes to the roms) so you're just as well off downloading an emu and a rom.

The Japanese Contra for Famicom's ROM has been translated to English. It uses a better mapper chip and has a full story intro and lots of extras.

[DuckTalesNES]

Yeah. The arcade version is available on Xbox Live.

Is that any different from the NES version?

[kedawa]

It has a vertical monitor in the arcade, and imho the NES version is more fun.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

You should try and clean your Contra cart. I'd take the NES version over a VC version any day.

[Arasoi]

The arcade version has a few less levels. The last few zones are compressed into one zone before the alien lair.

[Arkhan]

the arcade one is kinda odd tbh.

you should get the MSX one or the NES one in working order.

[Arasoi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8lOB_R64tA

Make your own judgements on the MSX version TS, I'd say it's just as "odd" if not more so than the arcade one :)

[geezuzkhrist119]

heres a solution to your problem

!. install the homebrew channel
2. download the nes emulator fceugx and put on sd
3. download contra rom and put on sd card
4. boot up the HBC and load FCEUGX
5. load contra
6. enjoy...

problem solved

[Arkhan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8lOB_R64tA

Make your own judgements on the MSX version TS, I'd say it's just as "odd" if not more so than the arcade one :)

whats "odd" about it? Its got better music than the NES one, the same kind of gameplay, and the option to choose weapons instead of just upgrading.

its also a bit more arcade-accurate.

thats not to say the NES one sucks. Both the MSX and NES ones IMO are the "to play" versions of the game. Better than MAME even lol

[Breetai]

heres a solution to your problem

!. install the homebrew channel
2. download the nes emulator fceugx and put on sd
3. download contra rom and put on sd card
4. boot up the HBC and load FCEUGX
5. load contra
6. enjoy...

problem solvedI'd say this is definitely a case where playing the game via an emulator is totally fine.

He has the original cart and it it's not available on the VC. Heck, having the original cart makes having ROMS to play on emulators fine by me. I think using emulators is fair play in this situation.

OP, just get an emulator, the ROM of Contra, and have fun. You have the original anyway.

[betamax001]

Hmm maybe your NES needs a new pin connector, or if only Contra is giving you problems just take a Q Tip with some rubbing acholol. That should work.

[kedawa]

whats "odd" about it? The complete lack of scrolling, I'm guessing.

[Arasoi]

whats "odd" about it?

(1) 1 player
(2) Lifebar
(3) No scrolling

Caveats of Contra:

(1) Scrolling run and gun gameplay
(2) 2 players
(3) 1 hit death

Don't get me wrong. It's a fun game and I like it. But in Contra terms, it's a hell of a lot more odd than the arcade version :)

[The 1 2 P]

and imho the NES version is more fun.

Agreed. The first time I played the arcade version on XBLA I was like "What the fuck?" It's still playable but the Nes version is a much better game.

[Ed Oscuro]

MSX Contra has too many variations of the "Homicide Sensor" boss, and the new weapons are stinky. It's still a fun game but the arcade version is my preferred one.

[Arkhan]

the lack of scrolling is common in MSX games. Look at Vampire Killer. Im not really sure it actually changes the gameplay. It seems kind of aesthetic to me.

I wouldn't really call that an oddity.

also the lifebar is a kind of interesting idea. that doesnt really break the gameplay.

also I rarely play games with other people, lol. 1/2 players doesnt even occur to me most of the time.

The arcade one has the most solid gameplay, but to me the FM music is kinda bleh, and the player sprite looks funny, especially while jumping, enemies do too sometimes :-/. I prefer the less colorful NES, or the MSX one (whos color choices are more like the arcade one overall)


so its like, NES if you want closer to arcade gameplay, and MSX if you want passable gameplay with better tunes.

[Ed Oscuro]

also the lifebar is a kind of interesting idea. that doesnt really break the gameplay.
Lifebar + lives = I beat the game the first time I put it in

bad and banned

If you want arcade-like Contra then play the Amstrad CPC port, not much more fuss than finding a MSX2. Better yet, find the arcade board.

It's true that the scrolling gameplay is probably not as essential to the original Contra's gameplay as it seems (except for the awesome vertically scrolling stages of the NES one, lol), but the lack of room for maneuvering and ability to get rid of problems by scrolling to the other screen quick is pretty crappy.

[Arasoi]

the lack of scrolling is common in MSX games.

Common knowledge.


Look at Vampire Killer. Im not really sure it actually changes the gameplay.

I own Vampire Killer. And yes, it does. controlling whats on and off the screen with movement affects the gameplay a lot, it affects the pace of the game and the speed.


It seems kind of aesthetic to me.

If by "aesthetic" it you mean it makes the way you play the game different, then yes. Otherwise..


I wouldn't really call that an oddity.

If you're going to call the Arcade version odd which plays like almost all the other ones people know about and play, but not the MSX one I question your logic.


also the lifebar is a kind of interesting idea. that doesnt really break the gameplay.

I dont mind the lifebar, or the game at all. Its fun and I never sad the gameplay was "broken". But it is different or "odd" and not a common feature on Contra games and definitely perceived as "odd" by most. (read: Japanese Contra Hard Corps)


also I rarely play games with other people, lol. 1/2 players doesnt even occur to me most of the time.

Mkay.


The arcade one has the most solid gameplay, but to me the FM music is kinda bleh, and the player sprite looks funny, especially while jumping, enemies do too sometimes :-/.

To be honest, I think the MSX sprites are kind of ugly and have poor movement. The jumping is a bit "odd" looking in arcade but I prefer arcade gfx over the MSX version.



so its like, NES if you want closer to arcade gameplay, and MSX if you want passable gameplay with better tunes.

I agree on the music part.

[Bloodreign]

A lifebar in Contra is blasphemy, lern2play. It's run and gun after all, all about survival.

MSX Contra was also no fun, didn't like the 1 screen at a time ordeal.

[Arkhan]

Common knowledge.

You'd be surprised man! :pimp:



I own Vampire Killer. And yes, it does. controlling whats on and off the screen with movement affects the gameplay a lot, it affects the pace of the game and the speed.

me too. I fired them both up before replying. The difference in the two isn't a monumental difference. Both still have the "enemies keep respawning from offscreen" , and such, and at any given time with the scrolling one you're still only playing one screen. 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

The pacing might be different to some but I think it's a matter of opinion or preference. I fly through both of them about the same way as far as pacing goes. Much like when I play LotW vs. Drasle Family. Per screen scrolling vs. smooth scrolling doesn't really affect how I am playing that game.

The MSX2 game precedes the NES one, and so I think the design of each screen is faithful to how the game was originally planned. Its possible the scrolling of the NES one was added just because it was expected of NES games! Same for Contra on MSX2. Maybe they left the screen-flipping since thats what many MSX games were doing. Who knows for sure. :)

also, things like jumping and having an enemy suddenly appear on screen and knock you off a pit and kill you, dont happen on the MSX2 one. I think that "cheap" death is a side effect of scrolling being added.



If by "aesthetic" it you mean it makes the way you play the game different, then yes. Otherwise..

Im curious how differently you play the two. I've noticed if you play MSX Contra and run as fast as you would playing the NES one, you aren't really on each screen that long... and the overall experience is about the same. Its just not as seamless while you run and shoot everyone in the face.

I *love* the ability to NOT upgrade your weapon. Too many "DAMNIT I GOT THE FRIGGING F, SON OF A BITCH"'s occured on NES one.



If you're going to call the Arcade version odd which plays like almost all the other ones people know about and play, but not the MSX one I question your logic.

I didnt say it was odd gameplay wise. I just think it looks funny and the FM music sounds kinda doofy. I feel this way about alot of arcade games of the time. The way the graphics appear looks "squishy", if that makes any sense.



I dont mind the lifebar, or the game at all. Its fun and I never sad the gameplay was "broken". But it is different or "odd" and not a common feature on Contra games and definitely perceived as "odd" by most. (read: Japanese Contra Hard Corps)

Yeah. I suppose it not being in the other ones makes it odd. Sometimes the life bar is a nice change, and in the end it's mocky nicky. Most people still playing Contra today find either one easy, and I don't think the lifebar makes it SUPER different. Sometimes I think complaints about things like that are mostly superficial. You bounce back either way, and start in the same spot when you get hit either way. :lovin:




To be honest, I think the MSX sprites are kind of ugly and have poor movement. The jumping is a bit "odd" looking in arcade but I prefer arcade gfx over the MSX version.

Some of that ugly-part comes from hardware limitations on sprites. I think the sprites in all of them look pretty stupid except the NES one. The arcade ones are all elongated and goofy lookin, the MSX ones are decent but sort of stumpy, but the NES ones have sweet guns, cool pants, and look buff as fuck.

The MSX one's scenery most closely resembles the arcade one, especially color wise.



I agree on the music part.
who wouldnt! \\^_^/



If you want arcade-like Contra then play the Amstrad CPC port, not much more fuss than finding a MSX2. Better yet, find the arcade board.

True dat. When you get right down to it theyre all great except for the c64 one, lol.

[Arasoi]

Those are reasonable enough opinions. I still think MSX Contra is fun, just odd though. Not a good replacement for someone used to the NES version, like the thread starter. :P

Speaking of which, this thread has been thoroughly hijacked so I shall desist at this point.


Better yet, find the arcade board.

There's an idea I can get behind.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1658197&postcount=154

To get back on topic the wii hacking idea isn't bad at all, with the assumption that only games owned will be roms used. It allows for playing the translated Japanese Contra Famicom/NES ROM as well.

[Ed Oscuro]

You know, if the PlayStation-era genre labels Konami used to put under their game titles (something they must've lifted from Sega) were in use at the time Contra MSX came out, it could've been

CONTRA
Scrolling Action Ledge Puzzle Game