Stumbled across this recently - some kind of pirate version of Contra III for the Famicom. It's similar in feel to Super Contra 7, but... well, take a look at the following pics. Has anyone else ever seen this before?
actual full intro text that scrolls up as follows:
A.D. 2636 - WELCOME - THE WORLD OF GAME - A GAME - END
"Let's attack aggressively."
Title screen. Sure looks like Contra Spirits to me. Note the "copyright" date.
Hmmm... I've seen that explosion graphic before.
First guard tower.
There's the first of the flame jets from the broken underground pipe.
That little plane is this version's "really cool Mode 7 plane".
Right after the plane drops the bombs.
Yep, you can still cling to things and climb.
Slave Beast Taka. Pretty skinny in this version, isn't he?
My take on it: it's not bad, for a pirate (I like Super Contra 7 better, though). It feels and plays like Contra, even if it doesn't sound like it. The music's pretty bad. Recognizable, but still bad.