Contra Spirits is the Japanese release of Konami’s defining 1992 run-and-gun shooter for the SNES (known internationally as Contra III: The Alien Wars). Players control elite commandos fighting off a massive alien invasion across six intense, fast-paced stages. The game seamlessly mixes traditional side-scrolling action with innovative overhead Mode 7 levels, delivering one of the most action-packed experiences on the console.
How to play
Survive the alien onslaught and defeat the boss at the end of each stage. You can carry two weapons at once and switch between them at any time. On the SNES, use the D-pad to move and aim, Y to shoot, B to jump, A to swap your active weapon, and X to use a screen-clearing smart bomb. Holding L or R locks your position so you can aim in any direction, and pressing both simultaneously while dual-wielding unleashes a spinning barrage attack. In the browser, these controls map to the arrow keys for movement, with the face buttons typically on Z/X/A/S and the bumpers on Q/W.
Tips
- Weapon Management: If you die, you only lose the weapon currently in your hands. Try to switch to your secondary weapon right before taking an unavoidable hit to protect your favorite primary gun (like the Spread or Laser).
- Defensive Bombing: You are completely invincible during the smart bomb animation. Don’t just save them for boss damage—use them defensively to pass through impossible waves of bullets or enemies safely.
- Overhead Stages: In the top-down Mode 7 stages (2 and 5), use the L and R buttons to rotate the screen. The Flamethrower (F) is especially powerful here because its continuous, lingering hitbox easily sweeps through multiple enemies as you turn.
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