Contra Stage by Stage: The Patterns That Get You Through All Eight

Stage 1 — Jungle

The tutorial, though nobody told the sniper at the bridge. Grab the spread gun from the second flying capsule and learn the two heights of enemy fire: jump the high shots, lie under the low ones. The wall at the end takes about ten spread shots to the cannons.

Stage 2 — Base 1

The view goes behind your soldier. Clear the guards in each corridor, shoot the wall cores when the barrier drops, and stand to the side rather than centre; the cores fire straight down the middle.

Stage 3 — Waterfall

A vertical climb on platforms that fall. Move when the platform shakes. The boss is a face in the wall: shoot the mouth and dodge the fireballs by moving, not jumping.

Stage 4 — Base 2

Same idea as Base 1 with faster guards and rolling grenades. Keep the spread gun; if you lose it here the next two stages are twice as long.

Stage 5 — Snow Field

Trucks, turrets and falling snow that hides bullets. Move steadily and shoot upward at the turrets before they scroll into range.

Stage 6 — Energy Zone

Flames from the floor and ceiling on a timer. Watch one cycle, then run through in the gap. Nothing here needs to be fought.

Stage 7 — Hangar

The longest stage: crushers, mounted guns and a lot of conveyor belts. The crushers have a rhythm; the rest is patience.

Stage 8 — Alien's Lair

Mouths on the walls spit larvae, and the final heart takes a lot of shots. Lie down when the larvae come, stand and fire at the heart between waves. A save state at the start of this stage is worth making.