Originally released as a coin arcade game, Contra was a run-and-gun game, taking its inspiration from American action films produced at the time. The game is also action oriented, with characters owning rifles and guns. The game has its characters designed starkly similar to many action heroes of Hollywood. Two heroes in the game, Lance and Bill, need to fight an alien invasion called the Red Falcon. (Lambie). The ideas are discreetly taken from the ongoing events of the 1980s such as the guerilla fights at the time which were portrayed which the same theme in the game. The movie Aliens was a major influence, and the characters seem to follow the traits of the film’s characters. (Lambie). The character Bill is a blond haired commando wearing a white tank top and a blue bandana whereas the character Lance is a shirtless, dark-haired character with a red bandana. The game employs the use of ammunition in order to help the characters proceed in the game. The initial weaponry given is a rifle, which is upgraded as the game proceeds, into four other guns. (Lambie). The game is a typical action-oriented game which brings a forest setting in the first stage. The heroes are dropped off in a jungle where they need to fight off the enemy to pass through to the second level which is about passageways and alleys. The game also employs some scientific and modern aspects such as destroying electric beams and sensors. (Lambie). Moving on, the game has certain militaristic features like hovercraft, army trucks and soldiers. The next stage is where the player has to fight the alien whose heart is the target to destroy and when done, the player wins the game. (Lambie). The game is designed to provide a sense of heroism, mystery in the form of aliens and nostalgia in the sense of the 80s movies exploring Sci-Fi and war themes. It also tends to imitate the appearance of the characters in the game, with certain Hollywood actors to provide a sense of association and increased interest in the game.
Work Cited
Lambie, Ryan. 11 Fireball Facts about Contra. Mental Floss article. 2016. Web. 17 Feb 2016.
