Contra: Evolution

Contra: Evolution (Chinese: 魂斗罗进化革命 Hún Dòu Luō Jìnhuà Gémìng lit. "Contra: Evolutionary Revolution") is a run-and-gun action platformer video game published by Konami Digital Entertainment first released on Chinese cell phones in 2010 and on arcades in 2011, and later ported to Android and iOS in 2013. It is a high definition remake of the NES/Famicom version of Contra, adding some new features and in-app purchases.

Konami stopped supporting the mobile versions on January 31, 2015, and the game is no longer available in app stores.

Gameplay[]

All stages in Contra: Evolution are high definition pre-rendered renditions of those found in the NES/Famicom versions of Contra, and gameplay in general is very similar as well. Most enemies and bosses have gone through an aesthetic redesign, sometimes barely resembling their original counterparts, although still retaining the same attack patterns. The overall difficulty of the game has been toned down in some sections compared to the original game (with enemies and bullets moving slower), but also ratcheted up on other parts.

There are four different characters to choose from: Bill Rizer, Lance Bean, Erica Ricci and Sally Inohara; as well as some in-app purchasable items for the mobile versions. In-game medals can be collected in order to unlock another character in the mobile versions.

Weapons appear in much greater supplies during gameplay (all have automatic fire by default in the mobile versions). In the arcade version, players have the ability to keep and switch between all weapons they have collected so far, with each weapon occupying one of the six available slots in their inventory. If a life is lost, so will the current equipped weapon, but the player can switch to another one from their arsenal if available.

For classic characters Bill and Lance, all weapons from the original game are included (Machine Gun, Spread Gun, Fire Ball and Laser), as well as new Homing Missiles. Miscellaneous power-ups like Rapid Fire, Force Field and Mass Destruction also return. Newcomers Ricci and Sally each have their own unique weapons repertoire, which sometimes consist in variations of the classic weapons.

The arcade version has a ranking system shown at the end of each stage, where the player can be awarded badges according to their performance during missions. In addition, there are bonus levels at the end of certain stages where the player can compete in a rail-shooting gallery of sorts for additional weapons.

Modes[]

Arcade Mode: The game's main mode, a remake of the classic 1987 game and the only mode available in the arcade version.
Boss Rush: Fight all the game's bosses in succession without taking a break. Unlocked by clearing one loop of Arcade Mode.
Elite Mode: Enemies take more hits and may even explode when killed. Unlocked in the mobile version by clearing the Waterfall stage.
Mission Mode: Traverse the same main game levels but with focus on high scores, completion times, or a low death count to obtain special medals.

Stages[]

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Characters[]

Ricci (Unlocked by clearing Arcade Mode in the mobile version)

Sally (Unlocked by obtaining 55 Medals in the mobile version)

While all four playable characters are available from the start in the Arcade version, the Mobile version only allows Bill and Lance available from the start. Erica and Sally are unlocked in the mobile version via the aforementioned requirements, or they can be purchased early via in-app purchases.