Game Over (event)

For the series of music jingles, see Game Over (music theme).

Game Over is an in-game event which represents when the player dies; this is usually accompanied by the phrase "Game Over" and/or "Continue". It generally occurs when the player has lost all their extra lives, although it can also be caused by other factors; sometimes even leading to alternate endings.

Game specific information[]

Contra III: The Alien Wars[]

This game marks the first time where a player's death is fully voiced in game. The player will scream when they die from enemy attacks or various hazards. The player will scream a longer lower-pitched scream if they fall in a pitfall during a top-down stage. It is unknown if these screams were a recording from an actual person or were made using the game's soundfonts.

In the game's Game Boy Advance port, Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX, the side-view death scream was swapped with the Dangling Soldier's death scream.

Contra: Hard Corps[]

The people credited for the death screams are unknown. Unlike any other Contra series game, when a player respawns from death, they are immune to pitfalls. This detail can be exploited into easily evading enemy fire and help take down some bosses much easier.

Contra: Shattered Soldier[]

Shattered Soldier Train Bill Lucia tumble — Bill and Lucia tumble off the moving train.

Both Bill and Lucia produce a small grunt/scream when they die. Their voice actors are currently unknown.

During the battle with Yokozuna, a unique death can occur. If the player stands on the train while the boss successfully rams into the train, a player standing will automatically die as they are forcefully knocked off the train, falling and rolling onto the ground below.

Neo Contra[]

During the battle with Master Contra's out of control cybernetic head, there is a time limit of roughly 30 seconds. Should the time limit reach 00, the player(s) instantly receive a Game Over regardless of remaining lives. In normal gameplay, they are taken to the Continue screen. In Training mode, they are taken back to the Training Mode's Mission Select menu, due to the lack of Continues under this mode.

Hard Corps: Uprising[]

During the escort of Doctor Geo Mandrake, if the Doctor receives too much damage, the heroes lose a life (each) in order to revive the Doctor. However, if one player in a single player game or both players in a multiplayer game have no extra stock of lives remaining (their counters at 00), the game immediately goes to the Continue screen once the Doctor's energy depletes and he falls to the ground unable to get up. In a 2 Players game, if at least one player has an extra stock (01 or higher in the counter) and the other has none remaining, the game will still continue, removing the extra stock from the player who has one and doing nothing to the player with 00 stocks remaining.

Contra: Rogue Corps[]

When a player dies on their last life or a Time Over occurs, the screen goes monochrome, then a red screen will appear with a precise cause of death followed by a random exact cause of death (even if the cause is not exactly accurate). All acquired loot is lost, but the character will still keep any weapon exp. gained. The player then returns to Base Camp. If the player(s) dies via all lives lost, the header will say Mission Failed, whereas if the time limit reaches its end, the header will say Time Over.

The following lines are shown as part of a Mission Failed or Time Over: