Contra III: The Alien Wars
Contra III: The Alien Wars is a run-and-gun shooter developed and published by Konami for the SNES in 1992. The third main entry in the Contra series introduces Mode 7 effects, multi-plane scrolling, and intense boss battles while maintaining the franchise's signature high difficulty. Players control Bill Rizer and Lance Bean battling alien invaders across six action-packed stages.
Platform
snes
Year
1992
Genre
Run and Gun
Developer
Konami
Controls
About This Game
The game revolutionized the series with its technical achievements, including rotating backgrounds, zooming effects, and simultaneous two-player co-op. The top-down perspective stages (Stages 2 and 5) showcased the SNES's Mode 7 capabilities.
Notable for introducing new weapons like the homing missile and flame gun, along with the ability to carry two weapons simultaneously. The game's soundtrack, composed by Masanori Adachi and Tappi Iwase, is considered one of the SNES's best.
Praised for its tight controls and relentless action, it became a benchmark for 16-bit shooters. Though punishingly difficult, its balanced power-up system and memorable stage designs made it one of the most respected titles in the Contra series.
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