Game guide
Contra Cheats and Tips: The Konami Code for 30 Lives, Weapons and Stages
Key takeaways
- On the title screen press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start for 30 lives instead of 3.
- We checked it in the emulator: the game's life counter read 2 after a normal start and 29 after the code.
- The spread gun (S) is the best weapon for most of the game; losing a life always loses the weapon.
- On Yes This Game you can also switch on unlimited lives and the spread gun with rapid fire.
The famous Contra cheat is the Konami Code: on the title screen press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and then Start, and you begin with 30 lives instead of 3. We checked it in the emulator by reading the game’s own life counter: it shows 2 after a normal start and 29 after the code, plus the life you are playing. Below is how to enter it on a keyboard or a phone, what every weapon does, and the cheats you can switch on for Contra on Yes This Game.
How to enter the Konami Code
- Start Contra and wait for the title screen with 1 Player and 2 Players.
- Press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right.
- Press B, A. On a keyboard that is Z, X.
- Press Start (Enter) to begin with 30 lives.
Enter it calmly: the title screen only listens for a few seconds before the demo starts, and one wrong press means starting the sequence again. For two players, press Select to choose 2 Players at the end instead of Start right away, then Start.
Contra weapons
Shoot the flying capsules and the sensors in the walls, and a letter falls out. Walk over it to take the weapon.
| Letter | Weapon | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| M | Machine gun: fires while you hold the button | Steady fire without tapping |
| F | Fire ball that spirals forward | Fun, but slow and hard to aim |
| S | Spread gun: five shots in a fan | Almost everything, especially enemies above and below you |
| L | Laser: a long, strong beam | Bosses, when you can aim carefully |
| R | Rapid fire for the weapon you carry | Makes any weapon faster |
| B | Barrier: a short time of invincibility | Getting through a dangerous spot |
The game stores your weapon as one small number: the weapon type in the low bits and rapid fire as an extra bit on top. That is why R works with any gun. When you lose a life, the code that sets up your next soldier clears this number to zero, so you are back to the basic rifle. Losing a life always costs the weapon too.
The eight stages
- Jungle: side-scrolling, with bridges that explode under you.
- Base 1: seen from behind, shooting into the screen at wall sensors.
- Waterfall: a climb upwards, with rocks falling from above.
- Base 2: another base seen from behind, longer and harder.
- Snow Field: side-scrolling, with armoured enemies.
- Energy Zone: flames shooting out of the floor and the ceiling.
- Hangar: moving claws and mine carts.
- Alien’s Lair: the final stage and the final boss.
7 Contra tips
1. Get the spread gun and keep it
S covers so much of the screen that it makes most of the game easier. Once you have it, avoid picking up other letters by accident.
2. Shoot diagonally
Hold up or down while you run to shoot at an angle. Many enemies sit above or below you, out of reach of straight shots.
3. Drop down, jump up
Press down and jump to fall through a platform. It is often the safest way out of a crossfire.
4. Keep moving on the bridges
The bridges in the first stage blow up piece by piece as you reach them. Keep running and jump to the next piece instead of waiting.
5. Learn the base rooms
In the base stages, the wall sensor that opens the room is always the target. Destroy it first; the soldiers keep coming until you do.
6. Use the barrier to push forward
B only lasts a short time. Use it to move through a dangerous part quickly rather than to stand still.
7. Play with a friend
Two players share the screen and can cover each other. With the Konami Code each player gets 30 lives.
Contra cheats on Yes This Game
Besides the Konami Code, Contra on Yes This Game has two switches. Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game:
- Unlimited lives: the one instruction that removes a life is changed to one that only reads the counter, so your lives never go down.
- Super weapon: the spread gun with rapid fire, held in your hands all the time, even after you lose a life.
Both work for player 1 only. The game waits while the panel is open, and reloading the page turns the cheats off.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Contra cheat code?
The Konami Code: on the title screen press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and then Start. You start with 30 lives.
How do I enter the Konami Code on a keyboard?
On Yes This Game use the arrow keys for the directions, Z for B, X for A and Enter for Start.
Does the Konami Code work for two players?
Yes. Enter the same sequence, then press Select to choose 2 Players and Start. Each player gets 30 lives.
What is the best weapon in Contra?
For most players the spread gun (S): five shots in a fan cover the screen above and below you.
Do you keep your weapon when you die in Contra?
No. The game clears your weapon when you lose a life, so you are back to the basic rifle.
Are there more Contra cheats on Yes This Game?
Yes: unlimited lives and the super weapon (spread gun with rapid fire) behind the magic wand button next to full screen.