If you grew up in the late 80s or early 90s, the name Konami probably triggers a specific kind of muscle memory in your thumbs. You remember the stress. The flickering sprites. That one sniper hiding behind a bush who always seemed to have your number. While the original Contra is the poster child for NES difficulty, its 1990 sequel, Super C (or Super Contra if you’re playing the arcade original), is arguably the meaner, leaner brother. It didn't just want your quarters; it wanted your soul.
Look, the game is hard. Ridiculously hard. Honestly, trying to beat this thing with the default three lives is a form of digital masochism that most of us simply weren't built for. That’s why super contra cheats nes enthusiasts have spent decades memorizing button combinations like they were sacred hymns. You need the edge. Without it, Stage 2's top-down perspective change will chew you up and spit you out before you even see the boss.
The 10-Life Code: It Isn’t the 30-Life Code You Know
Here is the biggest point of confusion for most people. Everyone knows the Konami Code. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. It’s ingrained in our DNA. But if you try that on the Super C title screen, you’re going to get a whole lot of nothing.
Konami decided to mess with us. For the sequel, they changed the sequence.
To grab extra lives in Super C, you have to wait for the title screen to appear. Then, as quickly as you can, press Right, Left, Down, Up, A, B. Then hit Start. If you want to play with a friend and ensure you both don't rage-quit by the third level, you do the same sequence but hit Select before Start.
But wait. There’s a catch that catches people off guard every time. In the original Contra, the code gave you 30 lives. In Super C, this code only gives you 10. Why? Maybe the developers thought we’d gotten better at the game. They were wrong. Those 10 lives go fast, especially when you hit the later vertical-scrolling sections where one misplaced jump means instant death.
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It’s worth noting that if you’re playing the Japanese version, known as Super Contra, the code is actually different again. It’s a testament to the era's lack of standardization. Back then, we didn't have the internet to double-check these things; we had a dog-eared copy of Nintendo Power or a friend whose older cousin supposedly knew the "real" secret.
Level Select and Sound Tests: The Hidden Menus
Sometimes you don’t want to start from the beginning. Maybe you just want to practice the final boss because the alien heart thing keeps ruining your run. Or maybe you just want to vibe to the legendary soundtrack composed by Hidenori Maezawa and Harumi Uekane.
There is a way.
Hold down both the A and B buttons and then press Start on the main menu. This doesn't look like much, but it triggers a specific internal check. In some versions of the game, specifically the Japanese Famicom release, this would take you straight to a sound test. For the North American NES version, things are a bit more restrictive.
To actually select your level, you usually need a Game Genie or a specific ROM hack, as the retail NES cartridge famously stripped out the easy-access level select menu that was present in the arcade version. This has led to years of "playground rumors" about a secret button combo to skip to the volcano level. Spoilers: most of them are fake. If someone tells you to hold the D-pad diagonally while pressing Select 15 times, they’re probably just messing with you.
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Why the Spread Gun is Basically a Cheat Code Itself
Let’s talk about the "S" icon. The Spread Gun.
In any discussion about super contra cheats nes, the Spread Gun deserves its own paragraph. It is the single most powerful tool in the game. It covers a wide arc. It negates the need for precise aiming. If you lose the Spread Gun in Stage 4, you might as well just reset the console. Seriously.
The game’s difficulty scaling is largely built around your weapon. When you have the Spread Gun, you feel like a god. When you have the pea-shooter pistol, you’re a victim. Professional speedrunners—people like those you’d see at Games Done Quick—often prioritize the "S" above all else. They’ll even ignore other power-ups like the Laser (L) or Fireball (F) because the Spread Gun's hitbox is so massive it clears the screen of "junk" enemies that the game loves to spawn behind you.
Using the Environment to Cheat Death
There are "cheats" that don't involve pressing buttons on the title screen. These are glitches and exploits.
In Stage 1, there’s a section with falling crates. If you position Bill or Lance (the main characters, for those who forgot) at the very edge of certain platforms, the game’s collision engine sometimes fails to register a hit. This is "pixel-perfect" positioning. It’s not something a casual player can do consistently, but if you’re looking to beat the game without the 10-life code, learning these safe spots is mandatory.
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Also, the "ducking" mechanic is overpowered. Most projectiles in Super C are coded to target your chest height. If you are prone, about 70% of the game’s hazards simply fly over your head. It sounds simple, but in the heat of a chaotic firefight, most players forget they can just hit "Down" and wait for the danger to pass.
The Reality of Game Genie Codes
If 10 lives isn't enough—and for some of the later stages like the high-tech base, it really isn't—you have to go the hardware route. The Game Genie was a godsend for kids in the 90s.
- SNEPPLGA: This is the big one. Infinite lives. You can fall into every pit and walk into every alien, and you’ll just keep coming back.
- PEOIIZLA: Start with 50 lives instead of the usual 3 or 10.
- GXVPUG VG: This one is "Invincibility." Well, mostly. You can still die by falling into holes, but bullets will pass right through you.
Using these changes the game from a high-stakes action thriller into a leisurely stroll through a gallery of 8-bit alien gore. It’s fun for a while, but you lose that frantic heart-pounding sensation that makes Contra what it is.
The Legacy of the Challenge
We search for these cheats because the game is a relic of a time when games were designed to be short but punishingly difficult to prevent people from finishing them in a single rental weekend. Super C only has eight stages. If it were easy, you’d finish it in twenty minutes. By making it hard, Konami ensured you’d be playing it for months.
Interestingly, the NES version of Super C is often considered better than the arcade version. The arcade had a weird vertical monitor orientation that made everything feel cramped. The NES port, handled by Konami’s legendary internal team, felt more balanced. The "cheats" were almost like a difficulty setting that the developers hid behind a curtain.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re dusting off your old NES or firing up an emulator, don’t just run in guns blazing. You’ll die. Fast.
- Input the 10-Life Code immediately. Don't be a hero. Right, Left, Down, Up, A, B on the title screen. Do it before the music even kicks in.
- Prioritize the "S". If you see a flying power-up capsule, wait for it to be the Spread Gun. If you accidentally pick up the Fireball, don't panic, but get back to the Spread Gun as soon as possible.
- Master the "Jump-Shoot". In Super C, you can aim diagonally while jumping. This is the only way to clear the turrets in Stage 3 (the jungle).
- Watch the background. Unlike the first game, Super C uses more background layers to hide enemies. If a wall looks suspicious, it probably has a turret behind it.
- If all else fails, use an emulator with Save States. There is no shame in saving at the start of a boss fight. We aren't ten years old anymore; we have jobs and responsibilities. We don't have six hours to master a single jump.
The beauty of Super C lies in its rhythm. Once you have the lives and the right weapon, the game stops being a struggle and starts being a dance. You learn where the enemies spawn, you learn when to duck, and you learn when to let the Spread Gun do the heavy lifting. Just remember that the code changed. It’s not the Konami Code you remember, but it’s the one you need.