Contra 4 Walkthrough

Prepare to attack. Aggressively.
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Contra 4 - Nintendo DS
Version 1.1 (20/01/2007)
Version History:
1.1: A lot of new user submissions (mostly bosses). (20/01/2007)
1.0: All appendecies complete, and all challenges complete. The guide is now
finsihed. (12/12/2007)
0.9: Arcade mode complete, challenge mode pretty robust and the first user
submission. (10/12/2007)
0.3: First three stages, and the skeleton of the guide - (06/12/2007)
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Legality:
This Guide is Copyright, 2007, Matthew McIntyre
This guide may not be used on a website or in any public forum
where it is protected by copyright without the consent of the author.
To contact me: entropiclobo(at)yahoo(dot)ca or chaos(dot)wolf(at)gmail(dot)com
-I'm very open to feedback as long as you're decent.
Websites with permission to use this Guide:
www.GameFAQS.com
www.neoseeker.com
faqs.IGN.com
www.1up.com
www.honestgamer.com
www.gamesradar.com
www.cheatplanet.com
http://www.cheathappens.com
Game by Wayforward/Konami
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*                            Table of Contents                               *
******************************************************************************
*To jump to a section, hold the Control Key and press F, then type in the
section number as it appears (ie type CF1)
CF1: Intro
CF2: Gameplay
CF3: Items
CF4: Arcade Mode
CF4.1: Stage 1: Jungle
CF4.2: Stage 2: Laboratory
CF4.3: Stage 3: Base
CF4.4: Stage 4: Harbor
CF4.5: Stage 5: Ocean
CF4.6: Stage 6: Factory
CF4.7: Stage 7: City
CF4.8: Stage 8: Alien Hive
CF4.9: Stage 9: Harvest Yard
CF5: Challenge Mode
CF6: Bosses
CF7: Enemies
CF8: Extras and Secrets
CF9: Credits
Contra 4 is rated "B" for "Badass," and is only one of the few instances I will
use that word. It contains scenes of rippling muscles and dirty alien scum.
Player discretion is advised.
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|                                CF1: Intro                                  |
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"So, they sent in four lethal badasses to do what they do best."
Contra's the kind of series that isn't shy about what it is - balls to the
walls action with a steep difficulty curve. It knows who its fans are and what
its audience is. It's diverged more than once, but it's invariably returned to
the fold. Now, I love when developers have the stones to change how a game
plays. But when it's undeniably Contra? I can live with a more classic
throwback for this series especially when it's turned 20.
Where are the stones here then? Releasing a game like this on a console that
thrives on non-game shovelware is not necessarily a ballsy move but to keep it
true to the series and even be tongue and cheek in regards to its own
difficulty shows that Wayforward knew who the audience for this series was and
weren't going to dick around to make it more "accessible."
That said, COntra 4 _is_ COntra and that means while things seem out of hand
or even intimidating at first they become much clearer and easier the more you
play. This is what I love about this series - it's difficult without being
unfair. If you die, it's more than likely your fault - so you really can
master it and you really do feel like you've acheived your victory.
And that's all there is to it folks, you can put this one down if you keep at
it. And it's the kind of game that just brings you back for more, frothing
all the wgile. I'm going to be giving tips and strategies on getting through
this game, but there's really a lot on your shoulders already. It always
seems like I sell the guides short whenever I do a shooter because I always
say that your practice and ability are called into question. But that's just
it, they are. And if you just keep at this isn't going to be an issue.
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|                               CF2: Gameplay                                |
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CF2.1: Basics
CF2.2: Advanced tactics
CF2.3: Modes
***CF2.1: Basics***
Contra 4 takes place over a number of side-scrolling levels. You have one hit
point under most circumstances. It is a run n' gun so the screen will often
be filled with bullets or enemies, or both. It's your task to cream these foes
before they get a chance to attack or dodge and weave around the bullets.
Bravery is often rewarded, but at the same time if you take things slowly it
can pay off as well. Perhaps only scrolling a single major threat onscreen at
a time and then walloping it before you continue could pay off?
Action takes place over both screens so try to watch both at once. THis is
very disorienting at first but a worthwhile exercise.
Start: Pause
A: Discard Weapon
B: Jump
X: Grapple Hook
Y: Shoot
Your grapple hook allows you to grapple up to certain structures, usally on
the top screen and usually rails that your character can grab onto. This hook
travels all the way to the top of the top screen.
Discard throws your power-up out. It doesn't totally get rid of it, just
tosses it forward in case you do it by accident - and you probably will more
than once when you just start out.
Your standard gun is fairly weak though most enemies will fall to it in just
a few shots. You will want to upgrade it, however. The biggest advantage in
Contra's main levels is being able to strike multiple enemies at once, be this
through explosions, able to pass through multiple enemies, or covering a wide
area.
L: Switch Weapon
You can keep two weapons at once, your active weapon and your reserve.
Pressing L switches the weapons. Your reserve is kept even if you die, but
not if you continue - extremely useful to keep a crowd control weapon or boss
slayer weapon.
R: Stand Still
This lets you... stand still. What's that? Not useful? Actually, it's very
useful. Contra often had you jumping in place to aim straight down... no more.
You can hold R, aim down and take those suckers out. Very useful.
Left/Right: Moves your character
Up, Up and Left, Up and Right, left and down, right and down: Move while
aiming the direction you are pressing.
Down: Lay on the ground. You can fire while you lay down.
Third-Person Bases:
Controls are a little different in here. You can lay down, jump and move back
and forth. Enemies are in the background and you fight your way through a
number of rooms to the boss.
The weapons have pretty much the same function in here. When you clear a room
press UP to proceed to the next room.
***CF2.2: Advanced Tactics***
*Air Pause:
---------
This one may save your life if you know to use it, though you won't be using
it too often. Pressing the X button fires your grapple hook but also makes you
pause for a brief second and so you are either a good target or you pause
above a potential threat letting it pass by.
This is -not- something you are going to be using a whole lot, but when you
do get some success with it you'll be glad you thought of it.
*Hot Swapping:
------------
It's a basic, really, but your reserve weapon is kept even if you die - only
continues will make it disappear. You want to switch to the reserve for when
you are firing at some enemy and you need to down him fast. When on the move,
switch back to your other weapon or when you are about to be hit. If you're
dodging a boss, you may want to only switch to your anti-boss weapon when you
get the opportunity.
*Rail Dodge:
----------
Not one to be taken lightly, a daredevil move. To dodge a shot while hanging
and jumping is not an issue, press down and B to drop down off the rail then
grapple back up there before you die.
*Regarding Tossing Upgrades:
--------------------------
The A button is useful for when you get two weapons of the same variety only
one is your core weapon and one is your reserve. Now, this may be fine
depending on whether or not you want to USE this weapon yet keep one in
reserve as well. But if you toss the weapon, you can switch and get your
upgrade.
*Lay Down:
--------
As Andy pointed out to me, and I regret I didn't think to try it from the first
Contra is that you can lay down in the bases. Very useful to dodge bullets.
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|                                CF3: Items                                  |
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Items are the cornerstone to your victory at times. They make life a lot
easier and aliens scream for mercy.
What weapon you like is totally up to you. Some are very useful all the time
while others have more periodic use. Make use of your ability to hold both
at once.
*Barrier:
-------
the barrier protects you from shots for a short time. Take the opportunity
to tear it up and defeat either difficultly placed enemies or make progress
ont he level. They are often places in such a way that you can make
immediate
*Crush:
-----
Powerful missiles that lack range, they are a decent anti-boss weapon. When
you upgrade the Crush, it gets a longer range. this benefits it more than
you would think. Being able to launch these suckers across the screen means
those alien bastards will running for the hills.
You'll want to tap the button to get the most out of crush.
*Flame:
-----
The Flame gun is a decently powerful weapon that is terrific as an upgraded
gun but not so much when you get one without the upgrades. It's initial
mode is one that fires swirling balls of fire forward. These pack a decent
punch but lack speed and penetrating ability. When you upgrade it, it
launches a fireball that explodes on contact, the explosion is able to hurt
enemies.
It's a pretty great payoff, really, and definitely something to consider. You
will want to tap the button to get the highest rate of fire out of Flame.
*Homing:
------
These missiles aren't the most powerful thing on the block but they track
enemies. It goes in arcs toward the enemy, and due to its turning axis it
can fly around an enemy rather than into it. The homing is great on a fair
few bosses, however, and it's worth keeping a fully upgraded homing on hand
for that reason.
Upgraded Homing missiles fire three at once. This is much more useful.
However, remember that running with Homing won't guarantee that anything in
front of you will be toasted, so I'd say use homing with discretion.
You will still want to aim your shots and you will want to tap the button
to get the most out of this.
*Laser:
-----
The laser's best feature is its ability to pierce an enemy and go on to the
next. It's also fairly strong so you'll be able to pull off a few shots in
short order. The laser gets thicker and faster when its upgraded. While not
as fast as the machine gun, it's what you want if you want to blast through
multiple enemies at once.
Holding down the button when its upgrades gets the most out of it, it does
not seem to make a difference when it is at level 1.
*Machine Gun:
-----------
An excellent weapon, the machine gun is a very rapid fire weapon that is
great for quickly dispatching foes requiring more than one shot. It also
provides a constant stream of bullets so that enemies will be caught in the
stream if they cross it. Upgrading it adds a second stream, and they are
thicker. This lets you hit ground based targets without ducking down, very
useful.
Holding down the button will get the fastest stream.
*Rapid:
-----
Your default weapon, rapid is a weak gun with a moderate rate of fire. It will
take down most enemies fairly quickly in spite of this, though its size and
rate of fire leave much to be desired. It's a lack of power, coverage, and
speed that means you will take anything but this.
To fire it more rapidly, tap the button.
*Smart Bomb:
----------
A blank eagle symbol, it destroys all enemies onscreen. Useful, but don't
kill yourself trying to grab it.
*Spread Shot:
-----------
Red Falcon just wet his undies, the spread gun is a great weapon to have on
hand. The intial spread gun is a three-way shot, and the upgraded is a 5-way
shot. The only real drawback is a slight lack of power when compared to some
of the other weapons though it does have a fair bit of power. Rapidly tapping
the button to get the most out the spread gun will take down many threats
with relative ease.
This is great for thrasing suckers on the oppsoite screen.
--Challenge Mode Only:
*Classic Laser:
-------------
Fires a line laser out from the gun. This is not terribly powerful, though
it does have the ability to hit more than once. Only one laser may exist at
once, as such pulsing the button will have it stay just in front of you.
Only for challenge modes, take a minute to learn its finer points before
you go ahead through the challenge.
*Prototype Weapon:
----------------
This is a 5-missile homing attack. Take your time when using this and it will
really wreck the enemies. It has the same drawbacks as the normal homing, but
the extra missiles really do make a world of difference.
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|                             CF4: Arcade Mode                               |
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"Let's Attack Aggressively!"
Arcade Mode is played over 9 stages (7 in Easy). Storm your way through the
stages and take out the boss enemy at the end of each one.
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CF4.1: Stage 1: Jungle
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The first level, you can feel the sweat drip as the chopper lowers you into the
jungle. Well then, let run to the right. After the first little hill, stop and
get the machine gun out of the blimp that passes by.
From the hill jump right while firing, you'll hit a dirk on the top of the next
plateau. Jump to where he was and keep both ends of the platform onscreen so no
fodder soldiers run up next to you. Aim down and shoot the hell out of the dirk
laid out across the ground before moving on.
Again jump and fire to take out a dirk as you continue right. At a bridge now,
if you want a flame gun you will have to go up. If you take the water route,
then you can avoid damage altogether by laying down in the water. This is
useful to remember for Challenge Mode later.
At the end of the bridge there is a turret and an upgrade box. Take out the
turret then shoot out the upgrade for the spread shot. Now, you may want to
switch back to your other weapon for now. Run right while aiming diagonally up
and right while firing to hit the next dirk. Jump up to the platform he was
standing on and continue right. When you see a turret raise out of the ground,
aim down and right and fire to destroy it. Continue right, use the grappling
hook and jump off onto the ledge.
Aim down and right as you run across the bridge so as to kill the dude jumping
up onto it. If you don't, he'll blow up the bridge - but that's a non-issue for
now. The blimp that arrives contains another (M) so you can have a maxed out
machine gun at this point if you kept the first one. Kill the Dirk near the
ledge and then grappling hook up to the rail near the top of the screen. There
is a dude laying down near here. If you move back and use the spread gun, he
will go down fast. If you can't hit him from the rail, get down there and jump
when he fires, take a shot, jump, take a shot and jump. Etc etc.
Running across the bridge here, make a choice. If you have the spread shot then
the top route is a decent choice. If you don't, the bottom may be more suitable
for you. Right at the start there is a (C) in an upgrade box for Crush missiles
so pick it up if you want... not the best choice HERE though as they have short
range until upgraded.
-Above-
As you run across the bridge aim down and shoot the guy who wants to blow it up
so as we can stay at the top. The same goes for the second bridge. There's a
power-up over the second bridge that will destroy all enemies.
There are a few dirks along the way but you must also destroy the dudes on the
lower path. Avoid their shots and return fire with the spread shot. Near the
end of the run there is a ground turret, so watch out.
Near the end of the run below there is a spread shot upgrade, so you can get
yours to level 2 if you take out some of the foes down below then jump down to
snag it.
-Below-
Trudge through the water and duck if you need to. Take aim at the Dirks and
grenade tossers and duck to avoid their fire into the water. After the second
bridge, watch out for dudes jumping down from above.
You can get a spread shot power-up near the end of this path.
-Back on Path-
Run up the hill firing. You can stop under these guy and shoot up if you so
wish, or just keep on charging to the right. When the ground evens out again
there will be a Dirk laying on the ground. Take him out then continue along.
Aim up and right and take out the dude on the hill to the right before he even
gets a chance to react.
Now, running right you will come to a gap. There is a Laser in a blimb coming
along on the top screen, so snag that if you will. As you continue right you
will come to another dirk, kill him. To the right there is an upgrade box,
grapple rail, and wall turret. Run over to above the wall turret and shoot down
to destroy it. Now, run over to above the upgrade. It is a Homing shot. To get
it, shoot down to activate it then press jump and down to jump down through the
cliff to get it. Now, immediately use your grapple hook to get all the way up
to that rail and to avoid death in a bottomless pit.
You may as well take the bottom route right, destroying the grenade throwers as
they appear. You could go up, but you'd be jumping down immediately. There is a
machine at the top of the screen that will antagonize you and while you can
ride it after destroying it, you will likely need to be on the ground to
properly fight it.
So when the machine arrives, it will periodically stop and launch a fireball
downa t you. Simply get out of the way when it stops. Fire up at it, homing
shot helps but switch if you're going to get hit. Eventually, it will stop
moving altogether and a hatch will open.
Now, if you wanted to ride it, you will have to NOT pass the second rail to the
right of the start as it is high enough to let you leap into the machine. The
fireballs destroy the greyish ground though, so be careful. Once you are in the
machine, you can shoot as you always did - except it launches a large fireball
downwards. If you jump, you will exit the machine.
If you just run right, the best place to fight it is where there are two
grapple rails running side by side. Near the end of these rails is a Dirk,
however, so be ready for him. Either way, you should destroy the rail machine
as it usually grants an extra life.
As you run right there will be two blimps - one for a flame gun and one for
laser. You may be able to fully upgrade one of them now if that was your
intention. The boss is to the right.
***BOSS***
A classic wall? Jump to the top of the hill right from the start and cream the
Dirk who is standing at the top of the wall. Stay to the left side of the hill
so as the two mid-wall turrets do not strike you. Stay above the core as it
will launch a laser forward. Now, you can aim down at this sucker from the hill
anyways but itcharges a bit before launching the laser so if you want a more
direct confrontation, you'll know what to expect. Defeat everything else first
though.
But that's not all folks. Stay toward the left of the top platform and aim up
and to the right as the wall raises to fill both screens. A few Dirks will be
at the top now. If you cannot get the angle right to hit them, wait until the
top core has fired its laser and then grapple the helicopter to get a better
shot at the Dirks. But jump down if the top core is about to fire again. This
gives you some breathing room when dealing with the rest of the wall.
After the soldiers are gone, stay at the upper left of that platform and aim
at the guns. After that, you can take out the cores. This is easy if you have
the homing gun. Otherwise, aim down at the bottom core and destroy it before
you worry about the top core. Use the helicopter to reach the top core if you
can't angle up at it. Just drop down when you see it charging. This battle will
be over soon.
User input:
==========
-User strat 1:
Sean Rhodes submits a safe method for taking on this wall. To perform this
strategy you're going to need to collect a fully upgraded spread shot in the
level and get to the boss without using a continue. Should be a simple task.
"When you've got the Spread Gun, just stand on the far left. Begin the battle
by holding R and diagonally. Then simply stand on the far left and shoot at
the wall. The Spread Gun makes it so that you'll hit the guns at the top of
the wall and the red eye at the same time.  Duck when necessary.
When the wall rises, first hold R and shoot diagonally. Your shots should hit
all the men up top but one of them. If you feel you must take him out, do so,
but unless you move from the far left of the screen he can't actually hit you.
If you MUST hit him because you want to kill everything, just move forward
slightly and fire diagonally. Now take out the bottom half the same way you
did before.  Ducking when necessary. Only the red heart at the top should be
left after this (unless you didn't kill the other guy). Everything should be
perfectly clear. You can shoot diagonally from the far left and at least one
shot should hit. If not, just stand in the middle of the bottom screen and
shoot up until it dies. This tactic isn't the fastest for defeating the boss,
but it's the safest and if you're good, won't cost you any lives."
Thanks Sean. The Spread Shot's probably something a lot of you have been
collecting anyways, so give it a whirl.
-User Strat 2:
David Rcikard sends a method to expediate the level 1 boss - people really seem
to have it out for our chum... It requires the level 2 Machine Gun, which you
are likely to covet on higher difficulties anyways...
"For the level 1 boss, you can beat this very quickly and with no danger to
yourself if you have the level 2 machine gun. Simply fire at the red core at
the start, and it will die in seconds. Then as the eye underneath opens up and
begins to rise, use the platform to keep the machine gun firing at it. It
should blow up before it goes out of reach. Then you can waste the bottom core
before anything can get a shot off at you."
-User Strat 3:
efire_ is all about killing bosses before they even materialze, so this one is
quite like the above strategy.
"All of your strategies on Level 1's tower boss involve the lengthy shooting of
each individual part of the tower. If you know what to do, this is pointless
and time-wasting. Here what everyone should do:"
Ha ha, guilty as charged brother. But don't forget that I did have to write
this with everyone in mind.
"This strategy makes the first boss into a complete joke. First, you need a
Level 2 weapon, preferrably M2 or C2. S2 works as well, but requires a bit
more skill. Anyways, as you run into the screen where the tower boss is
located, begin firing straight ahead like mad. Don't even bother to dodge the
sniper's bullet; if you did it right, the first core is quickly destroyed.
Keep firing. As the second core appears, continue firing like mad, jumping up
each platform as the core rises. If you need to, hold the R button and aim
diagonally up to finish off the top core. This core should die before it
reaches the top screen. Finally, jump down to the far left corner of the
screen and pummel the bottom core. It should blow up before the sniper shots
reach you from the top. Easy stuff."
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CF4.2: Stage 2: Laboratory
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to the right is a blimp holding a crush missile. This takes out the meat
puppets rather handily, so if you don't have an upgraded weapon you might
consider them.
For this part, I'll say it once - take your time. Aliens will be crawling
around in those tunnels to the upper screen and pop out at you. Take your time,
grapple the ceiling, and wait until it is clear before moving on. Scroll the
screen slowly in this part so that you only have one meat puppet on screen at
once. They explode after a bit if you can't destroy them and so youw ant the
extra room for evasion. Also, if there is an alien right on the wall, then it
can crawl through the wall itself... don't let it trick you.
The first of which appears right at the first pit. Scroll it onscreen, then
back off. Then there will be meat puppets. Aim down diagonally at them. If you
can't take them out then you will have to back off and see if you can't avoid
their explosion. When you reveal the destroy all enemies power-up, get a meat
puppet or two onscreen before you snag it.
As I said, it just takes patience to get through this part. If you run too fast
with poor weapons or plaina nd simple unfamiliarity then you will get killed
here as it can get VERY thick with enemies.
Either way, when you leave the lab you will be at a waterfall. Keep shooting as
you run right and you will kill a Dirk. Check the top screen and you will see
a dude throwing grenades. Aim up and fry him in the cookies. Jump on the right
wall and climb it up. If you can take out that wall turret from here?
Fantastic, so it. Otherwise, ride the platform left, climb the left wall and
take it out from right below.
There will be rocks falling at this point. They fall from those black holes, so
watch out. The upgrade box has a machine gun in it, if you need it. Otherwise,
let's head up. Fromt he scrap of the wall turret, let the big rock bounce
offscreen. Climb the right wall and let the rock bounce off the moving platform
and then jump onto it and to the left before it re-emerges. When it falls past
the two platforms immediately below the hole, jump up both of these and up to
the right. There is a homing shot in this upgrade box, excellent if you kept
the homing gun from level 1.
Let the rocks again fall past and jump onto the platform moving left and right.
The upgrade box over here has a flame gun in it. Destroy some of the fodder
soldiers before moving up. Head right and jump onto the rope. Hold up to climb
it to the top. Jump onto the moving platform ASAP however, as rocks will be
falling from above.
The upgrade box here contains a barrier. Grab it then climb the rope. Get the
spread gun as its blimb comes down and while still in a barrier, aim up and
destroy the Dirks waiting above. Then make your way up to this platform, you
will have to kill a few soldiers before you jump up.
Jump on the rope here, then jump onto the rope to its right. The Mr. Scuba here
weill fire once you pass him. Jump to the righthand wall and climb up and you
will avoid his grenades. Aim up at the Dirk on the top screen. Wait for the
rocks to pass before making your enxt move.
Climb the lefthand wall and aim up. Kill the grenade dude once you're at the
top then aim up and to the right to take out the Dirk. The upgrade box around
here provides crush missiles. If you kept them from the start of the lab, then
by all means take them.
Let the rock fall before making your way up. The upgrade box holds a machine
gun. Take care not to stay to the left of the screen so as the grenade doof
doesn't smack you with a grenade.
Mr. Scuba again, but be more worried about the soldiers. Just aim up and fire
if they climb down your rope. Start this act by climbing all the way to the top
of the central rope, then taking the righthand path. Things may change when you
shoot the blimb and reveal the spreadshot though, it is VERY useful in this
level's next segment.
When you make it onto the metal bridge, aim up and take out the suckers above
you. The first blimp is a laser so take it or leave it. The Dirks are less
threatening than the grenade tossers here, but you don't have room to be picky.
Just take care of everyone that appears.
***BOSS***
The boss sequence starts out with some stock enemies, but they are considered
by the game to be part of the fight. So, from the start stand a little ways
away formt he door, face it, and start firing when it opens. These stock troops
will go down fast.
There will then be four red Dirks. Take out two on one side as you run that way
then the other two safely pick off from across the screen. Now, two blue
grenade tossers will appear. Shot at them, and move when they toss and shoot
again. Keep it up and theyw ill soon be dead. Now, there are four black Dirks
appearing now. Run back and forth across the screen firing at them until one or
two drops. Jump to avoid the shots, or pause and move when they shoot. They may
not all shoot in tandem, however, so it's best to learn to move. Either way,
you only need to kill three as the boss kills the fourth.
This dude is straight out of Contra, but he has a major overhaul that is also
totally awesome. Aim at his head to damage him but watch out for the claws.
When he raises an arm, he'll be bringing it down - hard. Run and jump over the
purple shockwave. When it brings both arms together and moves down, run to the
opposite side of the screen and jump to avoid its tail.
It will then begin spewing balls of energy at you. You'll need to run between
the shots only once. Once one passes you, run past its position to avoid the
rest. This whole sequence is a great chance to rack up the damage on it. When
it slams the ground and pulls the platform up, run to its side and aim up.
Shoot the hell out of it from beside it - it spews the energy