Two players, no mercy, and Mode 7 boss fights rotating around you. Konami's hardest and most beautiful 16-bit game.
Contra III: The Alien Wars launched on Super Famicom in February 1992, adapting the series to 16-bit hardware with a visual scope that went beyond what the NES entries had achieved. Two overhead stages — stages three and five — used Mode 7 to create rotating battlefield environments that placed the player at the center of a circling perspective: technically striking in 1992 and mechanically unusual for a run-and-gun game. The two-player cooperative mode, limited continues, and high enemy density maintained the series' identity as a game about precision and punishment. The North American version — sold as Contra III: The Alien Wars — slightly reduced difficulty from the Japanese release. The game is regularly cited as one of the finest action games on the Super Nintendo.
About this game
Released in Japan in February 1992, Contra III: The Alien Wars — known as Contra Spirits in Japan — is Konami's definitive Super Famicom action game and one of the finest run-and-gun titles ever made. Two commandos battle through a war-torn future Earth against an alien invasion, supported by the Super Famicom's Mode 7 rotation effect in the two overhead-view stages. The game exemplifies Konami's mastery of action game design, demanding precision while rewarding players with relentless spectacle.
Key Features
Two simultaneous players; dual-weapon carrying system; Mode 7 overhead stages with rotating environments; wall-grip mechanics for vertical stages; six stages with multiple distinct sections; two-player cooperative play with friendly fire; cinematic boss battles including a skyscraper descent and moving vehicles.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Contra III arrived at the dawn of the 16-bit era, showcasing the Super Famicom's hardware capabilities — particularly its Mode 7 rotation and scaling — in spectacular fashion. The game launched the SFC in North America alongside Super Mario World and F-Zero, representing Konami at the peak of its creative powers. Its precise controls and demanding but fair difficulty set a benchmark for action games that still stands.
Tricks & Tales
The European version, Super Probotector: Alien Rebels, replaced the human commandos Bill and Lance with robotic soldiers — a regional censorship decision applied to all Contra games in several European markets. The famous Konami Code (↑↑↓↓←→←→BA) does not appear in Contra III in its traditional form. The game uses the Super FX-adjacent SFX features of the SFC SNES chip to produce its rotating stages, which were considered technically extraordinary at the time.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Super Famicom and SNES region differences operate on two separate levels. First, there is a physical incompatibility: a Japanese Super Famicom cartridge and a North American SNES cartridge have different shell shapes. NTSC-J (Super Famicom) carts are narrower and will not seat in a North American SNES slot without the slot's internal tabs removed or bypassed; conversely, the wider NTSC-U carts cannot even be inserted into a Super Famicom. Second, even where cartridges physically fit — PAL carts share a shell shape closer to Super Famicom and will insert — a lockout chip on the motherboard (F411 for NTSC, F413 for PAL) will prevent the game from booting on a mismatched console. Running a Super Famicom cartridge on a Super Famicom purchased in Japan is of course straightforward; playing it on a foreign console requires either a mod or an adapter that addresses both the physical and the chip-level lock.
Maintenance Tips
The 72-pin cartridge connector is the most common maintenance point. Clean the gold-plated pins on cartridges with a cotton swab and 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; never use abrasive erasers on cartridge contacts. The connector slot on the console itself can be cleaned by inserting and removing a cartridge several times, or with a dedicated pin cleaner. For video output, S-Video provides significantly cleaner image quality than composite and uses the same multi-out port -- a passive adapter cable is all that is required. On early SHVC board revisions, a capacitor near the power LED can leak; inspect the board if the console shows instability. Use the original AC adapter or a verified equivalent: the SFC runs on 10V DC and is not compatible with Famicom or NES power supplies.
Going deeper
More on keeping a Super Famicom / SNES alive, and what to check before you buy one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Contra III: The Alien Wars copies regularly.
Will this Japanese Super Famicom cartridge work on a North American Super Nintendo (SNES)?
No, not directly. The Super Famicom and SNES are incompatible in two ways: the cartridge shape differs (the SFC cartridge has a different width and notch layout), and both consoles include a regional lockout chip (the CIC chip) that rejects foreign cartridges. Third-party adapters exist that address both issues simultaneously by bridging the physical shape and bypassing the lockout chip. Some collectors modify their SNES console to disable the CIC chip entirely. A Japanese Super Famicom cartridge is always best paired with a Japanese Super Famicom.
How should I clean a Super Famicom cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold-plated edge contacts visible inside the cartridge's connector slot. Never blow into the cartridge. If the shell needs to be opened for deeper cleaning, Super Famicom cartridges use 3.8mm security game bit screws — the same proprietary screw as the Famicom. Standard Phillips screwdrivers will not fit and will strip the screw heads. Clean gently and allow the contacts to dry fully before reinserting the cartridge.
How do I check whether a Super Famicom cartridge is authentic?
Several details distinguish authentic cartridges from reproductions. Authentic Super Famicom cartridges use proprietary security screws — visible Phillips head screws indicate the shell has been opened or replaced. The Nintendo logo on the back of an authentic cartridge is embossed (raised into the plastic), not printed or applied as a sticker. Natural UV yellowing of the gray plastic, consistent with the cartridge's age, is expected on genuine copies; uniformly pristine white plastic on a 30-year-old cartridge is a warning sign. The QA certification stamp on the back label of an authentic cartridge is a pressed indentation, typically absent on bootlegs. For high-value titles, cross-referencing PCB markings and chip date codes with verified collector databases is recommended.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Contra III: The Alien Wars
A short checklist for buying a used Super Famicom cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Super Famicom cartridge; its shell is shaped differently from the North American SNES and will not fit without modification.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Confirm it is genuine, not a reproduction
Sought-after titles are targets for reproduction boards with replacement labels.
Ask for a photo of the circuit board and look for factory markings. Favour a shop with a licensed second-hand dealer permit (古物商) — by law its stock has a traceable origin, your simplest guard against fakes.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what it's selling for on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
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