Overview:
- Estimated achievement difficulty: 6/10
- Offline: 10 [170]
- Online: 2 [30]
- Number of missable achievements: None
- Number of glitched achievements: None
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 2
- Do cheat code disable achievements: Yes
- Does difficulty affect achievements: Yes

Introduction:
This could be the quickest 200 you ever earn, or it could take you awhile. People who play Contra tend to fall into two categories: the people that have been playing it for the past twenty years and know it better than their own phone number or the people who are not so familiar with it and will require A LOT of practice. So, if, like me, you are not so great at the game and do not know the levels very well, I have three words for you, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and more PRACTICE. You're going to need to because for a small arcade game it certainly takes no prisoners!

NOTE that to obtain achievements in the game you cannot use the classic Konami code and all of the game settings must be set to default.

Abbreviated Walkthrough:
Start off by having a play through or two of the game, which won’t take long at all, just to learn the levels, bosses and what weapons. You will most certainly unlock the "Armory" achievement along the way along with "Infiltration", perhaps even some others.

Now it's time to get a bit more serious. Get to the first tunnel without losing a life. As long as you get the scatter gun at the very beginning of the first level and take it nice and slow you should be fine and will unlock "Untouchable". Since you are at the first tunnel may as well get "Tunnel Runner 1" while you are here. Just beat it as quick as you can making sure the timer does not go past 33 seconds. Just take out the detonator buttons and ignore everything else. Carry on playing until you get to the second tunnel and beat it as quick as you can this time making sure the timer does not go past 55 seconds to unlock "Tunnel Runner 2".

Now quit and start a new game and make your way back to the second tunnel, but along the way make sure you do not pick up any power ups to unlock "Tough Guy" and make sure you gain as many points as you can. Now at the second tunnel, every time you see a guy in yellow kill it to receive a power up. Do this three times and you will unlock "Well Equipped". However, it needs to be three different power ups and may take you more than one attempt to do. I got it on my third as the first two times he kept giving me the same single weapon, eventually he gave me three completely different ones and the achievement unlocked, I’m guessing he is programmed to give you a random weapon each time. As long as you gained more than 100,000 points you will also unlock "Proficient" if you have not already done so.

Now comes the hard part, blitz through the game as quickly as you can in less than 12 minutes to unlock "Full Assault". You will not have time to build up points and lives so you’re going to have to make do with the bare minimum of lives and continues, time is not the problem here, the problem is staying alive while rushing through the game.

Next comes the even harder part, you now need to complete the game without using a continue. This is the hardest achievement in the game. Remember that you gain lives as you earn points, so boost kills as much as you can - the start of the first level is great. With a lot of practice you will unlock "Bulletproof".

Now time to mop up the final two achievements online, note that it cannot be a private match. Simply earn 100,000 to unlock "Team Work" and complete the game to unlock "Partnership". It’s difficult to find a game sometimes, so use the forums to find people to help you, or send me a friend request and a message and I will be more than happy to help.

Conclusion:
Remember that practice is everything on contra, and when you think you have practiced enough, practice some more just for good measure!

[XBA would like to thank xentaria for this Roadmap]

 

Contra Achievement Guide

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There are 12 achievements with a total of 200 points

  • Armory

     

    10

    Collect 4 different weapon power-ups.

      

    Easiest achievement in the game. You can get this by playing through the first level and collecting the weapon upgrades hidden in panels or little football shaped things that fly by the screen.

  • Score 100,000 points in an Xbox Live Co-op game.

    Get on live with a buddy (or just jump in any game) and hit 100K in points without losing all your lives. Make sure its not a private match or you will not receive this achievement.

  • Get to the first tunnel without losing a life.

      

    The first tunnel is at the end of the very first level. Once you memorize where evertyhing is, you shouldnt have a problem finishing level 1 without dying. Tip: Its easier to stay on the lower section of the level, just take your time and you'll do alright.

  • Beat the first timed tunnel with 33 seconds or more left.

    (1)  

    Once you get to the first tunnel after level 1, you must beat the level before the clock counts down past the 33 second mark to get this achievement. Go right for the detonator button you have to shoot to blow the wall up and you won't have a problem.

  • Destroy the alien tower at the end of the water level.

      

    You will know you are at the water level when you have to ascend up the level via platforms in front of a waterfall. Make it to the top and destroy the alien tower for this achievement.

  • Beat the second timed tunnel with 55 seconds or more left.

    (1)  

    Use the same tips as the first tunnel runner, only this tunnel is a little trickier. Avoid getting killed as much as possible and right off the bat start shooting the detonator button.

  • Collect 3 different weapons in the second tunnel.

      

    The 2nd tunnel is right after the waterfall level. To get a different weapon you must stay in a particular room until a yellow guy appears from the side, jumping up and down across the screen. He's not hard to miss visually, but he's difficult to aim at. Shoot him down and collect the weapon upgrade he leaves behind. This guy only appears once per room so make sure you get him when he comes out. Collect 3 upgrades throughout the tunnel for this achievement.

  • Get to the second tunnel without obtaining a single weapon upgrade.

      

    This can get tricky at times because sometimes you accidentally grab weapon upgrades. You must get through levels 1, 2, and 3 without collecting ANY power ups. You can't even get a Base Shield. Don't touch anything and defeat the alien tower at the end of the waterfall level for this achievement.

  • Complete the second tunnel with a score of 100,000 or more in Arcade mode.

    Basically, you must start from the beginning, make it to the second tunnel and complete it without continuing (bc your score will reset if you do). You'll easily rack up 100K before the end of the tunnel, and if you make it out alive youll get this achievement.

  • Complete the game in Xbox Live Co-op mode.

    You cannot be in a private match. This can be tough but with a lot of practice and memorization you can get it. If 1 player so happens to make it while the other one got a Game Over earlier, only the person to finish will get the achievement.

  • Complete the game in Arcade mode using only 1 credit.

    Got this my second try only because I've been playing this game for 20 years. I know the levels like the back of my hand, and with practice you will too. Stay alive as much as possible and KILL KILL KILL. You will receive extra lives based on points. Know when to duck, slow down, run, where to shoot, when to shoot... The spread Gun works GREAT during the levels, but the laser will take down a boss before you can blink your eye. Good Luck, its pretty tough for a Contra beginniner. Practice makes (almost) perfect!

  • Complete the game in under 12 minutes.

      

    You have 2 continues to work with here, and if you have a lot of practice, if you memorized the game and can be quick about it, this achievement will come easy. If you're having trouble don't sweat it... Contra is a game thats tough on beginners to the series. You don't get too many lives, but the more you kill the better off you are because you will gain extra lives based on your points.

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