Contra 3
Snes Cheats
Contra 3 The Alien Wars
Cheats & Endings

Konami has a special place in my heart and the hearts of retro gamers, and it’s not hard to see why. Their ability to create intense, engaging, and downright fun games has stood the test of time, and Contra 3: The Alien Wars is a shining example of this. While I didnt exactly spend my childhood playing this as much as some. I put some serious time in during school holidays in the summer of 95′. The Contra series is possibly one of the best run”n”gun series ever made.
The Alien Wars Story
“Let’s Attack Aggressively” Such a great quote and one that will stand the test of time. I don’t know it’s possible not to in Contra 3. But anyway…
Contra 3 hit the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and immediately turned heads with its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and cooperative fun. The Alien Wars took what made the original Contra a hit and turned it up to eleven, with improved graphics, more weapons, and larger-than-life bosses.
The arcade style run and gun was similar to that of Metal Slug another game that stole so much money from me as a kid. But the bosses were mental, crazy effects and attacks that in some way forced me to stop playing at one point – I was so pissed at the game.
So Contra 3 was set in the year is 2636. Red Falcon has now declared an all-out war on humanity. Bill “Mad Dog” Rizer and his partner Lance “Scorpion” Bean must now battle Red Falcon once again and drive the aliens off the face of the Earth.
I only learnt recently that each region had their own hereos.
Levels – Six? Is that it?
Right so here is the thing, games in the 90’s were design to be finished. While they weren’t all easy they had an ending that they wanted everyone to get to. Unlike todays games built on feeding the dopamine machine. But Contra 3 The Alien Wars released with only six levels and didn’t seem like much, but god damn this was hard.
Stage 1:
The Streets of the Damned – Starting off strong, this level throws everything at you, from soldiers and tanks to alien dogs. The chaos is real!
Stage 2:
The Hardest Yard – Things get even trickier here with added verticality, challenging players to climb and fight simultaneously.
Stage 3:
The Factory of Terror – Conveyor belts and deadly traps add a new layer of difficulty in this industrial nightmare.
Stage 4:
The Underground Catacombs – A subterranean maze filled with enemies and environmental hazards. Easy to get lost and overwhelmed.
Stage 5:
The Aerial Assault – Taking to the skies, this level challenges your reflexes and agility to the max.
Stage 6:
The Alien’s Lair – The final showdown. Intense, challenging, and the ultimate test of your Contra skills.
Each level brings its own set of challenges and memorable moments, if you can make it to the Aliens Lair in one life (I have seen it done) you game play is unmatched by meer humans. God like.


Contra The Alien Wars Cheats
Okay so here is the deal. The more I write about games I loved as a child there is a recurring theme. Cheats. Yep, I feel like games I played back as a kid always needed cheats to complete. That may have to do with the fact that most didnt have a save option. Contra 3 is no different.
Whether you’re looking for a leg up or just want to have some fun, Contra 3 has a few tricks up its sleeve. Here are some cheats and unlockables to enhance your playthrough:
30 Lives – At the title screen, hold down A + B + X + Y on controller 2 and then press Start on controller 1. If done correctly, you’ll start the game with 30 lives.
Stage Select – At the title screen, press Down, Down-Left, Left, Up-Left, Up, Up-Right, Right, Down-Right, Down, Down-Left, Left, Up-Left, Up, Up-Right, Right, Down-Right, Down, Down-Left, Left. A sound will confirm if you’ve entered it correctly.
Sound Test – Highlight “Options” at the main menu, then hold L + R on controller 2 and press Start on controller 1.
Definitely makes the game a little easier lol. That being said I still love the challenge of this game even with 30 lives.
Contra III Glitches & Bugs
Ever stumbled upon a level skip or a boss battle that left you scratching your head? Well, I’ve got a couple of stories that might just make you look at these games a little differently. Contra 3 had some really wild glitches…
The Accidental Level Skip
Picture this: you’re down to your last life in the game, your screen fades to black, and you’re ready to toss your controller in frustration. But wait, what’s this? Instead of the dreaded Game Over screen, you’re greeted with a Level Clear message. Talk about a stroke of luck!
Here’s the scoop: the game uses the same function to pull up the Game Over and Level Clear screens. It all hinges on your remaining lives. If you somehow manage to gain a life as the screen goes dark after losing your last one, the game thinks you’ve aced the level and voila – you’ve skipped it!
Pulling this off? It’s like threading a needle while riding a rollercoaster. You need to know the game’s point system like the back of your hand, and time it just right so that you lose your last life but snag an extra one with a well-timed Bomb. It’s tricky, but when it works, it’s a thing of beauty. Just a heads up, though: if you do this on the final stage, you’ll miss the ending sequence and jump straight to the score screen.
Brain Boss and Its Quirky Hitbox
Moving on to our brainy boss battle, there’s a phase where these menacing rolling rocks seem to have a mind of their own. But guess what? There are two secret spots where you can hunker down and avoid getting squashed. The first one’s on the far left of the screen, and it’s a breeze to stay put. The second? Right next to the brain itself. It’s trickier, but it’s a goldmine for speedrunners since you can unleash a ton of damage quickly.
The Brain Boss Battle… That Isn’t So Tough?
And here’s a fun fact: the Brain Boss might have a coding hiccup. If you drag out the battle without dealing damage, it seems like the boss gets weaker, as if it’s taking hits when it’s not. So when you finally get around to attacking, a few good hits and boom – it’s lights out for the boss. Bizarre? Absolutely. But hey, that’s the charm of these old-school games.

Morter4k
Publishing Editor & Author
Check his full bio here. Gaming is in his blood.
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