In the long run, we knew the game would need to stay current in order to retain users. The classic Contra elements include the spread gun, jump flips, red pants, blue pants, and the exciting shooting battles.

Instead, they look for the feeling that they once had when playing this game in their childhood. We also have an abundance of content designed to keep players engaged.ĭo you prefer to restore the original game experience, or try to experiment with new play modes?Īlthough we expect players to be drawn to the game by the nostalgia of the classic Contra, we found they don’t want or need the exact game experience. This depth elevates Contra: Returns to a game that can sustain for 1 month, 1 year, or even 10 years, with playable levels and PVP modes that can support a long-term game experience. In terms of play modes, we’re planning to add more depth to the 8-level game through more strategic game battles. In this new game, our two heroes look more like partners.

We have upgraded the art and added more content, building a new world story and adding more heroes as the story progresses so that each character will have their own stories and social network. The memorable soundtracks will also be coming back so players will be reminded of those classic moments when playing the levels. Ultimately, we decided to keep the original control experience in single games and restore some elements from the classic game: the red pants, blue pants, and some of the bosses. When working with this type of IP, the biggest challenge is how to balance the classic elements with extending the mobile experience so that players can recall their fond memories of the franchise, but be motivated to play in the long term. Contra and Super Contra were very popular at launch in the late 80s and early 90s, its fixed screen format and a pseudo-3D view left an impact on players. What’s the biggest challenge in bringing the classic Contra experience to mobile platforms?Ĭontra is a classic game series. We recently had a chance to chat with the Contra Returns team at TiMi Studio Group about the game and discussed the challenges in bringing it to mobile, the free-to-play model it uses and more.

The release looks to evoke those nostalgic feelings whilst introducing new elements to the franchise. So, its arrival on mobile has been highly anticipated by players. It's a highly regarded IP that creates strong feelings of nostalgia in folks. Contra Returns has launched for iOS and Android devices globally, following a four-year stint of China-only availability.

New contra game