Super C

The aliens are back, and so are Bill and Lance. Super C is Konami's blistering NES sequel to Contra — a run-and-gun classic packed with relentless firefights, spread-shot mayhem, and two-player co-op — and all five stages run in this window for free, with nothing to download beforehand. Grab your gun, retake the base, and blast the alien menace. Hit the Play button to deploy, and read on for the gameplay, controls, and tips.

What Is Super C?

Super C is a run-and-gun action game produced by Konami, released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1990. It's the console version of the 1988 arcade game Super Contra and the direct sequel to the original Contra — if you loved our Contra page, this is the next mission. (In Europe and Australia it was released as Probotector II.)

Set a year after the first game, soldiers Bill Rizer and Lance Bean return to retake an allied military base that's been overrun by the same alien force — now possessing their former comrades. Like the original, it's famous for fast, punishing action that's even better with a partner.

How the Gameplay Works

Super C builds on Contra's run-and-gun formula with some welcome additions:

• Side-scrolling stages — the classic Contra view, now with inclined surfaces to climb and fight across.
• Top-down stages — replacing the original's over-the-shoulder "3D" levels, these overhead stages play like Commando or Ikari Warriors, with you blasting through enemy bases from above.
• Aim in 8 directions — fire straight, up, down, and diagonally to hit enemies wherever they appear.
• Weapon power-ups — grab the iconic Contra arsenal, including the beloved Spread shot (S), Machine Gun, Flame, and Laser, plus power-ups that boost your firepower.
• One-hit deaths — like all classic Contra games, a single hit costs a life, so dodging is as important as shooting.
• Two-player co-op — team up with a friend to tackle the alien army together.

The five-stage campaign spans a military base, a jungle, and the alien lair, capped by tough bosses.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and Super C is sitting on its title screen almost immediately. Then:

1. Choose one or two players for solo or co-op action.
2. Run and gun through side-scrolling and top-down stages.
3. Aim in eight directions to hit enemies above, below, and diagonally.
4. Grab weapon power-ups — the Spread shot is a fan favorite for crowd control.
5. Dodge everything — one hit ends a life — and defeat each stage's boss to advance.

The keyboard handles the whole game on a computer, and a USB or Bluetooth controller plugged in at any point is picked up by itself with the buttons where an NES pad had them. Phones and tablets get an on-screen NES pad instead, which is enough for all five stages — though holding a diagonal while firing asks a lot of one thumb.

Controls

Hold a direction while shooting to aim your fire that way; press jump with Down to drop to a lower platform. A connected gamepad uses the same assignments, and having jump and shoot on real buttons makes it much easier to hold a diagonal while firing.

Tips for New Players

• Grab the Spread shot. The S power-up's wide fan of bullets is the most reliable weapon for clearing the screen — prioritize it and protect it.
• Keep moving. One hit kills, so constant motion and jumping are your best defense — standing still gets you shot.
• Learn the patterns. Enemies and bosses attack in set patterns; memorizing them turns deadly stages into muscle memory.
• Play co-op carefully. Two players is a blast, but you'll share the screen — coordinate so you don't crowd each other into enemy fire.
• Use the diagonals. Eight-way aiming is crucial — practice hitting enemies above and at angles rather than only straight ahead.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

Super C is one of the greatest run-and-gun games on the NES — a worthy follow-up to Contra that's pure, intense action. Nothing stands between you and the first firefight: no cartridge to source, no console to wire up to a television. Since what runs is the original cartridge data, the side-scrolling and overhead stages, the whole weapon set and the simultaneous co-op all behave exactly as Konami built them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Super C free to play here? Yes. Press Play and all five stages run, side-scrolling and overhead alike, for nothing — no sign-up, no installer.

Is Super C the same as Super Contra? Yes — Super C is the North American NES name for the console version of the arcade game Super Contra, the direct sequel to Contra. In Europe it was called Probotector II.

When did Super C come out? Konami brought it to the NES in 1990, adapting their own 1988 arcade game. That NES cartridge is what runs here.

Can I play two-player co-op? Yes — like Contra, Super C supports two-player simultaneous co-op, which is the classic way to play.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. The on-screen pad copies the NES controller, though with one hit costing a life you may prefer a physical gamepad for the later stages, where you are aiming diagonally and jumping at the same time.

Ready for the next mission? Press Play and deploy.