Konami's portable Contra. Multidirectional fire, alien military levels, one-hit death. Short but snappy, more accessible than the NES build thanks to slightly toned-down difficulty. Excellent OST despite the Game Boy limits. A very good pocket run-and-gun for franchise fans.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Original run'n'gun developed specifically for Game Boy with commandos destroying an alien threat. Published by Konami, released in 1991 in Europe and North America. Horizontal and platform levels designed for Game Boy, special weapons to collect, 2-player mode, and frantic action.
First portable Contra release in North America, given the distinct Operation C title that sets it clearly apart from the PAL Probotector and the Japanese editions. Konami renamed the franchise to dodge Iran Contra political associations, a well known editorial footnote that turns the cart into a checkpoint for Contra collectors. The US run was reasonable, but the Konami cardboard box with intact manual stays sought after among completists.
Is Operation C still worth playing in 2026?
This portable Contra keeps the essentials intact: edgy multidirectional shooting, one-hit deaths and a brisk run through military stages and alien bases. The difficulty is slightly softened compared to the NES, which today makes the pacing easier to settle into without too much frustration. The soundtrack holds up impressively given the Game Boy's two channels, enemy patterns stay readable and each run is short enough to invite another try. For run and gun fans and Konami devotees, it remains a genuinely defensible handheld companion.
