Contra 4

Prototype Info

Debug Menu#

Please elaborate. Having more detail is always a good thing. Specifically: Document the menu.

US	Japan

By using Action Replay code 221C???? 00000006 where ???? is D850 (US) or E000 (JP) and restarting the game, a debug menu becomes accessible. This menu is very similar to the one in the leaked European prototype.

NOTE: Turn the cheat off before entering any of the options.

The most interesting selection in the debug menu is the GYM entry, a very preliminary stage featuring unused content. It is the only entry that sends you to a part of the game not accessible in regular play. Some interesting features (note that the Top Screen on the DS is actually blank in-game):

A different "Meat Puppet" enemy variant and a footsoldier with an incorrect palette.

Numerous interesting tidbits. A different gun turret; strangely, a piece of the weapon box tile from NES Contra; a different "Proboterror" enemy.

Winged angel enemies that shoot upwards.

A flame thrower enemy. One would imagine these guys would have been in the Laboratory stage (in the lab section), or in the start of the final level.

Unused Graphics#

TEST_LEVEL_1.TS8#

file:Contra 4 Test Level 1.PNG
Soldier and player sprites. The background at the bottom is the scrolling waterfall background from the second level, with a different palette.

UNKNOWN_IMAGE.TS8#

A simple image placeholder.

Regional Differences#

Title Screen#

USA	Japan

Face#

A developer's self-portrait that was snuck into the background right before the final boss was noticed and removed in the Japanese version.