Contra III: The Alien Wars

Contra III: The Alien Wars presents a scenario where humanity faces a renewed assault from the Red Falcon entity, previously believed defeated. Two soldiers named Jimbo and Sully are tasked with stopping this threat to prevent global extermination.

The game operates primarily as a side-scrolling action shooter, continuing the series' established format. A key expansion from earlier titles allows the player character to simultaneously equip two different weapons. While stationary, firing can be directed in eight separate directions, and the environment often features destructible elements.

Movement capabilities extend beyond running and jumping to include climbing on certain walls and using poles for traversal. The gameplay occasionally shifts perspective, incorporating top-down stages that require completing specific mission objectives rather than straightforward lateral advancement. Other diversions from the core run-and-gun formula include sequences where the protagonist operates a tank or rides a motorcycle.