Operation C (1991). Play online

Summary

Operation C (known as Contra in Japan and Probotector in PAL regions) brings the classic run‑and‑gun feel to the Game Boy. The game alternates between side‑view stages (1, 3, 5) and top‑down stages (2, 4), a layout that echoes its NES predecessor Super C while squeezing plenty of action onto a portable screen. Auto‑fire comes standard, eliminating the old machine‑gun pickup and letting players focus on movement; the familiar Spread Shot can be upgraded to a five‑way blast, and a new Homing Gun chases enemies for extra coverage.

Aside from the core weapons, the Laser Rifle and Barrier power‑ups are gone, leaving only the Spread Shot, Fire Gun and Homing Gun. The Fire Gun shoots straight bolts without charge, keeping the combat fast‑paced. A hidden stage‑select menu can be unlocked with the classic Konami Code in the US version, while the Japanese cartridge lets players start at any of the first four levels outright.

Operation C survived beyond its original cartridge, appearing in the Konami GB Collection (1997‑2000) and the 2019 Contra Anniversary Collection on modern consoles and PC, complete with Super Game Boy borders or Game Boy Color support depending on the region. Its blend of familiar music and varied viewpoints makes it a standout handheld entry in the long‑running Contra series.

Storyline

In Operation C for Game Boy, players step into the boots of Bill Rizer (renamed Lance in the U.S. version) to infiltrate an enemy base that is secretly storing an alien cell. The mission is to neutralize the hostile force before the alien material can be turned into a weapon.

In the Japanese release the enemies are identified as the army of an unnamed hostile nation seeking to weaponize the alien cell, while the American version portrays them as minions of an alien entity called Black Viper. The protagonist must destroy the base and stop the alien cell from being used for destructive purposes.