How to unlock Contra’s harder second loop
What happens after you beat NES Contra and how to unlock the harder second loop.
Original 1988 North American NES Contra. The 1987 arcade game has a different stage structure; Japanese Famicom presentation and PAL Probotector character replacements are outside this guide.
Second loop
Beat the final stage. After the credits the game restarts at Stage 1 with the lives you had left, and enemies are more numerous and aggressive.
Weapons
There is no weapon unlock. Every gun can be collected from capsules and sensors during the stages.
Stage select
The North American NES release has no stage select. The Japanese Famicom version has one.
More Contra quick answers
Contra Konami code: 30 lives on the NESWhere to find the Spread Gun and every Contra weaponUse the Konami code before a loop attempt. The second loop is much harder to finish with three lives.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.