Relive the Rush of Contra – TheMexicanRunner‘s Journey to Save the Planet in Mere Minutes

For over 30 years, the Contra series has built a reputation among gamers for serving up ruthlessly difficult run-and-gun action that is nevertheless highly addictive. I want to welcome you into this beloved franchise and showcase the incredible talents of speedrunner TheMexicanRunner across multiple games.

Contra’s Legacy: Uncompromising Action that Punishes Every Mistake

Contra first invaded arcades in 1987 before becoming a breakout hit on the Nintendo Entertainment System. As a classic “quarter muncher” meant to gobble coins from desperate players, Contra pulls no punches. Hordes of aliens, robots, and towering bosses storm the screen. One hit removes a life, power-ups vanish quickly, and 30 lives evaporate fast.

Yet what makes Contra iconic versus unfair is the refined gameplay. Your rifle-toting commando controls like a dream with smooth runs, jumps, shoots, and ladder climbs. The vibrant sci-fi stages dazzle as you dodge nonstop bullets. Contra captures a euphoric action high unmatched even today. Its legacy persists via the Konami Code (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start) to grant 30 precious lives.

Contra‘s smooth side-scrolling action punishes every mistake (via Videogame Footage/YouTube)

The series evolved with later entries on 16-bit consoles before fading away (outside re-releases) by the early 2000s. However, Contra remains hallowed ground for generations of gamers. It represents the pinnacle of "Nintendo Hard" difficulty but executed fairly through pinpoint design.

The Thriving Retrogaming Contra Speedrunning Community

Thanks to emulators and streaming, Contra now enjoys a thriving speedrunning scene decades later. Players compete to blast through levels seeking world record times across three primary categories:

• Any% – Fastest overall finish using any gameplay strategies
• Low% – Completing the game with the fewest power-up collection milestones
• Two-Player – Teamwork for fast cooperative times

The leaderboards also recognize the original Japanese Famicom release versus the North American NES version since movement speed differs between regional roms.

For those learning speedrun techniques, Contra makes for an excellent training ground. The straightforward objective of "run right & shoot stuff" minimizes complex routing. Yet battling Contra demands pattern recognition mastery given relentless enemies and spraying bullets. Players memorize level layouts, boss weak points, weapon damage values, and more through endless grinding. Top runners play with almost rhythmic grace ‒ an mesmerizing flow state blending skill, reflexes, and muscle memory.

Contra III speedrun showcasing advanced player skills (via Speedrunner0095/YouTube)

The Brilliance of Contra’s Technical Design on Hardware

Contra‘s acclaimed smoothness seems basic today but this came from ingenious technical design. Game director Nobuya Nakazato (and his team) made the NES sing via:

• Masterful sprites – Hero and enemy designs minimized on-screen objects to aid rendering
• Clever backgrounds – Layers parallax scroll at varying speeds for depth
• Efficient coding – Lean visuals and audio enhanced fluidity within limitations
• Tools for speed – Game engine optimized to avoid slowdown with only 5 bugs found so far!

This efficiency squeezed impressive graphics and sound from the ageing NES in 1988 as Contra hit shelves late in its lifecycle. Yet the nuanced action still impresses versus even some modern games. Contra proves perfecting simple core mechanics – running, jumping, shooting – makes games truly timeless. Fancy graphics never replace smooth controls.

Who is TheMexicanRunner? A Speedrunning Veteran Pushing Limits

Among today‘s elite Contra speedrunners is Luis “TheMexicanRunner” Alvarado. Beginning competitive runs in 2008 on Castlevania, he has claimed dozens of world records over 200+ completed games! His precise practice over years lets TMR extract unthinkable performance whether tackling ninja reflexes demanded by NES Ninja Gaiden or patient pacing needed for turn-based RPG grinds.

While soft-spoken outside runs, his concentration manifests almost as a gaming trance state while manipulating controllers. His hyper-focus blurs hands to hypnotic levels eliminating wasted frames. Despite such zen concentration, joy radiates watching TMR blast through childhood favorites.

TheMexicanRunner remains laser focused across countless speedrun triumphs (via ESA Marathons/YouTube)

This mastery comes not from raw gaming "talent" per se but tireless pattern recognition. He dissects enemy movements, optimal paths, resource management and more until pure instinct guides fingers. Thousands of attempts hone supernatural reflexes and unconscious competence. Outsiders see only the tip of the iceberg regarding grueling preparatory training.

Blazing Through Contra in Mere Minutes: TMR’s ESA Showcase

During the online ESA Summer 2021 marathon, Luis AKA TheMexicanRunner utterly demolished the NES port by beating Contra in a stunning 20 minutes 41 seconds! Right from the start, his effortless aim, constant movement, and daring navigation make Contra look like child’s play rather than the NES’ epitome of “Nintendo Hard” difficulty that reduced us ‘80s kids to tears.

By Level 3’s Base interior, TMR enters full rhythm. His pattern recognition grows precognitive enabling risky dashes under laser gates and hops over robot walker strafes. Gatling gun pick-ups then shred bosses like Tetristars in under 15 seconds rather than the multiple minutes novices may spend cowering. Textbook jump timing across vanishing platforms shows utter comfort stretching Contra’s limits.

TheMexicanRunner makes everything in both Contra games and life appear achievable through step-by-step consistency. As he explains, even milestones like a marathon-length run come by stringing minutes back-to-back. We watch him achieve 50 small objectives, not one major feat. This mindset fuels improvement. Spectators gain more than mere entertainment seeing TMR play. We witness human potential fulfilled through purposeful practice.

Watch TMR‘s full ESA Summer 2021 speedrun above!

More Contra For Your Fix: SNES, DS, Xbox 360 & More

Beyond the NES original, there are several other stellar Contra games that capture the same addictive spirit:

• Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES) – Considered one of the best Run N‘ Gun games ever made, this brutal 16-bit classic added exciting mechanics like grabbing onto railings and two-hitpoint health bars.

• Contra 4 (Nintendo DS) – Konami revived the series wonderfully for Nintendo‘s distinctive dual-screen handheld. Features eight stages all rendered in 3D for maximum sensory overload.

• Hard Corps: Uprising (Xbox 360/PS3) – A magnificent Contra revival by famed fighting game studio Arc System Works. This super polished side-scroller delivers the frantic 2D action fans crave.

I hope this guide has shed new light on Contra whether this classic first delighted you back in the late 1980s or feels like a fresh discovery today. Core gameplay innovations separate excellent games across generations rather than mere visuals. Both newcomers and devoted fans should keep an eye out for Luis “TheMexicanRunner” Alvarado during marathon events like European Speedster Assembly (ESA). Seeing TMR tackle childhood favorites still feels like watching magic unfold.