1-1: Gigamech

Name: Gigamech the Ultimate Decisive Land Weapon (陸上最終決戦兵器ギガメック)

Location: Surface of base, around halfway through

Number of attacks: 2

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Low

Difficulty: *

The first miniboss appears near the end of the surface of the base, and is not particularly challenging. It has two types of weapons, which it generally uses at the same time. The first is a standard gun (which is also it's only weak point) that fires four bullets at a time. The second weapon is the set of mortar cannons mounted on the top. It launches six to eight mortar shots at a time, and red targets appear on the ground where they are going to land.

The mortar is very easy to avoid since you can clearly see where they are going to land beforehand. Simply do not stand on a red crosshair and you won't have a problem. Just make sure you don't run into the bullets when you are moving out of the way of the mortar.

The one and only weak point of the tank is the gun, which you should hit with your heavy weapons. Since it is a stationary target it’s very easy to hit with anything, even slow moving projectiles or your charge beam. One you hit it enough (it only takes a handful of hits with any heavy weapon) the entire tank will go down. Your best bet is to line your shot up and then hold the L2 button button down so you keep facing the same direction when you move. When your in line with the gun, fire off a shot and keep dancing around. If you’re playing as Katana Jaguar, simply wait for the gun to fire off a volley, and then run up to it and smash it with the sword.

1-2: Gegebonne the Saprophagous Head

Name: Gegebonne the Saprophagous Head (腐食顔ゲゲボンヌ Fushokugan Gegebon'nu)

Location: Inside the base

Number of attacks: 3

Number of attack cycles: 3

Number of targets: Entire body

Defense: Medium

Difficulty: **

Giant-mutant-killer babies have somehow become a standard Contra boss, and this game is not exception. This ugly mofo erupts from a shaft in the center of the room and remains there, so it isn't too hard to hit. It has three attacks, which it will use one after another. The first is to release a small swarm of insects which will fly around the room slowly towards you. After the swarm is defeated, the baby will vomit in your general direction. The vomit stays on the ground for a short time, and touching it will kill you. There are two volleys of vomit, so it will retarget you. For the third attack the baby will fire purple acid upwards and then die into the shaft before the acid hits. Once the acid dissipates the baby will reappear and send another swarm of insects after you.

The insect swarm can be the hardest to avoid, and what weapon set you are using matters a lot. If you have Lightening, the Katana, the 6V Laser, or the Fire Whip, use them and you'll be able to handle the insects with ease. Spread Shot and Machine Guns can also wipe out several insects at once, however they are a bit harder to handle. If you're using Weapon Set E you're going to have the hardest time. Keep firing off Reflect Lasers and concentrate on not getting backed into a corner or surrounded.

Avoiding the vomit and acid is a pretty simple matter, though there won't be any crosshairs telling you where it's going to hit. For the vomit, the first wave will be directly in front of, and right next to, the baby. The second time it will be at you, so simply move out of the way when you see it coming. The acid isn't much harder to avoid, except that it will land in random spots, so just watch out for it.

The entire baby can be damaged, so just hit it whenever you have an opening. You probably won't have a chance to while the swarm is out, so worry about them and ignore the baby. If you have a long range weapon you can hit the baby while it's vomiting, simply keep moving and firing. The best time to hit it, especially if you're using the Fire Whip, is when it’s firing acid. It takes a (relatively) long time to fire all of the acid, so simply find a good spot and fire away. once it drops into the shaft you can't hit it at all, so stop firing and start worrying about the acid. For following rounds you'll need to be extra careful because the acid will not disappear until the baby is ready to release more acid, so you have to navigate the pools while avoiding insects and vomit. It'll probably take two or three rounds to do enough damage, but it really isn't that hard of a boss.

1-3: Anti-Contra Tank Magnus Mark V

Name: Anti-Contra Tank Magnus Mark V (対コントラ戦車マグナスmkV Tai Kontora Sensha Magunasu Mk. V)

Location: Immediately after Big Baby

Number of attacks: 3

Number of attack cycles: 2

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Low

Difficulty: **

This boss fight will take place immediately after Gegebonnu as you are falling down the shaft it used to occupy. Despite being in free fall the controls remain exactly the same. This is a rather large machine, however the body is below you, so you only have to worry about the head. It can (and will) fire a massive laser from its head as it rotates around the shaft. After it discharges the laser, it will drop down below you and release a bunch of stationary spinning blades before reappearing and firing the laser again.

Once you do enough damage it will stop firing blades and extend two arms which carry smaller laser cannons. At this point it will alternate between firing the big center laser and the two parallel side lasers. The weak point is still the center laser cannon though.

The blades are fairly easy to dodge and they can be destroyed in a single shot from either your guns, the bosses laser, or the boss running into them (it doesn't damage the boss though). Just make sure you clear a path so you can run from the laser. The big laser takes a moment to charge, so just make sure you are not standing directly in front of the machine. Make sure you are not standing above the head when it releases the blades, or you will be killed when it reappears.

When it begins firing the parallel lasers, make sure you are standing in between them. Usually you can survive standing outside of them, however it is harder to hit the boss and occasionally it will be close enough to the edge of the screen that you will be trapped and killed. As soon and the parallel lasers stop move out from in front of the boss because the big laser is going to fire again.

Because it moves constantly, it is generally easier to hit it with heavy weapons. However the charge beam is probably your single best choice. While you're avoiding the laser, charge the weapon. Then when it stops you'll have an opening to unleash it. This is much easier and safer than having to move and aim at the same time. It should only take six fully charged hits to destroy the entire boss. The Katana isn't recommended for this boss since touching the head will kill you; it's much safer to keep your distance.

1-4: Tank Demon Titan (piloted by Guerrilla Contra)

Name: Tank Demon Titan (戦車魔人タイタン Sensha Majin Taitan)

Location: Bottom of shaft

Part 1 (Spider Form)

Number of attacks: 5

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 6

Defense: Medium

Difficulty: **

The first of the Elite Four rides a gigantic leaping mech. There are two Attack patterns, the first of which consists of jumping around the screen and firing three mortar cannons and a forward gun, all of which have to be destroyed with your lock on weapons. Before you destroy the four targets take out the mechs front legs. The legs don't do anything, however if you want to get 100% they have to be destroyed. Occasionally the mech will make a large leap directly at you and release energy orbs all around it when it lands.

The mortar cannons have the same crosshairs that give away their target locations that the green tank did, so like before just don't stand on a red crosshair. While the forward cannon doesn't have a crosshair, the fireball takes a second to hit the ground so you can see where it will land. The threat isn't the weapons so much as it is the mech itself. While you are fast enough to get out of the way before you get crushed, it can be close sometimes. The best strategy is to simply keep moving when it goes airborne so you won't be standing still when it lands.

First, use heavy weapons against the legs so you can get rid of them quickly and concentrate on the things that can actually kill you. Hold down the button to lock onto the targets while you are moving. Keep sweeping the mech and when all beams are locked, release it. If you are too close to the mech the beams won't move high enough in time and hit the sides of the mech, doing no damage. A solution is to either keep your distance, or turn and face away from the boss before releasing the beams. It will take quite a few hits to destroy everything, but it's a pretty simple fight. If you are using Weapon Set D then this boss is a joke since the lock-on weapons are so powerful and can't miss. Also, it should go without saying, but using the Katana to destroy the leg coverings isn't recommended. Once you destroy all of the targets the boss will move to the center of the area, so don't be standing there.

Part 2 (Bipedal Form)

Number of attacks: 4

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Low-Medium

Difficulty: **

Once you take out the four targets the mech will stand upright and begin leaping around the room. Aside from crushing you, it has several other attacks at this point, of which the most common is to stomp the ground knocking debris from the ceiling. Another one is to release a three-way short line of flames. The third attack is to make a faster than normal charge at you. When it makes a higher than normal leap it is about to release one of these special attacks. If it moves to the center it will knock debris and if it moves to the top it will release either the flame attack or charge you.

During this phase the mech is completely invincible; you are actually trying to kill the Contra controlling it. He will only emerge if the mech is disabled, which you can do by damaging the mech's legs. Once they take enough damage the mech will stop and Contra will pop out of the top and fire three heat seeking missiles at you. The Contra will only be out for a short time, but when he is, he is a lock on target. Once he fires the missiles he will go back into the mech and it will start jumping around again.

Avoiding the mech's leaps is much like it was during phase one, expect the mech covers a smaller area and doesn't release energy orbs at you. What makes it harder is that its primary attack is to leap at you, so it does it much more often and faster than in phase one. Keep moving and it won't be able to land on you. When it charges keep your distance and you'll be able to move out of the way in time. Likewise, keep your distance when it releases the flames; they are short range so they won't hit you. The debris is the hardest to avoid, however the pieces are small, so just keep an eye out for anything that is about to drop on you.

The best time to hit the mech's legs is when it lands, especially when it lands in the center of the area. Once Contra appears hold down the lock-on button and try to get all beams to lock on right away. Once you do, face away from the mech and release them. Contra will fire three missiles and only be out long enough to get one or two volleys off. Once the mech is restored the missiles will loose their heat seeking abilities and crash into the walls. The charge beam is probably your best weapon for destroying the legs and, as in phase one, the Katana is the worst.

2-1: Armed Jeep

Name: Armed Jeep (武装ジープ Busou Jiipu)

Location: End of highway

Number of attacks: 2

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Low

Difficulty: *

As you run along the highway, the camera will pan to a side view and this vehicle will appear along a parallel road on your character's left. You can't hit the boss with standard weapons because of the divide in the road, so you will have to you your lock-on weapons. It has two attacks, the main gun, which is an automatic weapon that releases its rounds in a straight line (the boss won't turn the gun while firing), and a grenade which the driver will occasionally lob at you.

The grenade can only hit the innermost part of the road you are on, so simply stay near the bottom of the screen whenever possible. The gun is also easy enough to avoid since it uses a laser scope to line up the target. Simply don't cross the light when it's about to fire and you won't be hit.

In order to lock onto the vehicle you'll have to hold down the lock-on button and move inward. Do this carefully since the driver tends to throw a grenade whenever you move too close. Once you've locked on all of your beams, face away from the boss and release them. If you release while facing the boss, there is a good chance the beams will hit the divider.

2-2: Air Bomber Geroika

Name: Air Bomber Geroika (爆撃機ゲロイカ Bakugekiki Geroika)

Location: After Armed Jeep

Number of attacks: 3

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 7

Defense: Low

Difficulty: **

Right after you destroy the Armed Jeep, a plane will drop out of the sky and pull ahead of you. The rear of the plane has seven targets: four propellers, two guns, and an enemy. The propellers don't do anything, however you will have to destroy them all if you want to get 100% on the level. The guns are a real threat since they fire quickly and it is hard to move around. The enemy in the back throws explosives at you, however you can easily see them coming. While the explosions are large, the guns are the biggest problem. The enemy is the actual weakness of the plane, and once you kill him the plane will leave.

While the guns are still around stay to one side of the screen. Once they fire move to the other end before the bullets arrive. The explosives aren't a real issue so simply not be in the spot where the barrel is going to land. They are only a problem if they get in the way of avoiding the guns, so deal with the guns first.

You have to use the lock-on beams for all seven targets, however since the targets are always directly ahead you don't need to keep sweeping back and forth to get all beams to lock-on. Stay to one side and keep locking on and destroying whatever you can. You'll probably destroy the two propellers on that side first, but if you get the gun first concentrate on the other side. Once both guns are destroyed take out any remaining propellers and then go after the bomber. Stay out of the middle when you are locking on to targets to ensure that you don't target the bomber. If you take him out too soon the plane will fly off and you will not get percentage points for undestroyed targets. Which weapon set you use doesn't really matter, however as with every other part of the game you'll have an advantage with Set D.

2-3: Earth Dragon

Name: Earth Dragon (嗚呼酢怒裸婚 Aasudoragon)

Location: Wall after highway

Number of attacks: 2

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Low

Difficulty: *

When the boss first appears it will be invincible but also unable to attack you. Instead it will follow you as you climb the wall. Once you kill or avoid all of the enemies popping out of windows, the boss will break out of its muzzle and start attacking you. There are also two cannons located on either side of the top of the screen that fire standard single shot bullets at you. The boss has two attacks - extending its neck out in order to bite you and releasing a wave of poisonous gas. The gas attack is the most common, as the boss will generally only try to bite you when you are in range.

Avoiding the bite attack is easy: just stay along the top of the screen and it won't be able to reach you. The gas is a bit harder to avoid since the wave is so wide. However, it starts breathing it along one edge of the screen and turns its head, spreading the cloud. Stay along the opposite side from where it first forms, and move downward. It takes a bit of timing, but if you do it right you'll be low enough on the screen that the gas will be above you by the time it gets to the left side. You can try and wedge yourself as far into the corner as possible, which usually works too. However if the cloud starts even a tinniest bit further from the edge than usually, the corner won't be safe.

If you are playing as Katana Jaguar then use the sword. Wait until it stops breathing the gas so the head doesn't hit you as you are attacking it. Once you get an opening start swinging; it only takes two or three hits. For other characters your best bet is to stay on the left and fire down and towards the head at an angle. Use the L2 button button to face the same direction as you move. Only the head can be damaged, but it's not to hard to hit if you maintain your aim. Heavy weapons are your best bet, but anything can kill it in a reasonable amount of time.

2-4: Mystery G

Location: Inside tower

Number of attacks: 3

Number of attack cycles: 3

Number of targets: Entire body

Defense: Medium

Difficulty: ***

This seemingly random character appears out of nowhere and begins attacking you. He has two guns and three types of attack, which he will use on you in sequence. First is his reflective lasers, which function like any other reflect laser in the history of video games. He fires them off in opposite directions and bounce around the room for while. The beams are quite large, but slow, so they aren't too hard to avoid. After the beams disappear he'll make a lunge or two at you and then begin using his Flame Whips. These Whips are much longer than yours (almost the length of the screen) and he has two of them. After spinning around with the whips for a while he'll start using the reflective lasers again.

The lasers move surprisingly slow, so they really aren't too hard to avoid. Unlike most battles you won't be moving around constantly, so stay put and simply step forward or backwards when they are in line with you. His lunge attack is very quick, and it’s very easy to get surprised by it if you don't see it coming. When he shifts position after the lasers fire, he's going to lunge, so back up and side step him when he charges.

The Flame Whips are the hardest part about this fight, especially since they move faster than you do when you're close to him. He will probably be near the edge of the room since this attack comes after charging you, so get to the opposite side. The Whips don't quite reach the edge, so you'll be safe if you can get there in time. If you get caught inside them, stay as far away from the boss as possible, and run with the Whips until he stops firing them or you can get to a safe spot.

The best time to hit him is as soon as the fight starts. When it begins you will be facing him, so hold down the L2 button button and fire with your heavy weapons. When he moves, keep the L2 button button down, move backwards and line up with him again. With luck (and a powerful weapon set) you can kill him before he starts the Flame Whips. If not, concentrate more on avoiding the whips than attacking him. Once he starts with the lasers again, go back to shooting him.

If you are using the Katana, he will go down in around six hits. It's possible to kill him before his first lunge, just be careful. Since you're going to be so close to him you won't be able to move out of the way when he does lunge.

2-5: Big Benny Plant

Name: Big Benny Plant (びっぐペニ植物 Biggu Beni Shokubutsu)

Location: After Mystery G

Part 1 (Budding Form)

Number of attacks: 3

Number of attack cycles: 2

Number of targets: Entire body

Defense: Low-Medium

Difficulty: *

Not only one of the dumbest looking stage bosses in the game, but the easiest. He begins closed up, and throws seeds at you, which become little plant things that walk around. He will then lunge at the spawns, killing them (and you if you don't move out of the way). Occasionally he will slap the ground with two vines, creating a large shockwave.

The spawns can be killed as soon as they hit the ground, and are slow moving, so they pose absolutely no threat. The only problem is when the boss lunges at the spawns. Simply do no be inline between the boss and spawn. The shock- waves are harder to deal with, but still very easy. The waves are created to nearby the boss, so stay along the edge of the room.

His entire body can be damaged, so simply begin firing as soon as the fight starts. Move out of the way to avoid the lunge and back into the middle to avoid the shock waves. In all likelihood you'll be able to destroy this portion of the boss before it uses the shockwaves at all. Heavy weapons are the best choice, and if you use the Katana chances are this phase will end before it can even launch the first spawn.

Part 2 (Blooming Form)

Number of attacks: 2

Number of attack cycles: 1

Number of targets: 1

Defense: Medium-high

Difficulty: **

After destroying the base, the flowery part will open up and the boss will become much more unpleasant. Now it will throw several seed pods on the ground which will all burst into a single bullet at the same time. The bullets are the standard ones that humanoid enemies fire, and the pods target your location when they burst. The bullets do no home, but there are quite a few on screen at once. To make things worse, two spikes are moving around the boss in circular motions, limiting your mobility and forcing you to constantly keep moving.

The bullets are easy enough to avoid, and you can destroy the pods before they burst. However, this takes time and you'll most likely only get one or two pods before they fire. The real threat is the spikes moving around the floor, which move increasingly faster as you damage the boss. Keep focused on your character, not the boss and move before you get hit by anything.

The boss's weak point is the flowery part, which can only be hit with lock on weapons. Don't pay any attention to the boss itself, instead just hold down the lock-on button and focus on avoiding things on the ground. Once you lock all of your beams release them and start requiring the lock-on for another volley. While not a particularly hard boss, it will take quite a few volleys to kill it, so be careful.