About

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Operation C (known as Contra in Japan and Probotector in Europe) was the first handheld exclusive <a data-ref-id="3030-4350" href="/contra/3030-4350/">Contra</a> game in the franchise. Released in February of 1991 in North America and January 8, 1991 in Japan, Operation C was developed by <a data-ref-id="3010-87" href="/konami-corporation/3010-87/">Konami</a> and published by Konami, <a data-ref-id="3010-1390" href="/ultra-games/3010-1390/">Ultra Games</a>, and <a data-ref-id="3010-460" href="/mattel-electronics/3010-460/">Mattel</a> (in varying countries). Operation C was later released in Konami's <a data-ref-id="3045-3" href="/game-boy/3045-3/">Game Boy</a> compilation cartridge titled <a data-ref-id="3030-41149" href="/konami-gb-collection-vol-1/3030-41149/">Konami GB Collection Vol. 1</a>, which was released in Japan and Europe.</p><p>The three versions of the game differed in a few ways. Naturally, Probotector replaced the human character with RD008, the robot from the two NES Probotector games. In the Japanese release, there was a stage select that made the first four stages accessible at any time. This stage select is only accessible by usage of the <a data-ref-id="3015-544" href="/konami-code/3015-544/">Konami code</a> in the North American and European releases.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>Operation C is a traditional run and gun shooter. Just as with the rest of the famously difficult Contra games, Operation C has numerous enemies, massive boss fights, and stages designed specifically to challenge the player. Operation C only has three power-ups (spread shot, fire gun, and homing, the third of which is introduced in this game), although the spread shot can be upgraded if it is picked up multiple times.</p>