Infidelity's SNES Port Of Contra Force Beta Now Available
A playable Super Nintendo port of the controversial NES title Contra Force has been released in beta by specialist Infidelity. This conversion brings the North America-exclusive 1992 game natively to 16-bit hardware, complete from start to finish, with only original music samples awaiting final.
A new, fully playable Super Nintendo port of the maligned 1992 NES title Contra Force has been released by veteran porter Infidelity. The developer announced the beta version's availability via Twitter, stating the project is playable from start to finish, with only the conversion of the original DPCM music samples to the SNES's BRR format remaining.
📜 A Game With An Identity CrisisContra Force was never intended to be a Contra game. It was originally developed as a separate title called Arc Hound for the Japanese Famicom. After its cancellation in Japan, Konami rebranded it for a North American NES release in 1992, slapping the Contra name on it to leverage the series' popularity, despite its vastly different theme and gameplay.
Infidelity has built a formidable reputation for expertly translating 8-bit Konami classics to the 16-bit hardware, having previously brought titles like Life Force and Gradius to the Super Nintendo with impressive accuracy. This latest project tackles one of the franchise's most curious entries. Originally developed under the name Arc Hound and cancelled in Japan, the game was rebranded as a Contra title for its North American release. It swapped the series' iconic alien-blasting for urban counter-terrorism, a departure that, combined with its slower, more strategic gameplay, led to a lukewarm reception from fans accustomed to the run-and-gun chaos of Contra and Super C.
Hello everyone!
— infidelity (@infidelity_nes) December 13, 2025
Here is the first beta of my Contra Force port to the SNES. The only thing that is missing, are the orchestral DPCM samples for all the bgm tracks. Those will be converted to BRR samples. This port is playable start to finish.
Enjoy!https://t.co/rYTGYbCPfJ pic.twitter.com/NXaPOwSB4i
The port's existence highlights the enduring fascination with gaming's oddities. While Contra III: The Alien Wars on the SNES is rightly celebrated as a pinnacle of the series, this project offers a chance to re-evaluate a title that has lived in the shadow of its predecessors. For collectors and enthusiasts, it represents a fascinating 'what if' scenario, presenting the 1992 game as it might have appeared had it been designed for the 16-bit console from the outset.
The beta can be downloaded now, allowing players to experience this unconventional chapter of Contra history with the visual and audio polish of the Super Nintendo. It serves as a testament to the dedicated preservation and creative reimagining happening within the retro community, giving a second life to titles that once defined the edges of a beloved franchise.
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