Cluster Shell Cannon

The Cluster Shell Cannon is a recurring enemy in the Contra series. It is an automated artillery module that shoots a volley of projectiles upward that then rain down on the battlefield.

Appearances[]

Super Contra[]

Arcade

An automated artillery module with a triple-barreled cannon that is found about midway through Area 3, Deep Jungle. The device has its barrels aimed upward in an angle, and when the player approaches it, it will start launching triads of red colored rockets upward –one from each barrel–, which will then drop down and explode, each at a different distance and covering a wide area of the battlefield. The cannon isn't remarkably resilient, though, and just a few shots will be enough to destroy it.

NES

In the NES conversion of the game, Super C, the Cluster Shell Cannon is encountered about one third through the Jungle stage. The cannon now has a single barrel, although it is overall more dangerous than its arcade counterpart; it is notably more resilient and it now shoots a volley of seven orb-shaped bombs upward that then drop and rain all over the battlefield. In addition to this, some running enemies may still be able to enter the screen from the rearguard (depending on how much of the map has scrolled), which could pose a considerable threat amidst all the incoming fire.

If the player is carrying a powerful weapon (such as the Spread Gun at close range or the Flame Thrower), they may be able to just charge at the cannon to destroy it quickly and pass through its scrap remains before all the projectiles land and explode. Care must be taken not to be too hasty, though, as if the cannon is still exploding, the player may get caught in the blast. If, on the other hand, the player is carrying a weak weapon (like the Rifle or the Machine Gun), then it is advised to remain as far away from the cannon as possible and shoot it from afar, where they'll only have to jump over the explosion produced by the bomb that travels the farthest.

C: The Contra Adventure[]

In The Contra Adventure, the Cluster Shell Cannon acts as the first miniboss of the game. It is fought at the end of the City Rescue mission and attacks almost identically to its Super C counterpart. Although it is stationary, it defends itself by firing a spray of energy blasts into the air that then rain down on the battlefield.

Contra: Operation Galuga[]

The Cluster Shell Cannon only consists of a single-barrel launcher, being almost identical to its Super C appearance. They appear at the Village and alongside the GX Army onboard the Ice Train. One must be wary of these cannons' placement, as they tend to be placed on higher or lower elevations out of the commando's basic line of fire.