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This page is about the alien army. For the giant worm-like alien leader originally known in western releases as "Red Falcon", see Java.

Red Falcon (レッド・ファルコン Reddo Farukon?) is a terrorist military organization which acted as the original main antagonist of the Contra series. Their ranks are comprised in part of brainwashed and well armed human military forces, as well as various alien life forms that control the former.

The aliens initially arrived on Earth inside a meteorite that fell on the Galuga Archipelago, near the coast of New Zealand. They then proceeded to fortify the place and used it as their main base of operations. They also brainwashed the local human army in order to do their bidding; gathering forces and staging a couple of invasion attempts which would eventually culminate on what was known as the "Alien Wars", an intergalactic conflict that would result in the destruction of most of the planet and the loss of countless lives from both sides.

The organization's goal was initially thought to be the annihilation of the human race, in order to make way for the aliens to claim the planet as their own and repopulate it with their brethren. However, things actually weren't as they first seemed.

History

Gryzor Opening Cutscene 1

The meteorite containing the alien threat approaching Earth.

As revealed in Contra: Shattered Soldier, the real reason why the Red Falcon Army targeted Earth, was because the Triumvirate —Earth's highest level in the Government— stole an artifact of immeasurable power from a shrine on Jupiter prior to the events of the first game. The alien army that would eventually be known as the "Red Falcon" was this relic's defensive program; should it be stolen from its resting place, they were to activate and retrieve it at all costs.

The army's first known leader was an entity known as Emperor Demon Dragon God Java. Java arrived on Earth in 2633 AD inside a meteorite that fell in the Galuga Archipelago, near the coast of New Zealand. They fortified the place, using it as their main base of operations, and brainwashed the local human army in order to do their bidding.

It is never explained if the Galuga army was already called "Red Falcon" prior to Java's arrival, or if they rebranded themselves as such after the aliens took over. Likewise, it is unclear if the aliens started to brainwash their troops as the first step of their invasion plan, or if the humans first attempted to take control of the aliens and their technology for their own (presumably nefarious) purposes, but which ultimately ended up in them being the ones subdued and forced to obey. Seeing how the plot in some of the following titles are reinterpretations of the events in the first game, the latter seems more plausible.

The alien army attempted to reclaim the relic through a stealthy infiltration procedure by sending a detachment to Earth, but due to the heroic efforts of Pfc. Bill Rizer and Pfc. Lance Bean, two of Earth's finest soldiers, this campaign did not succeed. One year later, in 2634 AD, the aliens once again attempted to reclaim the relic by sending another detachment, this time commanded by their main leader, the fearsome Emperor Demon Gava, although this operation also failed. Seeing their attempts to reclaim the relic by stealthy means failing a second time, the Red Falcon army waged an all-out war against Earth and its people. Unfortunately for the aliens, Bill and Lance managed not only to thwart their plans a third time, but also to completely annihilated the Red Falcon Army.

After the hostilities ended, the cells of Red Falcon's alien warriors (presumably Gava's) fell into the hands of Earth's world governments. The Triumvirate attempted to cover up this by hailing Lance Bean and Bill Rizer as saviors of the planet. However, Lance coincidentally stumbled upon the Triumvirate's secret regarding the relic. The Triumvirate attempted to hide their secret by assassinating Lance and placing the blame on Bill.

Lance Bean did not die, however; he was revived when his body was merged with the alien cells. After his resurrection, he gathered a new military organization, which would henceforth be known as "Blood Falcon", and declared war against the established government.

Bill, who was doing time in cryostasis for the supposed murder of Lance, and also held responsible for the death of eighty percent of Earth's population at some point after the "Alien Wars", was temporarily put out of prison and called back into action, this time accompanied by a new partner called Lucia, a bionoid made with the alien cell's DNA who was in charge to keep an eye on him. They would succeed in destroying both the Triumvirate and the Moirai Relic, finally putting an end to the cursed fate between Bill, Lance and Red Falcon for good.

Even though Red Falcon as an organization had long ceased to exist, its legacy lived on. In Neo Contra, some hefty centuries after the events of Shattered Soldier, the Neo Contra faction came in possession of the cells and genes from the aliens who belonged to Red Falcon and summoned some of their most powerful warriors for one last appearance, although this time they were not the central focus of the plotline.

Main leaders

Emperor Demon Dragon God Java

Main article: Java
Java - 01

Java is the main villain in the original Contra, and a recurring boss in the series. One of the masterminds behind the Red Falcon organization, Java appears as a large, elongated alien head without eyes and large teeth. Despite not having eyes, he can apparently perceive his surroundings, as he will attack as soon as the player approaches him. Java once again makes his appearance in Contra III.

Despite his fierce appearance, Java remains immobile in all his appearances, attacking mainly by vomiting small floating aliens which track the player. Java is always fought right before Gomeramos King, meaning his defeat is not the end of the alien menace.

Gomeramos King

Main article: Gomeramos King
Gomeramos King - 01

Gomeramos King is the final boss in the original Contra, and the second most recurring boss in the series after the Defense Wall. It is a gigantic alien heart which is responsible for spawning the countless aliens fought during the games. In the earlier games, it is usually fought right after defeating Java, although it would later appear on its own in later installments.

Gomeramos King is for the most part a sitting duck, since it has no means of defending itself. However, it is always surrounded by small alien eggs (usually four or six depending on the game) which constantly hatch facehugger-like aliens. The best strategy to take down this boss is to concentrate on destroying the eggs first, leaving the boss defenseless.

Emperor Demon Gava

Main article: Gava
Gava - 05

Gava is the main leader of the Red Falcon invading alien forces and one of the most relevant antagonists throughout the entire series. He was introduced as the final boss of Super Contra, and returned for a full-scale war on Earth in Contra III: The Alien Wars, additionally returning as a major recurring boss in many following installments, although with less relevancy canon-wise. The "brother" of Black Viper, Gava is a large skeletal alien with a bulbous head and elongated snake-like arms with faces on them.

On his first attack on Earth, Gava and the Red Falcon forces under his command take over a military base and brainwash the soldiers to serve them, which prompts the Government forces to send Contra commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean to fight them. After fighting through the alien-infested base, the two soldiers confront Gava and defeat him, putting an end to the aliens' operations. Two years later, Gava returns, descending from the skies with the Red Falcon forces and annihilating an entire city, thus beginning what came to be known as the "Alien Wars". Bill and Lance are once again sent to fight the Red Falcon's forces, along with various other soldiers, many of which perish during the hostilities. Bill and Lance eventually reach Gava's lair, fighting the many alien abominations within, and finally destroying him for good. Despite his death, however, Gava would be revived many times throughout the series by the use of the alien cells which were collected by the Government in the aftermath of the Alien Wars.

Gava once again returns in Contra: Shattered Soldier: Lance Bean transforms into this creature to fight his former comrade, Bill Rizer.

Shadow Beast Kimkoh

Main article: Kimkoh
Kimkoh - 08

Kimkoh is a recurring boss in the Contra series, originally appearing as the final boss in Super C, the NES conversion of Super Contra. It appears as a giant insectoid monster with large, hollow, frog-like legs and a woman's face inside its constantly open mouth (this would be changed for a male's face in latter installments). It usually shows up in the final stages of the games it appears in.

Kimkoh's main form of attack is to shoot spores from his foot, which then rain down all over the screen. In its original appearance it remained stationary, but later appearances showed this boss is very mobile, as it can also bury itself into the ground, jump, and ram at the player.

Kimkoh returns once again in Contra: Shattered Soldier. Lance Bean fuses with an alien and transforms into several creatures, one of them being a pair of Kimkohs, to fight his former comrade Bill Rizer.

General Varanis

Main article: Varanis
Wielding advanced technology, the ruthless Red Falcon terrorist group has conquered the Galuga Archipelago. Led by the fearsome General Varanis, Red Falcon's sinister ambitions threaten all of humanity.
~ Description from Contra: Operation Galuga[2]

Other members

Contra
Super Contra
Contra III: The Alien Wars

Infantry and artillery units

Contra
Super Contra
Contra III: The Alien Wars

Gallery

Screenshots

Sprites and models

Artworks

Trivia

  • In a commercial for Super C (NES), an actor is disguised as an alien creature resembling Emperor Demon Gava (from the Japanese artwork) and he declares himself to be "Red Falcon" (as a singular character, instead of an organization).

See also

References

  1. Contra Returns
  2. @ContraSoldier (Contra Official(魂斗羅公式)) at X (October 17, 2023).

External links

Contra
Organizations
Contra
Bill RizerLance BeanRD008RC011
Red Falcon
Defense WallGarmakilmaGromaidesGodomugaGuldafDograGordeaFinal Gate (NES) • Emperor Demon Dragon God JavaGomeramos King
Stages
JungleBaseWaterfallBase 2Snow FieldEnergy ZoneHangar ZoneAlien's Lair
Soundtrack
Contra Original Video Game Soundtrack
Super Contra/Super C
Organizations
Contra
Bill RizerLance BeanRD008RC011
Red Falcon
Bosses
Arcade
Entrance SecurityMagnusDethgerbisMetal AlienEmperor Demon Gava
NES
Great HeliMagnusSensorLaser ChandelierGiralalEmperor Demon GavaDethgerbisKimkoh
Minibosses
Arcade
M4A4 TankGreat HeliGiralalSuspicious Face
NES
TuckerSpidalSuspicious Face
Stages
Arcade
Ruins of the Federal Military BaseInside the Federal Military BaseDeep JungleAlien 1Alien 2
NES
Base Area 1Base Area 2JungleBase Area 3Base Area 4Alien Area 1Alien Area 2Alien Area 3
Soundtrack
Music from Super Contra & A-Jax
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Organizations
Contra
Bill RizerLance BeanJimboSullyRD008RC011
Red Falcon
Bosses
Slave Beast TakaBosco SpiderBig FuzzAnti-Contra Battleship DodriguezAnthellEmperor Demon GavaLiving Brain Organism SearleSix Men Feromedos
Minibosses
Middle FortressMagnus Mk.2Dome DefenderTri-Transforming Wall WalkerGarth BaseBrother Robots Kenny 1 & 2High Speed Tank BoobyTetranduckerSensor ArmFierce CannonRocket Ninja SasakiOggie GeneratorJavaGomeramos KingKimkohMetal Alien
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Occupied City StreetDestroyed HighwayFactory ZoneAir BattleSheer CliffAlien's Main Base
Soundtrack
Contra III: The Alien Wars Original Video Game Soundtrack
Contra 4
Organizations
Contra
Canon
Bill RizerLance BeanMad DogScorpion
Non-canon
JimboSullySheena EtranziLuciaProbotectorSolomon Caesar
Red Falcon
Bosses
Defense WallGromaidesGodomugaMissile Hugger 3000 (gigantic form) • Barracuda
Big FuzzCrustacean CruiserGomeramos KingBlack Viper (final form)
Minibosses
NoueiMissile Hugger 3000 (normal form) • ReaperMagnusArachnidBlack Viper
Stages
JungleLaboratoryBaseHarborOceanFactoryCityAlien HiveHarvest Yard
Soundtrack
Contra Dual Spirits Original SoundtrackContra Chronicle Vol.1 coupling with Hard Corps: Uprising
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