《魂斗羅週年慶合輯》（Contra Anniversary Collection）是KONAMI為了紀念公司成立50週年，特別推出的經典合集作品，完整收錄動作射擊遊戲史上極具代表性的《魂斗羅》系列作，共計十款作品，橫跨街機、FC、NES、SFC、SNES、Game Boy與Mega Drive等多個平台。這套合輯不僅是對老玩家的情懷回顧，也是讓新世代玩家能體驗系列原汁原味樂趣的重要管道。

在劇情上，《魂斗羅》系列以人類戰士對抗外星異形勢力的熱血戰場為背景，塑造「最強鬥士」挺身而出的經典故事。1987年誕生的首作《魂斗羅》以橫向卷軸射擊與雙人合作的設計奠定基礎，隨後的《超級魂斗羅：異形的逆襲》在演出與圖像表現上進一步提升，讓玩家感受到更加緊湊的戰鬥氛圍。進入90年代，《魂斗羅 Spirits》（又名《魂斗羅 III：異形戰爭》）加入旋轉、縮放等超任硬體機能的演出效果，開拓視覺與操作的全新境界；而《魂斗羅 鐵血兵團》（Contra: Hard Corps）則首度引入多名可操作角色與多分支劇情，挑戰玩家的操作極限，也為系列帶來更高的戰略性。即便是在硬體受限的Game Boy上，《魂斗羅 C行動》依舊展現出系列一貫的高速爽快感，證明魂斗羅的精神並不限於高效能平台。

在操作上，忠實保留系列橫向射擊與跑動射擊的核心玩法，需要靈活運用八方向射擊、跳躍、翻滾等動作，搭配各種強力武器如散彈槍、雷射、追蹤彈來突破重重敵軍。這次合集還額外追加「快速存檔」功能，能隨時記錄進度，大幅降低因高難度設計而導致的挫折感，兼顧老玩家的挑戰需求與新玩家的入門體驗。

值得一提的是，合輯還附帶名為《魂斗羅戰記》的Bonus Book，內含系列作品的完整介紹、操作方式、開發團隊專訪、歷史研究，以及珍貴的設計手稿與開發資料，對於喜愛挖掘遊戲幕後故事的玩家來說，是極具價值的收藏內容。更讓系列愛好者振奮的是，首次收錄歐洲地區特別版本《SUPER PROBOTECTOR ALIEN REBELS》與《PROBOTECTOR》，以及首度家用機移植的《魂斗羅 鐵血兵團》，使得合集更為完整。

市場評價方面，《魂斗羅週年慶合輯》在推出後受到玩家廣泛好評。對資深玩家來說，這是跨越三十年的回憶之旅；而對新玩家來說，則是一次能夠系統性認識《魂斗羅》系列的最佳機會。雖然部分評論指出畫面並未做現代化重製，仍保持原版風貌，但這種忠於原作的保存方式，反而被視為傳承經典、保留遊戲歷史原貌的重要舉措。

總體而言，《魂斗羅週年慶合輯》不僅僅是一套遊戲合集，更是KONAMI對自家經典系列的一次完整致敬。它讓《魂斗羅》這個代表街機與家用機黃金時代的符號，得以再次在現代平台上綻放光彩，既保留原始的硬派挑戰精神，又透過便利功能降低門檻，讓更多玩家能夠投入其中，體驗那段熱血與汗水交織的電子遊戲戰場傳奇。

Contra Anniversary Collection is a commemorative release from KONAMI celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary, bringing together ten iconic titles from the legendary Contra franchise. Spanning arcade, Famicom, NES, Super Famicom, SNES, Game Boy, and Mega Drive, this collection allows both veteran fans and new players to relive the origins and evolution of one of gaming’s most influential run-and-gun action series.

The story across the Contra series revolves around humanity’s fight against alien invaders, with elite commandos stepping onto the battlefield as the “strongest warriors.” The original Contra (1987) set the foundation with its fast-paced side-scrolling shooting and cooperative gameplay. Super Contra: The Alien Strikes Back enhanced visuals and cinematic presentation, pushing the intensity further. Later entries, such as Contra Spirits (Contra III: The Alien Wars), leveraged the SNES’s rotation and scaling effects, creating a more dynamic combat experience. Contra: Hard Corps introduced multiple playable characters and branching storylines, adding both strategic depth and replay value. Even on the modest Game Boy, Contra: Operation C managed to deliver the franchise’s signature high-speed action, proving that Contra’s spirit thrived on any platform.

In terms of gameplay, the collection faithfully preserves the series’ hallmark mechanics: side-scrolling, run-and-gun combat with eight-directional shooting, platforming, and acrobatics. Players rely on a variety of power-ups—spread guns, lasers, homing shots—to cut through waves of enemies and massive alien bosses. This release also includes a modern “quick save” function, allowing players to record progress at any moment. This addition balances the original high-difficulty design, making the games more accessible while retaining the hardcore challenge beloved by longtime fans.

A major highlight of the collection is the Bonus Book: Contra Chronicle, which contains a treasure trove of material—game introductions, control guides, interviews with key developers, research on the franchise’s history, and never-before-seen design documents. For enthusiasts of gaming history, this book transforms the collection into more than just a set of games; it’s a cultural archive. Fans will also be thrilled by the first-ever home console release of Contra: Hard Corps and its European variant Probotector, alongside Super Probotector Alien Rebels, making the package a truly definitive experience.

Reception to the Contra Anniversary Collection has been highly positive. Longtime fans appreciate the nostalgic journey across three decades of the franchise, while newcomers are introduced to the roots of one of the most influential action series in history. Although the visuals remain faithful to their original form without modern remastering, this authenticity has been praised for preserving the historical essence of the titles, showcasing them as they were originally played.

Overall, Contra Anniversary Collection is more than just a compilation—it’s a celebration and a tribute to KONAMI’s legacy. By blending authentic preservation with modern convenience, the collection ensures that the raw intensity, relentless difficulty, and cooperative spirit that defined Contra continue to resonate. It serves as both a nostalgic treasure chest for veterans and an essential introduction for new players eager to experience one of gaming’s most enduring legends.