Contra Snowfield

## Stage 5 Snowfield

Snowfield Boss "UFO"

(Overall Split Time)

## Overview

Snowfield is where it really starts get reactionary. While the trolls are able to shoot at you starting in *Waterfall*, it becomes much more noticeable here in Snowfield. In fact, it has a reputation in this level that the players have come to refer to it as *Trollfield*. This is where *consistent firing* becomes more important as well. Keeping a clear path will be key to a clean stage.
An important thing to note about this stage is that it is the last place in the game to get S + R together, and conveniently they come as a pair. So if you're going to take a death, doing so before they show up is the best place to do it.

## How To

### Entry

There's a couple different way to approach this. The first is what most players do when learning the game or playing casually. Shoot the gunner, duck if he shoots, dodge the grenades, and basically just proceed with caution. Well, there's not just one better way, but *two*. Neither are really more difficult than the other, it just boils down to preference.

#### Intermediate Entry 1

      This one does require somewhat precise jumping, as jumping late will mean you either get hit by the second gunner or have to duck his bullet.
To start, make sure to jump at the black divot in the platform. Fire continuously southeast to take out the gunner. Keep jumping as soon as you land and putting shots on the next gunner. As you'll see in the next Entry method, trolls can "cover" the gunner, so get a good mash going to avoid jumping into danger. Jump over the last two grenades and you're clear, ready to tackle the next section.

#### Intermediate Entry 2

    This one is pretty similar to the above. The difference is pretty much just the first gunner. In this version you get a good bullet hose going and destroy the gunner before he can shoot, then jump over the first two grenades. Continue jumping shooting as we saw in the previous version.
The tricky part with this one is you pretty much have to commit to it. If you fail to kill the gunner before he shoots, you still have time to avoid the shot, but any time you would've saved by using the strat is negated. So be confident!

### YOLO Jump

    This is only spot in the level where you cannot normally jump over a grenade while running. So that leaves two choices - either wait for it or risk it all with as much as a 3 frame window (depends on who you ask).
The standard way is simply walk up to where the first grenade will hit, wait as little as 12 frames (0.2 secs) then jump to get past the second grenade explosion. Be sure to maintain fire as trolls will continue to spawn and even shoot at you.

    Jumping over these grenades without stopping is the actual YOLO jump. It's very risky and generally undertaken when the run is behind and needs a little help to climb back into the green. It has a bit of a setup which isn't difficult in itself but may interrupt your normal entry into Snowfield. There's a detailed guide on this over in *Technical Details*.

### Getting S + R

    This is the last opportunity you'll likely be able to have S + R together for the run should you lose them during a run or race. Getting them quick and easy is vital to regaining lost time.
It's a pretty simple maneuver. On your approach, keep rhythmic fire to ward off any trolls. When you land on the single platform, simply shoot southeast to grab the S, quickly jump to the next platform, then shoot down the remaining two flying capsules. That's it.

### Tanks

    This is really the only way you should approach these tanks if you have S, even if you don't have R (you're point blank, so R plays no role in this). Jump at the tank but pull back to avoid hitting it. This will scroll the screen further to speed up the tank getting into position. You can then stand directly in front of it (or even inside the spikes sprite a bit) and blast away. It should be destroyed before it even has a chance to shoot at you.

    If you're dead set on not trying the above method (or are doing a category that doesn't allow S) then you wait for it roll into position and stand all the way to the left and shoot it. At this spot the tank is unable to hit you. The bullets will pass right through your foot but not harm you.

### Frezyjumps

    To traverse this section with zero stopping is nearly frame perfect, requiring an initial jump on the correct pixel and two frame-perfect jumps after that. On top of having to nail the string of 3 jumps, you must ensure you kill the turret gunner and any trolls that may spawn before and during the execution of the technique. This trick is *highly* dangerous for negligible amounts of time saved versus doing a quick duck or small turn-back on the last jump. Advanced strategy.

> ⚡SPEEDLORE: This technique is named after the player credited with first discovering and consistently using the trick, Frezyman. Before this, players would normally duck the bullet from the turret gunner or make a slight hesitation/turn back on the third jump of the sequence.

## Boss

        This boss is the second easiest in the game. He will spawn in one of three locations, and it's believed the chances are 50% for the right spawn, 25% for the center spawn, and 25% for the left spawn.
Ideally you should set up for a right side spawn, as it's the most common. When it spawns simply fire up at it as fast as possible while jumping to help get more shots there faster.
If it spawns in the center, you can just slide left a bit then fire up and jump as you do for right side spawn.
If you get the left side spawn, you can jump left while shooting northwest. Upon landing, shoot straight up as you jump.
Regardless of which spawn you get, the boss should dead before any of little UFO's reach you on the ground.

### Explore more from this game

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1. ↑ Map courtesy of NESMaps.com by Rick N Bruns
2. ↑ Taken from Jerminator81's 10:13 run verified on Jan 22, 2022
3. ↑ Taken from JeremyArroyo's 10:24 run verified on Dec 25, 2021
4. ↑ Taken from FCJ2000's 9:55.817 run verified on Sept 24, 2020
5. ↑ Footage shown from Hirexen's 10:10 run Sept, 2020