Contra (a.k.a. Gryzor, Probotector) and Super Contra
UK print ad from Zzap!64 for the ports by Ocean, featuring the Gryzor logo, which based on Earth, and additional text set in ITC Benguiat Gothic. Character illustrations by Bob Wakelin.
From Wikipedia:
Contra is a run and gun video game developed and published by Konami, originally developed as a coin-operated arcade video game in 1986 and released on February 20, 1987. A home version was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, along with ports for various home computer formats, including the MSX2. The arcade and computer versions were localized as Gryzor in Europe, and the NES version as Probotector in PAL regions.
Designer/s currently unknown. Character illustrations for Bill and Lance, featured on the covers/ads for Contra and Gryzor, are by Bob Wakelin. If they look somewhat familiar, here’s the inspiration.
Both the Contra and Gryzor logos are based on Earth. The Contra logo appears to be custom lettering, rendered in a more condensed derivation with a brush style C, but it retains many of Earth’s key characteristics. The logo for Gryzor, however, is more assuredly based on Earth, with the French Amstrad CPC cover displaying an exact typesetting on the back panel of its cover. The Z is hand lettered in a brush style. This cover also features ITC Lubalin Graph, used for the Amstrad specifications on the front panel.
UK print ad for Ocean's Gryzor ports also features text set in ITC Benguiat Gothic and ITC Avant Garde Gothic.
The logo seen on the Japanese flyer for the 1988 arcade sequel, Super Contra, also features Earth. It is used for the word “Super,” with the S being hand lettered in a brush style.
For the 1990 European release of the PAL version on the NES, the Probotector logo is based on a horizontally squeezed Report, with a chrome gradient fill.
Full view of the cover for the French release of Gryzor for the Amstrad CPC (disk version), developed by Ocean. Character illustrations by Bob Wakelin. Logo typeset in Earth on back panel.
Front cover of the NES version, developed by Konami and released in the US in 1988. Character illustrations by Bob Wakelin.
![Flyer for the 1988 Japanese release of the arcade sequel, Super Contra. Earth is used for the word “Super”. The S is hand lettered in a brush style. Type used for Japanese text currently unidentified [edit: there is and , see comments].](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/N190/190520/190520.jpeg)
Flyer for the 1988 Japanese release of the arcade sequel, Super Contra. Earth is used for the word “Super”. The S is hand lettered in a brush style. Type used for Japanese text currently unidentified [edit: there is @typeentity:235485@ and Gona, see comments].
Front panel of the box for the 1990 European release on the NES, titled Probotector. This logo is based on Report a.k.a. Charger.
3 Comments on “Contra (a.k.a. Gryzor, Probotector) and Super Contra”
Groovy find! I did not know Gryzor had that font properly, as I grew up with Contra and that lame attempt at a knockoff Terminator logo font.
The Japanese text currently unidentified is in Gona and Ishii Mincho.
Arigatō! I’ve added the IDs.