is the tenth video game in the Contra series published by Konami. It was developed by Team Neo Kijirushi, a group of staff members within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, and released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004. The game is a direct follow-up to Contra: Shattered Soldier, but returns to the multidirectional shooting format and departs from the traditional scrolling shooter formula used in previous games. It was the first game in the series to receive an ''M'' rating from the ESRB and was the only installment to receive said rating until the release of Rogue Corps in 2019. Gameplay Neo Contra once again brings the games back into three dimensions. However, unlike the titles developed under Appaloosa Interactive, players only need to aim in the third dimension on rare occasions. Additionally, this title eradicates the boss-oriented gameplay of Hard Corps and the previous 32-bit titles, and seeks a balance more reminiscent of the 8-bit and SNES Contra games; long free-form shooting sections, inter-spliced with boss encounters. Additionally, gameplay varies depending on the level and camera angle presented (the camera cannot be user-controlled). Most of the game is played from an isometric perspective, but portions are side-scrolling or overhead-behind. The player cannot jump. Instead, two new defensive moves are added that allow the player to effectively evade in the new dimensions: dash and spin. Dash gives the player a quick burst of speed to evade hostiles, while spin gives the player an instance of invulnerability. The hit-ratio system that was introduced in Shattered Soldier has been kept in this title. The game uses a modified version of the three-weapon configuration from Shattered Soldier. The player has two types of firearms used against ground-level targets, one with regular ammo, the other with flammable rounds, and a third weapon used to lock on to airborne targets. The player can choose from one of the three initially available weapon sets (one which includes the famous Spread Shot from the earlier Contra games, which was missing in Shattered Soldier), with four additional sets that are time-release. The Type F configuration features the GV Laser and Ripple Laser, both weapons from Gradius V. The weapon sets can be variated from the weaponry depending on the character used since Katana Jaguar uses his katana sword in all his sets. Sets available are: Type A: Machine Gun, Grenade Launcher, and Lock-On Missile. Type B: Charge Shot, Fire