Contra 4/Weapons

Rapid
This is the gun you start out with from the beginning of the game and it is also your default weapon when tossing out another weapon or when you die and lose your weapon. It is a weak gun and often referred to as a "pea shooter". You are always going to want to upgrade to a newer and better gun, unless you want to make the game more challenging than it already is. This gun is also unable to upgrade. It is able to fire a moderate amount and tapping the button will get you the most out of this weapon.

Machine Gun
Here is the first new weapon that you will encounter, the Machine Gun. This weapon has a very rapid firing speed and is great when taking down enemies that require more than one shot. When upgraded, the Machine Gun gets a second firing row and the shots become bigger enabling you to shoot low enemies without ducking. It is best to hold the button to get a fast firing speed.

Flame
The Flame gun is one of those weapons that are high at one end of the scale but low on the other. The first version of the gun has a slow firing rate and shoots a somewhat slow swirling flame that has a strong impact. The upgrade shoots out fireballs at a faster rate (but not too fast) and does a greater amounts of damage. On impact it leaves behind explosions that are able to hurt other enemies. Tapping the button will help you get the best firing speed.

Prototype
Challenge Mode only!

Classic Laser
Challenge Mode only!