Contra 007 is the version of the Contra mod for Generals Zero Hour released on August 16, 2009. You can download it from the authors on ModDB: a roughly 110 MB archive plus a few patches. 007 hasn't been updated since 2011, so nearly everyone now plays Contra 009 Final or the new Contra X. The old version still has its fans, and in ZeroFront it runs on Android just like 009.
What Contra 007 is
Contra is made by the Contra Mod Team. In 007 the mod added more than a hundred new units, new upgrades, buildings, general abilities and three new generals. The authors also replaced the music, graphics and sounds of the stock Zero Hour units.
The developers themselves said 007 didn't bring many new units. Its real focus was fixes: over two hundred bugs and almost as many balance issues. The balance was redone from the ground up, so the mod played differently from earlier versions.
Two requirements haven't changed since then. You need Zero Hour 1.04. And Contra has to run alone: it doesn't get along with other mods or AI patches, so remove them before installing.
Contra 007 download
The official file page is moddb.com/mods/contra/downloads/contra-007. The authors kept install instructions on their site, contra.cncguild.net. We'd stay away from "Generals + Contra 007 in one file" torrents: the game is already baked in, and nobody can tell you what else was added.
The authors released several patches for 007. All of them are in the downloads section of the same ModDB page.
| Patch | Date | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Contra 007 Fixed Launcher | Aug 24, 2009 | A launcher that works with Zero Hour and The First Decade |
| Challenge and USA Missions Unlock | Oct 15, 2009 | Unlocks Generals' Challenge and the USA missions; the authors say "use at your own risk" |
| Contra 007 Fixed AI | May 22, 2010 | An AI that shouldn't crash the game |
| Contra 007 Map Fixes | Jun 11, 2010 | Unlocks 5 multiplayer maps that were blocked by a bug |
| Contra 007 Net Fix | Dec 20, 2011 | Against disconnects and mismatches in network games |
If you do install 007, grab the main archive, then Fixed Launcher, Fixed AI and Map Fixes. Net Fix only matters for online play.
Contra 007 vs 009
Nine years and one intermediate version, 008 Final (December 2014), sit between them.
| Contra 007 | Contra 009 Final | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | August 2009 | December 31, 2018; Patch 3 in late 2020; last hotfix in May 2022 |
| Launcher | Basic, fixed by a separate patch | New, with language, voice and option settings |
| Multiplayer | Net Fix against mismatches | ContraVPN built into the launcher |
| AI | Crashes, fixed by a patch | Skirmish AI rewritten and noticeably stronger |
| Generals' Challenge | Some missions unlocked by a patch | Three boss opponents added |
| Bug fixes | Up to 2011 | Final closed another 200+ bugs |
In short: 007 froze in 2011, while 009 kept getting polished until 2022. If you remember 007, you'll recognize the mod in 009, but the balance, models and AI are different now.
Why people install 009 today
First, 009 is easier to get running. The launcher enables the right files itself, and that's also where you pick language and voices. 007 has nothing like that, and some features come only through patches.
Second, the players. The online community plays 009 through ContraVPN, and Contra X. Finding an opponent on 007 is hard these days.
On a phone, both work in ZeroFront: Contra 009 Final with Patch 3 and Contra 007. 009 has its own page, Contra 009 on Android; the old version is covered below.
If you want the newest thing, look at the Contra X branch. It's a beta, though, and the authors are upfront about its bugs.
Contra 007 not launching
If 007 won't start on Windows 10 or 11, check these in order:
- Zero Hour is patched to 1.04.
- There are no other mods or AI patches in the game folder.
- The Fixed Launcher patch is installed.
- The game runs fine without the mod.
If even clean Zero Hour won't start, the problem is the game, not Contra. The usual causes are covered in Generals not launching on Windows.
Contra 007 on a phone
The mod works in ZeroFront on Android. In the bot @generals_mobile_bot you'll find it under "Game files & mods", with instructions and a link to the official archive.
What you need:
- the original Generals folder;
- a Zero Hour 1.04 folder with the mod and the Fixed Launcher, Fixed AI and Map Fixes patches installed.
In the app, point "Original Generals folder…" to Generals, and pick the mod folder in "Set game folder". From there it launches the same way as Contra 009.
Network games only work with players on the same version: a match with someone on 009 won't start. Other mods are listed on the Zero Hour mods page.
FAQ
Where can I download Contra 007 without a torrent?
On ModDB, in the Contra downloads section: the "Contra 007" file and its patches. That's the authors' own page, and the mod is free there. You'll need your own copy of Zero Hour from Steam or the EA App.
Do I need Contra 007 to install 009?
No. 009 Final installs on a clean Zero Hour 1.04. Contra X also installs from scratch and doesn't need older versions.
Does Contra 007 have a campaign?
There's no full campaign for all sides. You get skirmish, multiplayer, Generals' Challenge and USA missions, which the Challenge and USA Missions Unlock patch opened up.
Can I play 007 online with a friend who runs 009?
No. In a network game everyone needs the exact same mod version down to the last file, or the match will drop with a mismatch.
Will Contra 007 run on Android?
Yes. It runs in ZeroFront the same way as 009: the original Generals folder plus a Zero Hour 1.04 folder with the mod and patches. The bot has step-by-step instructions under "Game files & mods".
Try Contra on your own phone in the bot @generals_mobile_bot: the first 24 hours are free.