Japanese	American	European
The Japanese title translates as "Contra: The Hard Corps". Thanks to jonny2x4 for this info.

Japanese	American	European
As was common with the European versions of Contra games, characters became robots. So Ray -a human in the Japanese and American versions -became a robot in the European version, renamed CX-1.

Japanese	American	European

Japanese	American	European

Japanese	American	European
One of the characters in the Japanese and American versions already was a robot, so the European version didn't need to edit the sprite. But his name was still changed to CX-4 to fit in with the other name changes.

Japanese	American	European
Even the Commander became a robot in the European version.

Japanese	American	European
Here is the biggest change in the game -in the Japanese version, you have a life meter and can take a couple of hits before losing a life. In the American and European versions however one hit equals death! The hit point counter is located underneath "SHOT-I" on the HUD.

Japanese	American	European
The European version ditches a few of the cut-scenes, such as with this example from the first level. Before the red robot boss jumps down there is some text in the Japanese and American versions. But in the European version, there is no text and the boss jumps down immediately.

Japanese	American	European
More sprite edit evidence in the European version. Strangely the English language option in the European version doesn't always directly copy the text from the American version.

Japanese	American	European
The European version has an option to change the language between English, French and German.