This reduction was likely a deliberate attempt by Konami to increase the game's difficulty for the US market, which was often perceived as preferring more "unforgiving" arcade-style challenges to extend playtime. In response, the modding community eventually developed "fixes" or patches to restore the 30-life count to the US version, bringing it in line with its international counterparts and its legendary predecessor. Summary of Codes for Super C (NES) NES Super Contra: Secret Extra Lives Trick!
For players who insist on the full 30 lives in the North American version, there is no official in-game "fix." Instead, the community uses or Game Genie codes to modify the game's memory: NES Super Contra: Secret Extra Lives Trick! super contra s power 30 lives nes fix